17/04/2026
Jesus the Firstfruit
The Feast of Unleavened Bread referred to the transformation of our lives by means of separation from the world and sin, whereas the Feast of Firstfruits refers to transformation in our lives by consecrating our lives and taking on the new man of God.
Lev 23:9-14
9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “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. 11 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. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
When the time arrived for the sheaves to be harvested at sunset, a large group of worshippers would sing, dance, play their instruments celebrating the goodness of God. After the sheaf was cut, they would praise God and bring the ears to the Temple where it was parched on a pan so each grain would be touched by the fire.The omer (the required amount of grain offering to the Lord) was then mixed with the oil and frankincense and waved before the Lord. The purpose of this special service was to consecrate the harvest to God. The firstfruit represented the whole harvest. God accepting the firstfruit means He was accepting the whole harvest. This act reminded the Israelites that the promised land and all of the harvest the Lord has given them, is rightfully His; and they are stewards of it.
Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits as His resurrection marked the beginning of the harvest of souls who have been set apart for God through Jesus. Jesus was the human sheaf that God set apart for the purpose of conquering death and providing eternal life for all who would acknowledge Him as Messiah, Lord and Saviour. He was therefore the first who would rise from the death never to die again. Jesus as the firstfruit is our representative. By presenting Himself, He consecrated the rest of us to Father.
Matt 28:1-6
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Ephesians1:6
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Romans 11:16
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
The Feast of Firstfruits teaches us about our future bodily resurrection in Jesus Christ but also about our spiritual resurrection. Put off the old man, but also take on the new man through yielding to the leading of Holy Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, the character of Jesus will be the dominant force and the fruit of the Spirit will be tangibly visible. We will not only have peace with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice, but will also live in the peace of God amidst life’s storms.
Ephesians 4:22-24
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 5:16; 22-23
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Excerpts/ideas taken from “Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts” Dr Richard Booker