What Holidays Did Jesus Celebrate

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Festivals Jesus Celebrated

My parents were young and raising two small boys at the time, my brother and me, when they learned about the annual holy days of the Bible. That was a little more than 60 years ago. They had grown up attending a mainstream Christian church and, like the majority of the population, had been observing Christmas and Easter for many years. The fact that they were celebrating the two most important religious holidays in their lives made them completely unaware that what they were doing might not be exactly what God expected.

(For more information, see our booklet The Sabbath: A Neglected Gift From God.) After that, they came to the conclusion that they needed to be baptized.

Never heard of them

Following the church service, they met with one of the pastors to discuss the possibility of becoming baptized. In order to determine whether or not they were ready for baptism, the minister inquired as to whether or not they were aware of the seventh-day Sabbath and whether or not they observed it. “Yes” and “most of the time,” they responded. When Dad recognized that he needed to completely observe the Sabbath every Saturday, he made a vow to himself that he would do so regardless of what happened in his professional life.

  • They discovered that, in addition to the weekly Sabbath, there were also yearly Sabbaths, and that one of them, Pentecost, would take place the next day, which was a surprise to them.
  • They were not taught about these festivals by the church they had previously attended, and they had no notion that God had meant for them to be honored in this manner.
  • “You must stay for the Feast of the Holy Spirit.” My parents were intrigued by this finding and stayed for the services.
  • As a result, my parents attended their first festival of God the day after they were baptized, which was a day after my baptism.

Profound benefits

My parents had no idea how far-reaching their decision would turn out to be at the time. Over time, though, they discovered that participating in God’s annual festivals provided answers to some of the most pressing issues of all. The festivals demonstrated how God interacts with people, what He expects of them, and what He has in store for those who follow His laws. As a result of choosing to observe God’s yearly holy days instead of Christmas and Easter, my parents have shared with us that they have developed a far deeper connection with God and gained a more complete knowledge of the meaning of their life.

In the process of learning about the beauty and depth of God’s annual holy days, we learnt about ourselves. As a result of this blessing, none of us will ever return to the traditional celebrations of Christmas and Easter.

Are you ready for a holy day upgrade?

Beginning a new year is a time when many individuals take stock of their lives and make resolves to better their health, their financial management, their pleasure of life, and their interpersonal connections with family and friends. These are commendable goals to set for oneself. It has become difficult for people to remember a magnificent sequence of holy days established by God to serve as a reminder to us all year long of His purpose to bring redemption to each and every one of us and all of mankind.

In the new year, are you ready to make strides in improving your connection with God?

Does it matter?

Perhaps you’re asking why we claim that Christmas and Easter are not taught in the Bible, and, if we’re correct, how they came to be accepted as part of mainstream Christian tradition. Even more, you may be questioning whether it makes a difference which days you adhere to in the first place. The fundamentals are as follows: When it comes to religious holidays, the majority of individuals who identify as Christians today do not observe the days that Jesus observed. To the contrary, they have accepted the long-standing decision of Christian authorities to abandon the days of worship that Jesus and the first-century Christians observed in favor of pagan holidays such as Christmas and Easter, which were rebranded with Christian meaning centuries after Christ’s death.

The consequences of these judgments were devastating, despite the fact that this rationale appeared to be sound to those who made the decisions.

I hope you will understand what I mean.

It has become difficult for people to remember a magnificent sequence of holy days established by God to serve as a reminder to us all year long of His purpose to bring redemption to each and every one of us and all of mankind.

God’s festivals

Because the festivals of God and their profound meanings are still documented in the Bible, it is fortunate for us that there are many people all around the globe who have discovered them and are willing to observe them. Here is a high-level summary of seven well planned days, which grow in spiritual significance as they go one after the other. Passover: This holiday was commemorated by Jesus and the apostles on the evening before His crucifixion, and it continues to serve as a reminder of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins to this day.

  • Seven-day celebration commemorating the first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread.
  • Christians mark these days by removing leavening from their houses, which is a symbol of sin, to remind people of Christ’s message that we must remove sin from our life in order to satisfy God (15 and declaring, “The hour has come, and the kingdom of God is at hand.
  • New King James Version (NKJV)The Holy Bible, New King James Version 1982 by Thomas Nelson”>Mark 1:15).
  • As we obey God’s good and beneficial commandments, the Holy Spirit empowers us to accept the gift of eternal life, which is only possible via God’s grace and mercy through the Holy Spirit.
  • Jesus’ return to the world, the resurrection and transformation of devoted believers into spiritual beings, as well as Christ’s forcible takeover of the nations to build the Kingdom of God on this planet, are all celebrated on this holy day.
  • People who have survived the turbulent events leading up to Christ’s return will find it simpler to comprehend and choose God’s way of life now that Satan has been chained.
  • It takes place over the course of seven days and represents the millennial rule of Christ on earth.
  • Throughout the world, as the benefits of Christ’s reign become more apparent, all people will be given the option to respond to God’s call while also experiencing worldwide peace and prosperity.
  • Before Christ’s return, those who lived and died previous to Christ’s return and who did not comprehend God’s way of life would be raised back to physical life so that they might have a complete opportunity to learn about God’s plan and react to it.

Are you looking for the church that is behind Life, Hope, and Truth? See our “Who We Are” page for more information.

