The transformation is incredible! In the Upper Room, on the eve of Jesus' death, they are squabbling. At Pentecost a few weeks later, there is such power and harmony that the greatest revival in the history of the church breaks out!

We can understand what happened in the Upper Room. The disciples were human, like us. They had their little jealousies. Some of them had sharp memories for wrongs and insults. Some of them were aggressive and ambitious. They had learned that if you don't promote yourself in this world, no one else will. They were jockeying for place and position in the kingdom.

"I deserve the place of honor," said one.

"You don't deserve anything," said another. "I remember how you behaved that time in Caesarea."

Jesus had to intercede. "The road to greatness lies through serving," He said. "If you want to be great, then begin as a servant."

It is much harder to understand what happened at the festival of Pentecost. All those people, gathered from many points of the globe. A spirit of solidarity among the disciples. No fussing or bickering. Only a witness to Jesus, and what God had done at the cross. And the Spirit of God fell upon them so mightily that the church ever since has celebrated what happened as part of its annual calendar of remembrance.

They had moved from quarreling to concert, from contention to unity. What happened? What would account for such a change? Luke, who reported both incidents, makes it perfectly clear. Between the Upper Room and the festival of Pentecost, between the quarreling and the unity, they had had two unforgettable experiences - the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

They had stood by and watched the Master, the one they had followed for years, the one with whom they had walked and worked and eaten and slept, the one who had been their Lord and teacher. He had been nailed mercilessly to a rough Roman cross and raised against the Judean sky. They had seen Him suffering on the cross. They had watched the life draining out of Him, His blood as red as beet juice flowing into the sand and rocks. And then they had been astounded by the news of the empty tomb, and by the risen presence of the man who had met them everywhere, now here, now there, and had told them He would never leave them, that His Spirit would be with them forever. That's what had happened. The crucifixion and the resurrection had altered their lives forever!

It happens in every age, doesn't it? A man is rough and unkind, cursing and drinking and beating the weaker persons around him. He meets the Savior, comes up against the crucifixion and resurrection, and his life and demeanor are totally altered. He is no longer at the center of his universe; God is. He is no longer abusive. He is thoughtful and kind. He changes. The old devil in him gives way to a new angel that moves in.

The same thing happens to churches. They become worn-out, self-centered, quarrelsome. People argue over the most inappropriate things. Then they remember the crucifixion and the resurrection. "God forgive us," they say, "we forgot what it was all about!" And they change! Christ begins to live in and through them again. They stop asking what God can do for them and ask what they can do for God. They are overtaken by a spirit of love and gentleness, of peace and harmony and good will. They begin to whisper again about change and renewal, about doing the will of God. They remember Pentecost, and yearn for what happened then to happen all over again, in them.