What Does Pentecost Mean for Us Today?
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Two thousand years ago, after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, God sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The world changed afterward.
Judaism had a small but certain amount of influence in the ancient world, particularly in Southwest Asia. However, with the birth of the Church, the Gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom spread from Jerusalem to the whole world. A religion no longer bound by borders or racial lineage, Christianity has reached people in nations from the four corners of the world. And it still does today.
Acts points to the spiritual gift given at Pentecost as the beginning of this movement, all by the power of the Spirit. It is detailed more through the rest of the book Luke wrote. Even today, we have a whole branch of Christianity that is named for this event: Pentecostals.
Looking more closely at the day, the history of the holiday, and its purpose, we will discover a fulfillment to encourage and inspire us.
What Was the Old Testament Purpose of Pentecost?
First, we should look at the original holiday we call Pentecost. In the Old Testament, the Mosaic law established the Feast of Weeks (or Shavuot in Hebrew), as one of three major festivals God commanded Israel to observe (Exodus 23:16, Leviticus 23:15-22). Every Israelite had to journey to the Tabernacle or Temple to celebrate these three festivals (Passover and the Ingathering as the other two). “Pentecost” is a Greek word, pentekoste, meaning “fiftieth” since the feast happened fifty days after Passover.
In the Old Testament, Pentecost had two purposes: to thank God for crops and to remember the covenant. For the crops, Shavuot marked the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. Israel would celebrate God’s previous provision and the one to come. During the feast, people brought what we call the “first fruits” of the harvest to the temple as a “wave offering” (Leviticus 23:17). With the holiday, God’s people declared their dependence upon him as their provider.
Additionally, Jewish tradition says Shavuot happened at the same time God gave Moses the Law at Mount Sinai, around fifty days after their deliverance from Egypt. Therefore, Pentecost also celebrated the very foundation of all Israelite worship and society, the Lord’s law and covenant. At Pentecost, Israel would recommit their hearts to God.
During the feast, God commanded every Israelite male who could travel to come to the Tabernacle, or Temple, in Jerusalem. Usually, whole families would also make the trek, but at times it might be more dangerous for women and children. Israelites would bring freewill offerings and celebrated with families, servants, and even the poor and foreigners (Deuteronomy 16:10-12).
What Happened on Pentecost in Acts?
Jesus died on Passover, as the Lamb of God. He resurrected three days later and hung around to teach about the Kingdom for another forty days. Before his ascension, Christ instructed his disciples to wait for the promised Holy Spirit.
Ten days later, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. They had gathered in one place and stayed in Jerusalem, as Jesus said, and waited for the “promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). While together (likely also celebrating Pentecost, like good Jews), they heard a sound like a mighty wind, and tongues of fire rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them “utterance” (Acts 2).
From the Mosaic law, the city was full of Jews from the whole, expansive Roman empire, and they heard disciples declaring God’s amazing works in their own languages and tongues. Some were confused and others mocked, thinking the disciples had too much to drink. Peter preached a sermon explaining what was happening. They were experiencing a fulfilment of God’s promise in Joel 2:28-32.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
Peter declared this the beginning of a new covenant. God would now pour out his Spirit on all people, regardless of social status. The Spirit’s arrival also pointed to the last days to come, also in Joel. Peter continued by preaching about Jesus, his death and resurrection as the Messiah. About 3,000 people repented and joined the new church. As Jesus commanded, the giving of the Spirit marked the beginning of the Church, proclaiming the Gospel to all nations and people by the power of the Spirit.
God’s Spirit now dwells in his people, not a physical temple, empowering them to be witnesses of Jesus and the Kingdom to everyone.
How Was Pentecost Perfect for the Birth of the Church?
The whole New Testament takes the Old Testament symbols and declares how we now enjoy the substance and the promise within those old festivals and traditions. Pentecost perfectly symbolized what God desired to do with the Gospel and the Church.
First, it represented the beginning of a great spiritual harvest. Jesus often used harvest pictures to describe the Gospel mission. In Matthew 9:37-38, he said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Also in John 4:35, Jesus said, “Lift up your eyes, and see the fields are white for harvest.” Christ saw people as a field ready to receive the Gospel and be gathered into the heavenly Kingdom.
After resurrection and before ascension, Jesus gave the Great Commission, directing his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) and to wait for the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to be witnesses. Before Pentecost, the disciples gathered in prayer to the “Lord of the Harvest,” and they became the harvesters of the spiritual first fruits, those 3,000 new believers.
God chose to reveal his perfect Lamb on Passover, and here God chose Pentecost to link the feast of first fruits to begin the spiritual harvest of all nations. Through the rest of Acts, we read how the Holy Spirit guided the whole process, giving messages and sending apostles and ministers to both the Jew and the Gentile as a continual harvest. We still live in the same harvest today.
What Does Pentecost Mean for Us Today?
Acts 2 wasn’t simply for those people two thousand years ago. Pentecost launched the mission, continuing God’s redemptive story with power and revelation, reaching the ends of the earth with God’s love and salvation.
First, Pentecost birthed the Church, and we still participate in the same community of faith in local and global ways. God filled a people, all at once, and he still seeks to reveal himself through a corporate witness. The Church has become his primary witness to his person and love. He’s empowered us through his Spirit to be outposts of the Kingdom of God anywhere two or more gather in the name of Jesus.
Second, Pentecost teaches us we need the Holy Spirit to be his witness to others. We require the work of God to point people to him. Acts and the New Testament show us how all other ways have failed and will continue to. Our religion, intellect, emotions, social status, government authority, nothing has the ability apart from God to draw others to the Father. The Spirit of the Son living in his people, guiding and directing, sends us and grants repentance to others.
Third, Pentecost points us forward. God fulfilled Passover and Pentecost, yet one festival still remains: the Feast of Tabernacles. Passover celebrates redemption. Pentecost begins the time of first fruits. The Old Testament Feast of the Ingathering or Tabernacles celebrated the final harvest season, the fullness (Exodus 23:17).
Jesus’ death and resurrection happened at Passover, and the Church gave substance to Pentecost through receiving the Holy Spirit. The future return of Jesus will fulfill the Feast of Ingathering. The book of Revelation prophetically shows us this final ingathering of the harvest, when Christ comes back, gathers all believers, and establishes his eternal Kingdom. We therefore participate in the harvest today with hope, looking ahead to the ultimate redemption to come.
God fulfilled the previous two. He will fulfill the third in the future.
For us today, Pentecost empowers us, sends us, and gives us a secure hope. God still moves, active in his people to preach Jesus and see souls saved by the Spirit, not ourselves. As always, we look ahead to the last harvest when we will celebrate with God forever.
Peace.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Andry Djumantara