A promised blessing

Fortunately for us, the festivals of God and their deep meanings are still documented in the Bible, and there are many people all over the globe who have found and are observing these celebrations of God. Here is a high-level summary of seven well planned days, which grow in spiritual significance as they go one after the next. It was on the evening before Jesus’ crucifixion that He and His apostles commemorated this feast, and it continues to serve as a reminder of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins.

  1. During the Seven Days of Unleavened Bread, there are two holy days on the first and seventh days, making this a seven-day feast.
  2. Make a repentant decision and put your faith in the gospel.” The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is referred to as Mark 1:15).
  3. As we obey God’s good and beneficial commandments, the Holy Spirit empowers us to accept the gift of eternal life, which is only possible via God’s grace and power through the Holy Spirit.
  4. Observance of this holy day commemorates Christ’s return to earth, the resurrection and transformation of loyal believers into spirits, and Christ’s conquest of the nations in order to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
  5. People who have survived the turbulent events leading up to Christ’s return will have an easier time understanding and choosing God’s way of life now that Satan has been chained.
  6. It is a seven-day celebration that represents Christ’s millennial rule on earth.
  7. Throughout the globe, as the benefits of Christ’s reign become more apparent, all people will be given the chance to respond to God’s invitation, resulting in worldwide peace and prosperity for everyone.
  8. Before Christ’s return, those who lived and died previous to Christ’s return and who did not comprehend God’s way of life will be raised back to physical life so that they will have a complete opportunity to learn about God’s plan and react to it.

Look no farther than Life, Hope, and Truth to find the church that is behind it all. You may find out more about us on the page “Who We Are.”

Sidebar: Misunderstandings About God’s Festivals

Some people are under the impression that the festivals specified in Leviticus 23 were just for Jewish people and that they were only a component of the sacrificial system. This is incorrect. While it is true that sacrifices were made on these days, we must remember that sacrifices were made on a daily basis throughout history. Furthermore, the New Testament demonstrates that Jesus and the early Christians continued to honor the biblical feast days, but with a Christian twist on their significance.

Far from being out of date, Paul stated that God’s festivals served as “a shadow of things to come” (16) and that they were not to be ignored.

As inspired by God, the prophet Zechariah predicted that the Feast of Tabernacles would continue to be observed after Christ’s return (16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations who came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, The Lord of hosts, and to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.) It will happen that whoever of the families on earth does not travel to Jerusalem to adore the King, the Lord of hosts will be cursed with a year of drought.

  1. 18 18 If the Egyptian family does not come up and enter the camp, they will not get rain, and they will be subjected to the plague that the Lord sends upon the countries that do not come up to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, which will last for seven days.
  2. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) was published in 1982 by Thomas Nelson and is known as the New King James Version (NKJV) “>Zechariah 14:16-19 (Zechariah 14:16-19).
  3. They aren’t out of date at all.
  4. And, ultimately, everyone will be looking at them with a critical eye.
  5. a little about the author

David Treybig

David Treybig is a spouse, father, and grandpa who lives in the United States. His wife, Teddi, and he have two adult children and seven grandkids between them. He is now serving as the pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association congregation in Austin, Texas. He has been in the pastoral ministry for more than 40 years, serving as a pastor in churches in six different states. More information can be found at Read on for more information.

Did Jesus celebrate the Jewish holidays?

In order to truly comprehend the person of Jesus, we must first and foremost recognize that he was a Jew in the first place. This signifies that not only was Jesus born into a Jewish family, but that his family was also a part of the Jewish people, a people who had the distinct trait of being aware of their particular relationship with the Creator of the universe. Religious observation was a necessary aspect of Jewish life, and religious observance in Jewish life meant that one observed God’s set hours.

  • There can be little question that Jesus, like any other Jewish individual living at the time of His death, must have observed all of the biblical festivals.
  • Because it is documented in the gospels, we may be certain that He was a member of the synagogue.
  • There’s also the story of Jesus curing a man when He was in the synagogue with His disciples.
  • Jesus celebrated Passover to the utmost extent possible, making certain that all parts of the festival were fulfilled and sent His followers ahead of time to prepare for the Passover supper.
  • In other words, the Jewish people’s observance of the biblical festivals constituted a distinctive characteristic and a commitment that distinguished them from the rest of the world.
  • More to the point, it is my fervent belief that the disciples, as well as the early church, continued to observe and celebrate the biblical festivals because they realized that these Holy Days were fulfilled in Jesus’ life and mission.

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The Last Supper with Jesus and His followers is well-known in Christian tradition — but it was also a significant dinner under a different set of circumstances. The Last Supper was, in reality, a dinner that took place during the Passover festival. When God instructed the Israelites to commemorate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, they were the first people in history to do so. As one of three festivals intended to gather the entire nation of Israel together to celebrate in Jerusalem, this was a time of celebration and thanksgiving to God for His rescue from oppression.

So why don’t Christians observe the Jewish holiday of Passover? After all, wasn’t it Jesus who observed it? We’ll have to travel all the way back to the beginning in order to get the answers.

Origins of Passover

The book of Exodus contains the history of how the Passover holiday came to be. The Hebrew people (soon to be known as Israelites) were enslaved in Egypt at the time of this event. When God sent Moses to the pharaoh, he instructed him to release God’s people from their captivity there. When the pharaoh refused, God unleashed a slew of 10 plagues on Egypt as punishment. In response to the tenth plague, the pharaoh eventually decided to let the people go. What was the tenth plague, exactly? Every firstborn in Egypt perished as a result of this catastrophe.

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God instructed His people to sacrifice a spotless lamb and use the blood of the animal to paint their doorposts and lintels in preparation for the tenth plague (Exodus 12:3-7).

