The last of the 4 Spring Appointed times is Shavuot in Hebrew and in parts of Europe Pentecost is also known as Whit/Whitsuntide. Whitsun (Old English for “White Sunday”) is the forty-ninth day (seventh Sunday) after Easter Sunday.
It is also the anniversary of the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people. It is believed that the name comes from Pentecost being a day for baptisms, when participants would dress in white. The name Pentecost comes from the Greek word ‘Pentekostos’, meaning ’50.
‘Whitsun’ is also thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘wit’, meaning ‘understanding’, to celebrate the disciples being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. As in many languages “to see” and “to know” are interrelated concepts. So that “to wit” is not only about knowledge but witnessing.
On the knowledge side, it is also easy to see the link with wise and witty and wittingly. The “Witan” being the Anglo Saxon assembly of wise men – knowing enough to have their word in the destiny of the community.
Wit could therefore, be said to infer “He makes Himself known!” God, is love, He made known His Wisdom, His Power, and His mind, He made Himself known, they were filled with the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy-Set Apart-Spirit Yeshua/Jesus/The Word made flesh!
Shavuot – שבועות – was both an agricultural festival and a celebration of God giving His newly-free people the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Through the giving of the Law, He taught them how to live as a redeemed community, a kingdom of priests, and a holy (set-apart) nation (Ex. 19:6).
The name of the festival is actually derived from the Hebrew word shavuah, שְׁבוּעַ meaning week. Shavuot (weeks) is the plural form. Shavuot marks the end of the seven-week period called Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of the Omer), which began at Passover/Pesach.
From a Hebrew roots perspective, one of the most significant occurrences has to do with the historical understanding of what Shavuot during the second temple period meant to the Jewish nation. The disciples of Messiah Yeshua were gathered together, and when there were loud noises, tongues of fire, and voices speaking in many languages, this was an obvious clue: it was the second ‘coming/giving’ of the Torah and the fulfillment of the prophesy given by Joel.
Shavuot has several other connections:
One being Zechariah, John the Baptist father, who was in the Temple at Shavuot when the angel appeared to him.
https://www.minimannamoments.com/why-was-the-priest-in-the-water-conclusion-of-the-mystery
For more on Shavuot connections to Ruth Boaz and Shavuot /Pentecost as the perfect picture of the harvest wedding and covenant.
The Scroll of Ruth (מגילת רות) – a beautiful story about God’s redemptive love – is read on the second day of Shavuot. As the Goel (kinsman-redeemer), Boaz was a wealthy man of the tribe of Judah (Bethlehem) who married a Gentile bride. Boaz’s name means “in Him is strength,” a picture of the Mashiach Yeshua, The book of ruth is read, which is the ingrafting of the gentiles and Exodus records where the Lord descended in fire. Also Ex 1:13,14 mentions coals of fire; and out of the fire went forth lightning. Ezekiel Chapter 3 the sounds of great rushing; then in Acts 2:3, the account of the rushing mighty wind and the fire sitting on them is not coincidence!
In Jerusalem it all started with 120 in the upper room.
Yeshua had ascended 10 days before, having spent 40 days with His disciples teaching them and preparing them during the Omer count.
The on-going transformation of the Disciples finally led up to Shavuot-Pentecost. This day was the most powerful day for Yisrael as it was when the Torah was given to Moses/ Mosheh. Now it also became the most powerful day among the Talmidim/Disciples, and those who would become Sh’liychiym /the Apostles, as it represented the new thing that Adonai/the Lord was doing among His people in fulfilling prophecy.
The coming of the RUACH at Shavuot/Pentecost released a new dimension of God’s power from on high and from that moment on the fire/zeal of God, that was imparted not only changed the world in which they lived but ultimately spread the Good News to the four corners of the whole earth.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Set-apart Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and in all Yahuḏah (Judea) and Shomeron (Samaria) and to the end of the earth.”
Instead of imagining that all the Disciples were in fear and hiding in some private place, from scripture we read that they were in assembling daily in the Temple Courts/Beyth Ha Mikdash.
This was where they would come daily and as they grew in number; here they would continue in the teaching and the understanding of the renewed covenant/the Brit Chadashah.
This event had been prophesied through all the Tanakh/the Old Testament and which finally found fulfillment in the sacrificial blood of the Messiah, Yeshua.
He was the promised seed of David, the Messiah, the son of Elohim through whom all have redemption and access to the Chesed/ the Mercy and favor of Our Heavenly Father as revealed from the beginning/Genesis/Beresheet.
Acts 2:46 And they (the Disciples or taught ones) continued daily to meet together with one accord in the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Set Apart House of Yahweh- The Temple)and of breaking of Lekhem (bread) from House to House and did eat their food with gladness and singleness of Heart.
