Biblically, Shavuot is 1 of 3 specifically commanded “pilgrimage” holidays where the Scriptures command worship of God in Jerusalem. This is significant to know for the context of Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit was first given to the disciples after Yeshua’s resurrection and ascension, and where the gift of tongues was first seen. People from every known tongue and region had come up to worship God during Shavuot as commanded in Deuteronomy 16:16
16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
It was not an accident that God poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples when there was a representative of every family, tribe and TONGUE to HEAR the gospel message presented in boldness, and then be able to return home to share what they had heard and experienced! Acts 2:41 says that “about 3000 souls were added” but just think how many souls were reached around the known world as they went home?! Verses 9-11 state there were
“9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and [a]Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” Pretty much every region of the known world! God is so good to plan this pilgrimage gathering before the foundations of the world.
It was not an accident that God poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples when there was a representative of every family, tribe and TONGUE to HEAR the gospel message presented in boldness
The nations were all gathered together in Jerusalem because they feared God, and they lived their faith out through obedience to come up to Jerusalem as prescribed in the Torah, and with a heart to worship God and meet Him and experience His presence. And boy! They weren't disappointed that Shavuot so many years ago!
Let us remember Yeshua's last few words in Mathew 28:16-20. "Go Therefore and make disciples in all the nations." His heart was for salvation to start in Israel and reach all peoples, tribes and tongues. He gave His Great Commission a jumpstart when those from every nation heard Peter's sermon and 3000 disciples were added that day!
Pretty much every region of the known world! God is so good to plan this pilgrimage gathering before the foundations of the world.
God planned for Yeshua to be the savior of the World, and for the World to know Him. What better way than through a supernatural understanding and speaking of a common language, and then taking that message back home to the ends of the earth?! So let's celebrate this Feast of Weeks and Pentecost Sunday the universal language of LOVE... not as the World gives, but as God gave to us: first through the death and resurrection of His Son Yeshua, and through the power of the Holy Spirit that brings unity to the people of God from the ends of the earth. Let us take hold of this commission with boldness and love to the community around each of us.