Leviticus 23:4-16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

The relationship of the feasts of Israel to God’s plan for His Son, the Messiah, is part of the story of Jesus’ resurrection.  Paul, himself an expert in the Law of Moses, referred to this connection when he called Christ the “firstfruits of those who are asleep.”  

Firstfruits was the celebration at the beginning of harvest when God’s people trusted God and thanked Him in advance for the harvest they were about to reap.  Note the following from Leviticus 23.

·        v4: The term “feast” actually means “appointed time.”  The Hebrew term is used twice in this verse (translated ‘feasts” and ‘appointed times’).  That might indicate that there was a point to the schedule of feasts in Israel’s calendar.

·        v5: The Spring feasts began with Passover (Pesach), the 14^th day of the 1^st month (Nisan).  The day of preparation was the day before when the Paschal lamb was killed.  The Lamb of God died that day (John 19:14).

·        v6-8: The day after Passover was the first day of the 7-day feast of Unleavened Bread (15^th-21^st of Nisan).  The first and last days were “holy convocations” or “Sabbath” (rest) days.

·        v9-14: Tucked into the feast of Unleavened Bread was Firstfruits.  Firstfruits was the day to thank God in advance for the bounty of the upcoming harvest.  One sheaf of grain was brought, being joined with the animal sacrifice.  Thus the people both expressed faith (through the sacrifice) and thanksgiving (through the single sheaf).  By faith they trusted God that a great number of sheaves of grain would be added to the one.  The day of Firstfruits is said to be on the day after the Sabbath (v11,15-16).  It is not a Sabbath at the end of a week necessarily, but rather the Sabbath that is the first day of Unleavened Bread.  

The 4 consecutive days were Preparation Day, Passover, the First Day of Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits.  It is not hard to see, then, why Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to make the connection between Christ and Firstfruits.  Christ rose from the dead on that very day.  Our Lord perfectly fits the theme.  His resurrection defeated death.  By one man (Adam) death came upon all.  By one Man, the Risen Lord, came the resurrection from the dead.  

Firstfruits was a day when Israel could both express faith through the sacrifice and thanksgiving for the first sheaf.  Is this not the essence of hope?  Hope has a joyful, thankful attitude while trusting God for the future.  Our Lord is that first sheaf of blessing that enables us to persevere joyfully until the harvest at Christ’s coming.  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).