Acts 3:1-2 Now Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) went up together into the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple) at the hour of petition, the ninth hour. 2 and a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried whom they laid daily at the gate of the Temple which is called beautiful (the Yapho Gate or today the Jaffa Gate) to ask alms of them that entered into the Beyth Ha Mikdash (the Temple);
Then after the Ruach HaKdesh – the Set Apart – Holy Spirit was poured out upon them fulfilling Joel, they grew to 3000 on the Shavout following Messiah’s death on Passover. That was just the beginning however, something special was about to happen that would cause them to grow even more, and it would also cause them to enter into conflict with the nations leaders.
In the book of Acts we find
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
This has been mistranslated and from the original should read…
Peter and John entering the Temple at the hour of THE prayer.
Why is this significant?
Because It was 3:00 in the afternoon, approaching evening. According to the Torah, sacrifices were to be offered in the morning and in the evening (see Numbers 28) – beginning and ending Israel’s day at sundown, with atonement and drawing closer to God. These times became special times of prayer for the Jewish people – which they still are to this day.
THE prayer is referring to saying the Amidah.
In the literal translations it is called the hour of THE Prayer.
The Amidah (Hebrew: תפילת העמידה, Tefilat HaAmidah, “The Standing Prayer”), also called the Shemoneh Esreh (שמנה עשרה), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy.
Among observant Jews, it is referred to as HaTefillah, or “the prayer” of Judaism. The prayer is also sometimes called Amidah (“standing”) because it is recited while standing and facing the Aron Kodesh, the ark that houses the Torah.
The Amidah Standing Prayer in English is also know as the standing prayer. It has been suggested that this is what the disciples were doing in the upper room when Yeshua joined them.
Traditionally every individual should wash their hands before saying this prayer and it is said by the Jews, along with the Shema, three times a day. These Prayers are to teach how to present ourselves in Awe, Fear, Respect, and learn to approach the King as the servants of the Living God.
The individual praying should if at all possible, stand with one’s feet together while reciting the Amidah as a show of respect for God. The rabbis add that this stance reflectss Ezekiel’s the vision of angels in which the feet of the angels appeared as one (Ezekiel 1:7).
The custom is to face the direction of Israel, and if in Israel, to turn to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. This is because all prayers head towards the Temple Mount and then rise up. This also shows respect for the Temples, which were central to Hebrew life, and reminds us that the synagogue was established to try to fill the gap in Hebrew life left by the Temple’s’ destruction. In many synagogues in the west, the ark is on the eastern wall of the synagogue for this reason.
The Amidah is the core of every Jewish worship service, and is therefore also referred to as HaTefillah, or “The prayer.” Amidah, which literally means, “standing,” refers to a series of blessings recited while standing.
The translation of the word AMIDAH means to standup, so the prayers are normally recited while standing and facing the East as the Messiah, YHVH, Jesus, will come back from that direction.
The Amidah is commonly referred to as the silent prayer. This, however, is a misnomer, for the Amidah is to be said softly, not silently, to yourself. The words should be audible to your ears and your ears alone.
This was the situation with the prayers of Channah/Hannah.
The Amidah includes three distinct sections. The first section includes prayers that praise. The middle section includes 13 requests. These requests focus on practical needs like health, and the ability to make wise choices but also more lofty yearnings for redemption and justice. These requests can change depending on the time of year or holiday. The last section includes prayers of gratitude. You can also include your own personal prayers anytime during the middle or end.
On festivals, particularly the pilgrimage holidays of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, the middle portion of the Amidah similarly describes how God has given these holidays as a gift to the Jewish people for joy and celebration.
There are also references to the biblical patriarchs, King David and Jerusalem to be remembered in glory.
Despite the official absence of requests, the holiday prayers of the Amidah do in fact ask that God enable us to enjoy and celebrate the holiday with gladness of heart. They end with a blessing, thanking God for sanctifying the people of Israel and the holiday.
At the start of the prayer:
My EloHim/Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.
Each of us is aware of our abilities and potential, and we all experience fear, doubt and hesitation. Many of our limitations in life are more perceived than real. Often, it is only fears/false imaginations, that are holding us back.
In Hebrew the word for lips is the same as the word for banks, as in river banks.
The Hebrew word for lip is שפה. Interestingly, this word is quite versatile: it also means language and bank (of a river, a sea, etc). In a connected “of” (construct) state, שפה becomes שפת, so that a river bank is שפת נהר – literally, a bank of a river.
The banks of a river define its limits.
When we say “God, open my lips,” we are also saying, “God, help me to see beyond my perceived limitations, banks, boundaries. Help me to see all the way to the horizon of my potential.”
