Jesus Keeps His Promise
5/5/25 Bible Thought (Acts 2)
On page after page after page of the Scripture, God is presented as a promise-making and promise-keeping God. He is faithful. What He says, He will do.
Jesus Christ, being God-incarnate and part of the triune God, would certainly do the same.
In many places Jesus had foretold the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (Jn. 14:18). There was a promised “Helper” that was coming (Jn. 14:16, 26). Jesus had told the disciples to await in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Not only this, but it was foretold centuries before by the prophet Joel, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28a).
In Acts 2 this is fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Originally, Pentecost was just an annual Jewish feast that was held seven weeks, or fifty days (hence “pentecost”) after the Passover.[1] So, this event took place somewhere around a week after Jesus’ ascension.
In the perfect providence of God, He sends the Spirit on an annual festival day when Jews from all over were present in Jerusalem. The speaking of their other languages by Galileans then became a tell-tale sign that God was up to something—for not only were they speaking other languages, but they were declaring, “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11).
As many have noted, the spreading of humanity that was done at Babel was in a sense undone at Pentecost. Now, there would be believers from every nation, tribe, and tongue who, rather than being scattered, would be gathered around the throne of God in worship.
With the coming of the Spirit came power (Acts 1:8) and Jesus had foretold that the age of the Spirit would be even better than His earthly ministry. Consider, that when Christ came, although divine, He could only be in one place at one time due to the limitations of human flesh.
But now, with the Spirit, He can be with His followers everywhere, at all times. Truly, the new covenant believer in Jesus has an assurance that God is always with them in an even greater sense as God the Spirit not only goes with us but inhabits us. What a wonderful hope!
For this reason, Jesus had foretold of the greatness of the ministry of the Spirit by saying,
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn. 16:7)
Jesus said it was better for Him to depart.
Now, I would think it would be nicer to have Him here in the flesh. To be able to literally walk and talk with my Lord. But no, Jesus says the ministry of the Spirit is to the advantage of His followers. It’s a better time to be alive post-Pentecost than before!
This is the new age in which we live, experiencing better promises than the old covenant believers did, and having the Helper with us.
How amazing it is that Jesus fulfills His Word, sends His Spirit, and doesn’t leave us without help in the tasks He has given to us!
In Acts 2 the Helper comes, the Church is officially birthed, and day by day ever since God has been adding to the number, “those who were [and are!] being saved” (Acts 2:47).
[1] Ronald D. Roberts, “Pentecost,” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).