Jack T. Chakhesang
In a few days, the Day of Pentecost will dawn. The word “pentecost” means “fifty”, and comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It refers to the Israelite harvest festival that was held on the fiftieth day after Passover. In fact, it is held on the seventh Sunday after Christ’s Resurrection. In the Old Testament this festival is called the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Firstfruits and also the Feast of Weeks, being a week of weeks (7x7=49 days). In the New Testament it is called the Feast of Pentecost (Lev 23:5-6, 15-16; Acts 2:1; 20:16; 1 Cor 16:8) as it is now more commonly called.
Pentecost is significant in the New Testament because on that day the Christian Church was literally born. In Christian liturgical year, it became a feast commemorating what is described by some Christians as “Birth Day of Church.”
Christ the Passover lamb had been sacrificed; then, fifty days later, God poured out his Spirit on the small group of disciples and believers who were the First fruits of his new people, the Church of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor 5:7). And there were extraordinary happenings that day and more so as time passed.
PASSOVER & UNLEAVENED BREAD
To understand the significance of Pentecost it is imperative to know its origins which stem from the Passover. God decreed that the month during which the Israelites miraculously escaped from bondage in Egypt should be the first month of their religious year (Exod 12:2). This Jewish month of Nisan fits into the period of March-April in our calendar. In the middle of the month, the people kept the Passover, followed by the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev 25:5-8; Mark 14:1).
The Feast of Passover was God’s appointed way for the people of Israel to celebrate their miraculous escape from Egypt (Exod 12: 14, 24). The name of the feast recalled God’s act of “passing over” the houses of the Israelites while killing the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exod 12:27). However, God withheld judgement from the Israelite households only when he saw the blood of the sacrificial animal around the front door. The blood was a sign that an innocent life had been taken in place of the one under judgement (Exod 12: 5, 7 12-13, 21-23).
The accompanying Feast of Unleavened Bread recalled the people’s hasty departure from Egypt when they had to make their bread without leaven (yeast), cooking as they travelled in order to save time.
Once the Israelites had settled in Canaan, the festival became an occasion to acknowledge God’s care in giving them their grain harvest. At Passover time the barley was ready for harvest, but before the people could reap it and use for themselves, they had to acknowledge God as the giver.
After the Feast of Unleavened Bread , the people returned home and for the next six weeks were busy harvesting, first the barley and then the wheat. Therefore, on the third day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they presented the first sheaf of reaped barley to God. They accompanied this with animal sacrifices that expressed confession, gratitude and dedication (Lev 23: 10-14; Num 28:15-25). At the end of the wheat harvest they tendered their thanks to God for their food by presenting to Him two loaves of bread such as they would eat in their normal meals.
The occasion of Jesus’ last Passover when He and His disciples ate the meal seems to have taken place a day earlier than the official time, and probably without a lamb (Luke 22:15; John 13:1). If so, the probable reason was that Jesus knew that He himself was now the sacrificial Passover lamb. The next day (Good Friday) He laid down His life at the same time as the animals were being killed in preparation for the meal that was to follow that night.
Jesus’ death on the cross was the great act of redemption of which the Israelite Passover was but a picture. Having lost further use, the Passover was replaced by a new remembrance ceremony—the Lord’s Supper. Leonardo da Vinci has painted an instant of this memorable event. However, Dan Brown also made thirty millions of U.S.Dollars by writing his bestselling but controversial book, The Da Vinci Code and which was also made into a film.
Nevertheless, the New Testament refers to the requirements of the Passover to provide a lesson for Christians. Just as the Passover festival meant that Israelites removed leaven from their houses, so the sacrifice of Jesus means that Christians should remove sins from their lives (1 Cor 5:7-8).
And the Cross on which Christ was crucified was destined to become the most beautiful emblem in the world!
AFTERMATH OF RESURRECTION
After Jesus rose to life from the dead, it must have been undoubtedly stunning news to people all over not only in what is now the State of Israel but all over the Middle-East and even Rome and Greece and beyond. Probably it was also the first time that good news was news at all and it spread faster than wild fire to people of all walks of life. Life was uncertain for everyone, but death was not. When people died, they were permanently dead. Not everyone believed the story, but everyone talked about it. Even those who shook their heads wished they could believe it; hoped it was true.
What is more amazing is that for forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus was seen at many places by as many as 500 (five hundred) people at the same time not the least being the two men whom Jesus met on their way to Emmaus seven miles north of Jerusalem as also several of his disciples at weaver Ben Josef’s house on a Sunday. They told Peter that Jesus appeared in His real body along with the scars on his palms. He’d appeared before them and then after dining with them, just vanished!
