Pentecost

Leviticus might not be your go-to book for Bible reading, but it is full of details concerning the practices given to Moses for God's people. Chapter 23 is particularly helpful in understanding more about the feasts and festivals appointed by God for the community.  

One of the primary days mentioned in Leviticus is Passover. Many of us hear more about Easter than Passover, but Passover is an annual reminder of how God rescued his people from Egypt and points toward a future rescue, which we recognize as Jesus.

Many of us celebrated Easter in our communities on Sunday, March 31. Passover was celebrated nearly a month later, beginning on April 22. I mention these calendar differences because it is helpful for us to see how we are headed to a similar destination, even if we are working from different calendars. 

In Leviticus, Passover is mentioned, and then we see details about a seven-week period, or 49 days, leading to Shavuot, which occurs on the 50th day after Passover.

Shavuot means weeks. During the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, the Jews prepared their crops for harvest and readied themselves to bring their first fruit offerings to Jerusalem. 

You might not be super familiar with Shavuot, but maybe you are familiar with Pentecost. The word Pentecost comes from the Greek and means 50th. It marks the day Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to all people.  

The remarkable thing about this is how God connected these pieces through time and space. 

In giving Moses the appointed times for the community, God established yearly rhythms to help keep the community's hearts and minds turned toward him. Yet, all of their established rhythms always pointed forward to Jesus and continue to point to his return one day.  

Acts 2 begins, "When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place." 

• It was the 50th day after the Passover.  

• It was the 50th day since Jesus had risen from the dead.  

• It was Shavuot, where Jews from all over traveled to Jerusalem to bring their offering to the temple.  

Those waiting in the upper room, whom Jesus had told not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the Father's promise (Acts 1:4), were Jewish men and women, all grieving the fact that Jesus was no longer present with them, and at the same time preparing to present their offering at the temple.  

As they sat in that room waiting for the Holy Spirit, I'm not sure they had any idea what was coming. We read that they experienced a violent rushing wind from heaven that filled the whole house where they were staying, and then what appeared to be tongues distributed like fire above their heads (Acts 2:3-4). 

Imagine that. It sounds wild! Yet, at that moment, the Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in different languages. 

Notice what Acts 2:5-8 says, "Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded and amazed, saying, "Look, aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?" 

Shavuot was one of three feasts that required Jews from every nation to travel to Jerusalem to present their first fruit offering at the temple. Thus, the city was full of Jews from various regions who spoke different languages. When the Holy Spirit filled the followers of Jesus, suddenly, everyone heard the story of Jesus in their own language.  

Just 50 days earlier, they had all been in Jerusalem for Passover and had possibly been a part of the crowd shouting for Jesus to be crucified. They had likely heard stories of Jesus's mysterious resurrection but might not have been clear on what any of it meant.

When all the people had gathered, Peter spoke to them, reminding them of past prophecies and retelling recent events. Then Peter declared, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."

Shortly after, we read that 3,000 were added to their number that day.  

While the city was filled with Jews from "every nation under heaven," they encountered the truth of Jesus in their language, and their lives were transformed. But it didn't stop there! These travelers would then return home to their communities and, in their own language, be able to communicate the truths they had heard.  

God had met Moses in the wilderness and given the people instructions for their feasts and festivals, pointing them back to God year after year. At Pentecost, God sent the Holy Spirit to help Jesus's followers be better equipped to share the truth of Jesus and God's Kingdom with Jews and Gentiles alike. But the Holy Spirit wasn't for just one group of people.  

A few chapters later, in Acts 10, we see another exchange highlighting this truth.

Acts 10:44-46
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they (the Jews) heard them (the Gentiles) speaking in tongues and declaring the greatness of God."

Imagine being in that moment and really realizing that this news about Jesus being the Messiah isn't just for one group of people; it is for all people, and this outpouring of the Holy Spirit to Jews and Gentiles is a marker that we are one big family through Jesus.  

As we approach Pentecost this week, we have much to celebrate. God has faithfully shown up and been present with his people through every age, and the Holy Spirit remains with us today.  

As a Gentile follower of Jesus, I am deeply thankful for these things.  

~ Melissa