As Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the Church is built, so are his teachings the unifying cornerstone of Christian doctrine.

Shavuot

Pentecost (count 50) is also called shavuot (weeks). The feast of weeks commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The Holy Spirit enables God’s law to be written on our hearts. The 50 days or 7 weeks of counting between Passover and Pentecost signifies anticipating the coming of the law as also the Holy Spirit (John 14:8-27). Another name for the festival is the day of firstfruits. Firstfruits of the year were brought as an offering. It pictures the church as firstfruits of God’s harvest in the world. It is also called the festival of reaping, picturing God’s beginning to reap for his kingdom. Among Jews the book of Ruth is read on Pentecost. It appropriately pictures Christ’s redemption of his Bride, the church. The Holy Spirit is the seal of our redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

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