Jesus observed seven festivals

 

Every year of His life Jesus observed seven festivals. Are they valid today? If so, shouldn't we observe them?

Passover

The first of the festivals is Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. The Passover began at the story of the Exodus from Egypt but it is more than an Old Testament observance. We see that it is mentioned 28 times in the New Testament.

Now what is the New Testament Passover all about? It is all about the One who is so profound, so holy, so important, that without Him, there is no hope for mankind - Jesus Christ. From the beginning, the Passover pointed directly to Jesus Christ. He is our true Passover Lamb. And as we observe the New Testament Passover in the spring - in the northern hemisphere - we understand that the central role Jesus has is in the removal of our sins. The Scripture says in 1 John: "And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5).

Multiple Old Testament scriptures predicted the life and death of a Messiah. Christ's death by crucifixion fulfilled many of these scriptures in incredible detail. It is one of the great proofs of the validity of the Bible and of who Jesus was. Just before Jesus' last Passover, the Jewish high priest, Caiaphas predicted that Jesus would "die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish" (John 11:50).

Christ's death fulfilled the ritual of the slaughtered lamb, and it opened a new dimension of understanding to the festivals. Notice how the apostle Paul understood and how he taught this New Testament application to a group of Gentile Christians in the city of Corinth. He wrote: "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

In this passage that describes the first of the biblical festivals we see the essential role Christ has in properly understanding and observing these days.

Now let's look at the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Days of Unleavened Bread

The Days of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day festival which begins right after Passover. Just like Passover, Jesus Christ is the central focus of the Days of Unleavened Bread. Christians observe this festival knowing that it's a time to focus on putting sin out of their lives and overcoming sin. Leavening, for the purpose of the spring festival season, represents sin. Again the apostle Paul refers to it as "the leaven of malice and wickedness" (1 Corinthians 5:8). There are other scriptures that refer to leaven as hypocrisy (Luke 12:1) and false teaching. During this New Testament festival, leavening is portrayed as a type of wickedness that Christians strive in their lives to overcome.

God's instruction in keeping this festival is to eat unleavened bread for seven days. This is a piece of unleavened bread. It's typically called a matzo. It's very flat. It hasn't risen. There's nothing to it other than just flour, water and a little salt. The Days of Unleavened Bread and this piece of bread ties deeply into something very significant out of this festival. You see, these days picture the promise of the risen Christ. Jesus promised that He and the Father would make Their home in our hearts (John 14:23). In fact, it is Christ in us who is the hope of our glory (Colossians 1:27).

And as we eat unleavened bread during this festival, we are reminded that Christ is the ultimate example of sincerity and truth. And a Christian, desires with all their being to have that Holy One living in them. Observing the Days of Unleavened Bread also reminds us that it is not our righteousness that causes us to overcome sins. Rather, it is the righteousness that comes as a result of Jesus living His righteous life in the hearts of His people, empowering us to conquer sin. Again Paul writes, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

The New Testament observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread teaches us about the resurrected Christ who died for our sins that we may have the hope of eternal life. It explains that by letting Christ live in us, we can be transformed. Only by taking on Jesus' character can we truly overcome sin.

Now this is a fascinating subject and we're just getting into it. Do you want to know more about the biblical Holy Days? I can't tell you everything in this short program. But I can offer you a free study aid that we've created called, God's Holy Day Plan - The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.

This free offer can be yours. With it you can study deeper into what the Bible reveals about the festivals God gave to mankind. These festivals describe in step-by-step detail God's plan for all mankind.

You can learn much more about these festivals in our Bible study aid: God's Holy Day Plan - The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. To request your personal copy, please call us at toll free: 1-888-886-8632. Again, that's 1-888-886-8632. Or, go online to BeyondToday.tv to read or download this study aid.

Pentecost: Christ empowers His Church

Now let's look at the next festival, the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost was eagerly celebrated in Israel because it signified the completion of the early harvest, the very first harvest from the fields. It was a time of an early harvest of the first grains of the new season - a lot like what I am holding in my hand. A priest would take a sheaf of grain - like this - and in a special ceremony, he would wave it before God as an offering. And Israelites could be assured of food for their families when God's blessing was on them. Pentecost signaled a good year ahead for an Israelite. It was a great festival of both hope and joy.

