Jesus told the eleven to preach the gospel to all creation (Mk. 16:14, 15). One of the signs that accompanied the apostles who initially went forth preaching the gospel to the world for the first time was the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak with “new tongues” (Mk. 16:17, 20).

These tongues were human languages. They were new to the apostles. They were not new in the sense that had never before been spoken or introduced to mankind. Acts 2 elucidates that when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the audience noticed that “every man heard them speak in his own language” (v. 6). Though several of the apostles were uneducated Galilean fisherman, they were able to speak other languages they had never studied. One of the most arduous tasks involved in doing mission work today is learning a new language to effectively communicate to the receptor. The multitude gathered on Pentecost day included around fifteen different nations. They marveled when they heard the apostles speak, asking “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:8).

The miraculous gift of tongues (speaking other languages) was given for a sign (1 Cor. 14:22). Peter pointed to what the crowd saw and heard as a sign of the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostles (Acts 2:33). The exercise of this gift not only arrested the attention of the crowd on Pentecost day so they would listen to the gospel, but later it also confirmed that the Gentiles were allowed to enter God’s grace through the gospel without circumcision (Acts 10-11). It served as confirmation in Acts 19:1-6, too.

Some today claim a gift of tongues that is characterized by ecstatic utterances involving no known human language, but the Bible gives no example of such. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul begins his emphasis on love by stating, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels;” however, the reference to angels is not stating that there was an angelic language Paul actually spoke. Rather, the context bears out that Paul is employing hyperbole just as he does when he mentions knowing all mysteries (which none but God does) and faith that moves mountains (1 Cor. 13:2). He was speaking of miraculous gifts that gave revelation in parts, which ceased when the completed (perfect) revelation came (1 Cor. 13:8-11). Moreover, the exercise of these gifts was done in an orderly manner with the speaker maintaining control over himself to keep silent if necessary (1 Cor. 14:27-33).

If one in the church assembly does not understand the spoken message, prayer, or words of the song, then no spiritual benefit is derived (1 Cor. 14:15-20, 23). Paul quoted from Isaiah 28:11 in his discussion on tongues in 1 Corinthians 14. The stammering lips and strange (foreign) tongue was the Assyrian language when they conquered the Israelites, not ecstatic gibberish unknown to anyone on earth.

Instead of an abuse of the first-century gift of tongues to show off, Paul emphasized teaching with fewer words whereby the audience may understand and be edified (1 Cor. 14:19). Satan does not want people to understand the word of God, lest, perhaps, they believe it and bring forth fruit (Mt. 13:19, 23). The word of God produces faith in the heart (Rom. 10:17) and builds up the faithful to possess their eternal inheritance (Acts 20:32).

Let us be thankful that the word of God has been made available in our own language. That we can so easily access the words of eternal life is a tremendous blessing not to be taken for granted.

This Lord’s day is the last day of the year on our calendar for 2023. What will be the last Sunday in your life and mine? We don’t know. I do not know when my last day on earth will be (Ecc. 7:14; 8:6-8; 9:2-10). However, I do know there will be a last day for the earth and all the works in it. There will be a last day of all time. I do not know when it will be, nor do you (Mt. 24:35, 36). I don’t know if it will be a Sunday, but I do know it will be the “day of the Lord” and will come unexpectedly “as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Sometimes in the Bible the day of the Lord refers to a judgment on a particular nation (Isa. 13:6, 9), but, looking at the context of the “day of the Lord” in 1 Thessalonians, it becomes apparent that this final day will be the day when the dead in Christ are raised (1 Thess. 4:16). Jesus spoke of resurrection on the last day. He said, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:39-40). He further explained that imbibing of His instructions and following them would lead to eternal life including resurrection on the last day: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:54). In the previous chapter, Jesus had spoken of giving life and said, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn. 5:28, 29).

Martha believed her brother Lazarus would rise again in the resurrection on the last day (Jn. 11:24). In reply to Martha, Jesus said just before He raised Lazarus from the grave, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (Jn. 11:25). The apostle Paul believed in the resurrection on the final day even after he became a Christian, a truth the Pharisees recognized but the Sadducees rejected (Acts 23:8; Lk. 20:27-40). His upbringing as a Pharisee taught him of the hope of the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5). He then met the resurrected Lord Jesus (Acts 9:3-6; 22:6-10; 26:13-231 Cor. 9:1; 15:8).

Paul spent the rest of his days looking forward to the victory Christians will have over death on that final day of resurrection (1 Cor. 15). Paul by inspiration expressed his confidence that he will receive a reward in the final judgment on that day when Jesus judges the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1, 8). He wrote his epistles preparing people to meet the Lord in judgment on the final day and give an account of the deeds done in their bodies (Rom. 14:8-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). He instructed Corinth to withdraw from the fornicator in their midst so that he would repent and his spirit would be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Cor. 5:5). He further instructed that “the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power” (1 Cor. 6:13, 14). To the persecuted Thessalonians, he assured them that the Lord Jesus would be revealed from heaven would repay their persecutors in flaming fire on that final day, the day when the Lord would be glorified and admired among them who believe (2 Thess. 1:6-10). We should likewise live in view of that final day.

Jesus is the eternal Word; He was in the beginning and created all things (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16). He came to earth in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:7). He became flesh to dwell among men to declare the glory of God (Jn. 1:14). Those who saw Him and His miracles in this sense saw the Father (Jn. 14:8-11).

A virgin, named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph gave birth to Him. She was told, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). He was named Jesus, meaning savior, for He came to earth to save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). Matthew by inspiration goes on to explain, “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Mt. 1:22, 23). For a third of a century while He “dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14), Jesus was God in the flesh. He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Joseph followed the command from the angel of the Lord and took Mary as his wife, but he “did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS” (Mt. 1:25).

The birth of Jesus also fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, “ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus came to earth to establish the kingdom. He preached of the kingdom’s imminent establishment (Mt. 4:17; Mk. 9:1). While all people are born of flesh, Jesus explained that to be part of the kingdom of God, one must be born again, a new birth of water and Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5). In water baptism, one is regenerated, born anew to become part of the kingdom (Titus 3:5; Col. 1:13, 14; 2:11-13). Jesus refused to be forced into man’s ideals regarding kingship (Jn. 6:15). This kingdom of His is spiritual, not earthly (Jn. 18:36, 37); it is within the hearts of those who follow Him (Lk. 17:20, 21).

Jesus came to earth to drink of the cup of God’s wrath for man’s sin (Mt. 26:39, 42; Lk. 22:42; Jn. 12:27) to taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9). He came to experience temptation but never succumb so that He could be the only payment for sin (Heb. 2:14-18). He came and lived on earth to die on the cross (Phil. 2:8). Then He arose and sat down as king in heaven at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:23-33; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus is the eternal God who came in the flesh, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” (Heb. 1:3).

Are you a part of His kingdom? Have you been born again and had your sins purged? Is Jesus the king of your life? Or has all of this had no effect in changing your life?