Men all around the world celebrate holidays. There is no nation in the world that doesn't have unique days of special celebration. Holidays are in memory of significant political events or sometimes they commemorate the birthdays of of national heroes, and others are designed to observe religious beliefs and superstitions. The world over, there are thousands of holidays observed annually.
God Almighty has only instituted seven holidays. It's not inappropriate for men to set their own special days, but they hold no importance compared to the holidays set by God. These seven holidays are discussed throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. However, there is only one place in the Word of God where all seven are listed in chronological order. That is the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus. These holidays are known as "the feasts of the Lord." This shows us these feasts are God's holidays - they belong to Him. The Hebrew word translated "feasts" means appointed times. The sequence and timing of these feasts have been carefully set in place by God himself. Each one being a part of a whole, bigger, story. These feasts are also called "holy convocations" meaning "holy purposes." Since these feasts are at appointed times for holy purposes they carry with them sacredness and solemnity.
The timing of these seven feasts are based on the Jewish lunar (moon) calendar of approximately 354-day years. Periodically (seven times every nineteen years), the modern Jewish calendar literally has a thirteenth month to make up for it's shorter year. If not, winter months would soon occur in the summer and summer months in the winter. This is the reason that these holidays don't fall on the same day on the Gregorian calendar (the one we use) each year.
The participation of the Gentiles in the blessings associated with the feasts God appointed for Israel should come as no surprise. It is consistent with God's unconditional covenant to the patriarch Abraham, the central provision of which is, Genesis 22:18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Jesus himself taught, John 4:22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Israel and the Church are distinct entities, with distinct promises. However, every blessing that the true Church now enjoys and every hope that we anticipate comes out of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants which God made with Israel. There is a close knit relationship between Israel and the Church. Therefore, it should not be thought that the Gentiles can not enter into the blessing that were accomplished through the Messiah and to which the feasts point.
There is no theme that man should give his attention to that is more important than the seven feasts of the Lord! These seven feasts depict the entire redemptive career of the Lord Jesus. Notice the repetitive use of the number seven in the Word of God. Seven is the Biblical number for perfection and completion. After creating the world, God rested on the seventh day. He did not rest due to being tired - omnipotence does not get tired, and God is omnipotent. Instead God rested in the sense of completion and satisfaction. What God had created was good and satisfying and nothing else was needed. So he rested on the seventh day.
The seven feasts of the Lord are his appointed times during which He will meet with men for holy purposes. When completed, the seven holidays will bring this age to a triumphant end and usher in the "Golden Age" to follow. During that age, Micah 4:4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. This idea isn't to suggest boredom or a lack of activity, but completion with satisfaction.
Four of the seven holidays occur in the spring of the year. The fulfillment of those feasts were completed with satisfaction. That is to say, the events that the four spring feasts of the Lord typify in the Hebrew Scriptures have been fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. One can look back and examine them. They are history. They occurred almost two thousand years ago. Their spiritual benefits, however, continue forward unto this present day.
The final three holidays occur in the fall of the year within a brief period in the Hebrew month of Tishri (September/October). As the first four holidays depict events associated with the Lords first coming, these final three holidays depict specific events associated with the Lords second coming. Although these events are still "hereafter" in terms of literal fulfillment. These final feasts form the basis for what the Bible calls the "blessed hope". Titus 2:13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The Spring Feasts
Feast of Passover
The first "feast of
the Lord" is "Passover" (Leviticus
23:5). It is the foundational feast. The six
feasts that follow are built upon it.
Passover occurs in the spring of the year, on the fourteenth day of the
Hebrew month, Nisan
(March/April).
In the same way that colleges have academic years and
businesses have fiscal years, the month in which Passover occurs begins the
religious year for Israel.
While The Jewish people have celebrated the Passover annually since the time of Moses, in reality, there was only one Passover. It occurred almost 3,500 years ago in Egypt. It was there, at that time, that a lamb was sacrificed and the blood was applied to each door post and lintel. When this was done in faith and in obedience to God's command, that home was "passed over," and the life of the firstborn was spared. All observances over the centuries have been memorials of that one and only first Passover.
In precisely the same way, there was only one occasion when the Lord's flesh was pierced and His blood spilled on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world, but the Lord's Supper is an ongoing memorial of that one momentous occasion.
Of the many words that could be used to describe what took place in Egypt 3,500 years ago, none fits better or is more comprehensive than the one word, redemption. The events were real, the miracles genuine - all wrought by the God of the Hebrews, who was greater than all of the gods of Egypt. A lowly crew of slaves was redeemed so they could worship and serve the true and living God. Such a redemption was not without cost. Blood had to be shed to secure their redemption.
All of those lambs sacrificed over in Egypt (one per household) pointed to the one true Lamb of God. John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Writing to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul noted for all of time that 1Corinthians 5:7.....For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
