Elohim’s spring moadim (appointed times) are upon us! Details about all of His holy appointed times (spring and fall) can be found in Leviticus 23. They are all connected to His redemptive plan by what Yeshua (Jesus) did or will soon do. Yeshua kept them, as did His disciples and the earliest community of believers—the first century “Jesus Movement,” if you will call it that. The Way Council encourages each person who follows Yeshua to celebrate these appointed times in the fullness of His ministry and truth. Below is an outline of the spring appointed times and their connection to Messiah Yeshua. These are only brief summaries, and more thorough examinations can be found by searching the websites and pages of the ministries that we support and elsewhere online. Chag sameach! Happy holidays!
Pesach / Passover
The last plague upon Egypt was the death of the firstborn. The Hebrews were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts of their homes so that the angel of judgment would “pass over” their homes and spare the lives of their firstborns. The Hebrews were later instructed to commemorate this each year for all their generations. The Passover “Seder” each year recounts this story through a meal and a number of traditions celebrated with family and friends.
Yeshua was put to death on the cross/stake/tree in the lead up to Passover after He celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples. He is referred to as the Passover lamb whose blood redeems us from sin and death, just as the lamb’s blood spared the Hebrews from death and delivered them from Egypt. A flawless lamb was presented whose bones were not broken, just as Yeshua was found without sin and whose bones were not broken during the crucifixion.
Scripture: “You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19 (TLV)
Chag HaMatzot / Unleavened Bread
After the death of the Egyptian firstborns, the Hebrews left Egypt in haste and had to make bread without leaven since they did not have time for it to rise. The Hebrews were later instructed to eat unleavened bread for seven days in commemoration of this. Each year, homes are cleaned of all leavened goods and only unleavened goods are eaten for a week.
Leaven is symbolically likened to sin. As Yeshua was preparing to remove sin from the world, we are encouraged to remove sin from our lives—both from our homes as a physical reminder but also from our hearts as we are sanctified. The eating of unleavened bread for seven days is a time a reflection and purity.
Scripture: “Get rid of the old hametz, so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavened—for Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast not with old hametz, the hametz of malice and wickedness, but with unleavened bread—the matzah of sincerity and truth.” – 1 Cor. 5:7-8 (TLV)
Yom HaBikkurim / Firstfruits
This is the day the Hebrews were instructed to present the firstfruits of their spring harvest as an offering to Elohim. The offering was raised up and presented to Elohim. Setting apart the firstfruits as holy in turn makes the rest of the harvest holy.
Yeshua resurrected on Firstfruits and, thus, is the firstfruits from the dead. He was “raised up” and presented Himself as an offering to Elohim. The rest of us are now set apart as holy and will likewise be “raised up” in the Last Days.
Scripture: “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also has come through a Man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah will all be made alive.” – 1 Cor. 15:20-22 (TLV)
Shavuot / Weeks
Weeks occurs fifty days after Firstfruits and commemorates the day when the Hebrews arrived at Mt. Sinai. There, Elohim’s Spirit descended upon the people, He called them to be a holy people and He gave them the Torah (Law). The Hebrews were instructed to present a new grain offering and other offerings to Elohim in commemoration each year.
The Holy Spirit was given to the Jewish followers of Yeshua when they gathered in Jerusalem for Weeks (also called Pentecost). Elohim’s Spirit descended upon them and they were set apart and made holy.
Scripture: “When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh [Holy Spirit] and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.” Acts 2:1-4 (TLV)
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