Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate Easter. As usual, I want to use Biblical terms for whatever we celebrate and I know there is no word Easter in the Bible. Jesus died on the Feast of the Passover and rose again during the Feast of Firstfruits. Please refer to the Table below on the meaning of the Feasts and their fulfilment through Christ.
As I read Leviticus 23, I used to think it is the FEASTS OF ISRAEL. But now as I read, the Lord said,
Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, [Concerning] the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim [to be] holy convocations, [even] these [are] my feasts.
It is THE FEASTS OF THE LORD, and He said, MY FEASTS. So does it mean we are to follow those feasts? I think it is a good thing to celebrate and remember what Jesus has done for us. My Open Bible says that the climax of the entire Old Testament is recorded in Exodus 12-14 : the salvation of Israel through blood (the Passover) and through power (the Red Sea)[1]. In Exodus, Israel was redeemed and established as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation .
The book of Leviticus is God’s guidebook for his newly redeemed people, showing them how to worship, serve and obey a holy God. Fellowship with God through sacrifice and obedience show the awesome holiness of the God of Israel, “you shall be holy, as I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)
1. Because
they are a part of the Scriptures given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit which
are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in
righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
2. Because
they are “a shadow of things to come” (Colossians 2:16,17; Hebrews 10:1,2) They
point to Christ Who is the substance.
3. Because
they were prophetic types and ensamples, foreshadowing in Israel’s history
future events. They shadowed forth that which Christ would fulfil in Himself
and in the Church, which is His Body (1 Corinthians 10:6,11; Matthew 5:17-18;
11:13). They were written for our admonition. Part have found fulfilment, and
part are yet to find fulfilment.
4. Because
the believer will find that there are things written therein for his learning
(Romans 15:4).
5. Because they set forth the total ministry of Christ relative to the plan of redemption. They set forth in their time element the present Dispensation (divine order of world affairs/time divinely appointed), from the first coming of Christ (Passover) through the Church Age (Pentecost) to the second coming of Christ (Tabernacles).
5. Because they set forth the total ministry of Christ relative to the plan of redemption. They set forth in their time element the present Dispensation (divine order of world affairs/time divinely appointed), from the first coming of Christ (Passover) through the Church Age (Pentecost) to the second coming of Christ (Tabernacles).
The things involved in the Feasts of
the Lord pertained to the material, the natural and the temporal. It is a
principle of God’s dealing with His people that it is “First the natural,
afterwards that which is spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:46-47).
THE FIVE OFFERINGS AND
THE SEVEN FEASTS[3]
The Book of
Leviticus is abounding with types and indirect references to the person and
work of Jesus Christ.
The Five
Offerings (Leviticus Chapter 1-4)
1. The Burnt
Offering typifies Christ’s total offering in submission to His Father’s
will.
2. The Meal Offering typifies Christ’s sinless service.
3. The Peace Offering is a type of the fellowship believers have with God through the work of the cross.
2. The Meal Offering typifies Christ’s sinless service.
3. The Peace Offering is a type of the fellowship believers have with God through the work of the cross.
4. The
Sin Offering typifies Christ as our guilt-bearer.
I apologise as I do not know how to fit this table nicely on this page!
|
(in Hebrew)
|
WHERE IN THE
BIBLE
|
TIME IN JEWISH CALENDER
(normal calender)
|
MEANING
|
||
I
|
THE FEAST OF PASSOVER
(PESACH)
|
Leviticus 23:4-5
|
14th
|
FIRST MONTH
|
Speaks of the substitutionary death of the Lamb of God. Jesus
died on this day.
|
THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
|
Leviticus 23:6-8
|
15th
|
(March to April)
|
Speaks of the holy walk of the believer
(1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
|
|
THE FEAST OF THE FIRSTFRUITS
|
17th
|
April 15-22, 2014
|
Speaks of Christ’s resurrection as the firstfruits of the
resurrection of all believers (1 Corinthians
15:20-23). Christ rose on this day.
|
||
II
|
THE FEAST OF WEEKS (PENTECOST)
(SHAVUOT)
|
Leviticus 23:15-22
|
16th – 17th
7 wks after Passover
|
THIRD MONTH
(May – June)
June 4-5, 2014
|
Speaks of the descent of the Holy Spirit after Christ’s
ascension. The baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon the believers on this day
(Acts 2)
|
III
|
(YOM TERU’AH)
(ROSH HASHANAH – Jewish New Year, to
welcome God as King)
|
Leviticus 23:23-25
|
1st
|
7TH MONTH
September 25-26,
2014
|
|
THE FEAST DAY OF ATONEMENT
(YOM KIPPUR – the most
important day of the year – fasting and collective confession and repentance)
|
Leviticus 23:26-32
|
10th
|
(Sept – Oct)
October 4, 2014
|
SUKKOT -Speaks of the events associated with
the second coming of Christ. The Lord will establish His Tabernacle in
Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:26) and the world will come every year to appear before
the King and worship Him
(Zechariah 14:16,17)
|
|
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
(SUKKOT, festival of joy)
|
Leviticus 23:33-44
Deut. 16:13-15
|
15th
|
October 9-15, 2014
|
||
I hope that whatever that has been shared above will be seed thoughts from God's Word that will cause you to water the seed through the study and obedience of God's Word! Have a great Passover, and indeed our Lord Jesus is alive!
No comments:
Post a Comment