By: Jean-Daniel Plüess (President, Fondation du Forum Chrétien Mondial
In April we celebrated the feast of Easter. It is the surprise of Easter that changed everything in the lives of the disciples. They began to understand that the resurrection of Jesus was the victory of life over death. They began to believe in their Lord and Savior in a new way.
After the surprise of Easter there came the surprise of Pentecost. Not only did they believe in Jesus, they also had an encounter with God’s Holy Spirit, who was now clearly present in the world just as Jesus had been.
Peter gave the astonished crowd an explanation. Quoting the words of the Old Testament prophet Joel the listeners understood that God desires to be present in all, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh” (Acts 2:17&18) so that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
This is a promise that is not conditional upon a particular Church tradition or membership. It is a promise of our sovereign God to all.
May we be able to receive this surprise of Pentecost in such a way that we welcome all who have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to be our sister and brother. May we find ways to be witnesses of Christ together.
