©Clay Eldridge
Chapter 2:28-29 (ESV) - And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Question to consider: Why is the word “afterward” a key to understanding the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy?
For those who are looking for a future promise of restoration in the land or have attributed the start of this restoration to the reestablishment of the state of Israel in 1948, it is worth noting that the LORD declared in today’s passage that the Spirit being poured out on all flesh was to come after the restoration.
The Apostle Peter proclaimed that the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost was the fulfillment of this prophecy in Acts 2:16-18. Thus, Peter believed that Christ’s resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father marked the restoration promise to Israel. The Spirit being poured out on all flesh would be the Gospel going out to people from every tribe and nation.
As Jesus said to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, “‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27)
Either Jesus fulfilled all of all the Law and the Prophets, or He didn’t. Either He rose from the dead or He didn’t. The restoration promises could only be fulfilled in Christ and those who belong to Him because no one else has kept the Law. The only reason those who belong to Christ have received these promises is because we have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:26-27)
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit at Pentecost to be poured out on all flesh. We long for the day in which all things are restored and there is no more sin and death. Amen.