God appointed Holy Days as times for God’s people to meet with him.
To remind His people of how He provided for them.
To rest (sabbath).
To give thanks through offerings.
To repent and offer sacrifices.
To read the Scriptures.
The Feasts of the Lord.
Three of the seven were pilgrimage feasts when all Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem to“appear before the Lord” (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Passover
The First Pilgrim Holy Day.
Commemorates God’s deliverance.
of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.
Passover is a permanent ordinance for generations to come.
Observed on the 14th day of the first month beginning at twilight.
The Passover lamb was to be perfect without spot or blemish.
Passover at the time of Yeshua
At his Passover meal, Yeshua broke Matzah and took the 3rd cup of wine, saying these were his body and blood.
He said he would not eat the Passover again until the kingdom of God comes.
This event became known as the Last Supper.
Passover
Yeshua was crucified as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of his sacrifice as the perfect Passover Lamb.
It was no coincidence that Yeshua died on Passover. He fulfilled what Passover foreshadowed. Yeshua is the Lamb of God.
Just as blood was required on the door post to avoid death so we must apply His blood to our hearts that death will pass over us,
Firstfruits
Yom Bikkurim
Background
Firstfruits are offerings given for the spring barley harvest.
The first ripe sheaf (firstfruits) of barley was offered to the Lord as an act of dedicating the harvest to him.
A marked sheaf of grain was bundled and left standing in the field.
The day after the Passover Sabbath was the first day of Unleavened Bread.
On the day after the Sabbath of Passover, the priest waved the sheaf before the Lord.
Counting the days (omer) then began and continued up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, the 50th day.
The 50th day is called Shavuot or Pentecost.
Yeshua (Jesus)
Yeshua rose on the day after the Sabbath of Passover, the day of Firstfruits (Luke 24:46-47).
Jesus’ resurrection is the promise of the future resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
The manna, which God provided from heaven as food for the Israelites while in the wilderness, stopped on this day after they entered the Promised Land.
Since the temple was destroyed in AD 70, firstfruits are no longer offered on this day.
We begin the counting the days (omer) on Firstfruits. The counting ends on the 50th day which is Shavout or Pentecost.
This year Shavout was celebrated last Tuesday at Sundown.
But there is debate regarding what day to begin counting the omer (days).
Is the Sabbath the Holy Day or the weekly Sabbath (Saturday)?
The Rabbi’s believe that the Holy Day is the Sabbath referred to.
But in Colossians 1:16-17 we read that the Holy Days were a shadow of what was to come. They foreshadow Messiah.
Yeshua died on Passover and rose on Bikkurim which was the first day of the week. Then the counting began.
Feast of Weeks
Shavuot
Celebrated 50 days after Passover (the day after seven weeks or seven Sabbaths). Shavuot means “weeks.”
Pentecost means “fifty.”
There are three aspects of Shavout:
Going up to Jerusalem.
The Giving of the Torah.
The offering of the two loaves.
Going up to Jerusalem:
No matter where you came from going to Jerusalem meant “going up”.
Coming to Jerusalem was an act of obedience.
It brought joy and blessing by being with God’s people.
We see this in Luke 2:41-45.
The Holy Days were a reminder and for thanksgiving.
it also was the setting for events spoken of by the prophets; The coming of the Messiah.
Just as God sent His Messiah on Passover so Jerusalem and Shavout were strategic in God’s plans.
Just as God sent His Messiah on Passover so Shavout was strategic
This was to be the day that all Israel would witness the promise of God’s Spirit taking up residence not in the Temple but in His children.
Acts 2:1-13
Giving of the Law at Sinai:
The Law was a blessing from God.
It brought blessing and peace.
It set Israel apart as a special people.
“How blessed is the man who delights in the Law of the Lord.”
However the day the Law was given Israel was involved in idolatry.
3.000 died from God’s discipline.
Giving of the Law at Sinai.
1500 years after the Law was given.
God gave His people a New Covenant.
Just as foretold – Jeremiah 31:31-33.
This New Law was written on the heart.
3.000 came to everlasting life.
The Two Loaf offering:
Baked with Leaven.
The Rabbi’s taught that leaven was a picture of sin.
The Passover offerings were unleavened.
But these were to be leavened Why?
They picture sinful Jews and Gentiles.
Offered by the High Priest to God.
Conclusion:
Shavout was the start of the harvest.
Throughout summer the harvest was carried on.
2000 years ago God began the harvest of Jew and Gentile in this present age.
God desires us to be a part of His harvest.
Unlike wheat we can choose.
