Readings: Acts 2:1-21, John 15: 26-27 & 16:4-15

Pentecost: Every great story has a turning point—a moment of promise, followed by a moment where that promise is fulfilled in a way no one could have imagined. 

Today, as we celebrate Pentecost Week, we are looking at perhaps the greatest promise ever fulfilled in the life of the Church.To truly understand the power of Pentecost, we must first understand the promise that came before it. 

So let’s set the scene with the context from our reading in John's Gospel. The story begins not with drama, but in a quiet, tense room during the Last Supper.

Jesus has just told his friends where he is going, and Thomas has asked how they can know the way. Jesus gives that famous, foundational answer: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”It is into this profound statement that Philip makes his heartfelt plea: "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." He’s asking for something definite. And Jesus’s response goes to the very heart of his identity. He says, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

He then makes a staggering promise that shifts the focus from himself to them. “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” And he gives them the means: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”Finally, he promises the Advocate who will make this all possible—the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.

This is the promise: a deeply personal presence that will empower them to do "even greater things."Now, let's bridge the gap. Fast forward a few weeks. Jesus is gone. The disciples are huddled together, clinging to these incredible promises. They are waiting. But for what? What does it look like to do "greater things"?

And then comes the answer. The fulfillment.

Our reading from the book of Acts tells us that suddenly, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the entire house. Tongues of fire came to rest on each of them. They are all filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other languages.

Because of the sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment. It’s a festival, and Jerusalem is a melting pot. As they hear the disciples speaking of God's wonders, each in their own native tongue, some are amazed, but others make fun of them. And in that moment, we see the first flicker of that promised power. Peter stands up and cuts through the cynicism, declaring, “These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” He then proceeds to preach with a boldness he never had before.

The quiet, intimate promise of a comforter has exploded into a powerful, public event. The Spirit that would comfort the orphaned few is now breaking down barriers and empowering them to speak truth to a confused world. The private promise has led to public power.

So what does this mean for us, right here in our own lives today? First, the Spirit is still our constant friend, the Comforter. This is the fulfillment of that intimate promise from John. Remember what Jesus promised? An Advocate who lives in us. He said, "I will not leave you as orphans." And he hasn't. What does that look like?

It looks like finding the strength to face the day when you are struggling with your mental health. It’s the unexpected moment of peace that descends when you’re sitting in a hospital waiting room. It's knowing what to say to a grieving friend, when you thought you had no words. It’s that quiet, inner resilience that helps you keep going when you feel like giving up. That is the Holy Spirit, our comforter and friend, living in us.

And second, the Spirit is still the Power that enables us to do "greater things." This isn't necessarily about grand, public miracles. More often, it's about small acts of courageous love. It’s the nudge to drop off a meal for a neighbour who is going through a tough time. It's giving you the courage to speak up against a casual injustice you see at work or in your community. It’s the grace to forgive someone who has hurt you, when every part of you wants to hold on to resentment. It’s what empowers us to break down the walls in our own lives, just as the disciples did with language, and to speak truth with love, just as Peter did to that mocking crowd. That is the Spirit as Power, at work through you.

So as we reflect, let's take a moment to reflect on this. I want you to imagine something. We know Jesus as our Good Shepherd, the one who knows us each by name, who lays down his life for his sheep. Now imagine his ever-present sheepdog, tirelessly working at the edges of the flock. That dog is the Holy Spirit—constantly guiding, gently nudging, sometimes barking loudly to get our attention, but always working to turn us back towards our Shepherd. This is a powerful picture of the Spirit’s role. And we must remember, this guide isn't just a servant of God, but is fully God himself, working in perfect unity with the Father and the Son, who are also always present, always caring for us.

So the question for us today is this: How is that Spirit moving in your life right now? Where is that gentle nudge guiding you? What barrier is the Spirit empowering you to break down?

So today, let us celebrate Pentecost. Let's give thanks for the quiet, profound promises Jesus made to his friends. And let's celebrate the glorious, powerful way that promise was—and still is—fulfilled. Let's ask God to open our hearts once more to receive that same Spirit: our constant friend, and our source of power to change the world.