What do AARP and Pentecost have in common? Nothing really, except the number fifty and their impact on American culture. AARP is an organization for people fifty years old and up. It's also a powerful group with tremendous influence in American culture. Pentecost was an important social and religious event for the nation of Israel. Under the Law of Moses it was always celebrated fifty days after Passover, and also has tremendous impact on American culture.

The Law required all males to go to Jerusalem three times a year: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16). The feasts of Passover and Tabernacles started on very specific days of the month. Passover, celebrating the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, began on the fifteenth day of the first month of the year regardless of the day of the week (Leviticus 23:6). Tabernacles, celebrating the end of harvest, began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, regardless of the day of the week (Leviticus 23:34).

In sharp contrast Pentecost began on a very specific day of the week by starting a fifty day count on the day after the Sabbath during the Passover feast and ending seven weeks later on the fiftieth day, also after a Sabbath. That meant the count began and ended on the first day of the week - our Sunday.

Before creation God had planned those special days for two very special events. On that Sunday during Passover Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16:2). Fifty days later, on Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit came with power and the church began (Acts 2). Ever since then Sunday has been a special day of worship for God's people - long before AARP. It’s even more special because everyone's invited to worship God, long before turning fifty.