40 DAYS EASTER AFTER ASCENSION
TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2024
JOHN20:22 “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
I am still dealing with the Dutch idiom “As Pasen Pentecost falls on one day” which suggests something impossible. For me, it is an expression that reminds us of the fact that the Resurrection of Jesus is inextricably linked to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
In John 20 verse 22 we read how after His resurrection Jesus gives His disciples the Holy Spirit by breathing on them. This event is noteworthy because it occurs before the Pentecost event. It reminds us of the story of creation where God breathes life into man, and so we become human living souls. In the same way, Jesus now breathes his Spirit on his disciples, so that they can become new people.
This action reminds us of a vision that Ezekiel had, where God promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit and to remove the hard heart from us. This indicates the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which renews us internally and equips us to do the will of God.
The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to forgive and to preach the gospel. Just as the converts after Pentecost received the courage to speak and preach, so the Holy Spirit gives us the courage and the words to convey the love and forgiveness of God to others.
PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who renews and equips us to do your will. Give us the courage to forgive and the strength to share the gospel with others. May our life bear witness to your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray, AMEN