It is the beginning of Shavu'ot, the Feast of Weeks, or what is generally known in Gentile Christianity as Pentecost. This is truly what I feel is the most under appreciated feast day in all of the Bible. This holy day has special meaning not only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament as well. In the TANAKH (the Old Testament) it is this day that Moses descended Mt. Sinai with Torah (the Law) in his hands, with his face shining from the shekinah of Adonai. In the New Testament it is this day that the Ruach haKodesh, the Holy Spirit, descended in to that upper room in Jerusalem, filling the disciples with the Spirit and allowing them to speak in foreign tongues with the result being 3,000 souls led to Christ. Shavu'ot is one of three holy days, the other two being the Feast of Passover and Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) that all Jewish men were instructed to make a pilgrimage to the Temple or tabernacle.
Yet for some reason many, if not most, Protestant denominations seem to skip over this holiday as if it were a minor inconvenience. The only Gentile branch of Christianity that makes a great fuss over Pentecost are Pentecostals and Roman Catholicism and unfortunately the Pentecostals focus on the speaking of tongues and the Roman Catholic Church...well, I am not going to start with that.
The fact of the matter is, and many Messianic Jews will not appreciate my next observation, it does not matter how or if we even celebrate Shavu'ot. The Apostle Paul said in one of my favorite verses,
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col 2:16-17 (KJV)
If we are keeping Yeshua first in our lives, then what holy days we celebrate are of no concern, regardless if we are Jew or Gentile.
At the same time, Pentecost is an essential holiday for all Christians in recognizing the truth of literal and historical Biblical Christianity. This day represents a perfect observance of how ALL the feast days in Leviticus 23 are in truth both Jewish and have a fulfillment in Yeshua in the New Testament. Some of these days have already been completed in Messiah's first coming, whereas others like Rosh Hashana (Feast of Trumpets) shall be fulfilled in His second coming. Thus every holy day should be recognized and taught to every church, if not celebrated in some fashion. For every holiday in the Bible is about Christ.
Precious Lord, thank you for the turns, times and seasons. Thank you for allowing us to celkebrate You through these holy days that in truth have been given to us to praise You and Your Son Yeshua haMashiach. May we see Him return with glory soon! In Jesus' name. Amen.
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