PENTECOST -- A REVEALING BEGINNING There are certain things that had to happen before this day – the day of Pentecost – could be fulfilled, or "fully come." Many of these fulfillments will be worked out "in the presence" of Christ's enemies. They will be carried forward by the Man from heaven who had humbled Himself, coming in "the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom 8:3), and wrapped in "weakness" and servitude (Phil 2:7). Some of the work must be accomplished while the Man from heaven is in a weakened state (2 Cor 13:4). -- Tomorrow:
Devotion 7 of 28
What had to take place before this day could "fully come?" In a grand display of Sovereignty, all of the requirements were fulfilled, thoroughly and in a timely manner. Here are some of them.
1. A VIRGIN CONCEIVES. A virgin had to conceive and bring forth a Son (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:22-23).
2. CALLED OUT OF EGYPT. The Holy Child must have been called out of Egypt (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:15).
3. SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS. There must be a slaughter of the innocents, causing the mothers to weep for their children (Jer 31:15; Matt 2:17-18).
4. RAISED IN NAZARETH. The Redeemer had to be raised in Nazareth (Matt 2:23).
5. THE WAY PREPARED. One had to come to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus (Isa 40:3; Matt 3:3).
6. LIGHT IN GALILEE. A spiritual Light had to rise in the Galilean area (Isa 9:1-2; Matt 4:12-16).
7. KNOWLEDGEABLE REDEEMER. The proposed Redeemer had to know to choose the good and refuse the evil (Isa 7:15; Heb 1:9).
8. HEALING. His earthly ministry must include the healing of the sick (Isa 53:4; Matt 8:17).
9. PARABLES. The Messiah must have spoken to the multitudes in parables (Psa 78:2; Matt 13:35).
10. FREE FROM SIN. The Savior had to have lived free from sin, so that when He was offered it was not for His own sin (Dan 9:26).
11. TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. The Savior must have ridden triumphantly into Jerusalem, sitting upon a young colt, with the people praising Him (Zech 9:9; Matt 21:4-9).
12. DISCIPLES SCATTERED. When arrested, His disciples had to be scattered (Zech 13:7; Matt 26:56).
13. BETRAYAL. The Redeemer must be betrayed by one identified with Him (Psa 41:9; 55:12-15; Matt 26:47-48; John 17:12; Acts 1:16).
14. THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. Jesus had to be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13; Matt 27:9).
15. WITHOUT CAUSE. When the Savior was crucified, with men there could be no just cause for His death (Psa 35:19; John 15:25).
16. CASTING LOTS. When crucified, the men had to cast lots for Jesus' garments (Psa 22:18; Matt 27:35).
17. I THIRST. When He died, Jesus had to have cried out "I thirst" (Psa 22:15; 69:21; John 19:28).
18. NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS. When He died, Jesus had to be identified, or numbered, with transgressions (Isa 53:12; Mk 15:27-28).
19. NO BONE BROKEN. When the Savior died, no bone of His body could be broken (Psa 34:20; John 19:36).
20. VALIDATE NEW COVENANT. The death of the Christ must validate the New Covenant, thus bringing an end to the Old Covenant (Heb 9:16-17).
21. SIN REMOVED. The sin of the world had to be taken away (John 1:29), put away (Heb 9:26), and judged in a Man (Rom 8:3).
22. MADE TO BE SIN. A Man had to be "made sin for us" to become sin incarnate (Isa 53:4-6,9-12; Zech 13:7; 2 Cor 5:21).
23. MADE A CURSE. A Man had to become a curse for us (Deut 21:23; Gal 3:13).
24. SIN CONDEMNED. What the Law could not do must be done: sin had to be condemned "in the flesh" (Rom 8:3).
25. BURIED WITH THE RICH. When buried, the Savior had to have been buried with the rich (Isa 53:9; Matt 27:60).
26. RISE ON THIRD DAY. The Savior had to rise from the dead on the third day (Hos 6:2; Lk 9:22; Acts 10:40; 1 Cor 15:4).
27. ETERNAL REDEMPTION. Eternal redemption had to be obtained (Dan 9:24; Heb 9:12).
28. GOD SATISFIED. God had to be "satisfied" regarding the offering made for sin (Isa 53:11; Phil 2:8-9).
29. PURGING. The heavenly realms had to be purged, or readied for reception of men (Heb 9:23).
30. SATAN BRUISED. Satan's Head had to be bruised (Gen 3:15; Heb 2:14).
31. POWERS SPOILED. Principalities and powers had to be "spoiled," or plundered (Col 2:15).
32. HANDWRITING BLOTTED OUT. The handwriting of ordinances that was against us had to be blotted out (Col 2:14).
33. ALL POWER GIVEN. A Man had to be invested with all power in heaven and earth, in order to bring men to glory (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 28:18; 1 Pet 3:22).
34. ABOUNDING GRACE. The grace of God had to be able to abound "by one Man, Jesus Christ" (Isa 32:2; Rom 5:15).
35. ONE MAN BARES SIN. The sins of the world had to be effectively laid upon one man, thereby enabling justification (Isa 1:18; 43:25; Rom 5:16).
36. FREE GIFT FOR ALL. The "free gift" must be able to come upon all men upon the basis of the righteousness of one Man, Jesus Christ, and be accomplished justly (Rom 5:18).
37. ONE ACT OF OBEDIENCE. There must be one act of obedience whereby many can "be made righteous" (Rom 5:19).
38. A JUST GOD. God must be "just" in the justifying of men (Rom 3:26).
39. LIFE TAKEN UP. The Son must take up His own life again, rising from the dead (John 10:17-18).
40. JESUS RECEIVED IN HEAVEN. Jesus must be received back into heaven, and the Kingdom given to Him (Dan 7:13-14; Mk 16:19; 1 Tim 3:16).
41. CHRIST GLORIFIED. Christ must have been exalted and "glorified," in order that He might send forth the Spirit (Acts 2:33; 3:13).
42. INTERCESSOR IN HEAVEN. An Intercessor had to be in place in heaven, to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Isa 53:12; Heb 7:25).
43. MEDIATOR IN PLACE. A Mediator had to be established in order to apply the covenant to the people (Heb 8:6; 12:24).
44. WORD FROM JERUSALEM. Everything must be ready for the word of the Lord to go out from Jerusalem (Mic 4:2; Zech 14:8; Lk 24:49).
45. BISHOPRIC FILLED. The bishopric vacated by Judas must be filled by a qualified individual (Psa 109:8; Acts 1:20,25,26).
46. WORLD RECONCILED. The reconciliation of the world had to have been wrought (Dan 9:24; 2 Cor 5:18-20).
47. LAW ENDED AS A MEANS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Law must have been ended as a means to righteousness (Isa 53:11; Rom 10:4).
This is by no means a complete listing of the considerations. Here, however, are forty-seven things that had to be fulfilled BEFORE the day of Pentecost could "fully come." If a single one of them, or any other requirement, had not taken place, the events of that day could not possibly have occurred. The day could not "fully come" until all of these things were accomplished. They were all essential in order for salvation to be declared to all men.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that no man on earth or any of the powers of darkness can point to a single requirement that was not fulfilled before You poured out Your Spirit upon men.