Although most people feel most...
Illustration
Although most people feel most comfortable with literal language and are used to describing things literally, we very commonly use signs and symbols to give messages of various sorts. Examples abound:
-- Businesses like MacDonald's create signs and symbols that signal people from afar off, long before they can read signs, what business they are approaching.
-- Highway departments have adopted a system of "symbols" that are easily understood whether one reads or speaks English or not.
-- Holding a hand or a kiss is a "sign" of affection or love without a word being said.
-- Pictures" of atoms, electrons, and neutrons are mere "symbols," for they "show" us things we know are there but have never seen with our eyes.
-- Sports teams develop "logos" that clearly identify them even before one reads from what city they come.
It is no wonder, then, that the Bible in particular and religion in general uses many signs and symbols to convey what is meant.
The symbols of fire and wind for the presence of God's Spirit hold front and center in today's lesson. The word for "spirit" in the Greek can mean "wind, the air in motion." The two are closely tied together in this lesson in this way, conveying the sense of the power with which the Spirit is swooping in on them and bringing them a "breath of life," so to speak. And the fire breaking off into tongues speaks of the presence of God just as the "pillar of fire" that led Israel out of Egypt and the lightning fire of Sinai signaled the presence of God.
-- Businesses like MacDonald's create signs and symbols that signal people from afar off, long before they can read signs, what business they are approaching.
-- Highway departments have adopted a system of "symbols" that are easily understood whether one reads or speaks English or not.
-- Holding a hand or a kiss is a "sign" of affection or love without a word being said.
-- Pictures" of atoms, electrons, and neutrons are mere "symbols," for they "show" us things we know are there but have never seen with our eyes.
-- Sports teams develop "logos" that clearly identify them even before one reads from what city they come.
It is no wonder, then, that the Bible in particular and religion in general uses many signs and symbols to convey what is meant.
The symbols of fire and wind for the presence of God's Spirit hold front and center in today's lesson. The word for "spirit" in the Greek can mean "wind, the air in motion." The two are closely tied together in this lesson in this way, conveying the sense of the power with which the Spirit is swooping in on them and bringing them a "breath of life," so to speak. And the fire breaking off into tongues speaks of the presence of God just as the "pillar of fire" that led Israel out of Egypt and the lightning fire of Sinai signaled the presence of God.
