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Actually, this is a misnomer. We should say (or at least understand) that these are the feasts of 1God, celebrated by Israel (Leviticus 23:4). The feasts observed by Israel have their origins in divine revelation, and were designed to illustrate specific, significant aspects of the eternal redemption that God had already ordained for his own under the OT. These are the feasts revealed to Moses by God:
Divine election and deliverance Dependence on God for all temporal blessings and prosperity Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness Hope for a new beginning The need for cleansing and forgiveness Passover (Exodus 12:6) This is the first of the great feasts, and the oldest. The lamb was selected 4 days before the Passover (from verse 3). This is celebrated at the same time the Christian’s celebrate Easter.
According to Exodus 12:12,13,22, 23, the blood of the passover lamb would be seen by God as he went through Egypt (a type of the world) to smite all the first born in the land. The “destroyer” in verse 23 may be viewed either as a destroying angel or as a destroying demon. In either case the “destroyer” was going forth at God’s word. At this time the cup of thanksgiving was passed and partaken of, and a song of praise for deliverance from bondage was sung. This song was generally from Psalms. After the 2destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews ceased their offering of sacrifices, but still observe the Passover with only unleavened bread. As the feast of redemption, it is the basis of the 3 great pilgrimage festivals (haggim) wherein all Israelites gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate their God (Deuteronomy 16:16). Jesus would have attended these feasts. Jesus was comparing himself to the Passover lamb (Revelation 5:12, “Lamb who was slain”). John calls him, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). Paul utilizes the same symbolism, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). And Peter describes us as being redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18f.). Jesus was crucified on the 14th day of Nisan. The next day, the 15th, was the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread. Crucifixion normally took about 3 days (or more), but Jesus had to be off the cross by sundown (the beginning of the next day) so he could celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Though not widely known, the Samaritans, a small community of several hundred located near modern Nablus, still observe the blood sacrifice of the Passover lamb. Another little known fact deals with the “roasting” method employed for the Passover lamb. In order to insure proper “roasting”, after the lamb had been placed on the spit, a “cross piece” was added to prevent the animal from merely turning in place on the spit. In a very real and practical way, every Passover lamb was placed on a cross. A beautiful example of the preeminence of God’s word. Unleavened
Bread This was strictly a Jewish festival. No stranger or uncircumcised person was allowed to participate. Unleavened bread was (and still is) typical of Christ in redemption. Accompanying the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the wave sheaf sacrifice. Pentecost (Exodus 34:26) Pentecost, the second of the great feasts, comes 50 days after the 3wave sheaf at the end of harvest season. In the Old Testament it is called the Feast of Harvest, in the New Testament it is called the Feast of Pentecost. The word “Pentecost” means 50, the number of days between the resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the church. Jesus showed himself to his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, until a few days before Pentecost. However, the exact number of days is indicated in Leviticus 23:15, 16. Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the offering of the wave sheaf of the first fruits. This came on the second day after the Passover, or, “the morrow after the Sabbath.” It was on the first day of Passover that the Lord Jesus was crucified; therefore, there are 50 days from resurrection to Pentecost. Tabernacles/Ingathering (Exodus 23:16) This the last great feast or haggim. It gets its name from the booths (cukkoth [sook, koth]) in which the Israelites dwelt during the feast which lasted 7 days. The booths were made of trees, branches, leaves, et cetera, and were definitely of a temporal nature. At this feast the men were required to gather once a year at Jerusalem. The festival commemorated the 40 years in which Israel wandered in the wilderness, and was also a season of thanksgiving for the harvest, called the Feast of Ingatherings, and points to the glory revealed in Christ.
Not only does Christ reconcile us back to the Father, but he also reconciles us back to each other. Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25) This was a new year festival, after the gathering of the harvest. The new year was brought in by the blowing of 4trumpets. The day was solemnly kept and there was no business conducted. There is no actual reference to a “Feast of Trumpets” in the OT; however, the designation has been frequently applied to the observance of the first day (new moon) of the 7th month (Tishri) as described in Leviticus 23:23-25. The sound of the trumpet will announce the second coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52 The lesson in the Feast of Trumpets is the physical return of Christ to the earth, and the regathering of his people, Israel, not the church. This takes place when the last trump of this present age shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27) This day was observed as a day of fasting and prayer, and came 5 days before the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a national call to repentance for Israel to confess her sin and guilt. On this day, the high priest, dressed in a robe of pure white, entered the Holy of Holies, first with incense and then with blood which he sprinkled upon the mercy seat. This typified the covering of Israel’s sins (atonement) and came after the blowing of the trumpets. This feast of the atonement pointed to Christ whose death made satisfaction for sin and removed its penalty. Christ is the sin offering, the Lamb of God, who puts away sin by the sacrifice of himself. On the Day of Atonement we find Christ revealing himself to Israel and also, as sin-bearer, to the sinner of today. A New Feast Purim (Esther 3:7; 9:24-32) The only new observance that is known to have been imposed by divine inspiration is the Feast of Purim which commemorates Israel’s preservation in Persia. “Pur” is a word that means “to cast lots,” and was a favored practice of Haman. Haman had conspired to kill all of the Jews in the kingdom, but was, instead, himself hanged, along with his ten sons. The Added Days During the intertestimental period, Judaism incorporated two additional feasts, The Feast of Dedication, or “lights” (Chanukah [actually mentioned in the New Testament in John 10:22]) , and the Feast of Esther. Both of these have been preserved by Jewish tradition to this very day. Several other festivals are mentioned in the Talmud such as the Feast of Woodcarrying. |
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