In God’s words: “That same night, I will pass over Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both humans and animals, as well as bringing judgment on all of Egypt’s idols.” I am the LORD your God.

You will not be affected by any damaging epidemic when I hit Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).

What Is Passover?

Passover takes place between the 15th and 21st of the Jewish month of Nissan, which corresponds to March or April in our calendar. The Israelites were not allowed to consume anything that contained leaven during these seven days, in order to represent the hurry with which the Hebrews fled Egypt. According to God’s instructions, a typical Passover supper consists of fire-roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread, which is served with a wine sauce (Exodus 12:8). Once Israel had reached the Promised Land, they were to make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem to mark the Passover holiday.

Did Jesus Celebrate Passover?

Passover was celebrated by Jesus since he was a Jew. When Jesus was a child, Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem every year for Passover, as God had instructed (Luke 2:41), and as an adult, Jesus continued to travel to Jerusalem for Passover, and is recorded as having done so with His followers more than once (John 2:13). It was during Jesus’ celebration of Passover that he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, known as the Triumphal Entry. The Last Supper, which took place just before Jesus was caught and executed, was a Passover feast.

What Does the New Testament Say about Passover?

The early Christians were Jews, and as such, they continued to worship in synagogues and practice many of the traditions associated with Judaism. Though an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul appears to have maintained a tradition of Passover observance (Acts 18:21;Acts 20:6;1 Corinthians 5:7-8). The New Testament, on the other hand, is more concerned with Passover’s prophecy of Christ than it is with the festival itself: Get rid of the old yeast so that you may start over as a new unleavened batch — which is exactly what you are.

For this reason, let us celebrate the Festival with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth rather than with the old bread leavened with malice and evil as was customary previously.

Jesus is compared to the sacrificial lamb in the Bible. When God delivered the Hebrews from Egypt, it was an early foretaste of the eventual liberation of all Christians from sin that would follow.

Why Did We Stop Celebrating Passover?

As time passed, the church’s membership shifted from a majority of Jews to a majority of Gentiles. Because these Gentiles were mostly ignorant of Jewish culture, those aspects of Jewish life that were not particularly related to Christian teaching were frequently overlooked. As Christians, the church no longer had to abide by the laws of the Old Testament (Romans 7:4). Many of the practices that were linked with these laws were also eliminated as a result of these laws. Eventually, the celebration of Easter surpassed the commemoration of Passover in terms of popularity.

This was the year that Easter most formally superseded Passover, in my opinion.

As time went on, the great emphasis placed on salvation by grace alone, rather than through works, contributed to the creation of an environment that was unsuitable for the observance of Old Testament rites and ceremonies.

Should Christians Celebrate Passover?

As Christians, we are no longer obligated to follow the laws of the Old Testament (Romans 10:4). The observance of Old Testament feasts, on the other hand, is not prohibited by the New Testament. We must look to passages such as Colossians 2:16-17 for guidance in the end. Do not allow someone to condemn you based on your food or drink choices, or on your participation in a religious festival, New Moon celebration, or on a Sabbath day, among other things. These things were only a foreshadowing of what was to come; the actuality, on the other hand, is found in Christ.

  1. Everyone’s version of this will be somewhat different in some aspects.
  2. Getty Images Plus/vladi79 iStock/Getty Images Plus/vladi79 Alyssa Roat attended Taylor University, where she majored in literature, theology, and the Bible.
  3. Literary Agency, as the PR manager for Mountain Brook Ink, and as a freelance editor for Sherpa Editing Services, among other positions.
  4. More information about her may be found here, as well as on social media at @alyssawrote.

7 Feasts That Point to Christ

When I was a youngster, the white-washed walls of a doctor’s waiting room signaled just one thing: it was time to pick up a copy of the “Where’s Waldo?” book from the library. Forget about “Home and Garden” or “People” magazines; my eyes were anxiously searching for the well-known time-waster of attempting to locate Waldo in the midst of a jumbled throng of people. A same feeling may be had when sorting through the predictions and symbolisms of the Old Testament, as if one were playing a complex game of “Where’s Jesus?” The beauty of God’s Word, on the other hand, is that it frequently exposes a deeper truth if you know where to seek.

Understanding the Old Testament was essential for the Jews of his time in order to come to the realization that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah.

In addition, if you have heard the Good News of the New Testament and have accepted Jesus as your Savior, Old Testament prophesies and symbols give additional evidence and assurance that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.

1. Passover — Leviticus 23:4-8

This festival commemorates the last plague in Egypt, during which the angel of death “passed by” the children of Israel who had applied the blood of the lamb on their doors, according to tradition. In the threshold basin, the Israelites took a bundle of hyssop and dipped it into a basin of blood. As they were climbing, they placed it on the lintel and then touched the two sides of the frame (Exodus 12). Do you see what I’m talking about? The motion was from bottom to top and side to side, forming a cross.

The Lamb of God who wipes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, New Living Translation), he was referring to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

His death makes it possible for the judgment we deserve to be passed over us.

2. Unleavened Bread — Leviticus 23:6

This seven-day celebration begins the day after the commencement of the Passover holiday. The Israelites were in such a hurry to get out of Egypt that they didn’t have time to make leaven (yeast) for their bread. During this week, the Jews abstain from eating anything leavened in order to commemorate the trials they endured in Egypt and how God delivered them from slavery. In the Bible, leaven is frequently used to signify sin and decay. Once yeast is added to the dough, it becomes an inseparable component of the finished product; the same is true of sin’s influence on our life.

