05/23/2026
PENTECOST VS BABEL
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house” -Acts 2
The day of Pentecost reversed the Tower of Babel. Babel scattered humanity; Pentecost reunited humanity. Babel was about building a skyscraper to God; Pentecost was God building a bridge to humanity. Babel’s languages produced confusion; Pentecost’s languages produced understanding. Babel gave rise to divided kingdoms; Pentecost launched the kingdom of God among all peoples.
The builders at Babel said, “Let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4). Their project was driven by human pride, autonomy, and self-glory. Pentecost is the opposite: the disciples proclaim “the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11). Instead of humanity trying to ascend to heaven by its own power, God comes down by His Spirit. Babel says, “We will rise to God”; Pentecost says, “God has come to us.”
And who gave that first Christian sermon on the day of Pentecost? Peter? Peter, who had been a knucklehead and denied Jesus only weeks earlier, now stood boldly before thousands proclaiming the resurrection.
The power was not in Peter’s personality or talent; it was in the Holy Spirit working through him. The same Spirit who empowered the church that day still strengthens us believers today—giving courage to the fearful, comfort to the weary, conviction to the sinner, and hope to the brokenhearted.
The church does not advance through human cleverness, but through prayer, holiness, truth, and Spirit-filled witness. Pentecost calls us to remember that God is still building His church across the world, still drawing nations to Christ, and still transforming hearts by His Spirit.
We all have a tendency to be out of sight out of mind. God knows this about us, and so 50 days after the resurrection He sends His Spirit in a public way to remind the early church—"umm, remember church, Jesus rose from the dead and is alive forevermore. And here is my Spirit to empower you to proclaim the risen Christ until I return.”
The fire that fell in Jerusalem that day continues to burn wherever Christ is proclaimed in faith.
May the Spirit of the living God fall afresh on us, and give us renewed courage to boldly proclaim the risen Christ as the hope of the world.
-Pastor Mark
