Christ in the Old Testament

Leviticus 23:10

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.’ (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 23:9-14 and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

We pretty well covered in our study the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread during the Exodus from Egypt. Jesus fulfilled every detail of both of these feasts in his time on earth. Paul tells us, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Col 2:17). The feasts are a shadow of the reality that is found in Jesus.

As a quick reminder, Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Passover as Jesus was the perfect spotless Passover Lamb who died at twilight on the day of Passover. He spilled his blood to save us from death and none of his bones were broken. He also fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened Bread that begins the day after Passover as he was The Bread of Life who was free of sin (yeast) and would be placed in the tomb un-raised.

The next feast or festival that God called for the Israelites to celebrate is the Feast of Firstfruits. The Israelites would first celebrate this feast when they entered the Promised Land. Leviticus 23:10 says, “When you enter the land I am going to give you …” So this feast wasn’t celebrated until Joshua leads them into Canaan.

We also notice that God doesn’t give the Israelites a specific day to celebrate this feast. It was to occur on the day after the Sabbath. This is the regular weekly Sabbath that occurs on Saturday. So the Feast of Firstfruits would occur on the day after the regular Sabbath following the Passover. This would mean that the Feast of Firstfruits would fall on a different day of the month every year.

Interestingly enough, the first Feast of Firstfruits ever celebrated by the Israelites when they entered Canaan occurred on Nisan 17. Noah’s ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat on Nisan 17 bringing new life to Noah and his family. The Israelites also crossed through the parted waters of the Red Sea on Nisan 17. And the week that Jesus was crucified, Jesus was raised to life on Nisan 17. This is indeed a special day of the year!

He fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits by becoming the firstfruit. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep… But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him” (1 Cor 15:20,23).

Jesus is the firstfruit meaning that he was the first to rise from the dead. All of us who have put our faith in Jesus will also rise from the dead. When Jesus returns for His church, we will also will rise with him never to die again. So the Feast of Firstfruits was pointing to the resurrection of Jesus which he fulfilled on the very day of Nisan 17.

Today’s Prayer: Thank you Jesus for proving you are worthy by rising from the grave as the firstfruit. Thank you for promising to bring me with you when you return!