THE ASTONISHMENT OF PENTECOST

In the Old Testament the Jews had a festival called “The Feast of Weeks," or Shavuot. It was an annual holiday that took place at the beginning of wheat harvest. The festival not only had the purpose of giving thanks for the harvest, but in Jewish tradition, it was also on this day in history that Moses was given the Law of God on Mount Sinai.

I give you this little background about this day, because it is this day that in the New Testament is called “Pentecost.” It is also the day we still observe today, fifty days after we celebrated Easter. The word Pentecost actually does mean “fiftieth day.” It also comes ten days after Ascension Day. Ascension Day was the day when Jesus ascended into heaven, as witnessed by his watching and wondering disciples. 

A Promise Given

On that day that Jesus ascended into heaven, before he did so, he told his disciples that he would be sending “the promise” of the Father upon them. They were to wait in Jerusalem for this promise, at which time they would be “clothed with power from on high.” That is the way he put it. Jesus spoke in reference to what the prophet Joel wrote. The promise reads, in part, “I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29)
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