Offering the 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.
The Festival of Weeks
“‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. (Leviticus 23:9-11; 15-16 NIV)
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV)
The Biblical Festival observance of ‘Counting the Omer’ or ‘S'firat HaOmer’ should be one of the more important festivals celebrated by both Jews and Gentiles. It can also be referred to as first fruits–HaBikkurim. Yom HaBikkurim in the Hebrew Scriptures is the 'Day of First Fruits' the same day that Jesus rose from the dead, the church celebrates this day as Resurrection Sunday. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the 'First Fruits from the dead.'
The Apostle Paul records that Christ has risen from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, … “Christ, the firstfruits, then when he comes again, those who belong to him will be made alive.”
Three times a year the Jews would present themselves at the Temple in Jerusalem, Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. The Passover celebration was an eight day celebration which also incorporated the day of firstfruits (Resurrection Sunday) and the beginning of counting the Omer (the harvest). A priest would meet a group of Jewish pilgrims at the entrance to the city of Jerusalem and lead them up to the Temple, as they carried their offerings of first fruits, the priest would lead a praise service with music, psalms and dance.
When they arrived at the Temple, the priest would then take the sheaves of barley, hold them up in the air and wave them in every direction, acknowledging God’s provision and sovereignty over the whole earth.
Today the modern observance in the synagogue consists primarily of prayers and blessings from the Siddur (Jewish prayer book). These help the people to reflect on the symbolism of the days of counting the barley harvest to the wheat harvest (Counting the Omer = Omer means harvest and relates to the grain/sheaf harvest) at Shavuot (Pentecost).
Shavuot means ‘weeks’ There are seven weeks from Passover to Shavuot – Pentecost is Greek for ‘fifty’ (50) days. The following traditional blessing is read every evening of the next forty-nine days: "Blessed are You O Lord God King of the universe who has set us apart by Your commandments and has commanded us concerning the counting of the sheaf. Ha-yom, yom echad l’omer." (Today is the first day of the sheaf). The next day would be the second day of the sheaf, then the third and so on until the forty-ninth day is reached. The fiftieth day is the next major biblical holy day of Shavuot (Pentecost).
The Wave Offering and the Resurrection of Christ are linked together by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
Passover speaks of our redemption, through Jesus death, burial and resurrection we are physically freed from slavery to sin, on Pentecost our ‘freedom’ is given purpose, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to go forth into all the nations proclaiming the Good News of Messiah. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared on at least 11 recorded occasions during the next 40 days before ascending into Heaven. These were the days of counting the Omer. During this time he instructed his disciples beginning with ‘breathing’ on them to receive the Holy Spirit saying: Shalom Eleichem – “Peace be unto you”(Shalom= peace, health & wellbeing, freedom from fear) John 20: 19-21
As the Jews continued to harvest the barley and count off the 7 weeks until Shavuot when the wheat harvest would begin, we find Jesus in the Galilee with his disciples expounding on the scriptures, teaching them, comforting them, commissioning them and reassuring them that all that had happened to Him was written about by the prophets of old and that He had come to fulfil those scriptures, that he was indeed the First Fruits of the Harvest. (John 21)
Shavuot means ‘weeks’ There are seven weeks from Passover to Shavuot – Pentecost is Greek for ‘fifty’ (50) days. The following traditional blessing is read every evening of the next forty-nine days: "Blessed are You O Lord God King of the universe who has set us apart by Your commandments and has commanded us concerning the counting of the sheaf. Ha-yom, yom echad l’omer." (Today is the first day of the sheaf). The next day would be the second day of the sheaf, then the third and so on until the forty-ninth day is reached. The fiftieth day is the next major biblical holy day of Shavuot (Pentecost).
The Wave Offering and the Resurrection of Christ are linked together by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
Passover speaks of our redemption, through Jesus death, burial and resurrection we are physically freed from slavery to sin, on Pentecost our ‘freedom’ is given purpose, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to go forth into all the nations proclaiming the Good News of Messiah. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared on at least 11 recorded occasions during the next 40 days before ascending into Heaven. These were the days of counting the Omer. During this time he instructed his disciples beginning with ‘breathing’ on them to receive the Holy Spirit saying: Shalom Eleichem – “Peace be unto you”(Shalom= peace, health & wellbeing, freedom from fear) John 20: 19-21
As the Jews continued to harvest the barley and count off the 7 weeks until Shavuot when the wheat harvest would begin, we find Jesus in the Galilee with his disciples expounding on the scriptures, teaching them, comforting them, commissioning them and reassuring them that all that had happened to Him was written about by the prophets of old and that He had come to fulfil those scriptures, that he was indeed the First Fruits of the Harvest. (John 21)
Imagine how the disciples were feeling, they had recently witnessed His crucifixion and burial with deep grief and fearfulness at what may now happen to them, His followers. Now he is with them physically after the resurrection and joy floods their hearts, their Redeemer, Messiah. The First Fruits of the Harvest – the First to rise from the dead! In John 21:25 we read that Jesus did many other things after His resurrection and that ‘the world wouldn't have room if every one of them were written down.’
