In the city to celebrate

Acts 2 tells us that, when Pentecost came, there were staying in Jerusalem, many God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  These people came for a short time to celebrate one of their great holidays, the Feast of Weeks.  It came to be known as Pentecost because it was 50 days after the Passover festival. 

The people came to celebrate Pentecost like they always did.  They did not know that God was going to change the way this festival was going to be celebrated.  God waited until this moment because Jews came to Jerusalem to celebrate from every nation under heaven.  God waited until the people were in the city.

Interestingly, God did something incredible the last time that the Jews were in Jerusalem to celebrate a major feast, Passover. On the day before the Passover celebration, Jesus was crucified.  On the day after the Passover celebration, Jesus was resurrected.  The people either saw first hand or heard about the events that took place when Jesus died.  The earth quaked.  The curtain in the temple was torn in two.  Those who were dead left their tomb.  Then on the morning of the third day, the story started to circulate that Jesus was alive.  The tomb was empty.  There was no denying the empty tomb.  Passover that year was different and it has been ever since.

God is bringing many people to our cities.  Many of them are displaced Christians.  They come for their own purposes.  But God has his purposes too.  God wants them to celebrate His plan of salvation in their lives.  It took the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to embolden the apostles to proclaim the Gospel and begin to change the world.  The Holy Spirit continues to dwell in us today.  The Holy Spirit continues to work through us today.  People from every nation are coming to our doorsteps.  I pray that as the Lord works through our witness, they will celebrate God's grace and mercy in their lives.  They will celebrate how God has changed their lives.