Christians around the world celebrated Pentecost on May 28. Sadly, many Churches across the United States ignore this important commemoration which is one of the most significant on the church calendar.
Pentecost is observed seven weeks (or 50 days) after Easter Sunday. Because Easter also has no fixed date, the day of Pentecost changes from year to year. The earliest it can occur is May 10 as was observed in 1818 and will again happen in 2285. The last date the holiday can occur is June 13 which happened in 1943. It will next be on that date in 2038.
In the Roman sacrament, it is a special holiday ending the 50 days known as Eastertide.
This is how Acts 2:1-4 describes the event:
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Here are 10 things for Christians to know about Pentecost:
- Pentecost marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.
- Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter.
- The Bible records Pentecost in Act 2:1-13.
- Pentecost comes 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.
- Pentecost is known as “the birthday of the church.”
- Pentecost fulfills Jesus’ promise to send the “Counselor” and “Spirit of Truth” in John 16:5-15.
- Pentecost launches the large-scale spreading of the gospel after Jesus’ ascension. Acts 2:41 records that after Peter spoke to the crowd after receiving the Holy Spirit, some 3,000 people were baptized.
- The Pentecostal movement derives its name from the New Testament event in Acts 2.
- Jews also celebrate Pentecost but not for the same reason as Christians. The celebration by Jews of Pentecost is to observe God giving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai 50 days after the Exodus. The Pentecost in Jewish tradition takes place 50 days after Passover.
- In Western churches, Pentecost usually is represented with the color red, which symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Today, Western Christianity has virtually forgotten its importance.
READ: What is Shavuot (Pentecost) really about?
Doug Skinner, writing on a church blog, states, “A church that fails to celebrate Pentecost, or that obscures the outpouring of God’s empowering Spirit on Christians and the church in the way that it actually does celebrate Pentecost, is a church whose “conscious experience” of the Holy Spirit is weak and at real risk.
Next year, ask your church how they might commemorate this important event.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice