Currently, the themes of this blog are the seven feasts of the Lord from the Book of Leviticus, chapter 23. They were key points of reference in Israel’s national calendar, the dates around which God’s people regulated their lives.
These seven festivals are symbols of the panoramic sweep of God’s prophetic calendar. These Jewish feasts were celebrations of both history and prophecy. They represent important features of the Christian understanding of redemption.
The Jewish festival of Pentecost was originally known as the feast of weeks, because the people were commanded to count seven weeks from the feast of Passover to the observance of this fourth feast. It was observed in the late spring, around the time of the wheat harvest. The seven weeks totaled 49 days. The next day was the fiftieth. That is the meaning of the word Pentecost.
Passover pointed to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Unleavened Bread symbolized the removal of sin. The Feast of Firstfuits pictured the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and the great “harvest” of the resurrection of believers. The Feast of Pentecost reminds us of the coming of the Holy Spirit because this was the very day when the Spirit descended upon Jesus’ disciples and the church was born (Acts 2).
History
The Jews celebrated this feast as one of three annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles). It was accompanied by sacrifices and offerings and the giving of gifts to the poor. It was a glad harvest celebration, lasting an entire week. On the seventh day there was to be a solemn assembly for worship (Deuteronomy 16:9-12; Leviticus 23:15-25).
Remembrance
The seven feasts of the Lord have historic significance. Passover was a reminder to the Jews of their redemption by the blood of the first Passover lambs in Egypt. Unleavened Bread reminded them of their hasty exodus from Egypt. Firstfruits taught them about the abundance of the promised land.
Was Pentecost a reminder of something in their history? According to Jewish tradition, the Feast of Weeks was the anniversary of the Lord’s appearance on Mt. Sinai, and the giving of the law to Moses (Exodus 20:18). There they heard the thunderous sound of the voice of God, saw lightning and the mountain enveloped in smoke, and God revealed his identity to Moses: “I am the Lord (Yahweh) your God” (Exodus 19:18; 20:2).
Fulfillment
This may have been on the minds of Jesus’ disciples on the day of Pentecost after Christ arose. They were gathered for prayer in Jerusalem. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, is precise about the timing (Acts 2:1-3). Something happened to them which was accompanied by three supernatural signs: a loud noise like wind filled the upper room, tongues of fire appeared over their heads, and they began to praise the Lord in languages unknown to them. The Holy Spirit was coming upon them as Jesus had promised he would (John 7:37-38; Acts 1:4-5). All this happened at the exact time that the Jews were celebrating the annual Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost.
According to 1 Corinthians 12:13, the Holy Spirit formed the spiritual Body of Christ on earth when he came. Every person who believes in Jesus is baptized by the Holy Spirit into his Body (Ephesians 3:2-6). As a result, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the privilege of every Christian. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9). “God . . . gives you his Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 4:8). “This is how we know that he lives in us: we know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24). “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to help you and he will be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. . . . He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).
The New Testament teaches us that it is the Holy Spirit in us who produces the Christlike character we desire. It is the Holy Spirit who guides and comforts us when we are in need. He promotes harmony among believers. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and properly interpret scripture. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to be witnesses for Christ.
In many churches around the world, Christians will observe Pentecost Sunday this weekend. This will be a good time for us to give thanks for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and to pray that we might be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
Pastor Randy Faulkner