“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:3–4, AV)
There is an expression, “Timing is everything.” The expression is used to show that certain events happen at precise times to result in an effective outcome. Timing is critical. When I was in the military service, I had two mechanics working on timing the cylinder firing sequence on a M88 recovery vehicle. They had to get two magnetos, (magnetic pulse firing devices) precisely set so that the engine would run properly. They spent nearly an entire day trying to get it going, and failed. The motor backfired and would not run. The maintenance sergeant went to investigate and discovered they had misunderstood the manual. The manual stated that they were to rotate the magneto until they saw both lights on the test box come on simultaneously. They determined that simultaneously mean one light would come on and go off and then the other light would come on and go off. Once the sergeant explained, the motor started and everything was fine. Timing is everything.
Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high (Acts 1:4-5). In this passage, we see that the time had come and, in all history, it was the perfect time. It happened at the “Feast of Pentecost.”
This festival was also called the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of the Harvest, and the Day of first fruits. It marked the completion of the barley harvest. It was the second of three Jewish feasts.
“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles” (Deuteronomy 16:16, AV)
The name Pentecost, meaning fiftieth day, is derived from the fact that the feast occurred on the fiftieth day following the offering of the barley sheaf at the beginning of the Passover.
On this day, while the 120 were in the upper room praying, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers. This initiated the universal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all the saved and officially instituted the church.
As Pentecost was a major feast for Israel and all Jewish males were to attend, Jerusalem was teaming with Jews from all over the known world. It was the perfect time to initiate this new great movement of the church as people from all over the known world there for the feast heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages, which the disciples formerly did not speak. This was a testimony to the Jews and Jewish proselytes that the Holy Spirit had come and it was an affirmation of the gospel message.
These Jews from the remote regions after hearing the gospel and witnessing this sign would then return to their own lands with the message. It was a special day that the seed would be scattered and afterward be carried by those who received it back to their homelands. Thus, seeds of the gospel message were planted in the remote regions for future church planting efforts.
What is the point? This particular day in history was the ideal time to initiate the evangelistic mission of the church. I could go on in much greater detail about how perfect this time was, but it would take volumes. Suffice to say, Lord’s timing is always perfect. It was perfect then and is still perfect today. Trust Him and give Him thanks for His perfect timing in all things.
Renewing the Heart 