Only the Messiah, the spotless sacrifice without flaws, could provide a long-term solution to the problem.

When Jesus declares that he is the food of life in John 6:35, he does so with confidence.

3. First Fruits — Leviticus 23:10

The Feast of First Fruits is one of three Jewish harvest festivals held to express gratitude and praise to God for all that he has given us. Although they were unaware of it at the time, the children of Israel were commemorating what would turn out to be a very significant day in their history. To commemorate this occasion, the Passover lambs were slaughtered on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, with the first day of Passover falling on the 15th. The Feast of First Fruits was observed on the third day of Nisan, on the 16th of the month.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul refers to Jesus as the firstfruits of the dead, a reference to the resurrection of the dead.

In his blood, he represents the first crop of souls — which includes you — who will be raised to eternal life as a result of the new covenant established by Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20).

4. Feast of Weeks or Pentecost — Leviticus 23:16

This harvest festival is one of three Jewish harvest celebrations held to praise and respect God for all that he has given us. Without realizing it, the children of Israel were commemorating what would come to be known as a watershed moment in their history. The 14th day of Nisan was dedicated to Passover sacrifices, while the 15th day of Nisan was designated as the first day of Passover. First Fruits was celebrated on the third day of Nisan (16th of Nisan), which was the third day of the month of Nisan.

As the first fruits of the dead, according to 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is referred to as such.

5. Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus 23:24

Throughout a lovely proclamation, God instructs his people to take time to relax. In addition, all ordinary labor is forbidden during this time period, during which men and women deliver a food sacrifice to God. According to Leviticus 23:24, God tells his people to assemble and to celebrate the decree by blowing trumpets. Similarly, the sound of a trumpet is connected with the rapture, which is the time when Jesus will return to claim his wife (1 Corinthians 15:52). When he returns, there will be a wedding feast and other festivities to commemorate him.

(NLT).

6. Day of Atonement — Leviticus 16, 23:26-32

Making “atonement” is making reparation for wrongs that have been done. As a day of humiliation and repentance before God, it was an opportunity for the Jews to examine their hearts, consciences, and lives in order to bring them into compliance with his will. The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies during the observance, and animals were sacrificed as part of the ceremony. What the High Priest performed there could not provide more than a yearly payment for their crimes, so he was forced to leave.

Where has Jesus been slaughtered among these animals?

The scapegoat was to be burdened with all of Israel’s sins and then sent into the desert as a punishment.

With Jesus’ death on the cross, the requirement of the Day of Atonement was removed from the table – our debt has been satisfied!

7. Feast of Tabernacles or Booths — Leviticus 23:34

The Day of Atonement is always followed by a celebration. God’s provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40-year wandering in the desert is commemorated at the Feast of Tabernacles, during which people dwell in temporary buildings similar to those they used in the wilderness for seven days. The Lord himself was there with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple known as the tabernacle, and the feast commemorates his presence with us today as he tabernacles (dwells) with us as we journey through life.

  1. He placed himself in a temporary tabernacle – a human body — in order to live on this planet and give himself as a sacrifice to the people.
  2. So that there would be no more death or suffering, he has promised that he personally will wipe away every tear from our eyes when he arrives (Revelation 21:4).
  3. Wow, what an exciting day it will be!
  4. In this little view into these feasts, we see that his deliberate love for mankind has continued for ages, and that he has given us hints that foretell the beauty that is still to be revealed in the future.

A Place at the Table

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  • “Do you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah?” I recall being asked this question by my friends when I was a youngster, during the month of December. It appeared to be a serious and straightforward query. Perhaps this was due to the fact that half of my family (on my mother’s side) was Jewish and the other half (on my father’s side) was Catholic, and they were unsure which holiday I would observe. The reality is that I’ve been celebrating both holidays since I was a child of ten years old. The celebrations of Jesus and Hanukkah are not mutually exclusive. They are more interconnected than the majority of people believe. Pastor Raphael Giglio’s religious articles are available to read online. READ MORE: How to Contribute to the Needy Cases Fund Jesus was born into a Jewish family. He had a strong Jewish identity. For the sake of this discussion, I mean that he grew up in a regular 1st century Judean Hebrew family. He went to the genuine second temple and worshipped there. The Pharisee Nicodemus, who is mentioned in John 3:3 as being an established rabbi and teacher of the law, acknowledged him as such in the gospel of John chapter 3. When it came to Jewish holidays and feasts, Jesus was likewise a devout follower of the law. The Feast of Tabernacles was observed on the eighth day, as required by the Torah (Luke 2), and he was circumcised on the eighth day (John 7). He refers to the Passover meal as His “Last Supper” (Luke 22), and he even instructs his disciples to remain in Jerusalem for Shavuot (Pentecost) after he departs them (Acts 1). But what about the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah? Although it is not one of the great feasts mentioned in the Torah, and there are no allusions to it in the writings of the Prophets, it is still significant. In this feast of dedication, we remember the valiant Maccabeans who, more than 150 years before Jesus was born, reclaimed the temple from Antiochus Epiphanius after it had been taken and desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanius. We know from ancient records that the eight-day re-dedication requirement looked unachievable because there was only one day’s supply of oil for the temple menorah at the time. Tradition has it that God performed a miracle by allowing the oil to survive the entire eight days, ensuring that the dedication could be completed successfully. The name “Hanukkah” literally translates as “dedication,” and the festival of lights is observed each year as the Feast of Dedication or the Festival of Lights. In John chapter 10, Jesus made certain that he was in Jerusalem at Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication. He did not disregard it, nor did he ignore any of the other feasts that were specified. He who was referred to be “the Light of the World” would have taken great pleasure in the Festival of Lights, which he would have seen as a celebration of hope and justice in the face of the dark and widespread oppression that prevailed at the time. According to Him, they were “light of the world” and should not be hidden away but should instead be like a lamp stand (or menorah) and “let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). (Matthew 5). During this time of year, let us shine brightly in the midst of the gloom. When faced with all the wickedness, division, oppression, and injustice that exists in our world, it is critical that people who enjoy the lights of this season also become the lights of this season for those in our immediate surroundings who are badly in need of light in their darkness. Besides being the founder of North Shore Fellowship, Pastor Raphael Giglio is also a worship leader and a modern Christian music artist, having released many CDs to his credit. northshorenj.organdraphaelandaly.com.
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3 Feasts Jesus Didn’t Fulfill (and 4 He Did)

