The day after Passover begins the counting of the Omer, the time between Passover and Pentecost. So, I want to share some things about counting the Omer and Pentecost that relate to Jesus that I think will bless you. It’s such a significant and holy time but most Christians miss the value of leaning into this holy time.
So let’s dive in…
The word Pentecost means “fifty” and it represents the days that were counted beginning the day after Passover to the day before Pentecost, equally 49 days total.
The Biblical record is found in Leviticus 23:15-17, it is called Feast of Weeks, and means: – sevened, a week, seven weeks, seven times.
Taken from the root word shaba -meaning to be complete, to seven oneself, that is, swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times), seven as the sacred full one.
In the Old Covenant, it was the time after Moses was given the Torah or the books of the Law.
“Omer” is a sheaf of grain, and the “counting of the Omer” happens during the seven weeks that separate the wheat and barley harvest from the First Fruits offerings on Shavuot. Each day the Israelites recited a blessing of gratitude as they waited for the fiftieth day.
In the New Covenant, Pentecost represents the completion of what Jesus came to accomplish while on the earth. Not only did He die for our sins and be raised from the dead but when the day of Pentecost had fully come He sent the gift of the filling of the Holy Spirit with power to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).
When Jesus gave His life as the Passover Lamb the disciples went into a time of waiting but it wasn’t like any of the other times they had celebrated this feast. This time they were waiting for the promise of the Father.
However, they did not know what to do. After His death they felt lost, then He arose on the third day, showed Himself to them and other witnesses but they still did not have a sense of direction or have any clue as to what to do next.
The Gospel of John and the Book of Acts give the most complete account of the events that took place and it’s by taking a look at these events that we can learn some things about this time of waiting.
1. Jesus appeared to them and commissioned them.
The same day at evening, being the first day of the week… Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:19-23
(Even though they had seen the Lord, been commissioned, and seen signs of His glory again, without any instruction, they still felt they had no direction because He hadn’t given specific instructions yet.)
2. So they went back to doing what they had been doing before they met the Lord.
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. John 21:3
3. After forty days of waiting He gave them specific instructions.
He presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things about the kingdom of God. And being assembled with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me. Acts 1:3-4
4. The promise came on the Day of Pentecost.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
As we see in the Old and New Testaments, waiting is meant to bring us into one accord with God and those with whom we wait.
Once this happens the Father completes His promises.
Beloved, blessings during this holy time. As we go from Passover to Pentecost, and you wait on God, may you hear His instructions, come into one accord with Heaven and the people He is placed in your life, encounter God’s love, and recognize all His has already completed in your life by His Spirit!
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