Hag Sameach! (Happy Pentecost!)

Shalom! Today is Shavuot, a holiday also known as the Feast of Weeks, and Pentecost. It is celebrated 50 days after Passover which falls on June 9 this year. Shavuot is the culmination of the counting of the Omer (Leviticus 23:15, 16) and marks the first day of the wheat harvest. For the seven weeks leading up to Shavuot, the Jews reflect on their previous slavery, exodus from Egypt, and on the Lord's promise to restore them as a people. For many Christians and Messianic believers, this day is also celebrated as Pentecost: the day the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the people (Acts 2).


In the Jewish religion, Shavuot is one of three pilgrimage holidays (these are Passover, Shavuot, and the Feast of Tabernacles). In the biblical tradition, Jewish men are required to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday. This pilgrimage might also explain why there were so many gathered in the upper room during the pouring out of Pentecost. Acts 2:7-11 tells us that there were people from all over, including Egypt, Libya, Media, Mesopotamia, Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Asia, and Rome. Even today, thousands of years later, Shavuot is still a special day. It is considered a special Sabbath and a time of thanksgiving. Thus, almost all the shops are closed today in celebration, and a day of great feasting is taking place throughout Israel. Meanwhile, the Messianic believers and Christians are having celebrations of their own.


It is no coincidence that Pentecost fell on Shavuot. Consider for a moment that Shavuot was the time that Moses received the law (Torah) from the Lord on Mt. Sinai. God not only delivered His chosen out of Egypt, He also established them as a nation. Just a few thousand years later, God poured out His Holy Spirit on the first believers of Yeshua and established the Church on Shavuot.


So today is both an agricultural holiday and a spiritual holiday, but more importantly, today celebrates the end of seven weeks of expectation and anticipation. The seven weeks are literally a time of expectancy that God will fulfill His promises. The Omer, or wheat harvest signifies that God fulfilled His promises, or mitzvah (blessing). The anticipation is signified in the period of prayer during the seven weeks. On this day, the shofar trumpet is also blown, to sound the Hand of the Lord among the people. The prophecy of Joel 2:28 (given on Shavuot) is fulfilled in Acts 2 (also on Shavuot).


Other interesting tidbits: One Jewish tradition today is to read the book of Ruth, which foreshadows Gentiles coming to follow the God of Israel. The Jewish men stay up all night studying the Torah. Also, on Passover the Lord required unleavened bread (without yeast). During Shavuot, the Lord requires bread made with yeast.


Today Kim & I are celebrating Shavuot with the rest of Israel. More importantly, we are also celebrating this day as the day of Pentecost. We can tell you that we are truly excited to be here in Jerusalem on this very special day. Also, I do not know if it is coincidence or intentionally planned, but the CBN Partners and WorldReach directors are visiting the bureau tonight for a brief reception on the roof.




So Hag Sameach ya'll!


Bonnie & Kim










Sarah, a Messianic believer writing for Jewish Voice Ministries offers a good description:

“In the Passover exodus, God brought a people out from among the nations. At Sinai on that first Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, later known as Pentecost, God created a nation set apart for Himself. He revealed Himself, and how to live as a redeemed community, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Ex. 19:6) The presence of God on that day was attended with great supernatural events: "the mountain shook violently, the ram's horn blew louder and louder, there were flashes of lightening, smoke rose upon the mountain and God spoke in the thunder." (Ex. 19:18,19). . . .

Sarah continues:

The first followers of Yeshua (Jesus) must have had a greater sense of expectation for they were told by the Lord Himself that, "in a few days you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 1:5) before He was taken up before their eyes. Acts 2 records that approximately 120 followers of Yeshua were gathered in Jerusalem for the Shavuot celebration when "suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1- 4) 

This was what was spoken of in Jeremiah 31 when he foretold of the New Covenant and Ezekiel 36:27: "I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." No longer would man walk by commandments on tablets of stone, but the Holy Spirit of God would write the Law on hearts of flesh and give men power to overcome the powers of darkness, to become witnesses in all the earth! The "church" was born.”

For a great history and explanation of the spiritual significance of the day, please read Jonathan Bernis' article here:


Shavuot: A Biblically Appointed Holiday

(Bernis is director of Jewish Voice Ministries, an international ministry reaching Jews for Yeshua.)