Now He was preparing them to go out and spread the Good News of salvation. After His resurrection he had first appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.
He then appears to Cleopas and another disciple as they walked the 7 miles to Emmaus, they didn't recognise Him until he broke bread with them at a meal in Emmaus that evening. His next appearance was to the 11 disciples together with Cleopas and his companion in the ‘locked room’ in Jerusalem.
Now He was preparing them to go out and spread the Good News of salvation. After His resurrection he had first appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome.
He then appears to Cleopas and another disciple as they walked the 7 miles to Emmaus, they didn't recognise Him until he broke bread with them at a meal in Emmaus that evening. His next appearance was to the 11 disciples together with Cleopas and his companion in the ‘locked room’ in Jerusalem.
In Acts 1:1-11 we read about Jesus' appearances over the 40 days, and on one occasion whilst eating with them he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit”. Then again in Acts Chapter 2 we find them in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost the second of the Spring Festivals – Shavuot! The beginning of the Wheat Harvest and a time when all the Jews were gathering again this time to bring the sheaves of wheat and two round loaves of leavened bread to the Temple. This is also known as the birthday of the church!
Jesus appearances reported in the New Testament after His Resurrection:
Matthew 28:8-10
1 Corinthians 15:5-9; 9:1
Mark 16:9-20
Acts 1:1-11; 9:3-9; 10:9-16; 11:4-10; 22:6-11; 22:17-21; 26:12-18
Luke 24:13-50
Revelation 1:12-20
John 20-21
The disciples were in the locked room for “fear of the Jews”. At that time the priesthood was illegitimate having been appointed by Rome. Therefore these particular high priests were not filled with the Holy Spirit and although they carried out the priestly office and were leaders in the High Court of the Sanhedrin, it was, because they loved to be seen in public places appearing pious but in fact they were ‘whitewashed sepulchres.’ Chapter 23 of the book of Matthew describes the priests and leaders at this period of time.
The high priests Annas and Caiaphas are mentioned by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his work entitled Jewish Antiquities. He states that: "Annas, the son of Seth was installed as high priest by Quirinius. During this time, Herod Antipas and Philip were administering their tetrarchies . . . The third Caesar was Tiberius who appointed Valerius Gratus to succeed Rufus as procurator over the Jews.
Gratus removed Annas from the high priesthood and then appointed Joseph Caiaphas to the office. Gratus retired to Rome after being in Judea for eleven years. He was succeeded by Pontius Pilate." . . . "Herod Agrippa became king and the Emperor Claudius added Judea and Samaria to his rule as well as all lands formerly ruled by Herod the Great."
These high priests certainly didn't appear to have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, their ministry was ordained by Rome. Therefore they became the instruments to carry out the prophesied arrest, scourging and subsequent crucifixion of the Messiah in order to fulfil the prophecy which in turn would provide redemption for all who would repent and accept Jesus as their Saviour. Scripture tells us when they heard of Jesus resurrection they ‘bribed’ the soldiers to report they had fallen asleep on duty and the disciples had stolen his body – this story is still given credence today by those who would deny the resurrection! This is called Gnosticism in Greek and Paul warned against such teachings.
They were in effect the “Mafia” of the day and were concerned they would lose their authority and ‘perks’ if Jesus was allowed to continue His ministry. Increasingly He had exposed their hypocrisy and fraudulent dealings – it is recorded that they ‘owned’ the flocks the Jews bought the temple sacrifices from, it was their enterprises that Jesus exposed when he upturned the tables in the Temple declaring they had made the House of Prayer a ‘den of thieves’. (John 2:13-17).They feared an uprising as more and more people followed the Nazarene, so they had to remove and discredit him and even prophetically announced it was fitting for one to die for the people! Let’s look at John 11:47-53
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ….
“You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. (John 11:47-53 NIV)
Conclusion
It is amazing how a few historical details about first century Judaism can shed new light on the story of Jesus’ Passion and the founding of the early church. Rather than undermining the power of the story, seeing its context shows even greater ways that God used Jesus’ death and resurrection to accomplish his plan. And, we see that the Jewish people as a whole were not responsible for his execution, although, of course we all are to blame for Jesus’ death for our sins. From the beginning of history, God had planned to use the corruption of Jesus’ time to establish Jesus as King and High Priest of a kingdom that would have no end.
