by Dr. James and Natalie Ricks
Jesus, The First of the Firstfruits
Jesus was resurrected as the embodiment of the first harvest of Israel. All the rituals in Israel at the Tabernacle were really all about the plan of God with Christ as the central figure. They foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The first ritual related to Pentecost was the waving of the wavesheaf offering. This represented presenting the first of the first fruits to God. Jesus is clearly the first of the smaller, earlier, first harvest of those born into God’s family and the Kingdom of God.
Leviticus 23:9-12, “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.
“He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
“And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD.’” (NKJV)
The early, smaller, spring-summer harvest could not be eaten by the people until it was presented in the form of a big wavesheaf to God at the Tabernacle. Christ, at His resurrection, was the first of all believers to be born into the family of God. He was the first of many brethren to be resurrected. The lamb represented Jesus.
John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Pentecost is really all about Jesus as the firstfruits. The Tabernacle design that Moses was given was a model of the real Throne of God in heaven. Therefore the high wavesheaf was acting out the role that Jesus would play when He presented Himself as the first born unto God after His resurrection.
John 20:16-17, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (KJV)
After Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven and presented himself as the firstfruits wavesheaf offering he returned and allowed the believers to touch him. He fulfilled the Tabernacle ritual perfectly as we would expect.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”
Believers who remain in Christ until death will follow Jesus as the smaller first harvest to God.
The Feast of Firstfruits is Commemorative and Prophetic
This celebration is prophetic in that it looks forward to the first of the firstfruits resurrection of Christ, as well as the smaller harvest of the first believers to be born into the family of God. Further it is also commemorative in that it was an opportunity for the worshipers of the true God to show appreciation for the early harvest and the Ten Commandments which were given at the first Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the most valuable gift to be given mankind. This festival gave the Israelites the chance to show gratitude to God for his provisions. In the case of future believers we not only show gratitude for physical food, but for spiritual food or bread. The spiritual food is the real gift that we celebrate at Pentecost.
John 6:44-51, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day…
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
“I am the bread of life.
“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
“This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
After Jesus’ resurrection He returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to His followers so they could really eat of Him. They could grow to become more like Him. Pentecost is the giving of the true spiritual food that powers our spiritual side.
John 6:32, “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”
Jesus provides us the true spiritual bread from heaven given on the first new covenant Pentecost.
Matthew 4:4, “But He answered and said, It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
If our real life is the spiritual life, we believers are growing into, not so much, our physical life powered by physical bread but our true Christian life.
Why Was Spiritual Power Given at Pentecost?
The disciples had to wait after given proof of Jesus’ resurrection for the real spiritual power. Why? Some say the Holy Days are done away. If that is God’s desire then why have his believers wait until the next Holy Day? Clearly God in the new covenant is fulfilling all things written in the OT. Christ was fulfilling the Pentecost model by giving the power and Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Acts 1:4, “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to WAIT for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me;’”
If God wanted to get away from Holy Days which he gave all Israel, not just the tribe of Judah, why have them wait the ten days for Pentecost. Clearly God is supporting His Holy Days with important events such as Jesus dying at the same time as the Passover lamb, and being the spiritual wavesheaf offering.
If the Holy Days were only for Jews then why does God require all gentiles to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the future (see Zach. 14:16). He told them they would receive power and it came on the Holy Day of Pentecost.
The Holy Days work together. All of the seven feasts must be kept by all the people because they show God’s full plan for humanity! They are celebrations and prophecies as well. All are needed for complete understanding and worship of the true God. Replacing them with compromised pagan rituals obscures the truth.
We see the sacrifice of Jesus to establish the new covenant (Passover), and the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower believers (Pentecost), while Fall Holy Days are about the return of Jesus to save the rest of mankind, those that are not a part of the first small harvest. The Fall Holy Days represent the large, final harvest of God.
Colossians 2:16-17, “Let none therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in matters of feasts or new moon, or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come; but the body ( is) of Christ.” (DBY)
The word “is” was added by the translator and makes the verse somewhat misleading. Paul is actually saying do not let pagan neighbors, with their worldly philosophies, judge you on your feasting. The body of Christ is the church.
We know from a number of other verses that the New Testament church kept the Holy Days. Note for instance I Corinthians 5:6-8. Paul does not contradict himself. Their pagan neighbors were involved in ascetic worship and philosophies. They resented the brethren feasting. Note the following.
Colossians 2:20-23 says, “If you died with the Messiah to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations; Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch?
“All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; They are commandments and doctrines of men.
“Although these had a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.”
All of God’s festivals are about feasting on food––both spiritual and physical food––with one exception.
Pentecost is About Empowering God’s Church
All the believers, both men and women, young and old, were given power on Pentecost. The first Pentecost in the new covenant era was also the birth date of the church. Note what Christ did for all 120 of his followers on that Holy Day.
Acts 2:1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
All of them were given the power to promote the gospel message with the gift of speaking many languages. All the special effects––the sound and the fire––attracted thousands of spectators. Many repented and were saved. Peter said it was again the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy.
Acts 2:16-18, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days,’ says God, ‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.’”
Pentecost is a true believer’s day to celebrate the spiritual gifts and food given by God to fulfill the mission.
