The Pentecost Story Continues in Jerusalem
By Aaron Abramson, Executive Director and CEO
For thousands of years, the Jewish people have celebrated a harvest festival called Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). It’s also known as Pentecost (which means 50) because God commanded Israel to observe it 50 days after Passover. According to Jewish tradition, Pentecost marks the day when God gave us the Torah from Mount Sinai. And for believers in Jesus, it marks the fulfilment of His promise:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Peter, one of Jesus’ first and most vocal disciples, is a perfect example of the difference that power made. Peter seemed so bold, yet when Jesus was arrested, Peter was afraid to even admit he knew him. He, along with the other disciples, watched – powerless and grief-stricken – as his teacher, friend and Messiah was brutally tortured and killed. Imagine their joy three days later when Jesus rose from the dead. But before long, He left them once again with parting instructions to wait in Jerusalem, the city He’d wept over, saying: ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!’ (Matthew 23:37).
So, on Shavuot, the disciples were dutifully gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem – maybe the very same room where they had shared the Passover with Jesus the night before His death. Perhaps they felt disheartened, isolated, uncertain of what would happen next. Then suddenly, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and sure enough, the power that Jesus had promised produced such boldness in Peter that he spontaneously preached a message calling the people of Jerusalem (as well as all the visiting pilgrims who had come for Shavuot) to repent:
Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:38-39)
Maybe you know what it’s like to battle feelings of uncertainty or isolation while waiting to see how God will show up. I know I have. Years ago, as a new believer living in Jerusalem, I experienced those feelings deeply. I started volunteering with Jews for Jesus when I was in my early twenties. At that time, our Israel team consisted of one missionary family who had relocated from the United States. While I enjoyed working with them, I longed to find others like me: young Israeli believers, fresh out of the army, eager to share their faith in the Lord.
One summer, I was invited to volunteer in New York, and for the first time, I was surrounded by a large, vibrant community of young Jewish people who loved Jesus. Suddenly, I didn’t feel alone. I felt revitalised in my faith and calling, encouraged by the community and a renewed sense of God’s Spirit. Only then did I realise how truly challenging my time in Jerusalem had been.
Serving in Jerusalem comes with unique pressures. Many are surprised to learn just how difficult it is for Messianic Jews to live there. Opposition from various religious groups is constant, much like it was in Jesus’ day.
For years, Jews for Jesus longed to establish a permanent presence in this city – not just because Jerusalem is the spiritual heart of Jewish life, but because Jesus loved Jerusalem. It is where He walked, taught, was crucified, and where He will one day return.
Finally, in 2018, we organised a month-long evangelistic campaign in Jerusalem, with several teams of missionaries and volunteers from all over the world. We hoped that the campaign would help us launch a thriving Jerusalem branch, but it was difficult to find ‘fishers of men’ who were willing to remain there. We struggled to build momentum. Even our Jerusalem team leader, Yoel, initially resisted. He and his wife had come to faith in the city 20 years before and knew firsthand how tough ministry in Jerusalem could be. For a time, it seemed like we were in a holding pattern. Then, slowly but surely, the Holy Spirit did His work in the hearts of our missionaries. By 2020, some of our staff had answered the call to Jerusalem, including Yoel. That September, we officially launched our Jerusalem branch.
The team had some success, particularly in reaching Russian speakers and Holocaust survivors. But they also faced immense resistance, enduring constant pushback from multiple directions.
A year ago, it seemed like we were once again at an impasse with no clear path forward. I sat with Yoel, and we prayed. We asked the Lord to give us His vision for this city and to build a team that would share that vision.
When I returned to Jerusalem earlier this year, I saw God’s faithfulness to answer that prayer in amazing ways. Six more men and women had answered the call – some as missionaries, others as interns. Together, the team has been mapping out the next steps in serving the people of Jerusalem and sharing the light of Messiah and His gift of salvation. I cannot disclose more details for safety reasons, but the vision is clear and the workers are on board, and I’m asking you to pray with me for the Lord to use this team in a powerful way.
The same Spirit that transformed Peter from a fearful disciple into a forthright witness is still at work today. And just as His Spirit empowered those early believers, He will continue to strengthen us as we labour in Jerusalem – until the day Jesus returns.