Once Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead at Passover, the disciples looked forward to the next major Jewish feast, the Feast of Pentecost. The figure above outlines the seven major Jewish feasts, as well as their relationship to Christianity. The following description comes from Rabbi Jason, a Messianic Jewish rabbi, from Fusion Global. https://www.fusionglobal.org/connections/from-passover-to-pentecost/
From Passover To Pentecost
“From the day after the Sabbath [of Passover], the day you brought the barley sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks [to Pentecost]. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord… I am the Lord your God. “Leviticus 23:15-17, 22
Passover is incomplete without Pentecost, Shavuot in Hebrew. It is for this reason that we count down 49 days from Passover to Pentecost. This means that redemption (Passover) is not complete without the revelation of God’s Word which happened at Sinai on Pentecost with the giving of the 10 Commandments. The reason being is that redemption without revelation leads to a regression into slavery because without the truth you cannot truly be set free spiritually. Passover and Pentecost together lead to both salvation and transformation through Word and Spirit!
On Pentecost, God gave the 10 Commandants as well as the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. Acts 2 is actually a re-enactment of Mount Sinai. The booming of the wind is like the thundering at Sinai, and the tongues of fire over the disciples’ heads are akin to the fire that came out of the mouth of God when He uttered the Commandments. Targum Neofiti, an ancient Aramaic paraphrase of the Hebrew Bible describes it as follows, “like torches of fire, a torch of fire to the right and a torch of fire to the left. It flew and winged swiftly in the air…and returning it became engraved on the tablets of the covenant, and all Israel beheld it (Targum Neofiti 19:2). The split tongues of Acts 2 looked like the fire of Sinai, which is said to have inscribed the tablets of the covenant.
In Acts 2, God again imprinted His Word as He did on Sinai. This time, the stone tablets of Sinai were replaced as God wrote His new covenant within their heart:” I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts…” (Jeremiah 31:31,33)
Application:
The fact the 10 Commandments and Holy Spirit were both given on the same day is still very significant. It was by means of the Word and the Spirit that created the world. And it is through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit that we become new creations. Salvation must lead to transformation which occurs when your mind is renewed by God’s word through the power of the Spirit (Rom. 12:1). Therefore, make sure you read and study the Scriptures regularly and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Word for you.
The website https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/holy-days/pentecost.html gives the following information: Pentecost is the third of God’s annual Feast days (periods) celebrated each year. It is also known as the Feast of Weeks, Feast of Harvest or the Day of Firstfruits.
Also, the Feast of the Harvest of the Firstfruits (Pentecost) of your labors, which you have sown in the field (Exodus 23:16, HBFV).
And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest . . . (Exodus 34:22, HBFV).
God commanded that on Pentecost no work is to be done.
And in the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord after your weeks have been counted, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work. (Numbers 28:26, HBFV).
Pentecost represents the consummation of the first harvest, after seven weeks of labor, and also the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai after seven weeks of weary wandering. Tradition states that God gave Israel the Ten Commandments on Pentecost.
The apostle Paul wanted to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost.
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16).
Christians have the firstfruits of God’s spirit within them, allowing them to be the first of many who will ultimately receive salvation. Believers follow in the path of Jesus, the first of the firstfruits in God’s great plan.
The Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God. Now if we are children, we are also heirs – truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ . . .
For the earnest expectation of the creation itself is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God . . . For we know that all the creation is groaning together . . . And not only that, but even we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, also groan within ourselves . . . (Romans 8:16 – 17, 19, 22 – 23).
But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the first-fruit of those who have fallen asleep (1Corinthians 15:20).
The 144,000 people of the tribes of Israel, converted during the great tribulation, will also be firstfruits unto God (study Revelation 14:1 – 4).
Why wait?
Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, after his resurrection, he gave a very important command to his disciples. He told them to wait or tarry in Jerusalem so that they could be given the might power of God’s Holy Spirit (Luke 24:46, 49). The Greek word translated as “tarry” is kathizo (Strong’s Concordance #G2523), which means to sit down. Jesus was telling his restless disciples to relax a bit and wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of God. It is then they could go out and preach the gospel to the world! The disciples would only have to wait a short time until Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost arrived 120 of Jesus’ disciples, which included the twelve apostles, received the promised power of God. Peter spoke to the crowd gathered on the holy day about what the miracles they saw symbolized. They were a shadow fulfillment of what the prophet Joel predicted would happen at the end time just before the return of Christ (see Acts 2).
One of the many lessons of Pentecost is that sometimes we must wait for God to act, in his wisdom, before rushing off to do his will.
What should we learn from the weeks we spend between Easter and Pentecost?
- Ask God to open your mind and heart to anything new He wants to teach you.
- Ask God to help you learn patience so that you will wait for Him to enlighten you.
- Thank God that He is always doing new things and that there is no end to the things God can show you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to learn all that You want to teach us during this time of waiting. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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