THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2024
In John 20:22 we see how Jesus, after rising from the grave, comes to his disciples and blows on them and says: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This moment is not just a promise, but an actual event. Jesus gives his disciples the Holy Spirit, and this moment is a confluence of Easter and Pentecost.
This action reminds us of the vision of Ezekiel in chapter 37, where God brings the dry bones back to life by the wind of his Spirit. This vision was originally an image of the revival of the exploited Israelite nation, but the early Christians also saw it as an image of the resurrection from the dead.
As God breathes life into the dry bones, Jesus breathes his Spirit into his disciples, who create them into new people. The resurrection of Jesus and the new life of his followers are inextricably linked. These wonderful events are so big that we have two different feast days to celebrate them. EASTER AND PENTECOST!!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who renews and equips us to do Your will. Help us to appreciate the miracle of Easter and Pentecost and to live each day in the power of your Spirit. May our lives bear witness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In his name, we pray. AMEN.