In the Gospel reading for the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian prophetically provides the context for humanity’s complete restoration, when he states “On the last day, that great day of the feast” (Jn. 7:37). This context is nothing less than the Lord’s restoration of Adam and humanity from the fall. This divine project starts as soon as Adam and Eve are expelled from paradise, continuing through the struggles and triumphs of Israel until the Lord decisively acts to save us in the Incarnation.  

Yet as profound as the incarnation of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ is – taking on our mortal nature – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As miraculous as the Lord’s Nativity (according to the flesh) is – being born as a defenseless child for our sake – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As condescending as the Lord’s entrance into the temple is  – being The very “light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (Mt. 2:32) –  it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. 

As revelatory as the Lord’s Baptism and Theophany is – manifesting His divine life for us  – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As illuminating as the Lord’s Transfiguration is – covering us with His uncreated light – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As gracious as the Lord’s mystical supper is – sharing His broken body, and shed blood for us – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity.

As selfless as the Lord’s passion and death on the Cross is – the total conviction of love for us – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As joyful as the Lord’s resurrection on the third day is – the destruction of the “last enemy…death” (1 Cor. 15:27) –  it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity. As radiant as the Lord’s ascension on the fortieth day is – the glorification of our nature in the Kingdom of heaven is – it is only a part of the Lord’s saving work and restoration of our humanity.

All these profound, miraculous, condescending, revelatory, illuminating, gracious, selfless, joyful, and radiant works of the Lord for our salvation mystically bring us to Pentecost, that “last day, that great day of the feast” where “Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water...But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive” (Jn. 7:39)

The wonder of this feast and our commemoration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit “upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28) is that the Lord breathes His divine, eternal, and creative life into our lives, just as He did into Adam’s clay body on that sixth day. Truly that sixth day is perfected now on this “last day, that great day of the feast” and nothing more can be done – that is beyond our willingness to be “born again” (Jn. 3:3) at every moment of our lives and “fill up in (our) flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ” (Col. 1:24).

That by the grace of the Holy Spirit, every day might be that “last day, that great day of the feast”, and the restoration of Adam and humanity in ourselves. That like Adam and Eve, we might see the wonders of God’s holy and good creation for the first time, never being ashamed of mortal nakedness (Gen. 2:25), poverty, brokenness, weaknesses, anxieties, sicknesses, and struggles. Truly we have being given “this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7).

“O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life – come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.”