From Ordinary To Extra Ordinary

I have been a cartoon lover from my young age. I watch cartoons for hours and hours without any break. I like cartoons like Superman, X – Men, He – Man and Spider Man. These super heroes intrigued and fantasized me. I always would think how I can have the same powers. Can I some day like Storm (X - Men) can control the weather. Can I have the sense of trouble like Spider Man.? Is this possible for man to turn into a super human? My answer like everyone else would be no that is not possible. It is just an imagination, a dream world not more than that. But one day while going through the bible I came to an incident where normal human beings suddenly turned into extra ordinary. How did it happen? Come let’s go to the place where the event took place back in time.

Destination Jerusalem

Pentecost, celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover, was one of the three major holidays of the Old Testament. Pentecost marked the adoption of Sinai's legislation under the Prophet Moses when the Jewish people were liberated from Egypt and entered into alliance with God nearly fourteen hundred years before Christ's birth. At that time the Jews promised to be obedient to God and He, in turn, promised them His mercy and blessings. Because the feast of Pentecost coincided with the end of the harvest season, it was celebrated with great joy. Many Jews scattered over various parts of the vast Roman Empire hurried to Jerusalem to participate in this feast. Having been born and having grown up in different countries, most of them could hardly understand their mother tongue. They made an effort, however, to observe their national and religious traditions and, at least from time to time, to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. So the hustle and bustle in the city was more than normal. Thousands of people were celebrating and enjoying themselves.

But a group of people were sitting in Mark’s upper room. They were ordinary people. They were not scholars, bureaucrats, generals, or aristocrats. They came from very moderate backgrounds. Fishermen, tax collectors and others like them were present there. There leader was crucified fifty days back and everybody had written them off. But the disciples or apostles what Bible calls them had seen Jesus of Nazareth alive. Before His ascension to heaven He had ordered them to wait in Jerusalem until they are clothed with the power from on High (Luke 24:48). Their hands were raised and all were praying. Suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. Suddenly the complete atmosphere changed. Filled with the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance.

As we have discussed earlier that Jews from different nations were present in the city. When they heard this sound the crowd came together and was amazed what they heard. Every one could hear his language being spoken there. Astonished they said are these not mere Galileans who are speaking in our language. Galilee was a small town in Israel at that time. Living in Pakistan I can understand what they were saying. Villages and small towns do not have the facilities which can improve their living standards. People who belong to these places are not expected to show any kind of intellectual attitude. This amazed the Jewish community. How can ordinary people show this kind of extra ordinary intellectual behavior? How can they speak in different tongues with so clarity?

They could not understand one thing which is very simple. An ordinary human being converts into an extra ordinary being after filled by the Holy Spirit.

Simon Peter a man ready to jump into anything and everything. He remained with Jesus Christ and was fearless while proclaiming his love for the Savior. When the Master was capture and took to the house of the high priest. He followed Him till the courtyard and stayed there in the crowd. May be he wanted to observe what they will do with the Master. Suddenly people started asking him are you not one of them. You were with Him? This brave man suddenly started to crumble. All his words went into vain. He denied his relationship with the Savior not once but thrice in front of mere humans.

While going through the books of Acts chapter No. 2. One observes that Peter suddenly transforms. The transformation from a scared man to a man brave enough to speak the truth is quite visible. What brought the change in Him and others? Was this an accident which converted them into something special?