Day of Firstfruits (Yom haBikkurim)
When my kids realized that we were talking about First Fruits for school this week, they thought we were going to have a lot of fruit to eat! Then, I explained to them that the traditional thing to do on First Fruits was to have a wave offering. Puzzled faces stared back at me as I am sure they pictured either “the wave” that we do at sporting events or “waving” as we do when we greet or say good-bye to someone.
I read to them Matthew 27:52-53 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matt. 27:52-53) Of course, the older boys loved talking about how this must have looked like the beginnings of an ancient zombie apocalypse. Maybe we will talk about that at some other time…. sigh…
We continued our discussion with a reading from 1 Corinthians:
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Cor. 15:20-23)
What does this have to do with Yeshua? What does this have to do with Passover and Unleavened Bread? Well, Yeshua is the firstfruits of the harvest. He is the first to ripen in the sight of YHVH. Because of Him we are able to be counted among the harvest of YHVH.
Yeshua is the first-begotten of the Father (Heb. 1:6); the Firstborn of Creation (Col. 1:15-16); the first-begotten of the dead (Rev. 1:5) and is the Firstfruits of those who are to be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:20-23). Praise YHVH! And just as He is our Firstfruits, so “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created” (James 1:18).
1 Peter 1:3- Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who, according to His great mercy, has caused us to be born again to a living hope because of the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead.”
James 1:18- He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Revelation 14:4- These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
Our mission is this: to go into the world and preach the gospel to every living creature (Mark 16:15) and recognize that the fields are white for the harvest (John 4:35). We are co-workers in YHVH’s field (1 Corinthians 3:9).
