We call it Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday. The disciples called it Day of Firstfruits -- one of the festival days God commanded His people to observe. Read about it in Leviticus 23:9-14. In Hebrew it is "Yom HaBikkurim."
It was observed by waving the first sheaf of the spring harvest before the Lord, offering it to Him to express thanksgiving for all His provision of all their needs, acknowledging that everything comes from and belongs to God.
It showed their faith in God's providence and confidence that a full, rich harvest would follow, and their complete dependence on Him to supply their needs.
This ceremony always fell on "the day after the Sabbath" during Passover week.
(Many years ago farmers in this country often auctioned off their first bale of cotton, in an exciting celebration of what rich bounty was to come! That bale was the 'first fruit' of their labor and predicted what a plentiful harvest they would have!)
Paul described Jesus Christ as "the first fruits of them that slept" in 1 Corinthians 15:20. Just as first fruits anticipated the full harvest to come, the resurrection of Christ guarantees our resurrection and eternal live to come!
The resurrection was not a stand-alone miracle event, it was the culmination of a promise embedded in Jewish worship, a divine pattern established before and planned in advance in detail.
In Hebrew understanding, the first fruits weren't merely symbolic -- they were a sacred pledge that the complete harvest was assured.
A small sheaf of barley or wheat - the first fruit of a great harvest!
A crucified, risen Savior - the first fruit of God's eternal Kingdom - that includes us!
And now we listen for that trumpet call that will bring in His final harvest! Maranatha, Lord Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment