The story of the Day of Pentecost tells of a pivotal event in the history of God's work in the world. It tells of the emerging of a very important aspect of the Christian faith and of the birth of the church.

It is a story that is exciting to some people. But, quite frankly, it is a story that scares some other people and makes them want to back away. All of this talk about wind and fire and speaking in foreign tongues excites some people but it turns some off. It may be that we have focused our attention on the wrong aspect of the story. What was actually happening to those first followers of Jesus as they gathered in Jerusalem? It was something that a great many people in our own day want and need to fill a big empty spot in their lives. Those who were gathered there experienced the rea…