The theme of Shavuot (Pentecost) can be summed up by the word ‘revival’. Israel was called to praise God for the first fruits of the ground, knowing that these early fruits assured the latter harvest. This applies to the spiritual Kingdom of God. The first fruits of believers at Shavuot guarantees a revival in the latter-day spiritual harvest for Messiah. Now we can see why God included Shavuot in the three required festivals for every Jewish male. As Passover speaks of redemption, Pentecost speaks of revival. The message of Shavuot is one of great hope and joy. We look forward to the day when the Holy Spirit will be poured out on the house of David and they will all look in faith to the one who was pierced (Zechariah 12:10).
Jesus appearances reported in the New Testament after His Resurrection:
Matthew 28:8-10
1 Corinthians 15:5-9; 9:1
Mark 16:9-20
Acts 1:1-11; 9:3-9; 10:9-16; 11:4-10; 22:6-11; 22:17-21; 26:12-18
Luke 24:13-50
Revelation 1:12-20
John 20-21
The disciples were in the locked room for “fear of the Jews”. At that time the priesthood was illegitimate having been appointed by Rome. Therefore these particular high priests were not filled with the Holy Spirit and although they carried out the priestly office and were leaders in the High Court of the Sanhedrin, it was, because they loved to be seen in public places appearing pious but in fact they were ‘whitewashed sepulchres.’ Chapter 23 of the book of Matthew describes the priests and leaders at this period of time.
The high priests Annas and Caiaphas are mentioned by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his work entitled Jewish Antiquities. He states that: "Annas, the son of Seth was installed as high priest by Quirinius. During this time, Herod Antipas and Philip were administering their tetrarchies . . . The third Caesar was Tiberius who appointed Valerius Gratus to succeed Rufus as procurator over the Jews.
Gratus removed Annas from the high priesthood and then appointed Joseph Caiaphas to the office. Gratus retired to Rome after being in Judea for eleven years. He was succeeded by Pontius Pilate." . . . "Herod Agrippa became king and the Emperor Claudius added Judea and Samaria to his rule as well as all lands formerly ruled by Herod the Great."
These high priests certainly didn't appear to have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, their ministry was ordained by Rome. Therefore they became the instruments to carry out the prophesied arrest, scourging and subsequent crucifixion of the Messiah in order to fulfil the prophecy which in turn would provide redemption for all who would repent and accept Jesus as their Saviour. Scripture tells us when they heard of Jesus resurrection they ‘bribed’ the soldiers to report they had fallen asleep on duty and the disciples had stolen his body – this story is still given credence today by those who would deny the resurrection! This is called Gnosticism in Greek and Paul warned against such teachings.
They were in effect the “Mafia” of the day and were concerned they would lose their authority and ‘perks’ if Jesus was allowed to continue His ministry. Increasingly He had exposed their hypocrisy and fraudulent dealings – it is recorded that they ‘owned’ the flocks the Jews bought the temple sacrifices from, it was their enterprises that Jesus exposed when he upturned the tables in the Temple declaring they had made the House of Prayer a ‘den of thieves’. (John 2:13-17).They feared an uprising as more and more people followed the Nazarene, so they had to remove and discredit him and even prophetically announced it was fitting for one to die for the people! Let’s look at John 11:47-53
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ….
“You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. (John 11:47-53 NIV)
Conclusion
It is amazing how a few historical details about first century Judaism can shed new light on the story of Jesus’ Passion and the founding of the early church. Rather than undermining the power of the story, seeing its context shows even greater ways that God used Jesus’ death and resurrection to accomplish his plan. And, we see that the Jewish people as a whole were not responsible for his execution, although, of course we all are to blame for Jesus’ death for our sins. From the beginning of history, God had planned to use the corruption of Jesus’ time to establish Jesus as King and High Priest of a kingdom that would have no end.
The theme of Shavuot (Pentecost) can be summed up by the word ‘revival’. Israel was called to praise God for the first fruits of the ground, knowing that these early fruits assured the latter harvest. This applies to the spiritual Kingdom of God. The first fruits of believers at Shavuot guarantees a revival in the latter-day spiritual harvest for Messiah. Now we can see why God included Shavuot in the three required festivals for every Jewish male. As Passover speaks of redemption, Pentecost speaks of revival. The message of Shavuot is one of great hope and joy. We look forward to the day when the Holy Spirit will be poured out on the house of David and they will all look in faith to the one who was pierced (Zechariah 12:10).
For more in-depth information regarding Shavuot - Pentecost check out the Shavuot page under Biblical Festivals on this website. This will link the festival of Pentecost spoken of in the book of Acts, with the giving of the law to Moses at Sinai.