The Radiant Mission Podcast | Episode 35
Host: Rebecca Twomey @theradiantmission
Co-Host: Rachel Smith @rachelsmithsmith
Thank you for listening to The Radiant Mission podcast! We are on a mission to encourage and inspire you on your walk with Christ and as you journey through life.
In Episode 35 we’re continuing the conversation on the Biblical Feasts for Christians with a focus on the Feast of First Fruits.
In This Episode on The Biblical Feasts for Christians: Feast of First Fruits:
We discuss another Spring Feast, the Feast of First Fruits.
As a reminder, there are seven Biblical feasts described in the Bible in what’s known as the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the Bible. Four of the feasts are in the Spring, and three are in the Fall.
The 7 feasts in the Bible:
- Pesach (The Passover) This is the foundational feast
- Unleavened Bread. This feast was to last for 7 days
- First Fruits
- Shavuot (Pentecost or Feast of Weeks)
- Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets)
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
- Purim
The 3rd Biblical feast is the Feast of First Fruits.
Here’s where we really separate from the mentality that we’re celebrating “Jewish holidays.” Because most Jews today do not even know about this feast day, let alone celebrate it.
However, it’s important to note how the Messiah has fulfilled these feasts so any observance of them, no matter how small, honors Him first and foremost.
In Messiah in the Feasts of Israel, Sam Nadler does a great job explaining this very concisely. “During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the end of the Sabbath which fell on Passover, people were delegated to go after sunset into different barley fields with sickles and obtain samples from each field. The barley for the Passover first fruits offering was laid together in a sheaf (literally an Omer, approximately four dry quarts) and brought to the court of the Temple. There, the grain was winnowed, parched, and bruised in mortar.
The next morning after some incense had been sprinkled on the sheaf, the priest waved it before the Lord towards the four different points of the compass. He then took a part of the grain and threw it into the fire of the alter. Once the offering accepted, the remainder of the harvest was then accepted before God.
…Yeshua died as our Passover Lamb. That was not the end of the story, however! The Torah states that following the Sabbath after the Passover, the priest would present the first fruits of the barley harvest to the Lord so that the rest of the harvest would be accepted. When the temple stood, First fruits was observed the day after the Sabbath of the Passover. The Sunday after the Passover would be the observance of First fruits.
Passover had begun when Yeshua died, and on the third day, early that Sunday morning, the priests were in the Temple offering up the irst fruits of the harvest. At this very time, our Messiah and High Priest was raised from the dead, offering up Himself as our atonement. In so doing, He became the first fruits of the rest of the harvest of believers in Him. Therefore, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23:
‘But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the First fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Messiah the Firstfruits, after that those who are Messiah’s at His coming.’”
Something important to point out: in the Gospel accounts and the Sabbaths specified in the Torah, there were 2 sabbaths that just occurred during the week of Yeshua’s death.
There was the sabbath that began at his death on Passover as the first day of the feast of unleavened bread and then there was the usual weekly sabbath that took place every 7th day.
The Biblical command for First fruits is that it would take place the day after the weekly sabbath that occurs after Passover. This means the day can vary and might also be what contributed to the Catholic Church instating “Good Friday” as the day of Yeshua’s crucifixion. They were likely assuming the sabbath was why they were rushing to get him buried, as it was before was the weekly sabbath which would be every Saturday. However, a deeper understanding of the Torah and Yahweh’s Feasts reveals that there were 2 sabbaths that occurred in the time he was in the tomb.
Why is this important? Because YHWH cares about every single detail, and because of all those details is how Yeshua perfectly fulfills the scriptures and this feast as well.
He told us just as Jonah was in the fish for 3 days and 3 nights so would he be in the earth for 3 days and 3 nights. So, He was crucified on Passover, in the earth during Unleavened bread, and rose again, 3 days later on First fruits, because He IS the first fruits of the resurrection.
How can Christians keep the Feast of First Fruits today?
A simple reading of the Torah shows us it’s impossible to keep outside the temple. However, we can still celebrate them in spirit. With Passover aligning with Resurrection Sunday, it makes it very convenient to observe this feast. Celebrating Resurrection Sunday is a great way to recognize the Feast of First Fruits.
This doesn’t mean Easter egg hunts and activities. Rather, it could look something like worshipping our Lord and Savior and gathering with other believers, breaking bread, and communing with others.
Food suggestion for the Feast of First Fruits:
- Bread without leaven in it since the Feast of First Fruits takes place during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Why did Yahweh require animal sacrifice for the feasts?
The first sin required animal sacrifice. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they became aware that they were naked. They were given animal skins to wear and in Genesis it says that Yahweh killed the animal. He completed the first animal sacrifice to cover their sin.
Another element is that blood sacrifice is prophetic. It was all going to point to the Messiah since it was the plan from day one. As believers, we are covered by his blood and animal sacrifice is no longer necessary.
In Biblical times animal sacrifice was expensive, just like sin is expensive. Not just the animals themselves, but the amount of work required to sacrifice animals. It was hard work. That could not have been easy.
Not every animal that was sacrificed was just burned to crisp for the Lord. Many of them were and it is described a soothing aroma to Yahweh. However, in the priest system, many parts of the animals are what fed the priests and these animals. In those times priests were not allowed to make money, and this was actually the original tithe offering. The people bringing grain, wine, oil, and animals fed hundreds of people (the priests and their families).
Bible Verses Mentioned on Feast of First Fruits:
- Jeremiah 6:16
- Jeremiah 29:13
- Leviticus 23:9-14
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
- James 1:18
Resources Mentioned:
Subscribe to receive emails from The Radiant Mission
A Christian Guide to the Biblical Feasts by David Wilber
Messiah in the Feasts of Israel by Sam Nadler
Thank You for Joining Us!
You can find the podcast audio here, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, or wherever you prefer to listen! Click here for more options!
Thank you for being on this mission with us!
Follow along on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
Enjoying the show? Please refer it to a friend and be sure to let us know what you’d like to have us dive into next!
**
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links. This simply means that at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Thank you in advance for your support!
