05/27/2026
This past Sunday was Pentecost, often considered the birth of the church. Pentecost is the Greek term for Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.
Leviticus 23:10 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest." Leviticus 23:15-16 "'From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 16: Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD."
Seven weeks from the second day of Passover brings fifty days. The Feast of Weeks celebrates the first harvest of the new season. Just as Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain at Passover, it was no coincidence that the church celebrated its first harvest on Shavuot.
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2: Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3: They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
These were the first fruits of those born of the Spirit. The crowd was amazed to hear them in their own tongues. Peter then preached the gospelâJesusâ death and resurrectionâand closed with words that still inspire evangelists today:
Acts 2:37-41 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
This week we celebrate Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In many ways, the fullness of the gospel was revealed that day. The church spread across the known world, and its impact was so great that we still measure time by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus lived sinlessly, died blamelessly, and rose because death could not hold Him. The tomb is empty, and we are given a new heart and a new spirit. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved from the temple to our hearts, completing the earthly phase of Jesusâ ministry. Because of Pentecost, eternity begins even now through the new birth and the indwelling Spirit.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.â
