How are you celebrating Pentecost?

It’s the last day on the Christian calendar before we circle back around to Advent – let’s reclaim the meaning

This is a day that’s gotten some bad press, because the people associated with the name have some misguided ideas.

More on that below. But first, what is referred to as the Christian calendar is the series of annual events marking Jesus’ time on earth. It starts with Advent leading to Christmas, followed by Holy Week leading to Easter, followed by Ascension Day (when Christ ascended into heaven) and 10 days later, Pentecost – when the Lord sent the Holy Spirit – precisely as Jesus had promised (see John 14:16-31 and John 16:5-15).

This incredible day is described in Acts 2, surely one of the most dramatic chapters of the Bible. Take a moment and read it right now. Seriously. CLICK HERE.

Did you read it? (You know God is watching, right?)

Okay. So that was Pentecost. Why is it called that, anyway?

Because “Pentecost” literally means “50th day.” And the Holy Spirit came 50 days after Christ’s resurrection.

But did you know that Pentecost already existed as a Jewish holiday that was held 50 days after Passover? It commemorated how God gave the Israelites His law on Mount Sinai, 50 days after their deliverance from Egypt (see Exodus 19-20).

There is much insight to be gained from comparing these two “Pentecosts” so let’s do some compare & contrast.

Exodus Pentecost vs Acts Pentecost

EXODUS - Took place 50 days after God’s people were delivered from slavery by the blood of a lamb painted on their vertical and horizontal doorposts (Passover)

ACTS - Took place 50 days after a far greater deliverance from slavery to sin by the blood of the Lamb painted on the vertical and horizontal beams of the cross

EXODUS - God descends in fire on Mount Sinai - in effect warning people to keep their distance from His presence

ACTS - Tongues of fire appear on all believers present, as God’s presence draws near and fills them

EXODUS - Loud thunder & sound of trumpets

ACTS - Mighty sound of rushing wind

EXODUS - God gives His law, leading to awareness of sin, condemnation, and death

ACTS - God pours out His Spirit, leading to assurance of forgiveness and life, and empowering people to obey Him

EXODUS - The people rebel and worship a golden calf, resulting in 3000 deaths

ACTS - Peter boldly preaches the gospel, resulting in 3000 people saved

But this wasn’t the Holy Spirit’s debut performance

The Spirit was active from before time started (see the very first verse of the Bible for His first mention). He is who regenerated God’s people before Christ’s time, giving them the desire to obey. As Barry Cooper writes:

Moses was given the Holy Spirit, and at one point he famously cried out, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” But through the prophet Joel, God promised that the day would come when His Spirit would be given to all believers in a new and more powerful way: “It shall come to pass afterward [He says], that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”

Peter quoted that exact passage in his Pentecost Day sermon (that you just read) as that precise prophecy was fulfilled in real time.

And here’s perhaps the most critical distinction between the old covenant saints and new covenant believers. Not all of the old covenant saints were given gifts by the Holy Spirit for ministry - but every new covenant believer is gifted, as He comes to dwell within us.

As Cooper notes, “That is the wonder of Pentecost: God coming to dwell more fully in each and every believer, to give them power and gifts for service.”

And what is the purpose of those gifts? Well, what did those first believers do? They immediately began declaring the glory of God in multiple different languages, so that all present with them there in Jerusalem could understand.

Peter – the same man consumed with fear who had literally lied about his relationship to Jesus to protect himself, just 50 days earlier – boldly proclaimed the gospel to all of Jerusalem, resulting in 3000 souls joining God’s family.

And this is the ultimate meaning of Pentecost. The same Spirit who emboldened Peter that day dwells within us for the PURPOSE of proclaiming the gospel.

Taking Pentecost back

It’s important to note that the emphasis should not be on the gifts, which is where a lot of Christians go wrong, including those who call themselves Pentecostals, with their emphasis on speaking in tongues and other such manifestations as somehow being a “second act of grace” that Christians need to experience.

The whole counsel of the Bible teaches us that the Spirit indwells us when God saves us, and certain gifts were clearly meant for the apostolic age, to help people verify who was actually representing Christ before the Scripture was finalized. (Apostles, by the way, were historical figures who personally experienced Jesus Christ in the flesh, like the original disciples, etc. There are no apostles today, although there are people claiming to be.)

So let’s celebrate Pentecost for the joyful reminder that it is – that the very Spirit of God lives in us, for the purpose of conforming us to Him in obedience and proclaiming him fearlessly. This Sunday, consider the wondrous gift of Him who is sometimes called the Forgotten God.