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
This was a strategic location to beg. Religious people are to be charitable to the poor and needy.
Nearing the Temple, we see that it is a very beautiful building. All around the outside are the porches, which are covered walks, separated by rows of large pillars or posts. The floors are of marble of many colors.
The pillars are so large that three men can scarcely stretch their arms so as to meet around them. Some of the pillars are one hundred feet high.
Along the walls we see seats for people to sit on, and all day long the people rest on the benches or move about between the pillars.
The Hekel Gate, which leads to the Temple is made of dazzling brass, more costly than silver and gold, and it is very richly decorated. The double doors to this gate are so heavy that twenty men are needed to open and close them.
https://www.minimannamoments.com/mystery-of-the-hekel/
As Peter and John made their way to the Beautiful Gate. Here they stop.
When the crippled man saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
For many, many years this poor crippled man has been carried to the Temple gate. Day after day he has been sitting there begging for money from those who come to the Temple. He is now over 40 years of age, but has never walked.
But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”
He looks up at Peter.
He hoped this man would give him money. For an instant, Peter disappoints him by saying, “Silver and gold have I none.”
But Peter has more to say:
“Such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:4- 7 And Kepha (Peter) fastening his eyes upon him with Yochanan (John) said “look on us”. 5 and he gave heed to them expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Kepha (Peter) said “Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have give I you; In the name of Yahshua the Messiah of Netzereth rise up & walk. 7 and he (Kepha) took him by the right hand and lifted him up and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
They gave him the LOOK of Shavuot – we could say it was a Pentecostal look!
And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “In the name of Messiah Yeshua the Nazarene walk”!
(“in the name” means “because of who Yeshua is, and what He is able to do, and because of the authority He has given me”)
Peter seemed to know exactly what God wanted to happen in this situation, and he was given authority – Messianic authority, the Son of God’s divine authority, and he used it by commanding the crippled man to walk.
This healing had a specific purpose with regard to advancing the kingdom of God’s Son.
Many times miracles are given for the testimony of Jesus Christ;
as was the man blind from birth.
https://www.minimannamoments.com/heres-mud-in-your-eye/
The lame man was a well known figure at the gate called Beautiful. (Eastern Gate.) No one would be able to deny what had been done in the name of Jesus.
Then Peter takes hold of the right hand of the lame man and lifts him up, and a great miracle happened to the lame man.
And immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
The miracle was immediate and it was very public – right at one of the entrances to the Jerusalem temple, and at the time when the religious Jewish people were entering to take part in the closing prayers of the day!
The feet and ankles of the helpless man received strength. For the first time in his life he stands alone! He walks! He leaps! He goes into the Temple with Peter and John, praising God as he enters!
The happiest day of his life! No more need he be carried about; no more begging for money, for he is healed! All through the power of God.
The people in the Temple know the man who is healed. They all likely turn to see and listen as he praises God. For many years they probably had passed by this man as he sat at the gate and begged, and many times had dropped a coin into his lap. Now he is walking and jumping. They cannot understand what has just happened.
As the three men walk out on Solomon’s porch. All the people follow us out on the porch. They stand and wonder. They cannot believe their eyes, but there before us stands the man whom God has healed.
Is it possible it happened at the very moment that the part of the prayer for healing was being said, that the man started giving God the glory??
“Look at me!
I’m standing during the Standing Prayer!!
God does heal!!!”
For 40 years he had heard or said this prayer, no doubt wondering if it was really true!
(Part of the prayer is to be healed, so he had prayed 3x a day for 40 years and wanted to stand as this was a standing prayer!)
Acts 3:6-9 tells us he was praying, let me stand for the standing prayer and finally he was able to stand for the standing prayer. And this is no doubt why Peter pulled him to his feet!
This was to show everyone there that he stood at the time of the standing prayer.
He was not healed prior to that time because Yeshua/Jesus wanted everyone to witness the miracle on Shavuot – His ways are higher than ours.
Just like the blind man who was blind from birth was for the glory of god to confirm the prophetic word stating that “the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness” (Isaiah 29:14, 18).
Miracles were not everyday events for the Chosen People. There were only a couple of times and with only a few men when an outpouring of miracles took place in their history: Moses and Joshua and the Exodus from Egypt through their entry into the Land of Israel; then in the time of Elijah and Elisha. Other than those special times and those few men, miracles were a rarity.
However there had been an exception to that history in that, many great miracles had just happened the previous three or four years involving the young Rabbi from Nazareth. But He had died, and the miracles had stopped!
Except, there were those unusual events that had taken place on the Shavuot following the Nazarene’s death, when a very loud noise had been heard when Yeshua’s followers had been meeting, and then a group of Yeshua’s Galilean Jewish followers spoke to the people of Jerusalem in the languages of the lands where many had come from, and those Galileans claimed that they had never learned those languages.
