Ten

days have passed since Jesus ascended to heaven and instructed his

disciples to stay in Jerusalem. The day of Pentecost has now arrived.

Pentecost is not just something found in the New Testament, it is

actually an Old Testament holiday tied with the Feast of Harvest, or

the Feast of Weeks, noting the beginning of harvesttime.

This

is also a time when religious pilgrims would travel to Jerusalem from

faraway lands. So “God-fearing Jews from ­every nation” are

present for this event.

A

blowing, violent wind is followed by what appears to be tongues of

fire separating and resting on the disciples. People from many

nations gather to see what is going on. And something bewildering and

wonderful occurs. Everyone can understand what is being said!

The

words of the disciples find their mark because those who are

listening can hear the message in their own language. The Tower of

Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), where God confused the people’s language,

is reversed by the Holy Spirit so that people can understand one

another. And throughout the crowd, people are wondering, “What does

this mean?”

A

harvest of souls is being gathered. This is an example of what Jesus

meant when he taught his disciples: “Open your eyes and look at the

fields! They are ripe for the harvest” (John 4:35).