7 Feasts of the Lord - II

7 Feasts of the Lord - II

God's purpose for mankind

Are the feasts of the Lord in Biblical pattern fulfilled in Messiah's period? Yes! Lord Yeshua came as a suffering servant, thereby fulfill the meaning of Spring holidays. In His second coming, He will fulfill the meaning of Fall holidays too. Let us see, how it all happens!

The feast of the Lord are the prophetic picture of the different aspect of ministry of the Messiah right up to the marriage supper of the Lord. Our God is neither late or early but does things on time. Throughout the Bible, we know that God is particular about times and seasons. He has revealed everything He does in purpose, to His servants, the prophets, but never the time of these events. It's applicable to the coming of the Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. 

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father"- Mark 13:32

Now we can find answers from the feasts celebrated and how they act as shadows for the fulfilment of prophecies. We are now going to study the feasts one by one. Here comes the Spring feasts of the Lord and how the first coming of the Lord fulfills all the 4 Spring feasts completely. As with all Biblical prophecies, it is not only fulfilled one time but it's also finished!

How can the blood of Yeshua HaMashiach can wash away all my sins? How can death on the cross some 2000 years ago, can purify me today? How can He died for my sins as my substitute? Many may have such questions lingering in their hearts. This is because of ignorance of God's purpose and plan. To find the answer for such questions, we should have a perfect knowledge about the laws given by God to His people.

The Feast of Passover

Looking into the first feast of the Lord- Pesach, will give you the knowledge about the salvation plan of God. The Hebrew word for Passover is Pesach, which begins during the full moon in the first month of the year, on the 14th day of Abib, which usually occurs in March or April in our calendar. Passover is called the Feast of Freedom, since it celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and memorialize the night at which the faithful were protected by the blood of the lamb.

This celebration goes back to the time of when Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, by his brothers. And Joseph rose up to be the greatest power in Egypt and he ended up bringing his father, Jacob and his brothers to start a new life in Egypt. The First Pharaoh loved the Israelites and then it said that a new Pharaoh arose up, who didn't know Joseph, begun to persecute the Israelites ruthlessly and enslave them. This ended up to 400 years of slavery that the Israelites multiplied into great number and became a nation of slaves. Finally, their cry rose up to God's ear and He said that He was going to set them free and sent Moses to confront Pharaoh, which ends up in the 10 plaques in Egypt. The gods of Egypt are judged. Every plaque- the blood in Nile, the frogs, the sun turning black, the hail were the judgement on these gods. The final plaque is killing of the first born of every creature in Egypt from animals to the people, even to the throne of Pharaoh that his son too died. And so such a great cry rose up in Egypt. Finally, they thrust Israelites out of their land. And we knew God won in this confrontation between the greatest dictator in the world and the God of Israel. So, this feast was celebrated as Israelites came out as free people. That's what make this feast something you tell every year after year!

In short, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob saw the oppression of His people in Egypt and heard their cry. He came down to deliberate the Israelites out of the hands of Egyptians to the land flowing with milk and honey. So, the Lord God called Moses, a shepherd, one year before the Israelites left Egypt on Abib 15. To deliberate His people, God sent 10 plaques in the land of Egypt.

During the Passover night, why did they ask this question- Why is this night different from all other night? Yeah, that's a central question in the Passover. The Lord wants to separate this particular night as an everlasting memory or memorial of what He did to bring His people out of slavery in Egypt. And He sent Moses to all the children of Israel and said that He didn't want this night as an ordinary one ever. And they don't eat the same food and won't even sit in their chair the same way they were reclining and laying back. So, every thing about this night is different as He wants it to be specially set apart!

According to the traditions, many historical events happened on Abib 14, they are - God made a covenant with Abraham regarding the promised land; Passover lamb slayed and preparation for Passover meal; Book of law found and reaffirmed to Josiah; Dedication of  the second temple; Yeshua HaMashiach died over the cross at 3pm as a lamb of God. So, let us see more about the Passover.

The Lord Himself instituted the Passover to the Israelites, so that they may be saved from the death of the first born. The original tradition is to select an unblemished lamb on Abib 10th and set it apart and slain it for Passover on Abib 14 at 3 o' clock.

So, why does the Passover begins at twilight, before the sunset? Well, actually all of the special feasts o f the Lord begins at sunset, that's the time in Genesis 1:5, it is said there was evening and morning and that was the first day. So, the Jews calendar always recognize the day beginning at twilight and that's the reason why Passover begins at twilight and because the Lord said pick a perfect young male lamb and guard it till the twilight of the 14th of Abib and kill the lamb and put the blood on the doorpost. And so the holiday also begins at twilight. Interestingly, this period of time allowed to each family to perfectly attach to their lamb so that it is no longer a lamb but their lamb.

On the afternoon of Abib 14, the lambs were sacrificed publicly by the whole assembly. Each family was to apply to daub the blood of their personal on their doorposts as a sign of their faith in the deliverance. Only those families that sacrificed their unblemished lamb- Pesach and smeared its blood up the doorpost of the house would be passed from the impending wrath from Heaven. For the destroyer was sent to slay the first born of Egypt. Later, at that night, within the sealed house, the lamb will be roasted over fire and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This sacred meal was to be commemorate all the feast of the Lord through out all the generations and retold during Passover Seders.