רוחא
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
(John 16:12-15)
The twins were still watching the spectacle unfolding outside their window, though all the others had now joined the crowd listening to Peter, whose long address appeared to be winding down.
“Repent!” he thundered. “Repent, and be baptised—every one of you—in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Then your sins will be forgiven, and the Holy Spirit will be given to you.”
Anina turned to look again at her brother. He seemed to have finally recovered completely from his shock.
Long sermons can have a calming effect, she thought.
Not that Peter’s preaching was boring, exactly. His words obviously had struck a chord with those who remained in the street. Some were on their knees. Others were openly weeping. But to Anina it all seemed somehow … strangely anticlimactic.
“Welcome this good news!” Peter shouted. “The promise of God is for everyone.”
She smiled. He’s catching wind in his sails again.
For a while longer they stood quietly, listening to Peter’s exhortations.
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. Repent, and be baptised!”
Then Thomas spoke.
“Do you recall our last Seder with the Teacher, and what he said afterward?”
In her mind, she could still see and hear him. After Judas had left to carry out his grim mission, Jesus had launched into a lengthy discourse. Lengthy. But far more interesting than what she’d been hearing from the window.
“He said a lot of things. I remember you asked him about the way to wherever he was going.”
“Yes. And then he said that he himself was the way. But after that he told us about the ‘Spirit of truth’ who was going to come later.”
“Right. The Spirit which would guide us into all the truth. And give us a testimony.”
“Do you think that’s what has happened here? What’s still happening now?”
For a moment, Anina stared at Peter’s continuing extravaganza.
“Perhaps. But …”
She grew silent.
“Ahot, what are you thinking?”
“If the Spirit has guided us into all the truth, why do I feel so bewildered?”
Thomas nodded slowly.
“I feel the same way,” he said. “Like I understand less now than I did before.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist and rested her head upon his shoulder.
“Look how many people are responding,” he said.
I wonder how long their faith will last, she thought.