“All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” Acts 2:12
What did it mean?
Well I’m no Biblical scholar, but the moment I saw those tongues like of fire resting on James, and John, and Mary, I couldn’t help but think of Moses. Of the time when he encountered God in a bush which was on fire, but didn’t burn up. Fire that indicated this was holy ground, that he stood in the presence of God. And of the pillar of fire that led him and the people through the wilderness. That this was the sign that God was with them.
And here it was again. Something that looked like fire but didn’t burn us up. What could it mean other than that God was with us? That though Jesus had ascended to heaven, he had not gone forever. God had not forgotten us. God was with us, each one of us, for as I looked around the room these tongues like fire were not just on one or two, but on each one of us. God was here with us.
And as amazing as that was, it meant so much more than just that. It meant that God was faithful. Jesus had said that he would not abandon us or leave us, and here he was with us, just as he had said he would be. He had said that he would give us another friend, another advocate, to lead us into all truth, and here was the fire of God, just as with Moses. The baptising with the fire of the Spirit that John had spoken of at Jesus’ baptism. The cleansing, purifying fire that the prophets had foreseen. The outpouring of God’s Spirit that had been promised for so long, to turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, beating and alive, for there was too a sound like the rushing of wind. The very breath of God breathing new life into us.
Breathing new life into me. Here was proof beyond all doubt that though I was faithless, God was faithful. That my denial was not to be a millstone around my neck, but I would be Peter, the rock, on whom Christ would build his Church. For I knew not where those words I spoke came from. I’m a simple, honest, hard-working Galilean, even if others found it hard to believe such a thing existed. I think that’s as much why the crowd were all amazed and perplexed. Not just that we were all
suddenly speaking these different languages, so that everyone from all over the known world could understand, but that we were Galileans, uneducated folk from a dusty backwater, speaking their language!
What did it mean? That God was keeping his promises. That now was the time when God was inviting all – young, old, male, female, from every land and tribe, in every time and place – to be part of God’s kingdom. To receive the gift of new life, knowing that God is with us, working in us, and through us. And what better way to begin to demonstrate this, to show the incredible power of God at work within us, then to take a confused, ragtag bunch of ordinary women and men and use them to speak clearly to people from far and wide. To take me, who only a few weeks ago could not even admit to knowing Jesus, and was now preaching in front of a crowd.
What does it mean? More than anything, it must mean that this is for everyone. All of us felt the wind, all of us had flames of fire resting on us. We all spoke in different languages, because everyone needed to hear. This is for you, wherever you’re reading this today. However near or far, from me, or more importantly from God you are, this is for you. If God can pour out his love, his forgiveness, his power, his life, on me, then he can pour out that same Spirit on you. If he can be faithful to me, in spite of everything, then he will be faithful to you, whatever you have been.
What does it mean? It’s an invitation. Turn to him, trust him, open yourself to the gift of the Spirit he offers, and experience his presence, his power, his life, in you.