+DEV+ Messiah, our Firstfruits

Date: November 25, 2014 11:53 PM

Topic: +DEV+  Messiah, our Firstfruits

Messiah, our Firstfruits

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15:20

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 23:9-14; Deuteronomy 26:1-10

Just days after the Passover, God institutes the offering of firstfruits on His calendar of appointed times. Firstfruits was the first day after the sabbath following Passover. The offering was made in remembrance of Israel's bondage in Egypt, the Lord's deliverance from slavery, and their possession of "a land that flows with milk and honey." The Feast of Firstfruits was also a celebration of the firstfruits of the barley harvest, the first harvest celebration of the year for Israel. 

But like all of God's appointed times, what was given to the nation of Israel was only a temporary "picture" or a "shadow" which had a future fulfillment pointing to the permanent reality of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is called "the firstfruits." After His crucifixion and burial, He rose from the grave early Sunday morning, on the first day of the week and exactly on the Feast of Firstfruits. Crucified on Passover; raised on Firstfruits. God pre-ordained His appointed times for great things.

Insight: "According to the laws of legal evidence... there is more evidence for the... resurrection of Jesus than for just about any other event in history." (Dr. Simon Greenleaf)

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

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