On things unseen this week, we've been thinking about the meaning of the day of Pentecost

or, to be quite honest, we've been thinking about some very small parts of that meeting.

It's a surprise, I think, for example, to notice that in Peter's sermon, apart from

the words he quotes from Joel chapter 2, he mentions the Holy Spirit only once, because

his sermon is not so much about what the Spirit is doing, but about the fact that what

the Spirit is doing tells us something about the Lord Jesus.

And that of course is consistent with Jesus' words in the upper room, when he says John

1614, when the Spirit comes, he will glorify me, for he will take what his mind and declare

it to you.

But there's another promise Jesus gave the apostles in the upper room that's very relevant

here.

Remember how he said in John 14 verse 16, I will ask the Father and He will give you

another helper to be with you, forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot

receive.

Jesus was telling them that he was leaving them and he was going back to the Father.

They were crestfallen.

The prospect of him sending another helper to be with them, forever, didn't really throw

them, because what they wanted was Jesus himself to be with them, forever.

Well we know that, but I wonder if you've ever reflected on Jesus' words here, I will

ask the Father and He will give you another helper.

I suspect we don't think about them as much as we should in connection with the day of

Pentecost, but clearly Simon Peter did, because they lie behind something he says in his

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