Today marks the culmination of our Counting of the Omer, meaning that tomorrow is Shavuot—and this evening is Erev Shavu’ot! After counting for the past forty-nine days, we finally arrive at this special feast that connects heaven and earth, past and present, redemption and revelation…
But what exactly is Shavuot, and why should we as Messianic believers embrace this beautiful celebration with such enthusiasm and reverence?
Understanding Shavuot: The Feast of Weeks
Shavuot is a Hebrew word that means “Weeks,” and that name derives from the fact that we have been counting up seven weeks—forty-nine days—from the Feast of First Fruits within the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and then Shavuot is the next day, the fiftieth day.
Because it falls on the fiftieth day, this feast is also called Pentecost, from the Greek word for “fifty.”
Now, this isn’t just a calendar calculation—it’s a divinely orchestrated countdown! As we explored in our recent blog post: Purpose in the Journey from Passover to Shavuot, these forty-nine days represent far more than marking time…
The counting of the Omer connects two pivotal moments in Israel’s history: their redemption from Egypt at Passover and their receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai.
The Wedding Anniversary of Israel
For the Jewish people, Shavuot is the celebration of the Giving of the Torah, Mattan Torah, at Mount Sinai. The Children of Israel were redeemed out of Egypt on the Feast of Passover and travelled the long journey by way of the Red Sea to Mount Sinai.
This is the moment that HaShem called Israel into Covenant and set them apart. So in many ways we can think of Shavuot as the Wedding Anniversary of Israel. Certainly that is something to be celebrated on this day!
The Giving of the Ruach ha-Kodesh
Now, for us as believers in Messiah, Shavuot carries an even deeper layer of significance. Just as Passover finds its fulfillment in Yeshua’s sacrificial death as our Passover Lamb, and First Fruits celebrates His resurrection, Shavuot reveals the incredible gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit). The parallels are absolutely stunning! Consider this…After His resurrection, Yeshua spent forty days teaching His disciples, preparing them for their mission. Then, just before His ascension, He instructed them:
“But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 TLV
And then, ten days later—precisely on Shavuot (Pentecost)—we read:
“When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.”
Acts 2:1-4 TLV
Two Gifts, One Purpose
In the same way that Torah was given to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai on Shavuot, the Ruach was given to Messiah’s disciples at this same Feast. What is truly remarkable is that these aren’t two separate, coincidental, unrelated events, they are in fact intimately connected. One of the purposes that the Messiah sent the Ruach to achieve is found in the Scriptures of the New Covenant in the writings of the prophet Ezekiel:
This passage confirms how the same Torah that was written on stone tablets at the first Shavuot is now written on our hearts through the Ruach that fell on Shavuot after Yeshua’s resurrection.
Why are we celebrating Shavuot?
Specifically, as Messianic Jewish believers…
We celebrate Shavuot because it represents the complete picture of our redemption. As disciples of Yeshua, we have not just one reason to celebrate, but two!
First, we celebrate the giving of Torah—God’s magnificent revelation of His character and His ways. The Torah isn’t just law; it’s love made practical. It’s God saying, “Here’s how to live as My treasured people.”
Second, we celebrate the giving of the Ruach ha-Kodesh—the divine empowerment that enables us to actually live out God’s heart in our daily lives. The Ruach that fell on that first Shavuot after Messiah’s resurrection enabled the disciples of Yeshua to walk in the strength of the Holy Spirit in order to minister and share the Good News and Yeshua’s heart with others.
This alignment isn’t coincidental—it’s providential! It further reveals how Yeshua didn’t come to replace or abolish God’s patterns, but to fulfill them in ways that transform us from the inside out. Just like He said in Matthew 5:17:
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”
When we celebrate Shavuot as Messianic believers, we’re not just observing an ancient tradition—we’re participating in the ongoing story of God’s redemption. We’re acknowledging that the same God who redeemed Bnei-Israel from Egypt has redeemed us through Yeshua, and continues to lead us step by step toward our ultimate purpose.
B’rit Hadasha Shavuot Celebration
Shavuot is the Feast where we traditionally consume dairy products…it is a very exciting way to commemorate a holiday is it not?
Following our Erev Shavuot Service that is happening tonight, Sunday, June 1st at 6:30PM, we will be having a dessert Oneg together where we will be sharing lots of cheesecake and ice cream, following this delicious tradition! We invite you all to join us for this special feast’s service and oneg so that we can all fellowship together and commemorate this importance of Shavuot.
May this feast bring you deeper into the heart of our faithful God, Happy Shavuot!
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