Pentecost

(Author's Note: I started this blog entry over a year ago, but didn't finish editing it until recently.)

I get a regular E-mail commentary from the seminary that I graduated from written by the president.  Some of the commentaries have been interesting and informative.  But, one of the most recent commentaries upset me.  It was about Pentecost and can be read here.  In summary, Michael Jinkins said the main theme of Pentecost was the importance of listening and being understood.  While listening and understanding is always important, it was only part of what Pentecost is all about.

Originally, Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival, also called the Festival of Weeks.  It was celebrated 50 days after Passover, the celebration of being set free from slavery in Egypt.  It celebrated a time of harvest and when it is believed that Moses received the Ten Commandments.  People would bring their first fruits to the Temple as part of their requirements (see this link on the Festival of Weeks as a basic guide).  Because of all this, many people would be in Jerusalem from all of the known world. That would also mean many people would have another language other than Hebrew or Aramaic as their native tongue.

Also, it is important to know that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit (or Spirit of God) would come and rest on a select few. For example, David, some of the Judges, prophets, etc. Though God would listen to people when they prayed, God's Spirit did not dwell in the average person. According to Joel 2:28-32, this is something that would change in the future.

In Acts 1:1-8, Jesus told His Disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. So, they waited in the Upper Room, in Jerusalem, as per Jesus' instructions. While they were waiting, the Festival of Weeks arrived, which also meant many, many Jews came into Jerusalem from all over the known world. They came to celebrate the harvest, bring in their first fruits, as per Mosaic Law, and celebrate God giving Moses the Ten Commandments. Of course, celebrations like this would include drinking of wine and similar beverages.

Since things happened at about the third hour (the day started at 6 AM, so it would be about 9 AM), the celebrations were just starting. Think about it for a moment.... You are one of tens of thousands of people visiting a major city, with people from all over the world. You're there getting ready to celebrate the bounty of your harvest with many other fellow believers, when you hear what sounds like the roaring of the wind. As you and many others investigate the cause of this very odd sound, a small group of people appear and start talking. You can tell by their clothes and accents that they are probably Galileans and simple people. Even though knowing more than one language is not too uncommon, you soon realize that everyone around you is understanding what they are saying. And you realize that there are many, many nationalities that are around you. And, each of these different groups have a different mother language. It's such an incredible situation that you, and those around you, strain to hear what is being said.

Many, many people from all over the known world are hearing this 'Good News' about Jesus in their native tongue. They become riveted on these common people who are proclaiming this incredible message. God, in His infinite wisdom and timing, waited until such a huge gathering was present to create the 'Birth of the Church.' And, God used an incredible miracle of people speaking in other languages to get people's attention. This was such an incredible miracle, but not the only thing that happened.

What also happened was the birth of the Church. Scripture testifies that at least 3,000 people became followers of Christ that day alone (Acts 2:41). Is that not incredible?! And, this was only the beginning!

People can only learn about Christ when those of us who are followers tell them the Good News. Not just hear, but understand what we are saying. Communication is, of course, always important. There are jobs, like the military and law enforcement, where very clear communication is essential to survival. For something that has eternal consequences, like having a personal relationship with Christ, clear communication is just as crucial. And, that is part of the story of Pentecost. God used a miraculous situation of the Disciples speaking in languages that they had not learned, so that many, many other people could hear and respond. But, that is only part of the story.

The other part is birth of the Church (all believers who follow Christ). This is when God started putting His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) within the hearts of believers. Though the New Covenant started with Jesus' death and resurrection, Pentecost was when the Disciples first started sharing the Gospel with others, and others responded and believed. Pentecost is not just about communication. It's about God giving His Spirit to all who would trust Jesus (the Word of God made flesh, John 1:14) as their Lord and Savior. This was God's New Covenant with us. Though miraculous communication helped get things started, and is always important, Pentecost is the celebration of this New Covenant (the birth of the Church).

RC