Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Firstfruits
"The LORD said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and say to them: "When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath."'" (Leviticus 23:9-11 NIV)
It is not very explicit when this should take place. However, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread take place in March-April. This is also the time of the first harvest of barley. Therefore, these three holidays--Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Firstfruits--are celebrated together. If that is the case, some light is shed on the week leading up to the Crucifixion.
"On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'" (Matthew 26:17)
"When the hour came [evening, when the Passover Lamb was eaten], Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table." (Luke 22:14)
"When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26)
"Just as he [Jesus] was speaking, Judas one of the Twelve, appeared." (Mark 14:43)
"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ... But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs." (John 19:31, 33)
"Early on the first day of the week [the 'day after the Sabbath' ?Lev 23:11?], while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance." (John 20:1)
I cannot find anyone to confirm this, but did Jesus arise on the Day of Firstfruits? This is a real question that I cannot find the answer.
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20)
It is not very explicit when this should take place. However, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread take place in March-April. This is also the time of the first harvest of barley. Therefore, these three holidays--Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Firstfruits--are celebrated together. If that is the case, some light is shed on the week leading up to the Crucifixion.
"On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'" (Matthew 26:17)
"When the hour came [evening, when the Passover Lamb was eaten], Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table." (Luke 22:14)
"When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26)
"Just as he [Jesus] was speaking, Judas one of the Twelve, appeared." (Mark 14:43)
"Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ... But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs." (John 19:31, 33)
"Early on the first day of the week [the 'day after the Sabbath' ?Lev 23:11?], while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance." (John 20:1)
I cannot find anyone to confirm this, but did Jesus arise on the Day of Firstfruits? This is a real question that I cannot find the answer.
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20)
# posted by Wesley Son of Cornelius @ 3:35 AM 
