Preparing for Pentecost Day: 10

Acts 1:4-5 And while staying with them [Jesus] ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

I invite you to imagine being with the disciples. Yesterday is when you saw an amazing sight: Jesus ascending away from you and into the clouds. Then you saw angels telling you that Jesus will return the same way you saw him leave. You thought that Jesus was going to usher in a kingdom on earth to overthrow Rome, which is what you had been told all growing up. You had just spent three years with Jesus, listening and watching. You saw thousands of people healed sickness, disease and infirmities, and delivered from demons. You can’t believe you get to be here.

But, now Jesus is gone…. what is next?

The questions keep surfacing. How many days is “not many”? You remember seeing people being baptized, immersed in the Jordan River as a sign of repenting, i.e. turning away from the life they wanted to live and seeking a better life in God’s ways. But, what does it mean that Jesus will immerse (what baptizo literally means) us in the Holy Spirit?

There is certainly some mystery, and you are not the only one to have misunderstandings or questions. Take some time to simply share with the Holy Spirit what you truly do not understand about Him. He is not scared to hear it and will not condemn you. Be honest. Just like the disciples ten days before Pentecost who did not understand everything but still obeyed and prayed, so let us present ourselves to the Spirit in our misunderstanding and ask him for wisdom and understanding. Resist the urge for quick answers. Simply be still and wait.