It may have seemed like a bad idea when Jesus ascended into heaven and returned to his Father. Who wouldn’t miss having Jesus around! But Jesus said it was actually better that he go away. As long as Jesus was on earth, he could only be in one place with one group of people at one time. Once he went to heaven, though, Jesus could send his Spirit to be with people everywhere all the time.

On the fiftieth day after Easter, God’s people were gathered together in Jerusalem. They were there to celebrate a holiday called Pentecost. While they were all together in one place, there came a mighty rushing wind from heaven. Tongues of fire appeared over people’s heads, and everyone began to speak in other languages. The Holy Spirit had arrived—God’s great gift to the church.

Since it was a special holiday, people from all over the world were in Jerusalem. When they heard their own languages being spoken, they were amazed. They wondered what in the world was going on. Some people made fun of the disciples. Others thought they were not in their right mind. Everyone wanted to know what the wind and the noise and the fire and the tongues and the languages were all about.

So Peter stood up and gave the first sermon for this new age of the church.

“Listen, everyone. These people you hear speaking in different languages, they are not crazy. This is what the prophet Joel said would happen. God is pouring out his Spirit. People of all ages are hearing from God. Men and women are speaking the wonderful things of God. If you call on the name of the Lord, you too can be saved.”

Peter went on to talk about Jesus—about his mighty works, about how he died according to God’s plan, about the death that could not hold him, about God exalting him to the highest place, and about the promise of the Holy Spirit. “This Jesus whom you crucified,” Peter said, “God has made both Lord and Christ.”

When the people heard this message, they were cut to the heart. Not literally. Their hearts were still beating. But in a new way. They felt sorry for their sins, and they wanted Jesus to be their Savior. “Repent and be baptized,” Peter told them, “and your sins will be forgiven. The promise to be a part of God’s family
is for you and your children and for anyone anywhere whom the Lord calls.”

It must have been a good sermon—a Holy Spirit sermon—because three thousand people believed the word Peter preached and were baptized.