This week we remember Pentecost (Acts 2). Pentecost is arguably the fourth most important event Church calendar after Christ’s birth, the Christ’s death, and Christ’s resurrection. But what makes Pentecost so important? At Pentecost God’s long awaited promise to Israel was fulfilled: the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28-32). This meant that the new covenant that God promised through both Ezekiel and Jeremiah had now been fulfilled.
God keeps his word.
What we often times forget about Pentecost, however, is that it was originally and Old Testament, first covenant holiday. This is why there were so many international (diaspora) Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Jews from around the mediterranean world were gathered together to celebrate (the original) Pentecost. The “original” Pentecost celebrated two things: (1) God’s giving of the Torah through Moses at Sinai (Exodus 20), and (2) the firs fruits of the Harvest (Exodus 34:22).
What is fascinating about this is that there is a very clear correspondence between the first Pentecost that we read about in Exodus and the second Pentecost, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, that we read about in Acts 2. The correspondence is that in both the precious wisdom of God for life is shared supernaturally with humanity. In the Old Testament, at Sinai, the Torah is given on stones. It is external. In Jerusalem, however, the wisdom of God becomes internal, it is written on the hearts of those who believe.
This is the crucial difference between the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, it was only a special few who were endowed with the privilege of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was available for chosen leaders to lead with a divine wisdom. In the New Testament, however, all believers are endowed with this divine wisdom.
This is the testimony of the church: a people who are set apart in their living by a divine wisdom, by a spirit of holiness; a people who’s lives conform to the life of Christ.
Pentecost, then, is a great day of celebration. We celebrate Holy Spirit-enabled freedom to obey. We celebrate the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts. We celebrating the freedom to be like Jesus. We celebrating carrying the true mark of the covenant people of God: the Holy Spirit.
Great thought! We are truly all priests (Rev. 5:10) under our great high priest Jesus Christ (all of Hebrews!), but this availability of the Holy Spirit to all believers instead of the chosen priests is a new angle I hadn’t seen before. I may put a link to your blog on one I have currently in draft about law and grace. “We celebrate Holy Spirit-enabled freedom to obey.” is brilliant to quote! Thank you. Grace be with you.