IT IS THE BOOKEND TO THE WONDERFUL SACRIFICE OF JESUS
Why is Pentecost the only Biblical Holy Day without a specific calendar date? Because it is tethered to the Passover Sacrifice of the Messiah. Anyone can suffer and die and many have but only Christ suffered and died and then had risen from the dead. Jesus the Messiah is the first of the first-fruits. The seven Sabbaths after the Passover are counted down-which is forty nine days- then the next day the wave sheaf offering. This is forty nine days plus one which is fifty, Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 NKJV 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.
The Apostle Paul makes the connection between death/resurrection of Christ and first-fruits which is celebrated on the Feast of Pentecost. This festival links believers conversion with Jesus as Paul further explains.
1 Corinthians 15:17 NKJV 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
1 Corinthians 15:22-24 NKJV 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
Jesus is the first of the first fruits- then His believers and disciples. Christ spent most of his time as a resurrected being in Galilee not being seen in the center of Judea. Most of the population did not witness the risen Messiah. But most of the population at its headquarters would see His power on Pentecost. The power of the Resurrection also is knowledge that it happened. Pentecost is the bookend of that event- the death and resurrection by splashing this information to the world at the major holy city on earth.
1 Corinthians 15:6-8 NKJV 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Jesus told his followers to meet Him after his resurrection, in Galilee, and hundreds did just as requested. But the story is incomplete without the world seeing His disciples empowered. Naturally Christ did this on the feast of first fruits, Pentecost.
WHY IS PENTECOST'S THE OVERWHELMING DISPLAY OF JESUS'S POWER
Like everything else God does this show of empowerment of Christ's disciples on this Holy Day has a purpose. We can see this clearly on the impact that it had on the public and the leaders of the nation.
Acts 2:1-3 NKJV 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all withone accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
God added audio and visual special effects to gain the attention of the entire city. The fire and stormy wind sound were not the only attention getting affects used by God. Jesus also added spiritual inspiration and the gift of languages even in many local dialects. Wow!
Acts 2:4-5 NKJV 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
Note that these awesome signs would get the attention of people from all over the world.
Acts 2:6 MKJV 6 But this sound occurring, the multitude came together and were confounded, because they each heard them speaking in his own dialect.
People from all over the city of Jerusalem came together to hear and see these miracles.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?...11...we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
Then Peter explains to them what these miracles and special effects mean. They are proof of the resurrection of Christ. Why is Pentecost important? It fulfills the purpose of mankind knowing all about the death and resurrection of the Messiah. These events were also a witness to the leadership.
Acts 4:1-2 NKJV 1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
The leaders of the nation were dumbfounded by the message and now the twelve messengers as well.
Acts 4:12-15 NKJV 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
The Sanhedrin now realized that now they had a bigger problem than before. Jesus had now left them with twelve inspired evangelists also doing great miracles. Men like Himself who had not been trained under them in one of their academies. Men who now understood the scriptures clear of their biases and sometimes misleading traditions. This frightened them to the core. The risen Jesus was for them an overwhelming challenge to their religious leadership.
Acts 4:16-20 NKJV 16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 "But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. Acts 4:21-22 NKJV 21 So when they had further threatened them,... the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Their crucifixion of Christ just made matters worse for them. The resurrected Jesus had now empowered His twelve disciples and it could not be denied. The power that came because Jesus is now in heaven pouring the power of the Holy Spirit among the true believers was awesome. The Holy Day of Pentecost completes the process.
John 16:7 MKJV 7 But I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you
The death and resurrection have meaning and power but it is not fully complete without the fruit of this victory. What is the fruit of this victory? It is God covering our sins and giving us the Holy Spirit. The power of the spirit helps us grow and finish the process.
Pentecost gives us a chance to celebrate the beginning of the church with the power provided by the risen Jesus Christ. Understanding this bookend fully is why Pentecost is so important.
