Last evening at sundown the Jews began to celebrate their modern interpretation of Pentecost (Shavu’ot). Christians know this from the Old Testament scriptures as the feast of weeks (Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9). Last evening we saw many Jews heading for the Western Wall through the Damascus Gate when we were there. The Orthodox Jews were the easiest to detect because of their distinctive dress.
Pentecost comes 50 days after Passover. It follows a sabbath and amounts to a two-day holiday here in Jerusalem. Those who are not religious may be seen at recreational places enjoying the time off as many persons in America do on any holiday. Some of the religious take the family to a hotel and allow non-Jews to serve them the food they wish. The hotel has a Shabbat elevator. You only make the mistake of getting on it once. It requires no work (= pushing the button for your floor), but it takes a long time to get where you are going. The elevator is programmed to stop at each floor. I don’t recall seeing anyone using the one in our hotel.
Back to more important issues. The church had its beginning with the preaching of the gospel in its fullness on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2).
Model of Herod’s Temple now displayed on the grounds of the Israel Museum. It was in this large area where the gospel of Christ was first preached in its fullness by Peter and the other Apostles on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
The Apostle Paul, through his teaching and example, taught the early Christians to take their collection and to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7). On the return from his third preaching journey he hurried to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost.
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16 ESV)
I did not specifically pick the time of Pentecost to be in Jerusalem; it just happened to coincide with my travel schedule. It would be wonderful to see the gospel freely preached again in this city as it was on that first Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Jesus nearly two thousand years ago.
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Reblogged this on ἐκλεκτικός and commented:
Pentecost
Where is the gospel not freely preached in today’s Jerusalem? Where is there any censorship of church service? What was the implication of that sentence?
By the way, the English speaking Israeli Tour Guides have been informed.
“Last evening at sundown the Jews began to celebrate their modern interpretation of Pentecost (Shavu’ot)”: Modern interpretation???? Are you serious?
”Christians know this from the Old Testament scriptures as the feast of weeks (Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9)”: Did we wait for Christians to know about our Bible? Christian were Jews to start with, and they indeed celebrated Shavuot as any regular Jew.
“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:16 ESV)” what do you think Shaul was doing? Obviously celebrating the gift of the Torah, Shavuot and not a “modern interpretation”.
“The Orthodox Jews were the easiest to detect because of their distinctive dress”: who do you believe celebrate Shavuot, the Gift of the Torah?
“Pentecost comes 50 days after Passover. It follows a sabbath and amounts to a two-day holiday here in Jerusalem.” Since when it follows a Shabbat? Shavuot is a one day celebration, except in Galut.
“Some of the religious take the family to a hotel and allow non-Jews to serve them the food they wish. The hotel has a Shabbat elevator. You only make the mistake of getting on it once. It requires no work (= pushing the button for your floor), but it takes a long time to get where you are going. The elevator is programmed to stop at each floor. I don’t recall seeing anyone using the one in our hotel.” What do you want to hint here? Jews ‘”allow non-Jews to serve the food they wish” : what do you mean exactly?
“The Apostle Paul, through his teaching and example, taught the early Christians to take their collection and to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7)”: what you call the Lord’s Supper had to be taken one a year, at Pesach, and the early believers were first of all Jews, fully aware of their heritage.
“It would be wonderful to see the gospel freely preached again in this city as it was on that first Pentecost after the death and resurrection of Jesus nearly two thousand years ago”: in any case, not the way you believe as all the first believers were Torah Observant Jews, and not Christians…
I have been following for a long time your post Ferrel, and noticed many times some slippery comments, but that time, you are just showing your lack of knowledge and antisemitism. I will remove my email from your list.