Celebrating the feasts and festivals of the Lord is not common among Christians. In my house, we celebrate (Pesach) Passover. As a Christian, I think it is important to understand why God created these feasts and festivals and what the significance is for Christians.
God specifically gave these instructions to the Jews: “Three times a year you shall celebrate a festival to me” (Exodus 23:14). These three appointments were Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). In addition to these three, God added four additional times of celebration in Leviticus 23, thereby making a total of seven celebrations. Matzah (Unleavened Bread) and Bikkurim (Firstfruits) were celebrated immediately after Passover. Teruah (Festival of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) were observed shortly before the Feasts of Tabernacles. Bikkurim and related terms for the “first fruits” derive from the same root as bekhor, “firstborn” (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:16–17; Numbers 28:26). Christ rose from the grave and as such, he was the first to be resurrected, but all who trust in Him will also rise from the dead in the final “harvest.”
Our Passover celebration is based on the fact the Jesus is the Passover lamb (Luke 22:19-20). When we eat the matzo (unleavened bread), we understand the sacrifice which was made for us. Picture the matzo; the holes in the matzo represent the nail holes in His broken body and the stripes in the matzo represent the stripes He took for our healing. As we break the bread, we are basically remembering what Christ did for us on the cross (Matthew 26:26-30).
We do not usually celebrate Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, but we acknowledge them. This year Rosh Hashanah began at sundown on Sunday, September 9, 2018. Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), means “head of the year”. It is the start of the Jewish New Year (5779) and is the first of the High Holy days or Days of Awe celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. By acknowledging Rosh Hashanah, Christians are celebrating God’s role as creator and redeemer. We are showing that we believe in His righteous rule and Kingship and that we are subject to His authority, not our own.
Yom Kippur (Leviticus 23:27) began at sundown on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, and ended at sundown on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים), also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Yom Kippur was the only day the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and call upon God. As Christians, during Yom Kippur, we can acknowledge God’s rule over our lives by forgiving others, helping the needy, and confessing our sins. We are essentially thanking God for what He has already done for us by sacrificing His Son.
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacle) will be celebrated this weekend from sundown Sunday, September 23 through Sunday, September 30, 2018. The date for this feast was given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Leviticus 23:24). It was during this Feasts of Succoth, that Moses and Elijah, representatives of the Torah and the Prophets, appeared and talked with Jesus in anticipation of the millennial kingdom, which the feast represents. If you recall Peter suggested building three Succoth (tents) for them, as required for the festival, indicating that he understood the millennial significance of their appearance in their glorified state (Matthew 17: 1-5).
We can join in celebrating these feasts and festivals, not because we think we need to, but because we can honor God and (meet with Him) by celebrating the incredible sacrifice and radical forgiveness Jesus, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), displayed on the cross. Want to know more? Get the book, Feasts of the Lord, that covers all aspects of the biblical feasts including the historical background, biblical observance, and prophetic significance. Go and meet Him there.
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