Spirit

John 7:37-39(NRSV)

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is one of the chosen Gospel readings by the lectionary for Pentecost that my congregation didn't use. And I have to say I'm a bit grateful for that.

This is a particularly confusing text. In some ways, I suppose it isn't. It reinforces this amazing coming of the Holy Spirit story we get on Pentecost.

But yes, confusing, because quite honestly, it isn't true that there was no Spirit because Jesus had not yet been glorified. 

The Spirit hovered over the waters as God created the earth.

In Genesis we meet the Melchizedek, an unexpected priest who operates clearly with God's spirit and speaks God's word.

In Numbers we hear that the Spirit rested on the seventy elders with Moses and they prophesied. 

In Zechariah, the Spirit is with Zerubbabel.

So what is John getting at?

A Sunday morning sermon is sometimes a difficult place to wrestle with contradictions like these from scripture. And maybe there is no easy, clear cut answer. (which is OK for me since wrestling with the questions themselves is part of the journey).

I can guess though. I can imagine that we are supposed to know that what happened with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was bigger, more amazing, and more comprehensive than anything that God had done before. The Spirit spread further and wider and more audaciously than ever in a way that no one had ever anticipated.

The Spirit was given to those who had never expected it.

To those some thought never deserved it.

By a God whose story arc in scripture continued to widen and widen and widen.

And if that Pentecost was just the start, imagine what that Spirit is doing today!

Holy God, Father, Son and Spirit, help me to be part of your ever spreading arc of love. Amen.