Early on the morning of the twenty second day of Nissan (April-May) when Peter was alone on his ship the Abigail on Lake Gennesaret, Jesus called out to Peter from the shore. Half an hour later the disciples began to arrive in twos and threes. They understood that Peter had repented of his weakness in denying Jesus and had been fully restored to the Master’s comradeship. Jesus told them in his inimitable soft and quiet but nevertheless compelling style that in a few days He would return home to His Father’s house and leave them to continue His work.
When Philip asked Jesus when they could expect His return, the reply: “No one knows the day, nor the hour, Philip. What I say unto you, you may say unto all---Watch!”
Meanwhile, Jesus gave them instructions for their movements in the days immediately before them. No more fishing now; their fishing days were over. They were to return to Jerusalem, remain there and await further orders. Then with outstretched hands in blessing said tenderly, “My peace be with you,” and was gone.
Eventually, early morning on the twenty-fourth day of Iyar, they were summoned to assemble on a hill top nearby where Jesus encouraged them and told them to await further tidings. Then after praying for them and as he was blessing them Jesus “was taken up to heaven” (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19). Acts 1:9 adds that Jesus was taken up and disappeared in a cloud.
But the overriding message this time was that all the disciples had to gather at the Coppersmith’s Guildhall (or Cenacle on Mount Zion) in Jerusalem in mid-morning of the Day of Pentecost.
THE SPECIAL INVITEES
Among the 120 people gathered on the Day of Pentecost, were Mary, Mother of Jesus, various other women disciples and His brothers. To the eleven Apostles was added Mathias in place of Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26). It was the fifth day of the Jewish month of Sivan (May-June).
Some people were also enjoined well in advance at various places by young angelic messengers dressed in expensive white tunics with a device (a Cross) appliquéd on the left breast and riding a white horse to be there at the same time and date. These included Simon the Cyrene who carried Christ’s cross to Calvary, Joseph, the Prince of Arimathea who buried Jesus in his own earmarked tomb as also his servant Hassan, Jairus and Joel the overseer of his vineyards, and Ephraim, the good-natured farrier and general blacksmith of Nazareth as also the Roman Proconsul, Nicolas Mencius. Plus Micah, a labourer in the vineyard of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee and whose blind daughter Jesus had opened her eyes.
“And so it was,” wrote Lloyd C. Douglas in The Big Fisherman, “that in strangely convincing dreams, and by intuitive compelling impulses, and many other indubitable signs, one hundred and twenty men (and women), having no consultation with one another, turned their faces toward Jerusalem, arriving mid-morning of the Day of Pentecost, to receive tidings concerning the future of the Kingdom (God’s). Nothing like this had ever happened in the world before.”
RECEPTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Book of Acts, chapter 2 (two) gives biblical narrative of Pentecost wherein 120 believers had gathered at the upper room of the Coppersmith’s Guildhall, or Cenacle which is claimed as the location of the Last Supper. Pentecost Pixner Bargil claims that the original Church of the Apostles is located under the current structure. Traditional interpretation holds that the Descent of the Holy Spirit took place in the upper room while celebrating the Day of Pentecost.
“Suddenly there was a noise from the sky, which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
“There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious men who had come from every country in the world. When they heard the noise, a large crowd gathered outside also. They were all excited, because each one of them heard the believers speaking in his own language” (Acts 2:1-6; Also read on till verse 13).
While those on whom the Spirit had descended were speaking in many languages, the Apostle Peter stood up with the eleven other Apostles and proclaimed to the crowd that this event was the fulfilment of the prophecy “I will pour out my Spirit to everyone” (Please read Acts 2:17-21).
PETER’S MESSAGE
Peter told the gathering that it had been the hope of God from the beginning that His children would inherit the Kingdom. He had not compelled them to accept its benefits. He had endowed them with free will to claim or refuse their heritage.
But God had not left them in darkness concerning the results of their decisions. Every generation had had its inspired prophets who had entreated men to receive and enjoy their heavenly legacy. Only a few had heeded these messages. The lonely prophets had been imprisoned, flogged, and stoned by the forces of greed and the lust for power.
God had been patient with the evil-doers. Again and again, through the ages, humanity had reaped such appalling harvests of its own misdeeds that even kings and warriors had stood aghast at the tragedies they had contrived. And always, in the midst of ruin and the fear that had chastened both the just and unjust, the prophets had shouted, “Now we shall begin anew! We shall rebuild the wastes! We shall repair the world’s desolations!”
But when a brief day of peace had brought prosperity, new tyrants rose up and another era of rapine, slavery, and slaughter would bring distrust and terror to the children of men. The sceptre had passed from one bloody hand to another as the nations clamoured for power, and yet more power, over the lives of the helpless.