And now, a great miracle of healing and restoration had just taken place through two of Yeshua’s closest followers. What did it mean?
How was Peter able to say to the sick man, “Rise up and walk”? Was it because he had seen Yeshua/Jesus heal the sick? At one time Yeshua/Jesus took hold of the hand of Peter’s wife’s mother, when she was sick with fever. Yeshua/Jesus lifted her up and the fever left her [Mark:1:30];[Mark:1:31]).
It was not only because Peter had seen Yeshua/Jesus do these miracles; Peter was able to do this because he had the power of God with him. He had been saved and sanctified and he was one of those who were in the upper room when the baptism was given. He had received the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost/Shavuot. Yeshua/Jesus had told the disciples that when the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit came, they should receive power to work for Him. Now Peter had that power and he was using it, too!
Peter knew exactly what it meant, and wanting to fulfill his mission, and tell these people the Good News about the final atonement and salvation made possible by the Crucified-Yet-Risen Messiah, Simon Peter used this God-given opportunity to give his great sermon.
Like Peter, we constantly need to use our God-given opportunities to tell people the Good News about the Messiah!
This was a most wonderful transformation in the lives of His called ones, in that only a short while ago they were in unbelief; but through the work of the RUACH (Spirit) their faith had grown and also their understanding.
Then, at Shavuot, a new dimension of that faith had emerged with the coming of the RUACH Ha Kodesh /the Holy Spirit, giving them boldness to speak. With that step of faith, came authority & power from on high that saw the mighty works of God revealed both through the Word and power, and those who repented and believed numbered about 5,000 men.
What is amazing in the actions of Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) is that they were so full of faith that it says that Kepha took the man by the right hand and lifted him up.
Acts 3:11- 12 And as the lame man which was healed held Kepha (Peter) & Yochanan (John) all the people ran together to them in the covered walkway that is called Shelomoh’s (Solomon’s) portico, greatly amazed. 12 And when Kepha saw it he answered the people. “You men of Yisrael why marvel you at this? Or why do you stare at us as though by our own power or our Torah or Shabbat piety we had made this man walk.
The Elohim of Abraham and of Yitzchak (Isaac) and of Yaacov (Jacob), the Elohim of our fathers has esteemed his son Yahshua; 16 through belief in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know; yes the belief which through Yahshua’s name has given him this complete health in the presence of all.
The Mighty miracle that was done in this man was the means by which Our Heavenly Father was drawing His people to Himself.
It was also the perfect opportunity for the disciples to speak the wonderful words of the Salvation found only in Yeshua/Jesus.
Then they further expounded the truth of the Mashiach (Messiah) as revealed through the Scriptures of the Torah, the Nevim (Prophets) & the Ketuvim (the Wisdom Writings). Through the work of the RUACH Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) we see the assembly of believers supernaturally multiplying.
Kefa and Yochanan were arrested … were questioned as to what power or name they had done this … they boldly stated.. The Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Yeshua Mashiach of Natzeret).
An important point we may have missed is that this man, who according to Acts.4:22 was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed.
That meant Yeshua/Jesus probably walked past him a minimum of 100 times in the temple and never healed him! This happened after Yeshua/Jesus died at around 33 yrs of age and this man who was only 7 yrs older than Yeshua/Jesus had been lame from his birth.
Seen from the Jewish perspective this was undeniable:
At the hour of prayer he asked for money, he was over 40, sat daily for 40 yrs, every single time Yeshua/Jesus went through that eastern gate, He passed by that man and never helped or healed him, even the day He rode into Jerusalem and he had not been healed but surely his healing at this time was the perfect timing of our Heavenly Father, Who had him right there at the Temple gate awaiting this exact time to heal this man.
God waited 40 years for all to be gathered in the Temple, so at the very moment of the Amidah, while all Israel was praising God.
(Until now we as gentiles, have missed the full significance of this event).
Divinely designed, to not only esteem the Messiah and be a miracle for this man but that it would be so significant as to trigger a greater revival than that of Shavuot, bringing a large crowd of Yisraelites to faith in name of Yeshua the righteous one.
One thing we must be sure to remember is to Keep our eyes on Yeshua/Jesus.
To FIX our eyes on Him and continually LOOK on HIM…
This is where miracles begin!
He is the author and finisher of our faith and the LOOK of Shavuot
is
Love
Compassion
Healing
and in His perfect timing,
His plans and purposes will be fulfilled.
Shalom Shalom!
Chag Sameach Shavuot Mish-pa-KHa!
Please don’t leave this page until you have fixed your eyes on Him and without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm.
Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.
NOT SURE?
Then simply SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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