In the New Testament, we see a deeper and a more profound parallel to this. When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven following His resurrection, the apostles were perplexed because their risen Lord was being taken from them. But Jesus had already promised them that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18). He promised that both He and the Father would come to the disciples by and through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-23).

Jesus repeated this promise in Luke, where He said: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but [wait] in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).

That power is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on Pentecost as we read in the second chapter of Acts. And suddenly with that event, the disciples became the Church of God.

No longer were they a dazed and bewildered group of men and women - they were now the firstfruits of the people of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they would now be able to truly overcome sin. And through that same power, God's Church would take the gospel to the entire world. This all became possible because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled His promise by empowering the Church with the Holy Spirit. As Christians today celebrate this festival, we are reminded of the transforming power of God's Holy Spirit. By this power, the life of the risen Christ in us, we have hope and joy to carry out the same work Christ did while on this earth - the work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

We have covered two of the annual biblical festivals: the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Pentecost. We will now briefly cover each of the next four Holy Days, which come in the fall of the year. As we examine them, we will again notice the pivotal role Jesus Christ has in fulfilling each of these days.

Trumpets: Announcing Christ's return

The next biblical festival uses an interesting symbol - a trumpet, or called as well, a shofar.

Trumpets and the blast of a horn such as this were used in the Bible for several purposes. They were used to call the people of God to assembly (Numbers 10:1-10). They were also used - the blast of a horn - to announce the beginning of this first Fall Holy Day (Leviticus 23:24). Trumpets were also used to announce the coronation of a king (1 Kings 1:39-40). All of these purposes find their ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament teaching that Jesus Christ will return to the earth as King and assemble His people together at the sounding of a great trumpet blast.

Furthermore, the New Testament clearly shows that at what is called the first resurrection, with the blowing of a great trumpet, "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16). There's another passage in the book of 1 Corinthians. It says this: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Perhaps a key scripture is found in the book of Revelation, where it says that: "…the seventh angel sounded." Again, sounding a trumpet: "And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15).

The Feast of Trumpets pictures the moment when Jesus Christ steps into our world and imposes His Kingdom in place of every human government. It also pictures the resurrection of what is called in the Bible the "dead in Christ" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the change to a glorified spirit life - becoming a spirit being in the family of God. It is pivotal point in God's purpose for human life on this place called Earth.

The Bible shows us Christ's return will not be welcomed by the armies and the leaders of this world. In fact, the coming of Christ is accompanied unfortunately, by a time of war. The "kingdoms of this world" will not willingly yield nor submit to Jesus Christ. There is a reason the Lamb of God with a robe dipped in blood and wielding a sword will "strike the nations." The kingdoms of this world are currently controlled by a powerful spirit being called in the Bible, Satan the Devil. This evil being is the real power behind the scenes of all human folly. Before the righteous reign of Jesus Christ can begin on this earth, Satan - himself must be decisively dealt with. This next step in God's plan is told through the next festival, the Day of Atonement.

Atonement: Christ sends Satan away

The Day of Atonement is the most unusual of the Holy Days. It is a day on which God's people do not eat food or drink any liquids. It's called a "fast" (Leviticus 23:26-32; Acts 27:9). In ancient Israel, on this festival, once a year a ceremony took place and an offering with a High Priest and two specially chosen goats.

One goat was killed and its blood was offered within the Holy of Holies - that sacred room within the Temple where only the High Priest could go once a year on this special once-a-year festival.

The second goat was not killed but it was led out into the wilderness and it was released. This goat represents Satan, the one who departed from God and who is responsible for all evil in this world. Satan is the one Jesus called a "liar" and a "murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). His evil presence and influence must be removed from the human family before the peace of God's Kingdom can begin.

The modern observance of this Day of Atonement - the way that we keep it today, without the goats - today's observance pictures the time when Christ returns to the earth. He will commission an angel to banish Satan into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). Satan will not be allowed to deceive the nations for a thousand years. This world will not know true peace until Satan, the ultimate deceiver, is put away. With this done, the eyes of mankind will be opened. The light of God's truth will spread over humanity and a spiritual healing will come upon all peoples from all walks of life.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the One who has crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15, NIRV) is central to the ultimate fulfillment of this day. Now the real work of God's Kingdom can begin.

