A friend recently asked me whether Christians should keep the feasts as found in the Bible?
The question perhaps might be rephrased, asking is there any value in Christians celebrating the “feasts of the Lord”? Let’s look at them briefly:
- Passover/Unleavened Bread symbolised Jesus sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world;
- Firstfruits Wave Sheaf Offering, the resurrection and ascention of Jesus to our Father;
- Feast of Weeks or Pentecost heralded the coming of the Holy Spirit;
- The Feast of Trumpets picture the return of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the saints;
- Atonement revisiting the power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice over sin;
- Tabernacles reminding us of Jesus sojourning/tenting among us as flesh, as well as of Christ’s one thousand year rule on earth,
- and finally, the Last Great Day picturing the second resurrection and final judgement of God.
These “shadows” or metaphors of what God is doing through time in Christ are without doubt of extraordinary value to followers of Jesus today. They are gifts He makes available to us that mark God’s appointments in time, “moeds” that can help intelligently flavour our walk with God today. I doubt whether the ancient Israelites really had any idea of what they were celebrating on those annual occasions – God simply commanded them to do it, saying “These are my appointed feasts.”
Within our community of believers, whether one eats meat or doesn’t, drinks wine or doesn’t, or celebrates at the feasts or doesn’t, we love each other and deeply care for each other so as not to offend – while at the same time never compromising on the pillars of our faith. Thus the body of Christ is strengthened by the grace and love we extend to each other.
See you at the “feasts of the Lord”.
John Klassek
