Celebrating Jesus in the Spring Feasts of the Lord

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Leviticus 23:1-2: And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.’"

What we often refer to as the “Jewish Holidays” are much more than that.  The holidays are all about Jesus and the New Covenant we have in Him.  The Feasts are prophetic pictures of the ministry of Yeshua, our Messiah. 

Lev 23:5-6.  `On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.”

Passover pictures the Crucifixion. Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. He was sacrificed on Passover. In the Crucifixion, He paid the wages of our sins.  He is our Redeemer.

Luke 22: 1-2, 7: “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve… Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.”

After Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  During the seven days of this feast, the people fast from anything that contains yeast. (Leviticus 23:6. `And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.’)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a memorial to the Exodus when the Israelites left Egypt under the leadership of Moses. They left hurriedly. They couldn’t wait for their bread to rise.

In scripture, leavening (yeast) symbolizes sin.  Just as a tiny bit of leavening affects the entire batch of dough, so a bit of sin in our hearts affects our entire lives.  The unleavened bread of Passover represents the sinless body of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

Numerals in scripture have significance.  Seven pictures the completeness or perfection of God.  The Seven Days of Unleavened Bread signify the completeness of our redemption. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread declares that all believers in Christ are cleansed from sin and empowered to walk in newness of life.

The third Spring Feast is First Fruits

The Lord told Moses (Lev. 23:10-11):  "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: `When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.”

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread there is always a Sabbath (Saturday). The day after that Sabbath, the Israelites were told to bring the “first fruits” of the harvest (the first ripe barley); this offering is the Feast of First Fruits.

The Feast of First Fruits is a time of thanksgiving to God for the first fruits of the harvest. At this time, the people offered the first sheaf of the crop and did not eat anything from that year’s crop until they had given a portion to the Lord (Lev 23:.9–14). They gave the offering of first fruits at a time when little was ready to harvest. They trusted God to provide.

In the week of Jesus’ Passion, First Fruits came three days after Passover, on the day after the Sabbath.

Matthew 28:1-6

“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Jesus rose on the third day, on the Feast of First Fruits.

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (1 Cor 15:20-22b) "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep…so also in Christ shall all be made alive."

Earlier Jesus had said, (John 14:19):  "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also”.

What was accomplished during that Holy Week over 2,000 years ago?

1. The death and resurrection of Jesus paid the price for our sin and allowed God to declare us pure, innocent, righteous, acceptable and forgiven.
2. The death and resurrection of Jesus gave us access to God.
3. The death and resurrection of Jesus set us free from the rule of evil powers.
4. The death and resurrection of Jesus gave us victory.

He is our salvation—Passover.

He is our Righteousness—Unleavened Bread.

He is our Resurrection—First Fruits.

The Feasts of the Lord are all about Jesus.

He is not here; He is risen.  Hallelujah!