Christianity and Israel – More Links from Our Past

 

Christianity and Israel – More Links from Our Past

 

Some months ago I made a post on this blog titled: “Christianity and Israel – Linked From the Beginning”. Recently I’ve been prompted to continue that discussion, and I believe that prompt was significant in its timing. We are soon entering an important period of Israel’s religious observances.

One of my teachers had been discussing some aspects of Israel’s past. The initial subject was related to the events that took place following the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, in Chapters One and Two. You probably remember how the Lord’s disciples were gathered when suddenly they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues.  The timing of their coming together, along with many other members of the Nation of Israel, was to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Pentecost. My teacher made some related remarks, that led to this post focused on the Feasts of Israel.

I had not previously considered the Seven Major Feasts in the context of our study of Christianity.  I should have…but that’s why we continue to study. 😊

In the Jewish Torah (our Bible’s Book of Leviticus, Chapter 23), the LORD gave Moses the following instructions:

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.” (Verse Two)

As often as I had heard about the “Feasts of Israel”, I had not paid particular attention to the actual language of the Scripture.  When I finally did, it was clear that the LORD views these as HIS Feasts, not theirs. Looking at Pentecost and the other Major Feasts from that perspective placed a new light on the subject…our Lord Jesus.

When reviewing the LORD’s seven feasts described in Leviticus Chapter 23, it is not quickly apparent that they are divided into two groups…four in the Spring, and three in the Autumn. Those occurring in the Spring include Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. Those celebrated in the Fall include Rosh Hashana (Trumpets / New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Tabernacles / Booths. It is also not readily apparent how some of these Feasts relate to our Lord Jesus as we have come to know Him.

One of my sources has written on this topic, and I encourage you to read that article at: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jewish-feasts.html. We might or might not agree with all their statements of the significance of each of the Feasts, but they do provide a starting place for discussion. However, I’d like to move in a slightly different direction.

First, some comments regarding the LORD’s four Feasts held in the Spring.

As noted above, most Christians are probably familiar with the events leading up to and immediately following the suffering, Crucifixion, death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, the commercial focus on “Easter” frequently distracts from the sacrifices made by the Lord while these Feasts are being observed by Israel.

In presenting His instructions to Moses and Israel regarding the conduct of the “LORD’s Feasts”, the LORD was stressing the significance of how He liberated Israel from slavery in Egypt, how He would bring them into their Promised Land, and how He would deliver and celebrate their first harvest. Christians generally do not regard these events as being especially important to us.  But the Lord knew that in the future He would liberate both Jew and Gentile believers from their slavery to sinful lives and death sentences; He would gather us unto Himself and provide us many blessings; and He would celebrate our being with Him. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10: 9-13; Zechariah 10: 8; Matthew 24: 31; 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-2; Revelation 21: 3-7)

It is noteworthy that LORD placed the priority order of the Seven Feasts on those Spring Feasts related to the His sacrifices on our behalf. On the other hand, many Christians have placed a higher significance on the Lord Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem as they celebrate Christmas.

Regarding the LORD’s three Feasts held in the Autumn, His theme for the Nation of Israel seems to be “New Beginnings”. The Lord is instructing them to observe a “memorial of blowing trumpets, an holy convocation”. (Leviticus 23: 24).  We know this as “Rosh Hashana”, the start of the Jewish New Year, and it marks the beginning of a 10-day period of penitence for their sins / transgressions during the past year. Their prayers proclaim the Almighty God as King of the Universe, and request a new year of “peace, prosperity and blessing”.  (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4762/jewish/What-Is-Rosh-Hashanah.htm#Why )

The second LORD’s Feast of the Autumn observed by the Nation of Israel is called Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is Israel’s Highest Holy Day. It is a day of fasting and penitent prayer…and at its conclusion, the people are to have received the LORD’s forgiveness; and they will have been purified and “cleansed from all their sins before God.” (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/177886/jewish/What-Is-Yom-Kippur.htm )

The third of the LORD’s Feasts of the Autumn includes both the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Branches. The Tabernacle (meaning “tent”) was the temporary site where the LORD resided as He guided and protected the Nation during their sojourn through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. The Branches were a testament to the variety of trees that the LORD made available to Israel when they would enter the Promised Land. This was another testimony to His capacity and willingness to provide for those who belong to Him.  Both Feasts remind us as Christians of the blessings our Lord Jesus continues to provide for us today.

When looking over these three LORD’s Feasts of the Autumn, I am again drawn to the theme of “New Beginnings”.  For members of the Nation of Israel, there is the yearly opportunity to be penitent and receive atonement in the eyes of the LORD for their sins over the past year.  They begin each year anew. 

While Israel has been blinded to the Lord’s having come as their Messiah (Romans 11: 7-11, 25), Christians  have faith that our permanent “New Beginning” was marked by three events related to our Lord Jesus Christ. The first was His taking the form of a man and being born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. The second was His going to the Cross to suffer and shed His blood to atone for our sins, followed by His Resurrection victory over death. (Hebrews Chapter Nine)  The third was His receiving us as members of His Body unto eternal life, and the provision of countless blessings during this Earthly journey.

Just as the LORD’s Spring Feasts correlate with the end of the Lord Jesus’ Earthly Ministry, I believe His Autumn Feasts correlate to the new beginning for Christians and mankind in general. He was the New Beginning for mankind, bringing “Light” into this world of darkness. (John 1: 1-9)  Through Him is the only true atonement for sin, and the way to eternal life. 

Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson