Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Passover is a meal that God commanded Israel to observe to remember that He freed them from Egypt.
Passover marks the first harvest of the year - the barley harvest.
It symbolizes renewal, purification, and a redemption back into God’s favor.
Passover prophetically pointed to the day when Jesus died for our sins, and through His sacrifice we are purified, renewed, and redeemed back into God’s favor.
It is immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in which no leaven is to be found in Israel for a whole week. And this week long feast symbolizes a life of spiritual purity.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the first of the three pilgrimage festivals. A pilgrimage festival requires all Israelites who are able to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to participate in ritual festivities. The three pilgrimage festivals were ordained to Israel in Exodus 23:14-19.
Because the meal of Passover marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the whole week is often referred to as Passover.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread symbolizes our new life of purity in Jesus.
Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the observance of Passover, but did not completely do away with it. Instead He renewed it as a command for us to remember Him, and all the things that He has done for us. And that is why we take communion - to remember what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.
But the cross is just the beginning of what Jesus has in store for us…
Feast of Weeks (Shavot) - and Pentecost
Seven weeks after passover, we have the Feast of Weeks - also known as Shavot. It starts with a wave offering of one omer of freshly harvested grain that is offered at Passover, then 49 days are counted, and Shavot is held on the 50th day.
It is the second of the three pilgrimage festivals.
Shavot marks the second harvest of the year - the wheat harvest.
It is believed to be the day that God gave Moses the Torah at Mt. Sinai - 7 weeks after Israel left Egypt.
Since it is believed to represent the time when God gave Israel the Torah, it symbolizes Spiritual impartation and awakening.
Shavot prophetically pointed to what we know as Pentecost (50 days after Easter) - the day when the apostles received the annointing of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus fulfilled the purpose of Shavot by fulfilling His promise to send the Holy Spirit to all who believe in Him.
By believing that Jesus paid the penatly for our sins, our hearts are opened to the impartation, presence, and operation of the Holy Spirit.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
The Feast of Tabernacles happens in the fall usually late Septermber to early October.
It is the third of the three pilgrimage festivals.
The Feast of Tabernacles marks the third harvest of the year - the harvest of fruit or crops.
It is a week long festival, and symbolizes Israel’s dependence on God’s will as they traveled through the wilderness.
It represents humility and community because people would often go out to live in tents for that week, which would remind them of the 40 years that Israel spent wandering in the wilderness.
Another key aspect of this festival is the welcoming of guests and extending hospitality.
This festival is thought to prophetically point to the time of Jesus’s second coming, when He will welcome us out of the wilderness of this world and invite us into His kingdom.
By being faithful to God, and faithfully surrendering to His will, and fiathfully enduring the wilderness of this life we have the hope of one day being with Him, in His Promised Land - His Heavenly Kingdom.
Prayer
I remember You, Lord, and everything you have done.
I thank You, Lord, for everything you are doing.
I look forward to You, Lord, for everything you are going to do.
I love You, Lord. Amen.