Who doesn’t like a good feast? God provided the people with feasts that they may partake in before him. God, in fact, commanded the Israelites to congregate in seven holy assemblies every year, each of which included feast days. They are described in Leviticus 23 as follows:

  1. After Passover (verse 5), there are the Feasts of Unleavened Bread (6-8), the Feast of First Fruits (9-14), the Feast of Weeks (15-22), the Feast of Trumpets (23-25), the Day of Atonement (26-32), and finally the Feast of Booths (33-43).

The congregation had assembled at the tabernacle (later, the temple). This series of festivals not only served to remind people of God’s amazing acts, but they also served to draw attention to something noteworthy about Jesus. In reality, on holy days, Jesus fulfilled the first four requirements!

What do I mean by “fulfilled”?

As the apostle Paul put it, thefestivals “are a shadow of things that were to come; thereality, on the other hand, may be found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17). In other words, the feasts and the events they honored foretold some aspect of Jesus’ future existence.

As a result, when he finished the work that the feasts had prophesied, Jesus fulfilled their meaning. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the four holy days that Jesus observed, followed by a look at the three that he did not observe—and why.

The Four Feasts Jesus Fulfilled

The Jewish religious calendar begins in the spring on Nisan 1, the month in which the Israelites escaped from Egypt, and ends in the fall on Rosh Hashanah (Exodus 12:1-2). The day in question is known as Rosh Chadesh Nisan. Two weeks later, the first three sacred meetings of the year will take place, all of which will overlap. In fact, they’re so closely connected that they’re sometimes referred to as a single entity by the name of the first: Passover (or Pesach).

For Detail Lovers

The Jewish calendar is lunar in nature, as opposed to the Gregorian calendar that is utilized by the majority of the world today. Thus, Nisan 1 falls on a different day in March or April each year, as a result of this. The majority of people believe that the Jewish new year is celebrated in the fall. Due to the fact that many Jews began celebrating the new year in the fall in the third century AD, this is the case (more on that later).

1) Passover:Pesach

Passover was celebrated on Nisan 14 (March 27, 2021 afternoon) to commemorate God’s rescue. God required Israelite households to sacrifice an alambeach year on Nisan 14, without breaking any of its bones, in order to fulfill this demand. This was the sacrifice for the Passover holiday. They ate the lamb with bitter herbs for dinner that night. This was the meal for the Passover holiday. Each year, a sacrifice and feast were held to remember how the Destroyer passed over dwellings that had been protected by lamb’s blood, allowing the residents to avoid death and instead begin their trek to the promised land.

For Detail Lovers

So, here’s what transpired. The Lord sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: “Let my people leave!” the Lord instructed Moses. This was due to the fact that the Egyptians had captured and enslaved the Israelites. In nine instances, Pharaoh refused, and in nine instances, the Lord sent plagues to prove to Pharaoh that he was more powerful than his own gods. Then the Lord declared the ninth plague: The Destroyer will arrive that night and slaughter all of Egypt’s firstborn males, he said. His instructions were to sacrifice a lamb and paint the blood of the lamb on the doorframe’s top and sides, as well as the door itself.

According to Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld, since the collapse of the temple in AD 70, no Passover lambs have been slaughtered in the Jewish community.

Jesus’s Feasts Fulfillment

On Thursday, Jesus and his followers celebrated the Passover Feast together. He was captured that night by Jewish authorities, and he was crucified the next day by the Romans. In order “to satisfy the Scripture” regarding the Passover lamb, soldiers did not break his legs at the same time they broke the legs of his companions who were crucified with him (John 19:33,36). “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been slaughtered,” according to the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:7). God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt so that they may go to the earthly promised land is honored by the celebration of Passover.

Just as the blood of the first Passover lambs saved the Jews from death, so Jesus’ blood saves the Jews from the second death (hell), providing them everlasting life. Giampietrino’s “The Last Supper” is a masterpiece (public domain)

For Detail Lovers

Because Jewish days began at dusk, Jesus was crucified on Nisan 15, the same day of the feast, which coincided with the Jewish calendar day of the feast. Consequently, when he distributed bread and wine to his apostles and declared, “This is my body” and “This is my blood of the covenant,” he established a link between the Passover feast and his own sacrifice on the cross (Matthew 26:26,28).

