The “Luck” Behind Pentecost
by Carl McRoy
Preparation + Opportunity = Luck
Seneca, the Roman philosopher, said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
That sounds profound, but what does luck look like?
Patrick Mahomes rolling to his right and throwing a touchdown pass, to a guy who wasn’t expecting the ball, with 3 seconds left in overtime, on a play originally called “Corndog,” but renamed “Tom and Jerry.” The Kansas City Chiefs came back from a 10-point deficit to win their second Superbowl in a row.
Anyone who watched the game could point out plenty of lucky situations that could have easily flipped the game to the San Francisco 49er’s favor. No matter who won the 3-hour contest, neither team would have had the opportunity for good luck without years of preparation.
Billionaire business owners had to secure deals with local governments to build the stadiums. Managers had to assemble smart teams of motivational coaches who could work well together to maximize the talents of young, genetic freaks, fresh out of college. The list of people preparing for America’s most-watched TV program goes on and on, from medical personnel and travel agents to landscapers and security guards.
Since so much time, money, planning, and expertise is necessary for an annual pigskin championship, how much more should be dedicated in expectation of “thy Kingdom come”?
Preparation + Holy Spirit = Pentecost?
We saw what luck looks like, but what about Pentecost?
What happens when preparation meets the Holy Spirit?
“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire” hover over the heads of 120 believers and then 3,000 people were baptized in response to the preaching of a big-mouth, bigoted show-off who had just publicly denied Jesus 3 times during his hour of crisis.
Anyone paying attention as they read the 4 gospels could point out plenty of reasons why this was an improbable beginning for a global phenomenon named after a God-man who died and rose again, only to disappear into the clouds. Jesus’ followers were from different backgrounds and hard-wired with their own biases. Some of them harbored jealousy and suspicion toward each other. Some didn’t think Jesus should have chosen others in the first place. The church and state were united against them, so to speak. If that wasn’t bad enough, they were short on money because their deceased treasurer was a thief.
Despite these odds, Peter dared to claim promises from the prophet Joel that this movement would be led by women as well as men. Preachers would come from those discarded as past their primes. Prophecies would be proclaimed by the youth, who were supposed to be seen only when called upon and heard even less. Those whom the world snubbed as the servant class became honored ambassadors for the King of kings.
How did this happen?
How could it happen again?
Could there be a Pentecost 2025?
If we want to experience a Pentecost-like outpouring of God’s spirit in 2025, what should we be doing in 2024?
The early believers spent time with each other; glowed about the good times with Jesus; lamented the terror and heartbreak of the cross; blushed about their initial unbelief that Jesus was alive again; repented of their sins; celebrated the resurrection; anticipated his return; set aside their differences; shared their resources; dreamt of spreading Christ’s message of hope and wholeness around the world, and prayed for divine power because they felt their helplessness to carry out his command – His desire.
If we want what they had, shouldn’t we try what they did?
Does this mean there was, there is, a cost to Pentecost?
Even if so. . .
Didn’t Jesus pay it all?
Carl McRoy serves as Director of Literature Ministries for the North American Division.
