In just seven weeks the first Christians witnessed the death, burial, resurrection appearances and exaltation of Jesus. It must have been a terrifying, as well as exhilarating, time. Then, fifty days later, they were all met together in one place.

That day - in a way which was beyond human understanding -  things changed again. There was a sense of the wind rushing in. Flames of fire seemed to flash around them. They were filled with a new confidence. They were somehow able to make themselves understood to people of different backgrounds, people they had felt they could never reach.

Some scoffed that they were drunk. But no. It was early in the morning. If this was wine, it was a new kind of wine: a new pouring out of the Spirit, on sons and daughters, on young and old.

As Pentecost approaches, the question is for us: do we believe we can receive new gifts of the Holy Spirit? Do we want to? What would it take?

It may seem far off. Often the bones of our lives seem so dry. But the Spirit never ceases to stir us, asking: ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’

In Ezekiel’s vision that is the question when he is confronted with a valley full of bones. The world’s answer, the worldly wise answer, is, ‘I shouldn’t think so’.

But Ezekiel, moved by the Spirit answers differently: ‘O Lord God: you know’. In faith he refuses to rate the situation at the world’s estimation.

And then God begins to disclose to Ezekiel his possibilities. ‘Prophesy! Prophesy to these bones and say: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. I will cause breath to enter into you – and you shall live.’ And finally they breathe for real, and stand on their feet, in the power of the Spirit, an exceeding great multitude.

Many people in our society feel some spiritual deadness, or dryness. In Ezekiel’s vision there were very many in the valley, and they were very dry. But God brought life even then.

And, if none of this makes sense from a worldly point of view, well, that is the point of the Spirit. Jesus says, when the Spirit comes to us, he will prove the world wrong: about sin, about righteousness, about judgement.

Wrong about sin, because the world thinks sin is a cycle which cannot be broken. But it can be broken, through the forgiveness and reconciliation shown once for all on the Cross.

Wrong about righteousness, because the world thinks it doesn’t matter. But it matters more than anything, and the Spirit can help us to know what it is and find strength to do it.

Wrong about judgement, because the world views the possibility of judgement with terror. But all power lies with an merciful and all-gracious God, and it is our accuser who, powerful as he may be in this fallen world, has in fact been condemned.

The Spirit has proved the world wrong in its understandings of all three of these things. And perhaps he will prove the world wrong about you.

‘Mortal, can these bones live? O Lord God: you know’.

 

Rev Philip Krinks