2) The Feast of Unleavened Bread:Chag HaMatzot

15th to 21st of Nisan (sunset March 27 to sunset April 3 or 4, 2021) God’s continuous rescue was commemorated with a week-long series of feasts during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Every year, just before the feasts began, Jewish households cleared their houses of all leaven and baked goods (Exodus 12:19). After that, they were not allowed to consume anything containing yeast for seven days. They also offered food offerings on a daily basis. They did not perform any labor on the first and last days of the week because they were attending sacred meetings at the temple.

Leaven was frequently associated with corruption and was thus prohibited from being used on the altar.

Jesus’s Feasts Fulfillment

Just as the bread served at the feast was free of yeast, so Jesus was free of corruption. Let us then celebrate the feast with unleavened bread of honesty and truth, rather than with old leaven, which is the leaven of malice and wickedness. Just as Jewish families cleansed yeast from their homes in ancient times, followers of Christ today purge sin from their lives. 1 Corinthians 5:8 (New International Version)

3) Feast of Firstfruits

On the Sunday following the Sabbath after Passover (April 4, 2021), the Sadducees will celebrate; the Pharisees will celebrate on Nisan 16. (March 29, 2021) Gustave Doré’s painting “The Angel and the Women at the Empty Tomb” is a masterpiece (public domain) The Feast of the Firstfruits commemorated the start of the grain harvest season on the first of September. This was due to the fact that the first sheaf of barley was a sign from God that he was about to reward his people with much more grain.

They were not allowed to consume any barley until they had completed this ceremony.

As a result, it served to remind families that their harvests were a gift from God and that there was more to come.

Jesus’s Feasts Fulfillment

Sadducees: the Sunday after the Sabbath after Passover (April 4, 2021); Pharisees: Nisan 16 (April 4, 2021). (March 29, 2021) By Gustave Doré, a painting entitled “The Angel and Women at the Empty Tomb” (public domain) Festival of Firstfruits commemorated the harvest of grain’s first fruits, which occurred on September 1. Why? Because God’s blessing on the first sheaf of barley signaled to his people that far more would be forthcoming. Because of this, Jews went to the temple and carried a grain of barley to wave before the Lord in thanksgiving for the next crop.

After they completed this ceremony, they were not allowed to consume barley again. Following their arrival in the promised land, the Hebrews began to observe this holy day. Consequently, it served to remind families that their harvests were a gift from God and that there would be more to come.

For Detail Lovers

The Sadducees observed the Feast of Firstfruits on the day following the Sabbath following Passover, which was the first day of the month of Nisan (always a Sunday). The celebration of Firstfruits took place on the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was observed by the Pharisees (Nisan 16). Following the Passover Sabbath in both AD 30 and AD 33, according to Harold W. Hoehner in Chronological Aspects of Christ’s Life, Nisan 16 fell on the Sunday following the same Sabbath in both AD 30 and AD 33.

Adobe Stock provided the images of loaves of bread.

4) Feast of Weeks (Pentecost):Shavuot

The Feast of Weeks was held seven weeks following the Feast of Firstfruits (Sadducees, May 23, 2021; Pharisees, May 17, 2021). It marked the conclusion of the wheat harvest. It was also referred to as Pentecost because it occurred 50 days after the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was first observed. Then, on this particular day, worshipers presented the Lord with two loaves of wheat bread that had been leavened.

For Detail Lovers

People provided provisions for the impoverished as part of their preparations for the event. With the passage of time, the festival came to include the commemoration of the delivering of the law at Sinai, which took place not long after the Israelites were expelled from Egypt. It is believed by most experts that Jesus was crucified around AD 30 or 33, which would place Pentecost on the same day of the year as the crucifixion, which is consistent with tradition.

Jesus’s Feasts Fulfillment

On this holy day, Jesus anointed his disciples with the Holy Spirit and sent them forth into the world (Acts 2:1-4). Just as the wheat harvest resulted in loaves of bread, the resurrection resulted in the establishment of the church. Just as the loaves included leaven, so does the church contain people who are not without flaws. By permission of The Arthur Szyk Society, “The Holiday Series: Rosh Hashana” by Arthur Szyk is reproduced here (www.szyk.org)

The Three Feasts Jesus Has Not Fulfilled

Three additional celebrations took place in the seventh month of the year, and their ultimate outcomes are still to be determined. Because Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come back and take you to myself, that where I am, you may also be” (John 14:3).

5) Feast of Trumpets:Rosh HaShanah

Tishri 1 is the first day of the month of Tishri (sunset September 6 to sunset September 7, 2021) The Feast of Trumpets is a celebration of God’s provision. Harvesters from all fields, including grape and citrus harvests, are summoned to assemble before Godin rest to offer thanks. From daylight to night, priests sounded their trumpets. This feast marked the beginning of a period of spiritual regeneration.

For Detail Lovers

Today, the festivities go for two days and include a celebration of the civil new year as well as the Jewish new year.

It is possible that this transformation occurred about the third century AD. According to Exodus 12:1-2, the Jewish year begins on Nisan 1, which continues to be the first day of the month of Nisan on the Hebrew holy calendar.

Jesus’s Future Feasts Fulfillment

Similar to how the trumpet was sounded to summon people to the temple after all harvests were completed, another trumpet will sound to summon those who have been separated from God during the earthly harvest of souls: For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, a voice from an angel, and the sound of God’s trumpet to call those who have been separated from God. And the first to rise will be those who have died in Christ. Once they have been carried up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, we who are still living and who are left will be caught up with them, and we will be with the Lord for the rest of our lives.

