It’s the week after Pentecost Sunday. When Peter explained the meaning of 120 disciples in the streets of Jerusalem declaring the wonders of God, he went to the prophet Joel. “This” is “that!”
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy… and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:17-21)
That’s what was happening right in front of them. Men and women filled with the Spirit of God were declaring the wonders of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That’s how the church started and that’s how it’s meant to continue.
The Gospel reading for the week is John 20:19-23. I am gripped by the forgiveness mission of Jesus. John recounts: Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me. I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven. I you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)
The Father sent Jesus on a forgiveness mission and he is sending the disciples on a forgiveness mission too. Each week we recall this mission when we receive the bread and the cup. Together as brothers and sisters, Paul says, “We proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (I Corinthians 11:24)
With the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus — the forgiveness of sin — is good news! Brothers and sisters we have been given the best news.
Jesus’ forgiveness mission is also a restoration mission. The sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve are restored into the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And now they may speak the truth, now by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11) they overcome Satan.
From the day of Pentecost the Spirit indwells the souls of those who have entrusted their life to Jesus with the life of knowing Him, and will energize their tongues with fire from Heaven, so they may speak truth.
Thinking theologically we can say that the forgiveness mission of Jesus forgave Eve and her daughters, forgave Adam and his sons. So in Christ, the forgiven are empowered to preach.
We see it from the first moment a human encounters the resurrected Jesus. After Mary recognizes Him in the garden, he commissions her, “Go… to my brothers and tell them…” “Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord.” And she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:17-18)
And with that she became The Apostle to the Apostles.
It seems to me that the way the movement of Jesus started is the way it is meant to continue.
Between Pentecost and Parousia both the sons and daughters, the servants — both men and women — will declare, preach, the Word of God.
So dear brothers treat the daughters of Eve as if she has been forgiven and restored. Let’s open our ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. The Word of God shall not be silenced, nor shall it return void.
“Your sons and daughters will prophesy.”