![]() ![]() Moses’ giving of the law on Sinai at the time of First Fruits was accompanied by fire from heaven. There are dramatic parallels between the biblical festival of Shavuot and the New Testament events that took place at the time of its celebration. But it is also instrumental in the founding of the church in the New Testament. As we’ll explore next, the Festival of First Fruits not only plays a key role in ancient Jewish history. In fact, First Fruits today is known primarily not as an agricultural festival but as the “birthday of the Torah (law)”. The giving of the law at Sinai has shaped Jewish identity, religious practice and culture for thousands of years since. This is perhaps the most significant event in the history of the Jewish people. First Fruits was the time of year when God gave the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses to the children of Israel. During First Fruits in Biblical times, Jews from other regions would travel to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate. In the Hebrew language, the First Fruits festival is known as Shavuot (Hebrew for Weeks), which takes place in the late spring. We too are saved by the blood of an innocent lamb – Jesus’ blood.Īnd Passover is followed closely in the calendar by another major holiday – and one of its names is First Fruits. It is no coincidence that Jesus’ death and resurrection took place on Passover. Passover commemorates the time the children of Israel were saved from death by the blood of an innocent lamb. Paul links First Fruits to Jesus’ resurrection, and by doing so implies that it would be of life-altering significance in world history. ![]() By using the term to describe Jesus, Paul is letting us know that God gave His best for us, He did not hold back. It is giving back from the best of what we have as a thank offering and declaration of faith. This is the first and perhaps most obvious meaning of First Fruits. As His first born, the Israelites were commanded to honor God by bringing “the best of the first-fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God” ( Exodus 23:19). In Exodus 4:22, God calls Israel his “ first born son”. Firsts are significant to God too – and First Fruits is a phrase loaded with biblical significance. We all remember significant firsts in our lives such as our first car, our first home, and our first date. ![]() ![]() First Fruits is a biblical festival celebrating the first harvest of crops and it is the second of three annual pilgrimage festivals.īut what does this ancient agricultural festival have to do with the resurrection of Jesus? On the day of the resurrection in Jerusalem, Jesus became what Paul describes in 1 st Corinthians as “the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep” ( 1 Corinthians 15:20). The case that the Garden Tomb is the authentic location of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus, is certainly very compelling, whilst not established beyond doubt.Īs I sit writing this article in my Jerusalem apartment, I could be barely a mile from the site of the resurrection! The place where everything changed and a new chapter of the relationship between God and humanity began. A short walk from the cliff to the south is an empty tomb, dating from the first century. On the North side of the garden, there is a cliff face with inset features, which give it a distinct appearance of a giant skull. Fruit trees and flowers grow year-round, lovingly tended by volunteers from around the world. On the outskirts of the old city walls in Jerusalem, close to where Solomon’s temple once stood, there is a beautiful garden. Thanks to Jesus’ resurrection, we can see the prophetic significance of the three main Jewish holidays. The Apostle Paul calls Jesus the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. ![]()
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