Friends, I am conferencing out the wazoo. I attended the East Texas Christian Writer’s Conference at ETBU, my alma mater, last Friday and Saturday. Late Saturday evening, I received an invitation to speak on a Christian Cruise ship (more on that when I decide and return the phone call). Sunday morning I flew to Chicago waited on the tarmac for two and half hours to get to Indianapolis for the SBC Pastor’s Conference, Church Planter Dinner, and SBC Annual Convention. I was privileged to meet up with my pastor from our seminary days, Dr. Frank Page, soon to be the past President of the SBC. He has led with integrity an humility, and I am thankful for his service and friendship. He introduced Chuck and I to Avery Willis. That was cool. But better than that, we watched a video of Kerry Shook and the church of Fellowship of the Woodlands (Houston) baptize over 800 this past Sunday (Yes, I said in one Sunday). Revival is in our land if we let it in our hearts to seek and obey God. I bawled watching the video.
I digress. In my absence God has blessed us with a guest blogger with lots of deep contemplations. Join Rebecca as she thinks out loud on the timing of the events in Acts chapter 2. You will be blessed as you ponder these thoughts and consider these questions. Here’s Rebecca. . .
Robin,
Our study of Acts chapter 2 begins, “when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.” I began ponder that statement. It seemed to have more meaning than I understood. So I began investigating.
What is Pentecost, to the Jews? One of seven feasts in their religious calendar. What did it celebrate? The giving of the law. Moses gave the law written on stone tablets on Mt. Sinai. When is it celebrated? 50 days after the Passover Feast. How was this celebrated? There were offerings given, and individuals traditionally stayed up all night studying the Torah—the Law. The early morning hours then were spent praying followed by the reading of the book of Ruth. Why the book of Ruth? I found no well explained reason. But after taking an in-depth look at Ruth, one can make some connections. Ruth is sustained first by the law that says owners are to leave the corners and droppings of the harvest for those in need. Ruth had no husband to provide for her. Second, she was redeemed, provided for by her Kinsmen Redeemer, Boaz. He was the closest male willing and able to take Ruth as his wife and provide for both Ruth and Naomi. Oh, and did I mention Ruth was not a Jew bound by the law or customs of the Jews.
As I was studying, at this point several other things began to come to my mind. One, Christ said he came not to do away with the law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). Then he goes on to explain that we are to keep not only the letter of the law, but the spirit of it as well. The other, Christ was crucified on the Passover, the first of the seven feast. In the Passover from Exodus, they sacrificed a lamb and placed it’s blood on the door post so that the death angel would pass over the house. Jesus has become Christ followers’ Passover lamb—the lamb who was slain, who became our sin.
The fact that the Holy Spirit was sent in fullness at the Pentecost feast is no mere happen stance. But what does it mean? If Passover in the Old Testament was a foretelling of Christ’s work for us, what part does the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost play? What else do these two events—the giving of the law and the coming of the Holy Spirit—have in common?
There were 50 days from the crossing of the Red Sea until the law was given, and 50 days from Christ’s resurrection until the coming of the Holy Spirit.
There were 3000 killed by God as part of the punishment on the people worshiping the handmade golden calf after Moses came down from the mountain with the law. And 3000 were added to the number of believers as a result of Peter’s sermon. In the past, God wrote the law on stone, but now the Holy Spirit writes it on Christ follower’s hearts.
Jews had the letter of the law that was to free them from worshiping idols and from immorality. The Passover freed them from physical slavery. The Holy Spirit is at work in us to set us free from all sorts of bondage.
1. Well that is just a surface scratch of questions and information compared to what is available, but here are two closing thoughts. he Jewish feasts were also agriculture in nature as well as religious bringing another level of meaning. Christ was resurrected at the First Fruit festival. If I understand what I read correctly, the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost also had to do with the harvest of grain. Two loaves made with yeast were waved at the altar, and these loaves were big made with about 16 cups of flour. Some say the two loaves with yeast (with sin) represent Jews and Gentiles.
2. Many European countries celebrate Pentecost as a national holiday. The date is different in different countries and under different names. Since Easter/Passover does not fall on the same date year to year neither does 50 days from the day. In some English speaking places, the name is something like Whitten, maybe from the white robes of the people who were baptized. It was common to have one baptismal service a year, in some cases after a year-long trial run—a test to see if you are for real or a fake. In France, it has been celebrated on June 6th. That date stands out in modern history as the beginning of the Normandy invasion, D-day.
So how does any of this help us? Know that God is at work. He is at work on His schedule. What He has started He will complete, whether it fills all pages of history or the depths of our hearts. He who began a good work will surely finish it.
Take care, let the Peace of Christ reign in your hearts.
Rebecca.
Wow, Thank you Rebecca. I want to copy here a note she wrote me. “God gave us the Old Testament for more than a history lesson. It was a shadow of what was coming, just as the present is a sketch of what is to come. Will heaven be in full color, full power, and HD life?” I sure do think so. For then, we will see things clearly. Thank you Rebecca for helping us see that old, new, and future are all tied together, and that God never changes.
Blessings,
Robin
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