The Feasts of the Lord |
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Based on a Biblical pattern of worship and celebration, we encourage believers to explore the value of additional, annual worship occasions, that reflect new covenant teaching and practice:
More on Annual FestivalsMost of us innately love to celebrate, often looking forward to those special annual occasions among family, friends and community. Then, we’re often likely to fondly remember those “good times”. As the years come and go, so each brings with it an annual cycle of seasons and celebrations. This is especially true for the followers of Jesus, who find that their celebrations centre entirely on Him. This is what Jesus’ original disciples would have discovered afresh in the weeks following their Lord’s death and resurrection. The days following Jesus’ crucifixion were deeply painful for His followers. They believed that Jesus was the Messiah but within the context that He would deliver Israel into a great kingdom in their time. However their expectations appeared short lived, with their dreams shattered, when they saw Him dead on a Roman crucifixion stake. (In the sometimes brutality of human experience, they had apparently forgotten the times when Jesus predicted that he would rise three days later). We pick up the story when two of His disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a journey of several kilometres. On the way they meet a stranger, who enquires as to what they’re discussing. Incredibly, they ask him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have been happening there these last few days?” (Luke 24:18) The death of Jesus had been big news. The entire religious, social and judiciary system in Jerusalem had centred on this Jesus. Nonetheless, the now-resurrected Jesus’ sense of humour shows up when he asks, “What things?” (In fact, it is worthy to note here that Jesus is genuinely interested in His followers, even when we perhaps reflect bitter disappointment. At our greatest point of despair, God often interrupts our thoughts with a question). They briefly explain the recent events surrounding this Jesus, and during that walk to Emmaus, prior to them finally recognising Him, we read: “And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.” (Luke 24:27) Suddenly, the Old Testament scriptures as we know it, beginning in Genesis and travelling right through the various prophets, came alive with meaning. Everything they had lived and practised, and the stories they had been taught from childhood, from a Hebraic perspective took on a new light – and that light was Jesus. So, Abraham taking his only son of promise Isaac to Mt Moriah as an intended sacrifice foreshadowed the Father’s willingness to sacrifice His only Son Yeshua. The bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness again foreshadowed Jesus’ becoming sin and giving life to sinners who look to Him. The incident in the wilderness where Moses learned that you only strike the rock once, the rock in the wilderness that gave life giving water to the ancient Israelites, once again pointed to Jesus sacrifice – and the life-giving Spirit He promised. Jonah’s ordeal for three days and nights in the belly of the great fish again pointed to Jesus’ own burial for three days and nights. All the references throughout the writings of the prophets directly foretold so much about the coming Messiah – many times in surprising detail. Even the Psalms heralded Jesus’ exact agonised words on the cross: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me.” (Psalm 22:1) The conversation with Jesus along the road to Emmaus was a “join the dots” exercise for those two disciples – as well as for every modern day Bible student. The things that they had lived and practised took on completely new meanings – traditional harvest festivals became celebrations pointing to the Messiah. For example, a few days earlier they had eaten the Passover meal, with new focus on the symbols of bread and wine. Jesus was the bread of life, and in his blood was forgiveness. The old Passover had up until then involved the killing of a lamb – the disciples would have now understood the significance of the slain lamb of God and how it dealt with sin. The disciples would have also recalled Jesus’ earlier words: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves.” (John 6:53) Their celebration of Unleavened Bread no longer dealt with past historical events of freedom from slavery; as St. Paul, who articulateed the terms of the new covenant in no uncertain terms, later puts it, “Therefore let us keep the feast; not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8) The broken bread of Jesus’ body resounded with His earlier words of: “I am the bread of life.” The Firstfruits ceremony was no longer restricted to past themes of the first of the grain harvest; Jesus became the first of many brethren through the power of the resurrection. Likewise, when the disciples were gathered on Pentecost, Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit came as a powerful manifestation, and thus began the church era. Later, we read where Paul “was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost...” (Acts 20:16) This was another significant celebration to the early Christians. Trumpet blowing featured strongly in the ancient Israelite celebrations; any association with trumpets now focussed on the return of Jesus Christ, not as suffering saviour, but returning as “King of kings and Lord of lords”. St Paul wrote that at “...the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) John likewise notes a series of trumpet blasts prior to Jesus’ return: “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The power to rule over the world belongs now to our Lord and his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever!’” (Revelation 11:15) Today, many find value in the Feast of Trumpets celebration featuring songs and preaching that explores the second Advent, the return of Jesus Christ. Atonement likewise took on its fulfilled meaning again picturing Christ’s atoning sacrifice giving victory over the Devil and sin. (St. John, in the Book of Revelation records a future event where the evil one is dealt with. [Revelation 20:1-3]) Atonement also was part of Paul’s calendar, when Luke noted that: “We spent a long time there, until it became dangerous to continue the voyage, for by now the Fast was already past.” (Acts 27:9) Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles was well remembered by Jesus disciples when He spectacularly preached on the Last Great Day of worship, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37) The Incarnation, when God became one of us and entered our world as a baby boy, and God “tabernacling with us” are powerful themes throughout the scriptures. These scriptures attest to Christ dwelling in the lives of believers today. And the celebration of, for example, Jesus millennial rule on earth culminating in the resurrection of all people – of even things yet to occur – cannot be matched on any level. The eyes of those early disciples were opened as they listened to Jesus. Everything that had previous historical and Hebraic connections had now been transformed into the reality of the Messiah. This connection was so powerful, as Jesus conversed with them, that they afterwards said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) The meaning and intent behind the annual festivals (for example) were now no longer the exclusive domain of the Hebrews, but now the whole world would be preached repentance, forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. Interestingly, the new understanding of this ancient worship calendar depicting and celebrating Jesus and His Kingdom, is so powerful that its application within the terms of the new covenant simply can’t be ignored. Paul wrote, “that at the name of Jesus ‘every knee should bow’,” (Philippians 2:10) He is also recorded by Luke [as correctly translated in the KJV and MKJV and LITV] "And they asking him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent but took leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that is coming in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you, God willing. And he sailed from Ephesus." (Acts 18:20-21) The feasts of the Lord were an important and essential part of Paul's worship life. "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth. He was clearly asking his readers to make the effort to replicate his own actions, beliefs, words and traditions (see 1 Corinthians 11:2) as he followed Christ. [See also Vision article] Zechariah prophesied that one day all peoples would worship and celebrate on the Feast of Tabernacles – picturing and celebrating the Messiah in their midst. The prophet Isaiah also noted that, in the time-frame of the “new heavens and earth”: “And it will be, from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before Me, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:23) [The annual festivals, as outlined throughout the Bible, were calculated by the lunar calendar, hence the reference to “newmoon”]. Jesus noted, the Sabbath was made for man (and not only for the Hebrews). These annual celebrations point us to our Creator/Redeemer God in ways that some more popularly known orthodox traditional Christianised celebrations can barely address. Complementing our innate desire for community and celebration, these festivals express value in things that seem to matter and give colour in our relationship with God. They find origin in the scriptures, are fulfilled in Jesus Christ and are celebrated in the spirit of the new covenant. No less than gifts from above, they resonate with God’s own words spoken thousands of years ago, “The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim, holy convocations, even these are My appointed feasts.” (Leviticus 23:2) As each year gives way to the next, may we always, within the liberty afforded in the new covenant that centres on Jesus Christ, find value and enrichment during those special times when as a community of believers we come together before the Lord and rejoice because of His goodness, mercy and grace. By John Klassek
An excellent article on "The Feasts of the Lord" can be located at www.cesa.org.au (Christian Educational Services)
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