After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven?” 

Acts 1:9-11

Pentecost. The Holy Spirit. Power from above. Tongues of fire. Rush of a mighty wind. It’s enough to make any mainstream, middle of the road, I believe in God Christian nervous and uncomfortable.

Good grief, even Jesus gets too real for some Christians. This Holy Spirit stuff is all too much!

But here we are. In need of more than a little power if you ask me.

But most of us, I suspect, are more like that band of disciples in the first chapter of Acts, standing around looking into the sky saying, “What happened to Jesus?” and, “I thought Jesus was going to take care of things.”

Nope. Plan B, Part Two, The Adventure Continues. This was always going to be on us. Jesus moved the operation from: “Here I am, in person, but limited in terms of time and space,” to: “I will send you another Comforter,” and, “You will accomplisher far greater things….”

Ergo The Holy Spirit. Ergo The Great Commission.

But not with Christians standing around with their heads looking up into the clouds.

Happy Pentecost Sunday. May it continue to make all of us (appropriately) uncomfortable. – DEREK