The Upper Room and the Number 40: beneath the stones

News From Jerusalem

by Tom Brennan,

Pentecost is approaching. For Jews this is the time to remember and honor the time of the harvest and many Biblical events are connected to this feast. Shavuot was a time to gather and the remaining Apostles did just that after the Messiah returned to heaven. After 40 remarkable and miraculous days of appearing and disappearing, literally walking through walls, cooking breakfast for His hungry fishermen, consoling and comforting and encouraging the brave women who not only stood by the cross instead of running for their lives He told His chosen followers to wait for the Holy Spirit. They were gathered in the same place where they had eaten the New Covenant meal with Him, hidden when He was executed and where He taught them how to carry out the commission they were about to be given.

Pentecost has many meanings – Take time to explore them

The “Upper Room” that pilgrims visit today is actually a Crusader-built church that had also been a mosque and was considered to be the tomb of King David as well. The truth is quite different. As with much of Jerusalem, the stones reveal the reality. In the Gospels Yeshua tells His followers to prepare a place where they can eat the Seder and gather for something else, something quite remarkable? Our Westernized Greco-Roman traditions have placed this event on Thursday. But an increasing number of scholars are pointing to several interesting items in the writings. For one, the disciples are told to look for man carrying water who will let them take an unbroken colt donkey for the Master to ride into Jerusalem. Water collecting was a duty managed by women, men did not do this. Not unless you were an Essene. The Upper Room is located in the Essene Quarter where the Jewish Ascetics had a community, synagogue and most likely a community house with dining area. They also observed Pesach on a different day than the majority of residents. It seems that Yeshua chose the Essene community house for the lace to borrow His donkey, eat His “last supper” and teach His Disciples after His death and return from the dead.

In many ways the number 40 is used to denote significant events in Scripture. 40 years in the wilderness, Moses being three times forty at his death, A prince until 40, a shepherd until 8- and a Prophet until 120.  40 days of rain for Noah. 40 days of fasting and pre-ministry in the desert for Yeshua and 40 days of preparing His disciples for going into the world to make more disciples.

The Upper room is below ground. Lie the number 40’s deep meanings, the deeper we go the better it gets. The rocks speak from below and witness the treasure in God’s Word. Pentecost has many meanings. Take time to explore them.

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