What is Shavuot?

18 05 2018

Christians celebrate Pentecost Sunday this week. Do you know why? Yes, it is the anniversary of the Holy Spirit outpouring in Acts 2. But why did that great event occur on that day in the First Century? Most Christians are ignorant of the roots of Pentecost, but what about Shavuot?

Do you know that the first syllable “pente” means fifty? So what? Well actually, it is very important. The Acts 2 event was precisely 50 days after Passover. After the resurrection, Jesus told His disciples to wait in the upper room in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit power.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49 NLT

But what about Shavuot? Jews also celebrate the same day (although they start at sundown Saturday). Shavuot literally means “weeks”, and refers to the seven weeks after Passover (49 days) leading on Day 50 to the great Biblical Feast of Weeks found in Leviticus 23:15-22. Jews believe that date is when Yehovah God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Torah. It is timed to celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest.

An interesting difference from Passover is the bread eaten. For Passover it must be unleavened bread. For Shavuot it must be leavened bread. Why is this? Christians understand the amazing symbolism. Unleavened bread speaks of Yeshua who was unleavened by sin. But Pentecost/Shavuot uses leavened bread which speaks of the leavening of sin in His people; that is washed away by the blood of the Lamb/Messiah Yeshua. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit leavening the whole lump with grace and forgiveness for the individual believer and for the entire body of Messiah believers.

Finally, for this Feast, Jews read and reflect on the deeply moving Book of Ruth, which is the Biblical story of love and covenant.

But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Yehovah do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (Read more)