How does observing biblical feasts today deepen our relationship with Christ? Scripture Foundation John 7:2 gives the setting: “But the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.” Jesus arranged His ministry around the calendar God set in Leviticus 23. If He honored that rhythm, lining our lives with the same appointments naturally brings us closer to Him. Why Feasts Still Matter • They are “statutes forever” (Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, 41). • They are “a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17). • They display the gospel in vivid, recurring pictures, anchoring doctrine in daily life. • They remind us that our faith is rooted in real history, real dates, real places. • They synchronize the global church—every believer meditating on the same facet of Christ at the same time. Each Feast Reveals Christ • Passover – Christ our Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). • Unleavened Bread – His sinless body in the tomb (Luke 23:53-56). • Firstfruits – His resurrection, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). • Weeks/Pentecost – Spirit poured out on the exact day grain was waved before God (Acts 2:1-4). • Trumpets – Foreshadows the shout and trumpet of His return (1 Thessalonians 4:16). • Day of Atonement – Looks to national Israel’s future cleansing and our present intercession (Romans 11:26-27; Hebrews 9:11-12). • Tabernacles – Pictures God dwelling with us; “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling [lit. tabernacled] among us” (John 1:14). Practical Ways Observance Deepens Relationship • Remembering – Annual reenactment cements salvation history in heart and home. • Anticipating – Prophetic feasts keep eyes lifted toward the next act of redemption. • Teaching – Children learn doctrine through taste, sound, and story, not lecture alone (Exodus 12:26-27). • Community – Shared meals and worship knit believers together, mirroring Acts 2:46. • Rhythms of Repentance and Joy – Ten Days of Awe before Atonement invite self-examination; Tabernacles invites unrestrained rejoicing (Deuteronomy 16:14-15). • Embodied Worship – Blowing a shofar, eating unleavened bread, or dwelling in a sukkah turns abstract truth into lived experience. • Witness – Celebrating biblical feasts sparks conversations that naturally lead to Christ. Connecting Feasts with Daily Walk • Read the appointed Scriptures on the actual feast day; let God set the agenda. • Host a Passover meal that centers on Jesus’ words, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). • Spend the week of Unleavened Bread clearing physical and spiritual “leaven.” • Mark Firstfruits by bringing a thank-offering to bless the needy. • On Pentecost, recount personal testimonies of the Spirit’s power. • During Trumpets, practice vocal worship and share the gospel—both are “trumpet blasts.” • Fast on the Day of Atonement, thanking the Lord for the finished work of His blood. • Camp out or eat outdoors under a simple shelter for Tabernacles; meditate on the promise, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men” (Revelation 21:3). Final Encouragement Leaning into God’s calendar is not about legalism; it is about alignment—meeting the Savior on the very days He chose to tell His story. As we honor these feasts, we trace the scarlet thread from Egypt to Calvary to the New Jerusalem and find our hearts burning within us, just as the disciples did when the risen Lord “explained to them what was written about Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). |
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