P. Pilgrim
In Christianity, just like many other religions, there are dates that hold special significance to the followers. An example of this is seen on Christmas day the 25th of December when the faithful remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, Israel. It is a time of great celebration for the church and its people, as God the son came to live in this sin cursed world. Another day of special importance for the church is the day of Pentecost. The term Pentecost comes from the Greek word to mean fifty or fiftieth. It is the festival that is held 50 days after Passover and Easter Sunday. The Lord Jesus being of the Jewish nation followed the Old Testament festivals. The first of the pilgrimage festivals was the feast of Passover and Unleavened bread, 50 days later the feast of weeks commenced, when Jews from all over the world came to Jerusalem. During this feast of Weeks they celebrated the day of Pentecost when the Jews give thanks to God for the wheat harvest. It is a day of thanksgiving for the goodness of God to the nation of Israel. The last feast is the feast of Booths and it is held in the autumn. In the Christian calendar we remember the Passover as it represents the time when the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified and died and, on the Sunday, rose from the dead. 50 days from the resurrection Sunday the Christian church celebrates the day of Pentecost, when the church remembers the promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit. After the resurrection of Christ Jesus, he exhorted his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming Holy Spirit. The book of Act chapter 1 verse 4,5 records the exhortation, “And, being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Thus, during the feast of Weeks, the disciples and the followers of Christ were in the city of Jerusalem awaiting the fulfilment of the promise. The Holy scriptures record that the disciples were all together on the day of Pentecost. When suddenly a sound came from heaven like the sound of a mighty rushing wind. The sound filled the house, and then appeared what was like ‘tongues of fire’ which sat above the head of each disciple. At that moment the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages. This miraculous phenomenon was talked about in the city and devote men from every nation came to hear them speak. The book of Act chapter 2 verse 6 explains it, “the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” These men were astounded because they knew that many of the disciples were unlearned men, they had little schooling and yet here they were speaking foreign languages so that all present could understand. Verse 8 shows their surprize, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” Over 14 distinct countries are mentioned from verses 9 to 11 then it says “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” This was and still is an amazing miracle for it allowed these men to bring the saving message of Christ back to their countries and was the means of many more men and women becoming believers in Christ Jesus. The day of Pentecost should be remembered in our churches, for it reminds us that God keeps his promises. The desire of God is for all men to hear the message of salvation and peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
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