I don't usually send out an EmmDev on Mondays (as this is my "sabbath") but for this series, I'll be sending out devotions for the whole week. Hope they are a helpful in preparing our hearts for celebrating Pentecost!
Today's dev is a little longer than usual as it gives background...
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4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Acts1:4-5
Historically speaking Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival that took place fifty days after Passover. It was called the "Feast of Weeks" (Shavuot) because it was seven weeks and one day after Passover. It was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest (Lev 23, Exod 23, 34) but it was also used to celebrate God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.
"Pentecost" comes from the Greek Word for "Fifty" and is how we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God's Disciples which really commemorates the birth of the Christian Church, and the powerful transformation of a group of frightened disciples into a group of people who changed history.
It is important to note that when we celebrate Pentecost, Easter or Christmas, we are not trying to re-create these events, but rather to re-enact them. In other words, we dive into the details of these events and re-appreciate their significance for the simple reason that we forget. (This is why the Lord Jesus asked us to celebrate the Lord's Supper... because we forget.)
From the Old Testament background we can glean some wonderful truths:
* Harvest and first fruits: with the coming of the Spirit, the church was born and on its first day of existence, 3000 people were added to the church. Jesus spoke about the fields being ready for harvest and the Holy Spirit helps us to reach out to people and bring them to Christ.
* Seven Weeks (7 X sabbaths) + 1 day makes one think of the Old Testament promise of the "Year of Jubilee" (7X7+1 years) which was supposed to be a year in which debts were cancelled, the economy would be reset and land would go back to original rightful owners. As far as we can see, Israel never had the courage to make this happen. But when the Spirit came, people sold their goods and shared with one another and still today God's people, moved by the Spirit, are able to forgive and care for one another in incredible ways.
* The Old Testament festival celebrated the giving of the Law on tablets of stone, but the coming of the Spirit celebrates the promise of Jeremiah where the law is "written on our hearts." (Jer31:33)
Jesus asked his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Spirit. We know that they spent this time in prayer and fellowship and it's my prayer that we will be thoughtful and prayerful, eagerly longing for God to work in us, in the church and in the world.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
