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The Holy Spirit didn’t come at some random time that just happened to be about a month after Jesus died on the cross, he came at Pentecost. The Jewish festivals were not just something to keep the Hebrews occupied until God really got his plan working, they pointed to what was to come, salvation through Jesus Christ. Peter, the hot headed, speak first ask questions later, denied Jesus three times, disciples of Jesus stood up and preached his first real sermon… and 3,000 people became Christians. He spoke the truth and the people were cut to the heart. These new christians devoted themselves to the truth of the gospel, to maintaining a helpful community, and communion with God. They were blessed and saw people coming to Jesus daily. They didn’t focus on giving people physical needs, nor did they stress over the idea they couldn’t provide for everyone, they simply continued spreading the gospel to every man woman boy and girl. Even when it caused them political trouble and it would have been much more comfortable to simply say less, Peter and the first Christians preached all the more. Their goal was to share the gospel. When they were afraid, they prayed for boldness. Their faith wasn’t about their own comfort, it was about bringing more honor and glory to Jesus Christ. Those who were selfish and wanted to hold back from this mission, were removed from the community. There was no room for half-hearted Christians among God’s people. Stephen stood before a crowd and preached a very similar sermon to Peter’s. Perhaps he expected the same result, but it was quite different. He became the first martyr of the Christian faith recorded in Scripture. Opposition grew and a young man, zealous to prove himself, Saul, was terrorizing the church. But terrorism cannot stop genuine believers. The gospel must be shared. The true mark of the Holy Spirit on someone’s life is the inability to hold back the truth of the gospel… and the church grows.

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God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we might be able to have a helper to strengthen us and show us the way. Jesus was able to conquer this world of sin and death and offers us a better life. Not a life where we are taken out of the world, but where we are given the grace to endure the suffering that comes our way. That we may be a light, and outpost, in the midst of this dark world. Jesus is denied, he is falsely accused, and stands before an indifferent official. In all of this, he never loses sight of his place in the world, his kingdom. We are not working to make this world a little bit better, we’re working to see God’s Kingdom come to earth. Jesus died, was pierced in his side, and was buried. In this act, he won the victory, and the victory celebration was the resurrection. Jesus appeared to his followers and showed himself to be true, and so we have it in the Bible, that we too, like doubting Thomas might proclaim “my Lord and my God!” It is now our task to take the gospel to the whole world, to begin where we are, and to see it spread all around the whole world, even to the uttermost parts of the earth. We need not wait on the Holy Spirit, he is already here. All those who trust in Jesus have his strength and leading for this task.

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Jesus gives sight to the blind, not just physically, but spiritually. He is the Good Shepherd who is willing to die for his sheep, and so he did. He is not only a great teacher and the best leader, he is also God, he and the Father are one in the same. He showed this by even being able to raise the dead, and he proves he can do this for us as well, he is the resurrection one day and the life for us now. This is too much for some to hear. They want a happy religion of good things to do and bad things to avoid, this is not Jesus. He is the way, this is a divisive message only relatively few are willing to receive. Mary understood, she was willing to give what was most precious to her, because Jesus had become more. Jesus must be the one we elevate in our lives, to the chief position, he came to save us all, and so we too should follow his lead and be the servant of all. Even though we do fail him, as both Judas and Peter did, we have a choice about today. Will we give up and die in our lostness like Judas, or will we give up and follow Jesus as Peter did. If we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we will have fellowship with God. Do you know Jesus, this Jesus, the real Jesus? Follow him today!

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It’s not just that Jesus came and died for you, you must take action, you must be born again. The interesting thing about this interchange with Nicodemus is that the term “again” can also mean “from above.” It’s a spiritual birth which comes when you place your trust in Jesus. This is how God showed his love for the world, he sent Jesus. Have you received him? He cuts through the religious fairness that we all hide behind. The woman at the well had a hidden past she didn’t want to revel, Jesus cut through it all. He didn’t hold back and he confronted her sins, but he offered her hope. Jesus heals us regardless of the propriety and rules we set up, just like the man at the pool. How can he do this? Because Jesus is equal with God. That’s how he can walk on water and feed thousands with just a small lunch, he is God. He is our only hope, the bread of life. Jesus was, however, quite direct. He didn’t give people false hope, if they wanted to follow after him, it would cost. He didn’t offer cheap grace. That why the majority of people who had ever followed him turned away. But those who understood what he was saying stayed. That’s who Jesus was there for. His ministry may have had a big “back door” but the front door was wide-open for all to enter in. Jesus is life and this message is divisive. Not everyone wants to accept him. Nevertheless he is the only way. May we offer the light and life of Jesus to others.

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Jesus died for you. He died for us all. He gave us signs like baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signposts of this New Covenant He cut for us. It’s not about which of us follow Him the best, it’s about the one who died for us. We all, just like Peter, fall away and deny Jesus with our actions, but He’s always there to reach out and restore us, why wouldn’t we confess and return to Him? Jesus prayed with fervent devotion, shouldn’t we? Can we not keep watch for an hour? Jesus was mocked and betrayed. Pilate was indifferent and unable to find fault in Jesus. Herod wouldn’t take responsibility, “let someone else deal with Him…” Don’t we do the same? Who will deal with the fact Jesus is Lord? Who will act in response to the reality that our friends and neighbors will go to Hell if they don’t receive Jesus as their Savior? We cannot be indifferent. Jesus died and rose again! He is the perfect sacrifice. The Bible clearly shows Jesus as the Messiah, God’s Anointed King from days of old come to save us from our sin. He is the Word of God, very God Himself, from before the beginning of time. John the Baptist spoke about Him, and then He came. He called people unto Himself, and so He still does today, will you follow Him? Do you look for a sign, or do you believe? We must worship Him genuinely and according to His Word. Just like the moneychangers in the temple, we must follow Him, not our own interests. Will you follow Him today?

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