Shavuot

Yesterday and today were the celebration of Shavuot. The Jews celebrate thisFeast based upon Exodus 23 where God commands his people to celebrate a festival to Him 3 times a year. The first is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which Jewish people celebrated exactly 50 days ago in remembrance of the Passover. We as Christians also celebrated this holiday, but probably didn't know it was a Jewish holiday because Jesus came and transformed that holiday for us (Good Friday).

The second is the Feast of Harvest, or Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, which Jewish people celebrated yesterday and today in remembrance of the day God gave them the Torah. They usually spend the whole night together in this celebration of the Word of God and focus on the Ten Commandments and the book of Ruth. This holiday also means a lot to us as Christians because the Holy Spirit transformed it for us (Pentecost). Yes, according to the Bible and according to the Jewish calendar, today was Pentecost Friday!! (Interesting fact: they called it "Pentecost" because it occurs 50 days after Passover/Good Friday) For more on how the Holy Spirit transformed this Jewish holiday for us please read Acts 2.

And finally, God commanded them to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of Ingathering, which Jewish people celebrate at the end of the year to remember Israel's journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and to give thanks for the rich harvest. No one knows when God will transform this Feast, but we do know He will do it soon. Just as this Feast is celebrated at the end of each year by gathering all of one's harvest, Jesus will come at the end of the age to gather His glorious harvest.