tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post6194102844430948478..comments2024-03-24T05:54:23.612-05:00Comments on Weedon's Blog: Lenten Midweek Homily IIIWilliam Weedonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-13694784755153717802015-03-13T12:52:28.308-05:002015-03-13T12:52:28.308-05:00Thank you for an edifying sermon. But there is so...Thank you for an edifying sermon. But there is something that has always bothered me; that is when we are made equal to the Apostles, as in, “In the waters the Holy Spirit Himself descended upon you even as He descended on Peter and the other Apostles on Pentecost - transforming them from quavering cowards to bold confessors. “ This would justify the countless sermons I have heard about the mighty acts of the Apostles, berating the listeners for their weak faith and inability to do the same.<br />The fact is that our Lord counted baptism so important that it was the first thing He did when He met the Apostles on the day of His resurrection. John 20:22, “When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” But this did not transform them to “bold confessors”, even as it appears to have little effect on the infant or grown-up who has just been baptized. At some point Peter said, John 21:3, “I am going fishing”. He did not know what to believe or hope for any more. And just before our Lord’s ascension, the Apostles said to Him, Acts 1:6, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” So they were still clueless. The Lord responds, Acts 1:8, ”But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. Peter felt this “power” a little early, so he talked the other Apostles into electing a successor to Judas.<br />I believe that one of the reasons for the 50 days between our Lord’s resurrection and Pentecost is to demonstrate that during that time the Apostles were just like ordinary Christians today. This makes it clear that we should not despair because we cannot equal their labors. The Apostles became “bold confessors” when they “received power”, very special power that nobody has ever received before or since. For this reason, God inspired the author of Revelation to write, 21:14, “And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve name of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb”.<br />When the day of Pentecost had come, there was no mistaking the power that had come on the Apostles. The Holy Spirit had already transformed them into members of the Kingdom of God, when He came to dwell in them on Easter Sunday. On Pentecost He “came upon them” bringing the special powers that transformed them into “bold confessors” and workers of miracles. If it seems that one should not make a case for the mere difference between “in” and “upon”, here are the words of our Lord concerning the Holy Spirit, spoken on the day before He died, John 14:17, “You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you”.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291232.post-51099522229834781672015-03-12T21:16:01.375-05:002015-03-12T21:16:01.375-05:00What wonderful consolation. I too am baptized into...What wonderful consolation. I too am baptized into the Victor over death. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com