When Jesus ascends into heaven he tells his disciples to go into Jerusalem and to wait, praying for the gift of the promised Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). While we are not told he says anything about 10 days in those places that cover the Ascension, we can assume that every one of those assembled at the top of the mountain knew that the Feast of Shavuot was only a week and three days around the corner.
Shavuot was a harvest festival, one of the major feasts that gathered pilgrims from all over the world where the people of Judah had been scattered. Pentecost is the fulfilment of Shavuot.
Pentecost is a harvest festival.
On Shavuot, grain, wine, oil were brought-in and a feast was made. So also on Pentecost, the oil of the Spirit is poured-out, the wine of the Spirit if given, and the harvest of the Gospel is annually celebrated.
Even if they did not know the day or the hour, even if it “was not for them to know the hour the Father had appointed for the restoration of the Kingdom” (Acts 1:7), their prayers during that week of waiting would have been liturgically keyed to Shavuot. And yet, as they prayed all of these Shavuot-related prayers would have to be radically re-shaped in light of the Ascended Christ.
Jesus had told them to pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send laborers into his vineyard (Matt. 9:38). Pentecost is a harvest festival in which the Lord of the Harvest raises-up more laborers.
Jesus had told them “I am the vine and you are the branches” (Jn. 15:5). Pentecost is a celebration of the fruit that this ingrafting bears.
Jesus had told them that the world would be “salted with fire” (Mark 9:49) a clear reference to the tribute sacrifices of Leviticus (Lev. 2:13) —sacrifices which would have been offered at Shavuot. Among all of the festive lights and bonfires built around pilgrim encampments, and torches raised in the sanctuary, Pentecost is a celebration of that even greater fire which the Son takes from the Altar before the throne of God and casts upon the earth (Luke 12:49; Rev. 8:6).
Jesus revealed his glory and started his ministry by changing the water to wine at the wedding at Canna (Jn 2:1-12). Shavuot festivities included giving thanks for the gifts of the vine. Pentecost pours-out the new wine of the Spirit, which makes the heart glad (Ps. 104:15) and leaves us not “drunk as you suppose” (Acts 2:15) but “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
Jesus had opened the mouths of the mute (Mk. 7:31-37). Pentecost celebrates the opening of the mouths of all the tongues of the world (Acts 2:3-11).
Jesus had told them a parable about vineyard-keepers who killed the Son of the Owner of the vineyard and who received judgement and that the vineyard was going to be given to new caretakers (Mk. 12:1-12). Pentecost, occurring in the midst of Shavuot, shows that this was no mere “eternal truth”. The descent of the Spirit at Pentecost is the inauguration of new vine-keepers who honor the Son who was slain.
Jesus had told them to “render to Caesar that which belongs to him, but to give to God what is his” (Mk. 12:17). Just as Shavuot was a return of the fruits of the harvest of the agricultural year to God, so also is Pentecost a return of the fruits of the harvest of redeemed human lives to God.
As we pray our way towards this coming Sunday, let our prayers be likewise colored with the canon of Scripture: That the Lord of the Harvest would make us glad in him, as when new wine and oil flow (Ps. 4:7; Prov. 3:10); and may we render to him the worthy first-fruits of the harvest he has included us in (Ps. 116:12; Rom. 8:23; Col. 3:17; Eph. 5:19-20).
May your Pentecost be blessed this year, and may your year be fruitful. Amen.