See also:  Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree When It Was Out Of Season

6) Day of Atonement:Yom Kippur

10th of Tishri (September 16) The Feast of Trumpets was immediately followed by the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day of the year for the Hebrews. This was not a feast, but rather a spiritual preparation for the feasts that were to come in the future. These actions were taken in preparation for the day, including the cessation of all labor and fasting, deprivation of comfort, and confession and repentance from sins. Meanwhile, the high priest offered sacrifices to purify the people and all of the sacred objects of the year’s accumulated filth of sin, which had accumulated over the year.

When he was finished, he placed his hands on the other’s head and confessed the people’s sins, after which he led the goat into the desert as a sign that their sins had been taken away.

Jesus’s Future Feasts Fulfillment

When Jesus came to earth for the first time, he died on the cross, thereby completing the job of the first goat. However, the Judgment will take place after his second coming, at which point he will eradicate all sin and its causes, thereby completing what the second goat predicted (Matthew 13:41; Revelation 20:10-15). That which was foreshadowed on the Day of Atonement shall be fully and ultimately realized.

7) Feast of Booths: Sukkot

15th through 22nd of Tishri (September 21-28, 2021) In the Jewish calendar, the Feast of Booths commemorates Israel’s journey to and arrival in the promised land. It was the last holiday of the year, and it brought with it another week of festivities. The people brought offerings of fruit and tree branches to the Lord in order to rejoice before him. Over the course of seven days, they stayed in improvised booths made out of branches. This was done to honor the Lord’s protection over the Hebrews as they went across the desert.

Tree branches and citron fruit used at the Feast of Booths are seen in the painting “Examining the Lulav” by Leopold Pilichowski (public domain).

For Detail Lovers

It was customary in Jesus’ day to perform water and light rites during the Feast of Booths (John 7-8).

An arrangement of palm fronds, myrtle, and willow (known as a lulav) was tied together and carried with citron fruit during the water ritual as part of the ceremonial processional.

Jesus’s Future Feasts Fulfillment

The same way that the Hebrews lived in temporary booths until they reached the earthly promised land, our souls also live in temporary shelters, which are our earthly bodies, as we journey to the new promised land. When Jesus returns, he will lift our bodies to the level of gorgeous, incorruptible beings. We shall deliver to him the fruit that has been produced in our lives by the Holy Spirit. Because the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be resurrected from the graves incorruptible, and we will be transformed.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:52–53 is a biblical passage.
  • The Lord God will take us to the new heavens and new earth when the time comes.
  • There will be no more death, no more grief, no more tears, and no more suffering.
  • We are on our way.

Related Posts

  • Listed below are three things that everyone should know about Jesus in the Old Testament. A Poem for Easter

Books You Might Like

These are affiliate links, which means that I make a little fee at no additional cost to you when you click on them.

  • Finding Jesus in the Old Testament is a fascinating process. by Pam Farrel and Karla Dornacher, with contributions from myself. Devotional research that is innovative
  • Allen P. Ross’s book, Holiness to the LORD: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, is available online. Exceptional commentary, complete with sermon outlines Jay Sklar’s Leviticus: An Introduction and Commentary is a valuable resource. A well-written commentary with an excellent beginning
  • Allen P. Ross’s book, Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation, is available online. An in-depth examination of how Old Testament worship should impact our contemporary lives
  • The book Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, written by Harold W. Hoehner, is available online. Although it involves some supposition, this is an interesting investigation of when events in Jesus’ life took place.

The Surprising Sayings of Jesus Christ: What Religious Days Did Jesus Observe?

The biblically mandated Passover feast was the very last activity that Jesus Christ engaged in with His apostles, only hours before He was killed on the cross. Since His birth, His has observed this occasion on a yearly basis (Luke 2:41). “He remarked to them, ‘With deep desireI have wished to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,'” as He and His 12 disciples sat down for their final Passover dinner together. (Luke 22:15; italics added to emphasize important points.) It is clear from His tremendous desire to participate in this Passover ceremony that He is deeply committed to commemorating it.

  1. In fact, as He emphasized to His followers that evening, He fully expects to commemorate it with them again when “it is completed in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16).
  2. Does that make any logical sense at all?
  3. They also have no understanding of why He thought they were essential.
  4. Should they, though?

Walking in Christ’s footsteps

“For I have set an example for you, that you should do as I have done to you,” Jesus said to those gathered with Him after introducing significant symbolism in that final Passover observance before His crucifixion. “If you know these things, you will be fortunate if you put them into practice” (John 13:15-17). This is a clear order to them to continue to observe “these things” (that is, the parts of the Passover ceremony) in the exact same manner as He had done with them previously in the previous verse.

Even the non-Jewish Christians in the Greek city of Corinth, according to the apostle Paul, are commanded to follow the example set by Jesus Christ on that fateful Passover evening.

Yes, Christ’s apostles believed and preached that we must follow in His footsteps and conduct our lives in the manner in which He lived. “He who claims to abide in Him needs himself to walk in the same manner that He walked,” said the apostle John in 1 John 2:2. (1 John 2:6).

Festivals in the biblical context

Among the religious holidays observed by Jesus and His followers during His physical lifetime were the weekly Sabbath day as well as a series of annual festivals, all of which were mandated by God directly to be kept by His people (see Leviticus 23). These days have been designated as holy convocations in the Scriptures, according to the Bible (Leviticus 23:2). In light of the fact that festivals are originally mentioned in the Old Testament, let us briefly examine Jesus’ stance toward those old writings.