Tabernacles: Christ's millennial rule

After Jesus returns, there will be a 1,000-year period of peace and prosperity (Revelation 20:1-6). The earth will be changed, not through the achievement of mankind, but through the power of God. The biblical festival called "Tabernacles" pictures this time - which many call "The Millennium."

Jesus is key to understanding the Feast of Tabernacles. He observed this Feast while He was on the earth, and He told His disciples to observe the Feast as well (John 7:2-14). In Old Testament times, the Israelites would gather in Jerusalem and dwell in small huts or booths made from leafy branches of trees, and they would rejoice in the worship of God (Leviticus 23:40). The Old Testament links the reign of Christ on the earth with the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16-21).

In the book of Revelation, it tells us that Christ will reign on the earth for 1,000 years. Christ's reign will create what human government has not been able to accomplish for thousands of years - which is a lasting peace, true justice and a chance for godly knowledge to flourish within the human family.

Isaiah the prophet explains this period in many of his exciting prophecies. The period is often called the Millennium. Let's note two of them.

In Isaiah 2, it says, "He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation" ( Isaiah 2:4)

In Isaiah 35, we read: "The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water" (Isaiah 35:5-7).

These scriptures will be literally fulfilled when the One who sits at the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ, returns to the earth.

These three festivals, they all occur within a three-week period during the months of September to October every year: the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. But there is one more, and its meaning is the greatest of all hope for mankind.

Have you ever wondered about those who died never having accepted Jesus Christ as Savior? What about them? Is there hope? What does the Bible say about this group of people? The final biblical festival of the year explains.

But before we go there, let me once again offer you our free Bible study aid, God's Holy Day Plan - The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. This guide, along with our bi-monthly magazine, The Good News, will help you study deeper into this subject. We would be happy to sign you up for a free Good News subscription. You will receive helpful articles on prophecy, Christian living, and other material to help you in your biblical studies.

The Eighth Day: Jesus offers salvation to all

Following the Feast of Tabernacles is a final feast day (Leviticus 23:36). It is designated as an Eighth Day, distinct from the Feast of Tabernacles. Now this festival has a profound meaning in the plan of God. Many today worry about loved ones who died without receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. They worry about loved ones who died before they repented and were baptized in faith. Their concern is that after, their loved ones are lost, doomed forever in an ever-burning hell fire.

But God is a God of love. He will never allow any human being to be lost without first being given a fair opportunity to hear the gospel. He will even save those who have gone to their graves without the knowledge of God.

In the prophecy of Ezekiel 37, we read of a great resurrection of people who died without having understood God's great plan. In that prophecy it says: "I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army…" And they say... "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off" (Ezekiel 37:10-11). The prophet is seeing in vision, a resurrection.

But God's comforting words to them follow on. God says: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves...then you shall know that I am the LORD… I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it" (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

These verses, along with other biblical passages, tell us that there is a time coming when those who died without the full knowledge of God will be given their opportunity for salvation. They will finally recognize Christ for who He really is, our Lord and our Savior. Non-Christians who have lived their entire lives without ever hearing His name, they will be given the opportunity to both accept His sacrifice as payment for their sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Revelation tells us of a resurrection at the conclusion of the 1,000-year reign of Christ. These are called "the dead, small and great" (Revelation 20:12). They will stand before God and have the books of the Bible opened to their understanding. They will have the opportunity to confess belief in God and Christ and enter eternal life.

The meaning of this final festival is that there is a time yet coming in God's timetable in which those who have never had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be raised from their graves and given an opportunity to hear the truth.

Those who have never known the truth will someday come to know God and understand His great plan. The great meaning of this Eighth Day festival is this: Every human who has lived will have a chance to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).

The Holy Days of God give us an overview of God's great plan of salvation. The fulfillment of these days is dependent upon the One who became a man, who died for our sins and who now sits at the right hand of the Father. His name is Jesus Christ.