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Let Us Become the Body of Christ Through the Holy Spirit
Pentecost Sunday
(Acts 2:1-6, 43-47; John 6:53-57, 63; John 14:15-26, 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
Mari Ikeda
A. The church came into existence through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-6, 43-47)
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
B. The church lives by eating Jesus’ flesh (John 6:53-57, 63)
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. …63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
C. The Holy Spirit allows us to see the invisible Jesus (John 14:15-26, 13:34-35)
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. …25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
D. The Holy Spirit allows us to form Jesus’ body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. …27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Summary
None of us can know Jesus or believe in him without the help of the Holy Spirit. Because of our sinful nature, we easily lose sight of the fact that Jesus loves us and we fail to love each other. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, let us remember once again that Jesus died for us. We have been gathered together to remember Jesus’ death on our behalf, to encourage each other, and to share this good news with the world. As we are changed by the Holy Spirit and grow through our relationships with one another, let us strive to become a unique part of the Body of Christ.
For Discussion
1. What have you been taught about the church? What is the church to you?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us grow?