Easter Sunday: Leading to Pentecost
In this mini-series, we are looking at the Easter Story through the lens of Moses and the Children of Israel leaving Egypt.
Easter Sunday is when we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. And many people think this is the climax of the Christian Church Calendar. But in reality, the climax comes later at Pentecost.
Lent leads to Holy Week, and then to Good Friday. And Easter Sunday is the path by which we arrive at Pentecost.
Just like Moses and the Children of Israel making their way from the Red Sea Crossing to Mount Sinai, the story of Jesus and His disciples journey towards Pentecost. This period up to Mount Sinai lasted 53 days. This is exactly the same length of time between the death of Jesus and Pentecost. I don’t think this is a coincidence.
At Sinai, Moses ascends to the mountain. Similarly, the faithful disciples climb the stairs to the Upper Room, as mentioned in the Book of Acts.
Moses receives the Torah on the mountain, he returns to the people and they choose to accept the covenant. And at Pentecost, the new covenant is brought to the people from the Upper Room and 3,000 believe in Jesus that day.
The Mixed Multitude
The Children of Israel were not alone when they left Egypt. A ‘mixed multitude’ joined them. These included Canaanites, Egyptians and other groups who were living with the Israelites in Avaris/Goshen. And equally, when St Peter preached to the people assembled in Jerusalem, they were from all over the known world. They too, were a mixed multitude.
Aiming at Pentecost
Easter Sunday is the start of the path from the the Resurrection and Garden Tomb towards Pentecost, the giving of the New Covenant. Just like the Israelites needed to learn to trust God in the wilderness, when food and water were scarce. Just like the Disciples had to deal with their doubts and trust in Christ and the miracle of His Resurrection.
This Easter Sunday, let us put our trust in the Trinity to provide our physical and spiritual needs. Let us walk with Christ towards Pentecost. Preparing our hearts to continually receive the life changing power of the New Covenant.