The Lord of the Feasts
When I think of a feast, my mind inevitably runs to Thanksgiving dinner. Complete with ham, turkey, okra, creme corn, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, pecan and pumpkin pies, its the closest thing to a feast we have in our lives today. Family gathers around the table for a time to rest and remember all the things for which we are thankful. Sometimes, trudging through the book of Leviticus can be a bit tedious. But a little bit of digging in this book can bring about some beautiful observations. All of us have a calendar of events that keep us busier than we should be most days. All of us look forward with anticipation the next holiday where we can rest and relax. But did you know that the concept of a "holiday" is actually about "holy days" set aside for the remembrance of a certain event in time. We celebrate 4th of July to commemorate the independence of our country. We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Christ. We celebrate Good Friday and Easter to remember His resurrection.
This isn't man's idea, it's actually God's idea given all the way back in Leviticus 23 of all places. God instituted these days to remind the people of the miracles He had done for His people in the context of His relationship. In each of these "holy days" God has more in mind than just remembering what happened in the past.
I am greatly indebted to the following article for the understanding of this chapter: https://www.wycliffe.org/feast/7-feasts-that-point-to-christ
Highlight: Entire Chapter
Explain:
Leviticus 23 records for us the feasts implemented by the Lord. There are seven of them. The festivals are designed for the people to stop from their busyness and consider all the things that God has done for them. Seven is the number of completion. God means for His people to consider with completeness the character of their God shown through remembering these events. Much like we celebrate Christmas and Easter as holy days or holidays. These are days set aside for the people to remember what God has done for them.
They are:
Passover - the passing over of judgment on the firstborn because of the sacrificial lamb slain with its blood on the doorpost as protection from the judgment that was to come. It was a sign of the covenant promise and it was done through faith in the shape of a cross.
Unleavened Bread - the people were not to eat bread with yeast in it for 7 days.
Firstfruits - This event was celebrated 3 days after the Passover
Weeks or Pentecost - happens 50 days after the feast of first fruits (Penta - 5) This was where the Harvest was brought to the Lord.
Trumpets - Feast of trumpets was a sign set aside to rest from their labors and to celebrate.
Day of Atonement - this was the feast that involved the Atonement of the Priest who would slaughter the lamb sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat and place the signs on the scapegoat to be led away from the camp.
Feast of Tabernacles or Booths - This always follows the day of atonement and is given to remember the imagery of the Israelites nomadic journey from slavery to the promised land.
Apply:
In the life of Jesus we see a breathtaking fulfillment of all the feasts. The people were commemorating God’s provision in the past having no concept of how Jesus would fulfill everyone of these feasts in His own time.
In the Passover, we see Christ as the Passover Lamb given for our sins. His blood as our substitute took the judgment for our sin and He is our protection from the judgment of the Father on our sins. Paul calls Christ our Passover Lamb.
In the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Christ is our unleavened Bread. In the Bible, leaven is a picture of sin that spreads within a loaf. (Galatians 5:9) Christ, in HIs sinless perfection, calls Himself the “bread of life”. He is our Unleavened Bread.
In the Feast of Firstfruits, we see Jesus marvelous resurrection. The feast was celebrated the day after the Sabbath after the Passover celebration. This occurs 3 days after the Passover lamb is slaughtered. We know according to the gospels, that Jesus dies as the Passover Lamb is slaughtered in the Temple (3pm on the eve of Passover). 3 days later (on Resurrection Sunday) they celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits. Paul calls Jesus, the first fruits of the dead (resurrection) in 1 Corinthians 15:20.
In the Feast of Pentecost, the harvest was celebrated. This was 50 days after the Festival of Firstfruits. It was 50 days after the Resurrection, when the city was again filled with people for the festival of Pentecost, that the first Harvest of the church was harvested when Peter preached and 3000 were added to the church.
In the Feast of Trumpets, the people are told to rest. It is no accident then, that when the rapture comes, the Trump shall sound and the believers enter into rest from our labors leading us to celebration and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
In the Day of Atonement, Jesus is seen all over this festival. Jesus is the High Priest that enters the heavenly tabernacle with His own blood offered for us and sprinkles HIs blood on the mercy seat for our sins. He also is the scapegoat that carries our sins far away from us. Our sins placed on His head and carried away from us. It is in this that we are to observe the Sabbath rest once and for all and to practice self-denial. “If any man will come after me, let Him DENY HIMSELF and take up His cross and follow me.”
In the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles we are reminded that our story mirrors the life of Israel. Delivered from our own bondage, provided for, protected, and led through the wilderness and take to the land of promise prepared for us.
Respond:
Jesus, thank You for the feasts and their final fulfillment in You and Your sacrifices for us. You were thinking of our redemption when You instituted all of this way back in Leviticus 23. What an incredible God You are to plan all of this for us!
