Happy Birthday
Acts 2:36-41
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
There was no cake that day. My son would be disappointed. When anyone says the word birthday now, he always chimes in, “Cake!” But it was a birthday nonetheless.
Jesus’ followers were gathered in one place possibly somewhere in the temple courts. They were praying and worshiping together. The 12 Apostles were there, including newly minted apostle Matthias.
Suddenly, the sound of a blowing wind. Tongues of fire descend on their heads. Languages unknown to their lips flow from their mouths. The people in Jerusalem are intrigued. Peter sermonizes a summary of the promises of Jesus. “Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” “Seeing what was to come, [David] spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.” “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
The people are cut to the heart. Peter has accused them of crucifying the Messiah. Of putting to death God's promised Savior. Had they foiled God's plan and purpose? Were thousands of years of waiting all for naught? Had they betrayed God one fatally final time?
No! As Peter says, “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.” “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” This was God's plan all along. The Messiah had to suffer and die. He had to rise from the dead to win salvation. When the crowd asks, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter responds, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Not only had Jesus come to win salvation, he had come to win salvation for them.
And 3,000 were added to their number that day.
Incredible! Their numbers multiplied by 250 that day. Pentecost is rightly called the birthday of the Christian Church.
Pentecost is this Sunday. The Church has celebrated thousands of birthdays since then. Should she have stopped counting at 29 just like you did? Maybe she seems like she’s gone over a few hills by now. Churches aren’t growing by 3,000 people per day. In fact, in many places churches aren’t growing at all.
Yet, in spite of appearances. like a fine wine, the Church continues to age well. She stands as the Messiah’s Bride. According to God's plan and purpose, he was put to death and raised to life. It is his life and death that created her. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
You are part of this Church. Though Atonement was founded in 1983, you are part of a Church that spans back through millennia. You are part of a Church that stands at her Bridegroom’s side, and because of him, nothing can prevail against her, not even the gates of hell. Within this Church, you have been washed with water through the word. You are radiant. You are without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. Holy. Blameless before God.
Birthdays are a time to look back and to look forward. As we celebrate the Church’s birthday, we give thanks to Jesus for all he’s done for us, his Church, from his sending the Holy Spirit that first Pentecost, to his continued sending of his Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word. We look forward, also, to what he will do for and through his Church, sending his Holy Spirit to strength her and add to her number. It might not be 3,000 people a day. But the world will not end until all who will be saved are saved.
Speaking of 3,000 people a day, did you know that within a mile of church there are nearly 6,000 people who claim no religion and nearly 2,000 more who don’t believe in Jesus? We have work to do.
Come, Holy Spirit, renew our hearts, and kindle in us the fire of your love. Amen.