Das Fest der Pfingsten (Shavuot)
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2,3-4

The Jewish feast of Pentecost (Leviticus 23,15-33), also the feast of weeks (Deuteronomy 16, 9-12) and the feast of the harvest (Exodus 23,16) all fall on the same day as being a holiday.

In the year 1491 B.C. the Jews reached mount Sinai; 50 days prior to that they crossed the Red Sea. There on that mountain, they were to receive the Laws of God on tables of stone. The many years, which they had spent in Egypt as slaves, had left its mark upon them. Although they believed in the God of Abraham, they also believed in the gods of Egypt. The golden calf (Exodus 32), which they themselves made, was “Apis”, one of the chief gods of the Egyptians. His temple was situated in Memphis, on the border of the land Goshen. The Jews also worshipped other gods in Egypt (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:4 and 23:3-8).

It was God`s aim to teach them that there is only ONE GOD ALONE and none other. HE himself does not know any other God apart from Himself, and He does not tolerate idol worship. On account of many signs and wonders performed by the Lord, they realized that this God had more power than all the Egyptians together. The commandments, the teachings of God, which God gave them on Sinai, were intended to help them understand what is holy and what is not holy. He wants to have a holy people. Therefore God appeared on the mountain and wrote the commandments on tables of stone, which were a symbol of their stony hearts. In memory of this day upon which the Law was given, it was ordered to be celebrated annually.

The first covenant, which God made with the Jews, was to lead the way for a better and new covenant, which was to come (Isaiah 55:3; Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Hebrews 13:20). The old covenant, or the Old Testament, was fulfilled by the very same One, namely Jesus, at Calvary (Hebrews 4:16). “It is finished”, was his cry on the cross. At the same time, he also sealed the new covenant, which He made. Who can really understand what Jesus cried out in that moment? In the new covenant, which God wants to enter into with mankind, God writes His commandments in the minds of people through the baptism of His Holy Spirit. In the 2nd chapter of the book of Acts and in the following chapters (8:12-13; 10:44-48; 19:1-6 etc.), you can discover how the Christians at that time received the Holy Ghost. Visit us, people with whom God has made this new covenant. rw