Empowering the Voice of Women

Pentecost Sunday was this week, and our church asks everyone to wear red. Most did and it was fun to see; there was a proper celebratory mood among the people of God as we read about the tongues of fire, of flames that settled over every believer. Along with the flames, Scripture tells us that a roar like a mighty wind filled the place (Acts 2). The believers included the Twelve and Jesus’s brothers, plus his female followers, including Jesus’s mother (Acts 1:14). Pause a minute here and reflect with me that Mary was at the birth of the Savior (obviously!) and at the birth of His church. I sometimes forget her continued presence among the believers – I get a small ceramic version of her out at Advent, and then back she goes the first week of January with other Christmas decorations ‘til next year. Yet here Mary is, feeling/knowing the same Holy Spirit power that had overshadowed her at the Incarnation. What a testimony of perseverance and trust in the Lord.

Returning to Acts 2, It is not clear where the disciples were when the Holy Spirit filled them, but a likely place is in the Temple precinct. This is the main public area in Jerusalem and can hold as many as 75,000 people in both the Court of the Gentiles and the Jewish Temple proper. The Holy Spirit enabled their voices to declare the wonders of God. I want to underline this because I can get caught up in debating the details of the sign, the languages spoken and whether “speaking in tongues” happens today. Scripture emphasizes that the believers were declaring the mighty acts of God, the wonderful things he has done (2:11). Peter elaborates these mighty acts, when he declares that the Jesus who was crucified is now raised from the dead, breaking the power of death and sin. Peter proclaims the gospel, that Jesus is exalted now to the highest place in heaven, and has given to his church the promised Holy Spirit, pouring it out over his disciples (2:33). Daughters prophesy, female servants prophesy (2:17–18). The voice of women testifying to the gospel of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension, evangelizing the crowds. What a legacy that we today can live into, as the Holy Spirit continues to empower the voice of women.