John 20:19-25
Breath of the Spirit
Today see visual images of photos of clouds and fire. Also note the celebration robe Yvonne made for Pastor Charles Bond in the 70s – a number of years ago when we were members and I was pastoring the Bell Seventh Day Baptist Church of Salemville, PA. It was recently returned to us after Margaret Bond died.
This Sabbath we are celebrating the very beginning of the church, and mother’s day and a Sabbath emphasis. Before the events of this particular Festival of Pentecost celebration – possibly May of the year 30 CE – there was no identifiable Christian church. Before that day, the followers of Jesus were a group that knew each other, but were not well known as an organized group to others. The dozens of men and women who followed Jesus were held together by Jesus’ presence. The Day of Pentecost marks the birthday of the Christian church, the beginning of a public organization that has lasted until today. The institution of the church has never been perfect, but has always been the body of Christ in the world. And I mean that literally. The events of Pentecost Day show that the church embodies Christ. Additionally, do you have a birthday? How about the birthday when you became a Christian?
Our reading from John, though, takes us a bit further back – to the day of Resurrection or the first evening after that day. The disciples were gathered behind closed doors out of fear. They had much to be afraid of, since Jesus had just been crucified. Maybe they were circling the wagons, deciding whether to stay together or not, continue on with the mission or not, and perhaps talking about whether or not there still was a mission without Jesus around.
Jesus entered the room and spoke peace, “Peace be with you,” a simple and traditional Sabbath greeting. He even said it twice! But I will wager that these followers did not feel very peaceful! Not only were they afraid of the authorities; they must have been afraid of this apparition before them. Yet they soon rejoiced when Jesus showed them his wounds, because they realized it truly was him – the account they’d heard from Mary Magdalene was actually true!
Their fear was turning to hope, and then Jesus breathed on them, releasing the Spirit in their midst. This account is reminiscent of a passage in John 14. Jesus is at the last supper – the Seder/Passover meal, preparing his friends for the rest of their lives – when he won’t be physically walking side by side with them. He won’t be there in person to talk with them, teach them, and counsel them. Still Jesus lets them know he will be with them, even when they do not see him. He’ll send the Spirit, in the Greek: Paraclete, which means “one who walks along side,” as advocate. This one will bring to mind all the things Jesus taught them, and they will remember.
And so, the disciples sat in Jerusalem behind locked doors. Perhaps some of them remembered that they should wait for the Spirit, which Jesus had promised them.
Later, they’d be waiting and praying in Jerusalem again on the Day of Pentecost. It was a religious festival for the Jews. And again, the Spirit would come to them, this time with such force that they would spill out into the streets. Many of those participating in the Pentecost festival saw the results. We will read that story as the affirmation scripture from Acts.
In both cases, the Spirit came to those who were gathered. The Spirit both assists us in our personal faith and cements our life together. When Jesus breathes out the Spirit, his gathered people receive the gift, and it empowers them for mission, even for the forgiving of sins. The Spirit also works in and through us in innumerable ways. Just as Jesus spoke those Sabbath words of peace to that group of fearful disciples, peace still comes to us through the Spirit.
Noted on a billboard outside a church: “Our Mothers comfort us, may God comfort you.” The Holy Spirit is also known as “the comforter.” Haven’t we also known our mother as a comforter?
As individuals, we sense the Spirit of God when everything is falling apart, and we are somehow able to hold it together because we sense that God is with us, supporting and comforting us. In truth on this earth our mothers do or did just the same.
As individuals, we sense the Spirit of God when we have done something terribly wrong, and we cannot rest or get it out of our minds until we have confessed it to God, and have tried to make things right with the person we have wronged. Do we not also have our mother’s influence here?
As individuals, we sense the Spirit of God when we are trying to make a difficult decision, and we realize that God has given us the ability to sort through options and make a good choice. Our mothers are in the background as well.
As individuals, we sense the Spirit of God when we see someone struggling, and we know we ought to do what we can to help out. Again mothers!
