“In Their Own Language,” by Rev. Peter von Herrmann
Of the three persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the Holy Spirit has always been the one that’s the most confusing to me. I can take some comfort in that it is naturally difficult to nail down something also defined as “wind.”
Although it is inherently hard to define, what we can do is see the results of the wind, as well as the results of the Spirit. The result of the Spirit in this case is speaking in languages that are completely understandable. EACH person understood the gospel message in their OWN language.
What does it mean that the church is founded on talking about Jesus in other people’s language? This morning we’ll think about that and its implications.
Perhaps this morning you will hear that good news of God’s love in your language. Maybe you’ll be led to speak in somebody else’s language. Whichever the case, remember that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
The Word
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
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Hi, I wanted to let you know how your sermon spoke to me. It is a sadness many immigrants have to deal with, that we cannot hear God’s message in our mother tongue on a regular basis when we attend our churches in our new adopted countries.
René Jooste