Before being a public holiday, Pentecost is a Jewish and Christian holiday. Fifty days after Easter, it celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, as Jesus had promised. It also marks the birth of the very first Church. Meaning, origin, significance, here is all you need to know about this major event in Christianity!
A holiday of Jewish origin
The word Pentecost means “fiftieth day” in Greek and is originally a Jewish holiday: This term means “Feast of Firstfruits” Where “Feast of Weeks”. During this festivity, the Jews celebrated the harvest, then gradually, the Covenant between God and Moses and finally the establishment of the Mosaic Law. This party lasted 7 weeks!
From the Jewish holiday to the Christian celebration
To know how Pentecost became a Christian celebration, you have to go to the book of Acts of the Apostles. Shortly after the death of Jesus, a hundred disciples of Christ gathered to celebrate. During the festivities, tongues of fire alighted above them, a wind from nowhere passed through the place where they were, and the disciples began to sing praises to God in unknown tongues!
The crowd was amazed by this supernatural and mysterious phenomenon and gathered around the disciples. They then explained to the crowd that God had just poured out the Holy Spirit on them, as He had promised through His Son Jesus: “On the day of Pentecost, they were all together in the same place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, separated from each other, and landed on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-14).”
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all these things and remind you of all that I have told you.” (John 14:26)
Thousands of people converted. This event thus marked the birth of the primitive Church, namely the very first Christian Church.
Meaning of Pentecost
Pentecost is a very important celebration for the Christian. It has several meanings that are important to remember: Pentecost marks the moment when the divine totality is revealed to man: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Prior to this event, not everyone could receive the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Bible shows us that the people receiving the Holy Spirit were important people such as Kings, judges or even prophets… But since this event, all Christians can receive it.
The sending of the Holy Spirit on men now allows us to have a helper, a guide who allows us to walk uprightly. God lives in us through the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost marks the birth of the first Church and the importance for Christians to remain in unity. It also marks the possibility of receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues and experiencing the supernatural.
Pentecost ultimately marks the importance of evangelizing and winning souls for Christ. When we evangelize, it is the Holy Spirit who agrees.
Thank you Lord for sending us your Holy Spirit!
