This week the two Abrahamic faiths of Judaism and Christianity celebrate the liturgical feast of Pentecost, which falls on the ancient Jewish holiday festival called the "feast of weeks" or Shavuot (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). This date is called Pentecost because it takes place &ldquoldquo;fifty” days after the major Jewish festival of Passover. Shavuot is the second of the three harvest feasts. Most Christian believers know little of the significance of Pentecost, Shavuot, for the Jewish people.
In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit descended upon certain people for a specific service, and then departed after the purpose was accomplished (cf. 1 Samuel 16:13-14; Ps. 51:11). At Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descended on him like a dove so the disciples fully experienced the ministry of what they understood to be the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
In the gospel of John 14:17, some think Jesus declared that from now on the Holy Spirit would not just assist them but be in them. "He abides with you and will be in you." This scripture suggests a permanent, uninterrupted residence--something that wasn’t emphasized in Old Testament times. The Lord promised a spiritual indweller in Ezekiel 37:14 as the prophet recorded, "I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life."
The prophet was probably being assured of the gift of an indwelling spirit that we know in the UB as the Thought Adjuster, the “Spirit of the Father,” distinct from the Holy Spirit of the Trinity. This same promise was confirmed by Jesus and taught to the Christian community in Luke’s gospel, “the kingdom of God is within you.”
The Urantia Book (UB) provides more of what Jesus told his apostles: “In just a few hours the world will see me no more; but you will continue to know me in your hearts even until I send you this new teacher, the Spirit of Truth. As I have lived with you in person, then shall I live in you; I shall be one with your personal experience in the spirit kingdom. And when this has come to pass, you shall surely know that I am in the Father, and that, while your life is hid with the Father in me, I am also in you. (180:4.2)
The Comforter, a New Bestowal of Spirit
Jesus is quoted in the Bible as saying the Spirit he is sending at the time of his death and ascension is “another Helper.” He refers to its role in another passage as “the Comforter,” or the “Spirit of Truth.” Plainly he was promising that an additional spiritual influence would be bestowed on the world. Many scholars have pointed out that scriptures show we were “anointed” with both a Spirit of the Father and a Spirit of the Son. Passages in New Testament scriptures (such as Galatians 4:6), reveal that Jesus sent a Spirit “of the Son,” and this sparked the controversy that created a schism between Western and Eastern Orthodox sects for over a thousand years. In the UB, this is confirmed in Jesus’s own words, “And when this new day comes, you will be indwelt by the Son as well as by the Father.” (180:4.3)
In recognizing this truth, we are stunned by the generous outpouring of fatherly love. Since the day of Pentecost we live with the help and guidance of several coordinated spirit influences. In addition to the spirit presences that were bestowed or sent is the “Holy Spirit” of the Creative Mother Spirit, and the original “person” of the Trinity, “The Infinite Spirit” that has existed since the beginnings of eternity. Logically speaking, new readers should realize that God the Father would not send a spirit entity in Jesus’ time that was already sent in the times of Ezekiel. Clearly we need philosophic logic to sort out what we are witnessing in the texts and the UB has come across with a big dollop of it along with added information. It is important to help new readers adopt an objective distance from the “sacredness” of their traditional texts if we are to do the necessary sorting. There are exciting discoveries ahead for us and all new UB readers as we seek partnership with these spirit presences!
Jesus sought to reassure his followers with his message saying: “But the helper … whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) “When he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he shall eventually guide you into all truth as you pass through the many abodes in my Father’s universe.” (UB 180:6.3, John 16.13). This is the Comforter he spoke of who would bring comfort to his bereaved and lonely followers.
The Energizing Experience at the Spirit of the Son’s Arrival
Pentecost was the experience of a new found energy and fire that sent the apostles into the streets and synagogues to preach the glad tidings, as first described in our biblical tradition in the Acts of the Apostles. It so empowered their preaching that they brought thousands of souls to be baptised on that day. Both Jews and Gentiles participated in Pentecost. There was no Christian Church yet. Although traditional Christians claim the Spirit of Truth was only given to the Church, enlightened Christians understand that it was given to all who believed in truth.
In reality, it is an influence felt by all who believe in the truth of the message Jesus taught. The writer at http://barnes.biblecommenter.com/john/16.htm has an enlightened perspective that differs from other Christian commentators, understanding that the Spirit of Truth’s presence is available to all peoples. “While on the earth the Lord Jesus could be bodily present but in one place at one time. Yet, in order to secure the great design of saving men, it was needful that there should be some agent who could be in all places, who could attend all ministers, and who could, at the same time, apply the work of Christ to people in all parts of the earth.”
This is what excites American Indian Christians, at least those familiar with the deeper meanings of the story. Pentecost gave those who love truth all around the world access to the gift of his presence that Jesus bestowed on that day. American Indian believers thus feel they were able to experience "the Christ" at the same time as Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem were and can continue to experience him. This part of Pentecost was so exciting to the Lakota American Indian pastor and theologian, Richard Twiss, that he was teaching his followers this truth before he passed away in February of this year. See the website, http://www.wiconi.com/?cid=1276
What we all were given is a friend who will share the difficult path. The Jewish prophet Joel foresaw the gift in Joel 2: 28-30, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth.”
May we all walk in beauty.
