We are now nearly halfway to Pentecost, the “Feast of Weeks,” celebrated 50 days after Resurrection Sunday. Originally set aside as a harvest festival (Exodus 23:16), Shavuot, as the Hebrews called it, commemorated the day that God gave the Torah to the people of Israel, indicating that they were now a nation committed to serving Him (Leviticus 23:15-16).
Too often we descend from the high point of celebrating Resurrection Sunday, only to begin focusing on our plans for the summer, or the next great American holiday. We ignore the significance of the 50 days between the Resurrection of our Lord and the fulfillment of a promise made by Jesus Himself.
Jesus repeatedly promised the gift of a Comforter, Helper, Paraclete … “one summoned to come alongside to render aid” (John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:5-15; Acts 1:4). Unfortunately, His early followers forgot these promises. Or maybe they were so distraught and confused, or so slow or dull to believe, that they didn’t recognize their risen Lord, even when He was in their presence (Luke 24:16, 25, 36-37).
Think about what must have been happening in the hearts and minds of the men and women who had followed Jesus during the previous 3+ years. Were they as lost and confused as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? Did it take a personal, tangible encounter with Jesus to open their eyes, minds and hearts to the truth of the resurrected Jesus?
Living in the early 21st Century, even with a complete 66-book Bible and all the online tools available at our fingertips, we struggle with these same challenges. Therefore, I urge you to consider reading through the post-Resurrection accounts in Scripture to glean answers and insights for your own life:
- Matthew 28:1 – 20
- Mark 16:1 – 20
- Luke 24:1 – 53
- John 20:1 – 21:25
- Acts 1:1 – 2:1
Do we need personal, tangible encounters with Jesus to enable and empower us to follow Him? I believe the answer to that question is a resounding YES! This is why we invest time with Jesus, in His Word, each and every day. Like the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and the apostle John, we “Eat the Word”!
Grace & Truth!
~ tr
OC Bereans 
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