A sound like a rushing wind. Divided tongues like fire. Speaking in all kinds of languages. These were the great miracles that took place on the day of Pentecost. It had been fifty days since Jesus rose and changed everything. In the days after he appeared to them numerous times, and not just to the Eleven, but to many others who had followed him and put their hope in him as well. And then, forty days after his resurrection, he ascended into heaven. And now here they were fifty days later, ten days after Jesus’ ascension, and people had gathered to Jerusalem from all over for the great festival of Pentecost. And there was the sound of a rushing wind and there were divided tongues like fire and they went out speaking in all kinds of languages.
But those weren’t really the greatest miracles of Pentecost. The greatest miracle was the message itself. The Holy Spirit was working through that message to change people. Not that long ago the disciples had been hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Now they were now taking to the streets. Now they were standing up in the temple courts. Now they were boldly and publicly proclaiming the wonderful works of God, “that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
And the people who had gathered there from all over the known world heard, and they listened, and they believed. Peter preached to them, saying, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38–39) And three thousand were added to their number that day.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we are celebrating that day, that great day in history when the Holy Spirit came to his people with the gifts of his grace through the miracle of the Gospel. But no less are we celebrating today, as the Holy Spirit continues his mighty work among us, with all the gifts of his grace. He causes us to hear, and to listen, and to believe. Jesus has spoken, and his word brings the miracle of salvation. And so Jesus tells us, “Hold on to my word.”
Jesus had spoken ahead of time about these things. Our Gospel is from John 14. Before Jesus was betrayed he spoke to his disciples and said,
“If anyone loves me, he will hold on to my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who does not love me does not hold on to my words. The word that you are hearing is not mine, but it is from the Father who sent me.” (John 14:23–24)
Jesus’ death was fast approaching and he would no longer be with them in the way that he had been, where they could talk face-to-face. So it makes sense that Jesus would tell them to hold on to his word. Don’t we do that in our relationships with all kinds of people? You can probably think of people in your life who have given you a piece of wisdom or an encouragement that really stuck with you. I can think of some of the teachers that I’ve had and how much some of their words meant to me. When I was a youngster my grandfather encouraged me to become a pastor and here I am today. Oftentimes we don’t even know how much of an impact our words might have on someone, how much they are holding to something we once said.
But while the words of my teachers’ lessons and my grandfather’s encouragement are things that I hold on to and are ever-so-meaningful to me, Jesus’ words are so much more. Jesus’ words aren’t just good advice. They aren’t just quotable snippets of wisdom for this life. They are life, life from God, life for us.
So Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will hold on to my word.” There are many people in this world who say that they love Jesus. There are churchgoers and non-churchgoers. There are members of all kinds of different Christian denominations. And in all these places you’ll find lots of people who say the same thing, “Oh yes, I love Jesus.”
But what does that mean? Jesus tells us right here. If you really love him, you will hold on to his word. Conversely, he says “The one who does not love me does not hold on to my words.”
Certainly, the godless world around us does not love Jesus. It does not hold onto his word at all, but despises it completely. And there are also many who claim to love Jesus who are really no different. Can you love Jesus while also being proud and unrepentant over your sins that break his commandments? Can you love Jesus while snorting at what he says about his holy sacraments? How many Christians pick and choose which words of Jesus to hold on to, and which ones to ignore completely?
Jesus is going to come again, and he’s going to judge the living and the dead. And at that time many people will say, “Jesus, Lord, my whole life I have always loved you!” And Jesus will say to them, “No, you have not. You have not held on to my word.”
But that is also a scary thought for me, because I don’t always hold so well to Jesus’ word. How often do I say, “I just don’t have the time right now, Jesus, maybe I’ll find time for your word later.”? How often do I know exactly what Jesus says in his word and yet I do the exact opposite. “Oh certainly, Jesus, I know what you have to say about this. But my way is better.”
If how well I have held to Jesus’ word is the measure of my judgment, then, truly, what can I expect him to say to me on the day of Judgment? Make no mistake. The Law of God does not say, “Love the Lord your God with some of your heart and soul and mind, at some times, when it’s convenient for you. The righteous Judge will not shrug at your sin just because you say, “But Lord, you know that I love you!” Jesus says, “The one who does not love me does not hold on to my words.”
But do not miss the promise in Jesus’ words! There is a great miracle here! Out of his pure grace he says to your soul, “Yes, you have despised my word. Yes, you have feared and loved and trusted in the world more than you have in me. And there is nothing that you can do to pay the debt of sin, nothing you can do to escape death and hell, nothing you can do to overcome your unbelief. But the ruler of this world has no power over me. I have come to pay the debt of your sin, and to overcome for you death and hell. And I will send you the Holy Spirit to teach you my word and by his almighty power overcome your unbelief and fill your heart with faith and give to you my peace.”
Jesus said,
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I told you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid.
Jesus’ disciples had spent three years learning from him, hearing every perfect and glorious word he spoke. But Jesus did not say, “You’ve been taught. You’ve heard all my good lessons. I’m departing, so it’s up to you now.” No, he promised that they would not be all on their own. The Holy Spirit will teach them. And God will make his dwelling with them. Holding to the word of Jesus then is not a desperate act, like clinging to a plank of wood after a shipwreck in a stormy sea. Rather, it is to hold in your hand and in your mind and in your heart a most precious treasure. This isn’t just a memento to remember him by. No. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ—dear confirmands; Edmund, Peter, and Micah—today is the day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit still comes to us with his mighty and gracious gifts. The peace of Jesus, won at the cross, which overcomes the Devil, the World, and our own sinful flesh is yours. It is yours in your Baptism, where your sins were washed away and you were declared God’s own child. It is yours as you learn the word of Jesus, to treasure it in your mind and heart. It is yours in his Holy Supper, that little taste of heaven. And it will be yours in eternity.
The sound of a rushing wind. Divided tongues like fire. Speaking in all kinds of languages. Those Pentecost miracles were certainly great. But what makes them great is how they stood in witness to the glorious word of Jesus. They heard. They listened. They believed. His word is truth. It’s life. It’s salvation. Through it God makes his dwelling with us. Hold on to his word. Be filled with his peace.
Amen.