[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 02/Jun/2024]
Martin’s article last week reminded me that the previous week had been about the Jewish Feast or Festival of Pentecost. I had been ill that day and not been at church to be reminded of that. That also made me think of an excellent article by Helen Ruffhead in which she told how a number of Jewish Festivals related to our Christian faith. At Pentecost when the Jews celebrated the revelation of God’s word to Moses, God revealed His Holy Spirit and the Christian church was born. So how do all these Jewish Feasts or Festivals have meaning for us as Christians?
The Feast of Passover – This celebrated the sacrifice of a lamb for each Jewish family to save them from death, and freedom from slavery to the Egyptians. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
The Feast of Firstfruits – The Jewish people celebrated the spring harvest of the firstfruits of the crops. For us Paul says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (died)” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
The Feast of Pentecost – This celebrates for the Jews God’s revelation of His word, but now His revelation for us is by His Spirit. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4).
Four months to the harvest time. Jesus says, “Four months more and then the harvest. I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35).
The Trumpets of the New Year – The trumpets are sounded for the Jewish New Year and the celebration of the harvest. “For the trumpet will sound, the dead (Christians) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15: 52). This harvest will be the completion of the Church age in which we are living.
The Day of Atonement – The Jewish people will repent of their rebellion against God. “They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.” (Zechariah 12:10). “And so all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26).
The Feast of Tabernacles – The final celebration of saved Jews and Christians living in God’s perfect kingdom. “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
The last direct involvement of God in this world up to the present time is the pouring out of His Spirit and the beginning of His Church on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. The Jewish Festivals foretell in chronological order how God has planned our forgiveness, a restored relationship with Him, and eternal life for us to glorify Him. So far, Jesus has died for us as the Passover Lamb, He has risen from death as the firstfruits of the harvest and poured out His Spirit to us as Christians at Pentecost. We are now living in the “four months” of the harvest period when people are being called to believe in Him as Saviour ready for the main harvest to come.
The next direct involvement of God in this world will be the celebration of that coming harvest. “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet him in the air. And so shall we be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
We don’t know when this will happen, but we should be ready.
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Last week’s reflection: The Importance of Patience by Martin Shorey
Contributed by Michael Goble; © Michael Goble