As a church, we sense the Spirit of God in worship, or as we meet together to comfort the grieving, when we pray for each other, when we move out into our various communities to do God’s work, or when we have a decision to make together in a business meeting – such as the question about Sabbath remembrance, observance and service.
Our growth in the faith is gradual. We are always learning new things. And if we ever think we have arrived, or that our opinions cannot be changed, then we are snubbing the work of the Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” said Jesus.
But how, we ask? Jesus came and went in a very visible way. The Spirit comes invisibly. Wind. Spirit. Breath. They are all valid translations of the same Greek word. Sometimes the Spirit comes in a mighty way like wind, as at Pentecost. Sometimes the Spirit comes gently and as ordinary as breath, as happened in the locked room. The disciples inhaled fear; Jesus exhaled Spirit upon them.
Today, let us remember all those recorded events when the followers of Jesus found him present in some unusual way. At the last supper, when he gave them bread and wine and told them it was his body and blood, they knew something important was happening, but they were not sure what it was. Jesus promised them the Spirit.
On the first day of the following week, the disciples met the risen Jesus behind locked doors out of fear, and they knew something incredible had happened, because they had last seen him on the cross, Jesus breathed on them, releasing on them the gentleness of the Spirit and the promise of their continuing mission.
A few weeks later, they gathered again, and the Spirit came upon them, this time in a powerful way, with wind and tongues of fire and a renewal of their faith that would make them able to carry out the mission.
Friends – Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we remember we have mothers, let us also celebrate and know that the Spirit comes to each of us individually and to the whole church. Jesus has breathed the Spirit on us all. Let us give thanks.
THREE ILLUSTRATION STORIES perhaps you have heard them before!!!
In one of his books, Albert Schweitzer tells the story of an African houseboy who accompanies his employer to Europe, the lad’s first visit to a chilly climate. On the first morning of the boy’s new life, the employer was awakened by the terrified screams of the boy. Rushing into the boy’s bedroom, the man discovered the source of the boy’s fear. Having left the window open during a cold night, the boy’s breath was steaming in the crisp morning air. Never having seen such a thing, the boy was crying, “I’m on fire! I’m burning inside!” This story helps bring to life the continuing experience of Pentecost, both the sense of being “set on fire” within and also the fear with which many Christians approach that notion.
A college student struggled with a philosophy class in logic, so he was relieved when the professor eased the pressure on the final exam.
“You can bring in one piece of paper to assist you in the final examination,” said the professor. “You may use anything you can squeeze on that single paper to assist you on the test.”
The beleaguered student had a brilliant idea. On the day of the final, the student arrived in class with a blank piece of paper and a close friend who had sailed through this very course with an A. As the test began, the student set the blank paper on the floor beside his desk and his friend stood on it. When the instructor objected, the student insisted that the professor had Okayed any resources that would fit on the paper and his resource was his friend.
More amused than angry, the instructor gave his blessing. The student worked at his exam with his friend whispering guidance and encouragement in his ear the whole time. He passed with an A.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit has come to stand with us, bringing guidance, illuminating our confusion, and leading us into the truth. Although the term is not used in the Pentecost story from Acts, one of the New Testament names from John 14 for the Spirit is the Paraclete. That Greek word may be translated quite literally as “one who is called alongside to help.”
A pianist in a congregation was known as an excellent accompanist. Soloists preferred her playing to any other musician in the church. She was asked if there was a secret to good accompanying.
She said, “I always breathe with the singer. I sing along under my breath and I make sure my breathing matches that of the soloist. That way I know when the singer is likely to break a line or hold a note.”
Pentecost is God’s challenge to breathe in time with the divine purpose, matching our spirits to the rhythms of the Holy Spirit so that we may live on earth while remaining in accord with heaven.
PRAYER: God of wind, fire, and breath, Spirit of strength and gentleness: give us the courage to carry out your mission. May the fire of godly passion burn in us, until we are compelled to work for justice, peace, mercy, and love. May the steady breath of Spirit enable us to see you also in the quiet places, to have Sabbath rest in your presence, and to show others your grace even as it is somehow lived out in our complicated living! In Jesus Name, Amen.
