Scripture Study for

Pentecost was the Greek name for the summer harvest festival held fifty days after Passover (Deuteronomy 16:9–12). It was one of the three pilgrimage festivals in which “devout Jews from every nation  under heaven” were expected to come to Jerusalem. At the sound of a strong driving wind these same Jews rush to the scene to discover Jesus’ disciples speaking in their various languages. Ultimately, the  Spirit’s work will not be limited to the “gift of tongues,” but this  along with the power to speak of “the mighty acts of God” is the  most immediate effect of Pentecost. With the coming of the Spirit,  the disciples are equipped to further Jesus’ mission to gather “all  nations” to God, beginning with Israel. 

Socioeconomic divisions in Corinth have been exacerbated by  a tendency to interpret different charisms of the Spirit as status  indicators. Paul emphasizes that God has endowed the Corinthians  with a variety of gifts—different gifts, different forms of service,  different workings—that are meant to enrich the community, not  divide it. They have not been given to individuals as much as they  have been given to the community as a whole, and for the whole  community’s benefit. The fact that the same Spirit is responsible for  the variety of gifts means that, ultimately, they are meant to unify the  one body of Christ, which the Spirit is building and unifying through  those same gifts. 

In John’s Gospel the risen Lord bestows the Spirit on his followers  not at Pentecost but on the evening of the Resurrection. Compelled  by fear to barricade themselves behind doors, they nevertheless  suddenly discover that Christ has been able to enter into their midst.  Although some of his disciples may have good reason to fear even  him, having abandoned him at his darkest hour, Jesus greets them  immediately with peace. His wounds are offered not as a reproach,  but as evidence that it is he, the wounded Jesus, who greets them  with twice peace, a sign of reconciliation. Breathing on them the  promised Holy Spirit (14:15–17), Jesus empowers them to offer that  same reconciliation through the forgiveness of sins.