How Jesus’ Disciples Became Apostles

(Posted May 15, 2024)

“Fortunately, God made all varieties of people with a wide variety of interests and abilities. He has called people of every race and color who have been hurt by life in every manner imaginable.  Even the scars of past abuse and injury can be the means of bringing healing to another. What wonderful opportunities to make disciples!”
-- Charles R. Swindoll

This Sunday is the celebration of Pentecost. And YES – it is a big deal.

It’s the Birthday of the Church.

Why is it important? The day marks the point of total transformation of that ragtag, skeptical bunch of men and women who had been following Jesus for nearly three years. Three years of maybe believing, sometime confusing, oftentimes misunderstanding, fearing but hoping that this is, in fact, the Messiah.

The Apostle’s Pentecost Journey

Pentecost was more amazing than that journey. A little more than 50 days before Pentecost occurred, most of these disciples – especially the men folk – had abandoned Jesus to a gruesome death on the cross, attended only by the women who loved Jesus.

Those other disciples had scurried off and were hiding, hiding for their lives, wherever the authorities couldn’t find them.

The Apostle’s Pentecost Preparation

A little more than 50 days later, here they are, again in the Upper Room, to be filled with the Holy Spirit that descended on them like a great Wind of God. Like the quote above from preacher Charles Swindoll, there is a vast variety of people and talents in the room, and the Holy Spirit ignites in them all a passion for action. They begin to “speak in the tongues” of their particular abilities, to start the journey of proclamation.

When you think about it, it’s all those moments of doubt and pain these disciples had already faced that prepared them for the knowing. They have seen the Lord.

God is real. They know.

If ever any of us have secretly wondered if all of these New Testament stories we read every week are true, all we have to do is look at these Pentecost men and women. They are ABSOLUTELY transformed.

This Sunday we, the disciples of today, will celebrate with the disciples of the Pentecost, to the music of Doug and Ginny Hartline. Come join in the joy with us.