Today's Reading: Acts 2:41-47
Daily Lectionary: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28; Mark 13:1-23
“And so those who received his word were baptized and there were added that day three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)
Happy Lent! In the name of Jesus. Amen. Happy Pentecost! Well, that’s where the Daily Lectionary takes us today. St. Peter has preached, the Holy Spirit has just come with all sorts of languages, fire, and wind!
And how does the day of Pentecost end? Does it end with the tongues of fire? Does it end with the roaring wind? Does it end with everyone giving their hearts to Jesus? No, it ends at the Baptismal Font!
Three thousandbaptized that day! Three thousand souls added to the Christian Church. Three thousand realizing that Jesus lived His life keeping the Law for them. Three thousand believing that He died the death they deserved and that His resurrection is their resurrection.
His salvation is delivered in the water to you and me. Jesus takes all that He did and accomplished on the Cross and makes it ours in the waters of our Baptism. Just like He did for the three thousand that day.
Not that the water is special. It’s not—it’s two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Nothing extra. What makes the water deliver salvation is that the Holy Spirit attaches the Word of Christ to it.
Fruit: The fruit grows in the lives of the three thousand! They left that day, changed. They were different than the day before. They devoted themselves to the Word delivered to them in the water. They sold their possessions and shared everything. They clung to the Apostle’s words and teaching, and they prayed and broke bread with one another.
They “broke bread”—that’s the Lord’s Supper! The One who washed their sins away, continued to feed them His Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and the wine. They were strengthened; they were enlivened by His Supper.
Do we have to share everything, too? No, God is not requiring that of you. In Acts, He’s simply showing you how God’s people lived after they were enlivened by the Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.
The fruit of your faith is seen in how you are for others. Put them before yourself. Look after their needs—especially those who can’t help themselves. And if given the opportunity, it’s good to share your stuff, too, don’t you think? Your faith is lived out in your neighbor.
Day by day, they lived out their faith. Day by day you live out your faith, too. Constantly drowning your sins, your temptations, and your selfishness, and receiving again Jesus. That’s what Pentecost teaches us—our faith is lived out day by day in and through Jesus’ Calvary-won gifts.
That’s what Lent is all about, too! So, have a happy, Pentecosty-Lent today! In the name of Jesus. Amen.