After Jesus had risen from the dead, He instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. We learn that these men and women, whose lives were in grave danger, gathered in an upper room to wait and pray for the promise of the Father. Day one passed and no miracle occurred. Then day two - nothing. Then day three - nothing. The same on days four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine. Imagine their impatience. Imagine their fear and what they were thinking. "This is stupid, let's get out of here and do something". Imagine the restless boredom of sitting in one room day after day with nothing but a word from Jesus to hold on to.
Was their hope merely an illusion? Was this promise just a shifting shadow? Jesus was not there in person. Had He deceived them? Was they're prayer gathering in vain? Doubts may have overtaken them, yet they waited and prayed as they had been instructed to do. They believed that the promise given by their Lord was valid and they clutched it tightly to their hearts.
Listen, when the day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after the Passover, had finally come, the miracle happened. Perseverance paid off. The Bible tells us there was a sound like a mighty rushing wind that filled the room where they were sitting, and cloven tongues of fire separated and appeared over the heads of each one there. Then they were each filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak other languages as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The noise was so loud that a crowd made up of people from all over the Roman Empire gathered. They listened to amazement to simple, uneducated Galileans speaking in each of their native languages. Some made fun of the believers, but most of the crowd were so overwhelmed with this outpouring of the Holy Spirit and God's power, that they listened eagerly to Peter as he preached to them. They cried out, "What should we do?"
That day, a man - who only a few weeks before had shown fear to a servant girl and renounced the Lord. Now Peter is anointed with Power from on High and authority that 3,000 were converted to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm sure glad they wait and trusted in the Promise.
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, steadfast patience so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive (and enjoy to the full) what was promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36, LeRoy Translation).
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