50 days after the Passover, God’s Old Testament people celebrated the gathering of the harvest at the Festival of Weeks. It was on this occasion, 50 days after Christ's resurrection, that God sent the promised Counselor, the Holy Spirit, on the day we call “Pentecost” (Greek for “fifty”). This day marked the birthday of the New Testament Church and celebrates the harvest of souls won by the Son and gathered by his servants empowered by his Spirit. Today, as we recall the gift of the Spirit we pray for that same understanding of God's Word and boldness to witness to the world the good news of salvation.
Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church and has been commemorated since at least 217 A.D. The Church dresses in red to remind us of the tongues of fire that marked the Spirit’s gift and the blood of the martyrs which was the seed of the Church. This day culminates the Season of Easter when our risen Lord now empowers his people to be witnesses of the resurrection for the world.
Want to hear more?
Check out our sermon archive.