  • He thought they were excellent.
  • The Hebrew Scriptures were the only “Bible” available to Jesus and the early Church, and they formed the basis of their faith.
  • The “Word of God” and the Old Testament Scriptures were one and the same thing in the eyes of Jesus.
  • “The Scripture cannot be broken,” he says further (John 10:35).
  • It is also stated, he says, that “Man shall not live by food alone, but by every word that emanates from the mouth of God.” 4:4 (Matthew 4:17).
  • Jesus expects people who would follow in His footsteps to both practice and teach the obvious instructions of God that are found in the Old Testament Scriptures, as outlined in the Gospel of Matthew.
  • However, there is no incompatibility between the two.
  • Consider, for example, the idea that the loss of blood as a sacrifice is required before sins may be forgiven in order to be pardoned.
  • A significant distinction is that, under the Old Testament administration system, animals were sacrificed as a substitute for the more perfect sacrifice that would be offered in the future—namely, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12).
  • We can only be rescued if we have been justified via Christ’s sacrificial blood (Romans 5:9).

Jesus and the Passover

Among the religious holidays observed by Jesus and His followers during His physical lifetime were the weekly Sabbath day and a series of yearly festivals, all of which were mandated by God (see Leviticus 23). As holy convocations in the Scriptures, these days have been biblically designated (Leviticus 23:2). Because the holidays are initially mentioned in the Old Testament, let us quickly discuss Jesus’ stance toward those old writings in this section. What did He think of them? He thought they were wonderful.

Until Jesus and the early Church had access to the whole Hebrew Scriptures, there was no “Bible.” Written years after His death on the cross, the New Testament is known as the “New Testament.” The “Word of God” and the Old Testament Scriptures were one and the same thing in Jesus’ eyes, according to the Bible.

“The Scriptures cannot be broken,” he says further (John 10:35).

Furthermore, he reminds out that “it is stated, ‘Man shall not live by food alone, but by every word that emanates from the mouth of God.” 4:4 (Matthew 4:17) He also declares emphatically that anybody who “breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches mankind to do likewise, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but anyone does and teaches them, he will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).

  • In order to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, individuals who choose to do so must both practice and teach the unambiguous mandates of God found in the Old Testament Scriptures.
  • Both are compatible with each other, though.
  • As an example, consider that the loss of blood in the form of a sacrifice is required in order for crimes to be forgiven.
  • There is a distinction in that animals were sacrificed under the Old Testament administration system in order to signify a better sacrifice that would be made in the future—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:12).

However, the requirement requiring the pouring of blood in order to be absolved of sins was not repealed or modified in any manner (Hebrews 9:22-26). We can only be rescued if we have been justified by Christ’s sacrificial blood (Romans 5:9).

The meaning of God’s sacred festivals

There is a strong connection between all of the sacred biblical festivals and each of the harvest seasons in the Holy Land. As a result, Jesus frequently compared what God was accomplishing through Him to a harvest. As an illustration, He stated: “My sustenance comes from carrying out the will of Him who sent Me and completing His work. Do you not say, “There are still four months until the harvest,” or something similar? Look, I’m telling you, raise your eyes and take a look at the fields, which are already white with the promise of harvest!

Another time, it was like this: “‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few,’ He explained to His disciples.

Each year, they serve as a divinely inspired reminder of Christ’s central role in securing redemption and salvation for all of humanity.

God’s master plan of salvation

When God ejected Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, He started to disclose portions of His plan for redemption. They had sinned because they had been influenced by the snake and succumbed to his influence. God spoke to the serpent, telling him, “I will set enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and the woman’s offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). Revelation 12:9 stated that a very unique descendant of Eve will one day crush the head of “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9), therefore ending Satan’s reign of terror over mankind.

The significance and use of some of these holidays may even be traced back to their origins in ancient Israel’s history.

As previously said, Paul made the following points: “Indeed, Christ, our Passover, was offered up as a sacrifice for us.

The Feast of Pentecost

It is undeniably a Christian event, as is the Feast of Pentecost, which falls between Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. According to Jewish tradition, the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments at the festival of Pentecost, which occurs in the spring. It was at this point that God established a covenant with them, and they were designated as the “congregation of God.” However, it would be via the gift of the Holy Spirit that a far more significant relationship would be created on a later Day of Pentecost.

And immediately there was a sound from heaven, like a great wind rushing through the house where they were seated, and it filled the entire house.

They were all infused with the Holy Spirit at the same time.” (See Acts 2:1-4.) Since Paul informs us that “if anybody does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His,” (Romans 8:9), there can be no doubt that this event marks a critical turning point in the history of all Christians throughout history.

And Paul made the observation that it was so (Acts 20:16;1 Corinthians 16:8).

All of them illustrate the major events that will take place during or following Christ’s return.

Seven trumpet blasts will sound to herald the beginning of the seven key events leading up to and including Christ’s second coming (Revelation 8-11).

(See Matthew 24:31 and 1 Corinthians 15:52 for examples.) How much more “Christian” might these celebrations be made to appear?

When Christ comes, He will not only observe the Feast of Tabernacles with His resurrected apostles, but He will also force all countries to observe the Feast of Tabernacles with Him as a result of His return (Zechariah 14:16).

If such is the case, shouldn’t all Christians today recognize the example that Christ has provided for them? “I must by any means keep this approaching feast,” Paul declared in Acts 18:21, and everyone may join him in declaring: “I must by any means keep this coming feast” (compareActs 20:16).

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