Pentecost

Having celebrated Pentecost Sunday for over 50 years, I felt it was time that I learned what the word really means. Come to find out, in the Greek of the New Testament, Pentecost means "fifty". That doesn't seem so special, does it? The birthday of the Church came seven weeks after the Resurrection (50 days if you count Resurrection Sunday as day 1). It was therefore ten days following Ascension Thursday.

It is interesting that the day of Pentecost was already a Jewish celebration. It represents the fifty days after the Exodus when Yahweh gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It also represents the festival of Shavuot, a Jewish harvest celebration. It is little wonder then that there were Jews from so many countries worshipping and celebrating in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit arrived. It is also clear why the twelve disciples and other apostles began to preach the Gospel of Jesus in so many different languages. Initially the festival-goers thought the disciples were drunk, but Peter explained that being drunk at 9:00 am is rare for even the ragtag group of disciples. He then convicted them with the charge, "All Israel, then, know this, "There is no longer room for doubt - God made Him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross."

That day about three thousand took Peter at his word, claimed Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and were baptized. Not a bad start for the Church. It does cause one to ponder, however, if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Are we speaking the language of the "lost", offering the love and salvation of Jesus in their language, or are we too busy with "church speak" to recognize that our message is falling on deaf ears? Be still and listen. Do you hear the Wind?

Happy Birthday!