The Meaning of Pentecost: Feast of Weeks, Wheat Harvest, Shavuot By Raymond Pruitt

The Meaning of Pentecost: Part 1

The Meaning of Pentecost

Scripture Passage. Acts 2:1-18

The Jews celebrated Pentecost to commemorate the giving of the law at Sinai, which occurred fifty days after the offering of first-fruits on Sunday after the Passover (Exodus 12). Israel was, of course, a people before Sinai, but at Sinai they became a nation with laws which regulated their political, social and religious life.

Christians see Pentecost in an entirely different perspec­tive. It was on that day that the Holy Ghost came to baptize believers and to empower them for the great commission which had been entrusted to them. There are some striking parallels between the Old Testament Pente­cost and the New Testament Pentecost, however.

Where the earlier Pentecost was related to the Passover and the Exodus, the latter was related to the death of Christ which occurred fifty days prior to the coming of the Holy Ghost. The Church had been in existence from the time of its inception (Mark 3:13-19), but at Pentecost it received the Holy Ghost which would be its Source of power and wisdom. The Church was commanded not to enter upon its mission until it had first obeyed the command of Christ: “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

While the Church did not strictly have its origin at Pentecost (cf. Mark 3:13-19; Matthew 16:18-19), it was not ready to launch out upon its world mission until first it was empowered with the Holy Ghost. Jesus had made it imperatively clear that they could not function effectively until the Holy Ghost was given: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Later, the apostle Paul would recon­firm what the Church knew all along: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament....” (2 Corinthians 3:5, 6).

I.          THE PROMISE OF CHRIST

Following the Last Supper, Jesus spoke to His disciples to prepare them for His coming death, resurrection and ascension. One of the primary concerns in that discourse was His promise to send the Holy Ghost who would be with them and never leave them (John 14:16). He would be their Comforter (Paraclete), the One who would always be with them to provide whatever they needed in their service for the Lord. He was called the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). He was to be the teacher (John 14:26). He would reveal Christ, taking the things that pertain to Him and would reveal them unto the Church. He would not testify of Himself, but would testify of Christ (John 15:26; 16:14). Furthermore, He would reprove men, that is, He would convict them of sin, of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:7-11).

After Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected, He appeared to the disciples one night where they were gath­ered in a room with all the doors and windows closed, and there He breathed on them, saying “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). This was a command; they did not receive the Spirit then. The immense significance of the coming of the Holy Ghost was further stressed when shortly before His ascension He said to His disciples, “Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:5).

II.         THE ADVENT OF THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY

1. Fulfillment of Prophecy. We have seen how Jesus promised that the Holy Ghost will proceed from the Father and the Son (John 14:16, 26; 15:26). The prophets also foretold the coming of the blessed outpouring of God’s Spirit (Joel 2:28, 29; Ezekiel 36:26, 27).

2. The Beginning of a New Dispensation. With the coming of the Holy Ghost, a new type of divine adminis­tration began in the Church. Jesus had to complete His work, then the dispensation of the Holy Ghost would come. He had said to the disciples, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but If I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

Understandably, the disciples were dejected at the men­tion of Jesus being taken away from them, but their depression was due to their lack of insight, and not being able to understand what Jesus was saying to them. Had He not died, been raised again, and ascended to the Father, the Holy Ghost could not have come at Pentecost, bringing His gifts to the Church. Since the redemptive mission of Christ would have been incomplete, there would have been nothing to bring to men; therefore, Christ must needs have suffered and triumphed over sin and death, in order that the Holy Ghost could come at Pentecost, and apply what Christ had accomplished. Paul later told the Church that if Jesus had not died and risen again, there would be no gospel to preach at all (1Corinthians 15:14, 15).

All of this was planned and foreordained before the foundation of the world (cf. Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 13:8; 17:8). From the beginning, it was God’s desire to dwell with man, and to walk with him in blessed communion, but man sinned and broke the fellow­ship which God desired. But God was not taken by surprise. He knew in His perfect foreknowledge what would happen, so He was prepared for what happened.

There was a covenant between the Persons of the Trinity before the creation was made, in which the work of each was defined. God the Father initiated the plan of redemption; God the Son effected it by taking on Himself our nature and becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sins; God the Holy Ghost applies the finished work of Christ. Since Pentecost, God the Holy Ghost applies the work of salvation wrought by Christ. God now abides in His people and in His Church by the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 2:22).

3.         The Consequence of the Indwelling Spirit. Jesus had promised that the fullness of the Spirit would make a tremendous difference in His disciples: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)” (John 7:38, 39).

Indeed, all the power a Christian has comes through the Holy Ghost (see 2 Timothy 1:6, 7; Zechariah. 4:6; Acts 1:8). Compare Peter before Pentecost, fearful and denying the Lord, and afterwards, as he stood up and preached that great sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Read of Stephen, full of the Holy Ghost, being mightily used of Him in Acts, chapter seven as he became the first martyr of the Church. Read of Philip, full of the Holy Ghost, being mightily used as a Spirit-filled evangelist in Acts, chapter eight; and John changed from a son of thunder to an apostle of love. In the light of these examples, and the general body of New Testament teaching, we must con­clude that Pentecost is as important to our Christian experience, our service, our message, and our victory as any event or truth in history.

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:

You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And Tell Someone What Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)  

May God through Christ bless you!

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