Pentecost is not a denomination

Day of Pentecost - Some truth. Pentecost is not a denomination. Pentecost means 50. Today some denominations call themselves as Pentecosts. I am writing this to highlight the significance of Pentecost here

Pentecost was the day when the Ten commandments were given to Moses. In the Old Testament, it was the birthday of Torah being presented to Israelites. In the New Testament, on this very same day, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples and this marks the birthday of the Church.

There are 7 major annual Jewish Festivals. Out of these 7 festivals, four festivals fulfilled through the life of Jesus and they are recorded in the first five books of the New Testament. Let us see how these festivals relate to a Christian and how they were fulfilled in the life of Jesus

1. Passover - The day God passed over the Israelites and smote the Egyptians and enabled the Israelites to leave Egypt. Jesus did the very same thing on the cross for us

2. Unleavened bread - Jesus is our passover unleavened bread who died for us

3. First Fruits - The day when Jesus rose up from the dead.

4. Pentecost - 50 days from passover. The day when Holy spirit poured himself on his disciples.

The last 3 festivals are connected to the return of our Lord and I am not getting into an Eschatological drive here

5. Trumpets
6. Atonement and
7. Tabernacles

So Yes! Pentecost means 50 and it is the birthday of the Church. 

The boring genealogies in the Bible

Image from conforming to Jesus

Have you read the Bible chronologically? When you come across genealogies do you get bored? Well, I have been there. I used to be bored when I read passages like Genesis 5

Genesis 5: 12,13

12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 After he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters.

When I come across passages like this, I would often think why should I even read these details? I would also feel sleepy and more often I would just skip these verses and move to the next chapter. Have you been in my position?

A few years ago when I decided to read the New Testament, I started with Matthew 1 and to my surprise that chapter also had a genealogy list. This made me thinking "Why Lord! Why?, Why do you do this to me? Does this genealogy help anyone in anyway?" But still I read through that chapter without giving any attention to details and moved on.

Later, during detailed study of scriptures, I realised the importance of genealogies. The very first verse of the Matthew's gospel is one of the best examples of gospel message.

Matthew 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham

If you ask, "how can this be a gospel message?", read that verse again. Matthew, the disciple of Jesus drives home a strong message in this verse. He states three things in this verse

1. Jesus is Messiah
2. Jesus, the Messiah is the son of David
3. Jesus, the Messiah is the son of Abraham

The Jews strongly believed that the Messiah will be from the genealogy of Abraham and David. Two verses that stand out among the Jews are the promises that God gave to Abraham and David. God's promise to Abraham and David got fulfilled through Isaac and Solomon. But the key words "All nations and forever" was a symbol of hope for the Jews that the Messiah will rule for ever and ever

Jesus, the son of Abraham
“In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 22:18)
Jesus, the son of David
When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever ( 2 Samuel 7:12,13)

The Jews missed to see the Messiah when he walked among them. But ordinary men recognised the fact that Jesus was indeed the son of David and Matthew records all these instances in his gospel

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" Matthew 9:27

And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed" Matthew 15:22

And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David! Matthew 20:30

The crowds going ahead of him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" Matthew 21:9 

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became indignant Matthew 21:5

Matthew's gospel is all about making sure that the Jews realise that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. And to make this fact known to them, he starts the book with the genealogy. What a perfect start. LT. Jeyachandran uncle often says that the first chapter in the book of Matthew has brought many Jews to the saving grace of Christ.

The genealogies might be boring. But when you dig deep and spend time reading them, you will realise that each and every single verse in the Bible is there for a purpose and may God open our eyes to see this purpose fulfilled in our lives.

Shielded by His grace
Prason