The third feast occurs on the second day of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is called the "Feast of Firstfruits." Passover occurs on the fourteenth of Nisan; the first day of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread " occurs on the fifteenth; and "Firstfruits," according to Jewish reckoning, occurs on the sixteenth day of the Hebrew month, Nisan. The barley harvest - the first crop planted in the winter - is now, in the spring, beginning to ripen. The first sheaf (firstfruits) of the harvest is cut and, in a carefully prescribed and meticulous ceremony, presented to the Lord. The Lord's acceptance of the firstfruits is an "earnest," or pledge, on His part of a full harvest. As to the significance of the Feast of Firstfruits, as with the other feasts, there is no room for doubt or speculation.
In writing to the church of Corinth, the apostle Paul found it necessary to correct a major doctrinal error which was creeping into the assembly of believers. Some were being duped into believing the first century error known as "gnosticism." Among other things, this philosophy held that the material universe was inherently evil. Consequently, if men rose from the grave, according to gnosticism, the result would be an evil body. Because of this teaching, some within the Church were beginning to deny the concept of physical resurrection. They believed in the immorality of the soul, but not in the resurrection of the body.
The apostle Paul rushed to "nip the problem in the bud." He wrote to the Corinthian believers: 1Corinthians 15:12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
To reject the concept of physical resurrection was to reject the physical resurrection of Christ. Logically, you can't have the latter without the former. 1Corinthians 15:3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Corinthians 15:13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
By this teaching the end result was hopelessness and despair. Paul's triumphant response was, 1Corinthians 15:20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Paul had in mind the first sheaf (firstfruits) of the barley harvest (Leviticus 23:10). When God accepted the firstfruits, they became the earnest or guarantee that the rest of the crop would be harvested. In both the Old and New Testaments there were those who died and were raised again from the dead. In time however, they died again. Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the grave, never to die again. He alone is the "firstfriuts."
The Feast of Unleavened Bread indicated that His body would not decay in the grave.
The Feast of Firstfruits proclaims that death could not hold her Foe. "Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes."
Feast Days part 3