WHY IT MATTERS //
Pentecost, which in Greek means “the 50th day” is during Shavuot or the festival of weeks. It’s celebrated fifty days after Passover. This was the day that God gave the law to Moses and also the day when the Holy Spirit filled the people who were assembled in the upper room. John the Baptist foretold this event; he baptized his disciples with water, which is associated with repentance (i.e. turning away from a sinful lifestyle), but he also preached about another baptism, one of the Holy Spirit (grace) and fire (power). Repentance and living a life that bears good fruit is hard, practically impossible, without the grace of God and without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Fortunately, we do not need to strive for holiness in our own strength, the Holy Spirit is a gift given to all who repent and believe in Jesus, and works inside of us to transform us into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:6, Romans 12:2).
WHAT IT'S TALKING ABOUT //
In Matthew, John the Baptist mentions three different baptisms: one of water, Holy Spirit and fire. The water baptism symbolizes the burial of the “old man” and the forgiveness of sin. The latter two are baptisms that come from Jesus, and are available to every believer. We see this take place for the first time in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit filled the believers in the upper room.
Matthew 3:1-11 NIV
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.