Here Peter, also known as the Big Fisherman on account of his big and strong physical size, after pausing for a moment, continued in an ominous tone that deepened the silence. He had done with his calm review of mankind’s unfortunate history. It was time now for the world to be shaken wide awake. God had sent forth His Son with power to heal the sick, bind up broken hearts, open blind eyes, and proclaim a new era of good-will among men.
But the world would not receive Him. He had been scorned, whipped, and put to a shameful death! But He had come up alive again---and had been seen of many. Now He had returned to His Father’s house.
“Think you, then,” demanded Peter, “that the will of God has been set at naught? Think you that His Spirit will no longer strive with men? I declare to you that our Christ is King! He has begun to reign! And He shall reign until all the kingdoms of this world shall have become his Kingdom!”
Then he faced them to say impressively, “We, who confidently believe in Him, have been summoned here to receive unmistakable proofs that His Holy Spirit abides in us. And from this day forward we are commissioned to spread the good news of His conquering Kingdom!”
Peter also stated that this event was the beginning of a continual outpouring that would be available to all believers from that point on. “Many of them believed his message and were baptized and about three thousand people were added to the group that day” (Acts 2:41). And soon another five thousand also followed suit.
OTHER RELATED FEATURES
This holy day of Pentecost is also called Whitsunday especially in the U.K. Pentecost can also refer to the entire 50 days of Easter through Pentecost inclusive; hence, the book containing the liturgical texts for Paschaltide is called Pentecostarion (Exod 23:16; 34:22; Deut 16:10).
The Feast of Pentecost itself lasts three days. The first day is known as “Trinity Sunday;” the second day is known as “Spirit Monday” (or Monday of the Holy Spirit); and the third day, Tuesday is called the “Third Day of the Trinity.”
The Afterfeast of Pentecost lasts for one week, during which fasting is not permitted, even on Wednesday and Friday. In Orthodox Tradition, liturgical colour used at Pentecost is green, and the clergy and faithful carry flowers and green branches in their hands during the services.
For some Protestants the nine days between Ascension Day and Pentecost are set aside for fasting and universal prayer in honour of the disciples’ time of prayer and unity awaiting the Holy Spirit.
Also, there is Jewish tradition that King David was born and died on Pentecost. In Paul’s Acts 2:14-39, Peter linked the life and death, and Ascension of Jesus with King David’s death and hope of immortality. Besides, there are various renowned classical musicians including Mozart’s 1768 Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit) who composed music commemorating Pentecost for posterity. There are also special hymns in this regard.
Moreover, there are a few literary allusions to Pentecost, like Alexander Dumas in his Twenty Years After, the sequel to the celebrated The Three Musketeers, as also in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene V. According to Celtic legend, King Arthur always gathered all his Knights at the Round Table for a feast and a quest on Pentecost Music.
PRAYER FOR THOUGHT
Now, it is over forty days since Christendom celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus paving the way for humanity’s salvation for which we still have a long way to go. In fact, He ascended to heaven forty days after His Ascension (on) Thursday---it was on May 25 this year--- and ten days before Pentecost which this year falls on June 04 (Sunday). So, Pentecost always occurs on a Sunday.
The adherents of Pentecostal Church are the third largest in number in the world after the Roman Catholics and Orthodox Church. Nagas are Baptists in the majority but world-wide Baptist population is sixth after Lutherans and Anglicans and followed by Presbyterians, Methodists and so on. Yet, we have our fair share of Pentecostals as also Roman Catholics and several other denominations. However, we need to have more understanding of each other’s denomination because everything about our religion is based on the same Bible.
Above all, we have to first set our Christian House with all the denominations (and unnecessary differences) in order to make our faith stronger before we point fingers at others out of fear and concern.
The USA has the largest Christian population followed by Brazil, China, Mexico, Russia, Philippines with India (having a Christian minority of about eighty millions) ranking the seventh.
German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe declared Pentecost as “The Lovely Feast.” In his Rienoke Fuchs Pfingsten, das libliche Fest he speaks of Pentecost as a time of greening and blooming of fields, woods, hills, mountains, bushes and hedges, of birds singing new songs, meadows sprouting, fragrant flowers, and of festive sunshine gleaming from the skies and colouring the earth---iconic lines idealizing the Pentecost holidays in the German-speaking lands.
Nevertheless, the same feelings can also be applicable to all nations and cultures. Above all, Pentecost is a day for the Confirmation celebrations of youths. Flowers, the wearing of white robes, or white dresses recalling Baptisms, rites such as the laying of hands, and vibrant singing play prominent roles on these joyous occasions, the blossoming of Spring forming an equal analogy with the blossoming of youth---the great hope of our temporal, cultural, moral, historical and spiritual future which we must Harvest as a deserving and befitting Feast!
