St. John15:26-27; 16:4b-15
May 20, 2018
The Day of Pentecost B
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus~
There are a lot of moving parts on this Pentecost Sunday—pieces of Pentecost are scattered all over the place. Today’s Scripture readings give us a dizzying swirl of details: We began in a valley of dry bones with the Prophet Ezekiel—bones eventually brought to life by the Word of God and the breath of His Spirit. In Acts chapter 2 we get a cacophony of fire and wind, and sermons spoken simultaneously
Two events in Milwaukee this past week can actually provide some clarity for us on this Pentecost Sunday. If you’ve traveled down I-94 through Oak Creek at all during the past year, then you’ve probably seen that big, blue building coming together. Ikea has come to Milwaukee. I’m sure you saw some of the coverage of their grand opening on Wednesday. In fact, I saw photographic evidence that some of you were there. A grand opening is an event designed to draw in big numbers of people, to generate interest and excitement, to make an impression on as many people as possible. Great deals, giveaways, balloons, live music, and media coverage are all part of the grand opening hoopla.
And so it is with Pentecost. The wind, the tongues of fire, the miracle of languages—these things were all ingredients of the Church’s great grand opening—the balloons and fireworks that marked the public opening of Christ’s end-times embassy on earth. That’s what the church actually is—a foreign embassy—in the world but not of the world—an outpost of heaven on earth, proclaiming the reign of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. And the Holy Spirit is the Divine Ambassador of this embassy sent to preach Christ crucified, to bear witness about Jesus, and to guide you into all truth.
But not every day can be a grand opening. Go to Ikea six months from now and there won’t be live music or giveaways or helicopters circling overhead. So, too, with Pentecost. The ongoing work of the Holy Spirit is not in the wind and the fire, or even the miraculous languages. That was for the grand opening. But the Spirit’s work continues among us today in ways both predictable and precious: in the Word, in Holy Baptism, and in the Holy Supper. Or as St. Luke summed things up post-Pentecost: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine and the fellowship, to the Breaking of Bread and the prayers.” Those things are the enduring legacy of Pentecost; and we have them here today.
The Ikea grand opening had been scheduled and planned for a long time; but our pre-Pentecost week was also punctuated by the unexpected and devastating fire at Old Trinity on Tuesday. It was both terrifying and tragic to see that majestic edifice engulfed in flames—especially for those of us who have been there for special events in recent years. Now all that remains is a shell—bare bones made of masonry. Can those bones live again? Only the Lord knows.
But what we do know for sure is that the church—the one, holy, Christian and apostolic Church—has nothing to do with a church building, and everything to do with the Word of God enlivened by the Holy Spirit. As you read the account of Pentecost and the early church, there was no church building. The temple in Jerusalem was quickly becoming an Old Testament relic in a New Testament world. Church buildings are a wonderful convenience—a destination specially designed for preaching and singing and praying.
But for Christianity’s first three centuries there were next to no church buildings because Christianity was illegal; and those who trusted in Jesus Christ could only gather secretly, often in private homes. The fire at Trinity is a salutary reminder that we could lose the roof over our heads right now; and yet, led by our Good Shepherd, we would lack nothing. It’s a salutary reminder that this building won’t last forever—or that it could even be taken away from us at some point in the future by unfriendly forces. But Jesus will continue to build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
On this Pentecost Sunday we remember that Jesus has a “Helper” when it comes to building His church. And concerning this “Helper,” the Holy Spirit, Jesus made this amazing claim: “He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment,” Jesus told them. “Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment because the ruler of this world is judged.” Sin, righteousness, and judgment—these are the main concerns of the Holy Spirit.
He will convict the world concerning sin. Notice that it’s “sin,” not “sins.” The Holy Spirit isn’t at work simply to admonish us for our discreet faux paus of thought, word and deed. The Holy Spirit is working to convict and expose, not just individual sins, but to expose the total corruption that goes to the very core of our humanity. It renders everything we do sinful, no matter how good it may appear to us or to others. The Holy Spirit is not some heavenly principal into whose office you get called when you’ve broken the rules. The Spirit doesn’t deal with the symptoms as much as He diagnoses the disease called “sin.” We sin because we are sinners. That’s what the world needs convicting of, and we do too. Otherwise, we will begin to justify ourselves—which is the very thing that renders Jesus’ death and resurrection useless for us. Because if you can justify yourself and justify your sins, then what point is there in being justified for Jesus’ sake?
The Holy Spirit will also convict the world of righteousness. Sin is what we have; righteousness is what we lack—and we are naked without it. We need to be clothed—covered in a righteousness that is not our own. Our own righteousness won’t cut it—like when Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. But self-stitched fig leaves are about as effective as the fig leaves of our own works.
God Himself must provide the clothing. God Himself—the Holy Spirit—must clothe us with the righteousness of Christ. Last week in Sunday school the children learned about how Jacob disguised himself to feel like and smell like his brother, Esau, and so obtain the blessing from his father, Isaac. When we are covered with the righteousness of our brother, Jesus, only then can we obtain our heavenly Father’s blessing.
This is the beating heart of what was proclaimed at Pentecost. This is why all the special effects were employed for that grand opening. Jesus Christ became our sin so that we might be covered in His righteousness—as a gift that we receive through faith. This is what Luther called the “great exchange.” And the engineer of that exchange—the Person who actually seals the deal for each of us personally—is the Holy Spirit. Our sin in exchange for the righteousness of Jesus. By this (and only this) you stand justified before God. Your sin is covered. Christ’s righteousness is yours.
The Holy Spirit will also convict the world concerning judgment. The collision of human sin and God’s righteousness is leading up to a moment of judgment for each of us. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). And as we regularly confess about the Christ, “He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead.” There will be a division—a separation of sheep and goats, of believers and unbelievers. This world in its present form is passing away. The devil would love to convince you otherwise, or to lead you to believe that you’re good enough and smart enough to face whatever the future may bring without help from anyone else—least of all the Holy Spirit.
Sin, righteousness, and judgment. These three things the world does not believe or even understand. These three things the Holy Spirit seeks to convict and convince the world of. And the Holy Spirit uses but one tool to accomplish this: the Word. Not tongues of fire or any other miraculous special effects. He does it all through the Word—through the gospel—the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised again for our justification. By that good news the Holy Spirit has called you, gathered you, enlightened you, and sanctified you. He has made you a member of Christ’s holy church—the Communion of Saints. And on the last day He will raise up you and all the dead, and give to you and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true. Happy Pentecost!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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