Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. [Acts 2:2-4 (CSB)]
Following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the apostles obediently and courageously returned to Jerusalem. They got down to business and selected a replacement for Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ. With the addition of Matthias, there again were twelve apostles and about 120 believers/disciples and the entire group devoted themselves to prayer. Picture this diverse group of people. How did they keep the faith? Did they wonder what exactly they were waiting for and when it would happen? Where was this baptism with the Holy Spirit Jesus promised them? When would Jesus to return? Did they grow impatient or begin to doubt what they’d seen with their eyes?
While we don’t know the words of their prayers, we do know they were still praying together ten days later—fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection. Occurring seven weeks after the Jewish celebration of Passover, that fiftieth day was the Jewish holiday Shavu’ot (or Pentecost). This Jewish holy day celebrated the first harvest and Moses being given the law at Mt. Sinai.
It was on this fiftieth day after Jesus’ resurrection that the Holy Spirit, accompanied by high winds and tongues of fire, descended upon Christ’s followers. As the believers were filled with the Spirit’s power, they began to speak languages previously unknown to them. Nevertheless, they spoke real languages that were understood by those from various lands familiar with them. Although Shavu’ot had brought together Jews from fifteen or more different regions, each with its own language, everyone was able to understand the Spirit-filled Christians as they spoke. The Holy Spirit had empowered the disciples to bring Christ’s message of salvation to all people.
It hardly seems an accident that God chose Shavu’ot for such a miraculous event to occur. One of the three pilgrimage festivals requiring all able-bodied Jewish men to come to Jerusalem, it meant the city was teeming with people from far and wide. While people went to the temple to be in God’s presence and make sacrifices on Shavu’ot, the Holy Spirit’s arrival meant that God would always be present in His people! Rather than dwelling in the Holy of Holies (the inner sanctuary), God now dwelt in His believers. On a day that commemorated the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai—an external means of keeping Israel from sin—the Holy Spirit descended. Rather than lives being Torah-centered and Torah-directed, lives were to be Christ-centered and Spirit-directed! Believers no longer had to adhere to laws carved on stone because God’s law was written on their hearts. The law told people what to do but, when Jesus poured out His Spirit, He gave us the power and ability to do it and live righteously.
Jesus told His disciples to be His witnesses but it was the presence of His Holy Spirit that empowered them to do so! That 50th day after Christ’s resurrection, Peter preached at Christianity’s first revival and 3,000 people were baptized. On a day celebrating the year’s first harvest of produce, Christ’s church had its first harvest of souls! That Pentecost day marked the beginning of the New Testament church.
While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, Pentecost celebrates the birth of the Christian church. This coming Sunday marks the 50th day after Easter—Pentecost. While there probably won’t be cake, ice cream, or balloons at church Sunday, perhaps they should be there. Let us celebrate the Church’s birthday and the gift of the Holy Spirit!
Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that the Spirit’s power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power. [J. Hudson Taylor]
Devotions of the Heart 