Feast of Weeks

February 14, 2016 Background Scripture: Numbers 28:26 – 31; Leviticus 23:15 – 22; Acts 2:1 – 36 Lesson Passage: Leviticus 23:15 – 22 The Feast of Weeks celebration is also known as the Harvest of Pentecost. It begins after the Passover with the offering of the “new grain offering”. The new grain offering, or firstfruits, marked the beginning of the grain harvest. This offering was made along with a loaf of unleavened bread. The Feast of Weeks culminated at the end of seven Sabbaths with a grain offering that was offered with a loaf of bread that contained leaven. The seven Sabbaths (weeks) plus one day totaled fifty days—hence the name “Pentecost” which implies fifty. God commanded Israel to bring offerings to Him at very specific times which He appointed. Those offerings were not to be brought early or late. In the natural sense, the offerings were a reminder to Israel that God is the source of everything and its increase. With each harvest, Israel was to humble herself and acknowledge God as the source and sustainer of all. The celebration began with the offering of the firstfruits or the first sheaf of grain to God. The offering was brought to the Priest who had the responsibility to formally present the offering before God. The unleavened loaf of bread was a reminder of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt that was so hasty that the dough for their bread did not have time to rise. This offering was practiced in conjunction with the Passover meal. After that observance, they were required to wait fifty days before the culminating offering of the Feast of Weeks. This combination of celebrations by Israel took on significant spiritual meaning in the first century with the events surrounding the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was the presentation of him as the firstfruits of those God will raise to eternal life through Jesus. Because Jesus is the firstfruits, the bread offering could not contain leaven because the leaven was being used to symbolize sin. On the other hand, the Feast of Weeks celebration fifty days later involved bread that did contain leaven. Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Ghost was sent to give new life to the followers of Jesus. All who are being born into this new life since the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection are being delivered from sin and thus we have sin in our mortal bodies in spite of possessing the eternal Spirit of Christ in us. The offering of bread with leaven fifty days after the firstfruits offering is a reminder that we all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Only because of the grace of God and our faith in the saving power of Jesus’ blood are we presented before God as living sacrifices with leaven. Because Christ was raised from the dead as the firstfruits, we have assurance that all who put their faith in him will also be raised to eternal life in him. What Jews continue to celebrate throughout their generations, Christians are the living examples of it today. Today, we thank God for His loving kindness towards us and look forward to the appointed time when our leaven will be removed so that when we see Jesus we shall be like him. Robert C. Hudson February 5, 2016

Passover

February 7, 2016 Background Scripture: Exodus 12:1 – 14; Numbers 28:16 – 25; Mark 14:12 – 26 Lesson Passage: Exodus 12:1 – 14 The Passover event represented many things of significance for the nation of Israel. First and foremost, the Passover event was the absolute demonstration that they were created as a nation of people by God to be used for His purpose. The nation of Israel would become the human channel through which God would express His holiness and reveal Himself as the creator and savior of all mankind. Secondly, the Passover event was an public demonstration of God’s direct intervention in the earthly affairs of mankind. Through this demonstration, God showed how powerless man’s efforts are to resist His will and actions. God used both the forces of nature and His own direct actions to frustrate those who resisted and showed themselves to be enemies of His divine rule. Thirdly, the Passover event was a clear demonstration of God’s ability and willingness to protect His people who are called by His name in the midst of calamity all around them. Further, the Passover event was a disruptive interference in the course of human history by an omnipotent and yet merciful God. The Passover event should have served as a wakeup call to all of mankind. However, because of the hardness of man’s heart, even those who were protected needed to be constantly reminded of the works of God on their behalf. Likewise, their descendants needed to be assured that just as God was with their ancestors, He would also be with them. Hence, the annual Passover celebration was initiated so that all of Israel would be reminded of the first Passover event. The month of this celebration was used to set the beginning of a new calendar to be used by the Hebrew people to mark time over a twelve month interval. The first month of the Jewish year would always include a holy celebration of the Passover event. The name “Passover” was descriptive of the event. On that fateful night in Egypt, God sent a death angel through the land to kill the firstborn of all of the Egyptians as well as their livestock. The Jews in Egypt were spared because they followed God’s instructions to kill a lamb and smear its blood over the doors and on the sides of the doors to their houses. They were to remain in their houses that night for their safety. The death angel saw the blood of the lamb and passed over those houses and thus spared all who were inside. Israel has been commanded by God to observe the Passover with a feast throughout all of their generations. The Passover is considered more than a holiday. It is to be observed as a “holy day” in Israel. During the celebration, the diet they eat is prescribed by God. Jesus celebrated the Passover during his pilgrimage on earth. He rejoiced in anticipation of celebrating a special Passover with his disciples prior to his crucifixion and death. That Passover was special because it was after that Passover Supper that Jesus taught his disciples that he is the Passover Lamb for the world. On that evening, Jesus instituted a simple celebration we now know as the Lord’s Supper to remind his followers of his role as our savior. Robert C. Hudson January 28, 2016