What is Pentecost? Well, it's kind of a big deal.
"Pentecost" means "fiftieth day" in Greek. It's the fiftieth day after Passover. In Exodus, Passover was when Moses and the Hebrews put lamb's blood on the doors and windows of their homes so that the Hebrews would be spared while the Egyptian children died. The result of Passover was that the Hebrews were freed from slavery in Egypt, and Passover became a Jewish holiday after that. Fifty days after leaving Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments that the Hebrews were meant to live by. Pentecost became a celebration of the Ten Commandments for the Jewish people.
Pentecost is a Christian celebration, too. Acts 2 tells us that the disciples were gathered together in a house in Jerusalem when there was a noise like a great wind that entered the house. Tongues of fire came down to them, and they began preaching in different languages. When people came to investigate, everyone in the crowd heard the disciples preaching in their own native languages, which amazed them, because all of the disciples were from Galilee. Peter preached the story of Jesus to the crowd, and according to Acts 2: 41, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." Pentecost was one of the most important holidays for the early church, second only to Easter.
When I was a child, the story of Pentecost was always my favorite in the Bible. I had no idea what the word "Pentecost" meant, and if you had asked me to explain Pentecost, I probably couldn't have. But if you asked me to tell you the story of the disciples and the tongues of fire, I'd tell you in a heartbeat. I remember my mama telling me the story and saying that each of the disciples had a flame lit on their shoulders that day, and that each and every one of us, as Christians, carry that exact same flame. I remember looking over my shoulders, picturing that flame sitting there with me. It was a source of great comfort, and I have never forgotten those words.
As Christians, Pentecost is important because it was the day the Gospel was spread to people of different nations. It was the true beginning of the ministry of Christ's church after His Ascension. Because of that day, and because of the Holy Spirit, we are here today.
But as United Methodists, Pentecost has, in my opinion, a special significance. The symbol of the United Methodist Church is the cross and flame. That flame is the Holy Spirit, the same flame that filled the early disciples and the same flame that calls to us. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, and it's also the day when we can look around and see the Holy Spirit in our lives. John Wesley said that his heart was strangely warmed, and it's up to us to spread that warmth to all people.
On Pentecost Sunday, United Methodists change the paraments on the altar to red. Red symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, what sets us on fire?
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