The ascension of Jesus is his enthronement as the cosmic king. The two implications of this are 1) Jesus gives his church the mission and the power to be his kingdom people doing his kingdom work and 2) Jesus—crucified, risen and ascended—will return therefore we must be prepared.

Pentecost reverses the curse of Babel. It brings together different cultures. Pentecost. It brings together different languages. Pentecost. It brings together different people. Pentecost.

Amid the ultimate rescue [from sin and condemnation] we receive the ultimate gift, the Holy Spirit. Our hope comes when we lean into the gift, when we lean into the presence and power of the Holy Spirit living in us. With this gift comes power.

Join with Jesus on his road. Share with Jesus in his mission. Even when it costs. Even when our best excuses are not good enough.

Rev. Dr. Jay Wright of All Saints Church Dallas reminds us that during the Lenten season, as we do the work of repentance, as we use the activities of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, reading and meditating on God's word... we must, we must, we must do it all with the humility that is gift from God.

Pentecost is the coming of the Holy Spirit upon those who believe in the Trinitarian act in which the completed work of salvation is applied and the presence of God comes to bear upon the believer and upon the church.