Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Category: Devotional

  • Passover to Firstfruits

    One of the many incredible prophecies of Christ Jesus could be that of His death and resurrection. In Matthew 12:38, when challenged for a sign, Jesus stated, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

    In John 2:19, again being asked for a sign, Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). John explained that Jesus was talking about the temple of His body (John 2:21)

    The resurrection of Jesus after three days and three nights in the grave is clearly a central proof that He indeed was the Christ. Sadly, however, the modern church has diminished Christ Jesus’ declaration by insisting on a Friday death and burial, and a Sunday resurrection. This fascination with Sunday has no roots in the early church; rather, it’s a modern concept. Tracing its beginning almost always leads back to the time of Constantine. When politics and religion intermingle, there is always a risk. Christians should remember that Jesus Christ declared to the Jewish religious leaders, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36).

    It is indeed difficult to pinpoint the exact day Jesus was crucified. However, if He was to be the sacrificial lamb acceptable to God, He must have fulfilled Scripture. The slaying of the Passover lamb has always occurred on the 14th of Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. On the 15th of Nisan, that is always a special or high Sabbath (John 19:31; Leviticus 23:6-8). Christ’s body was hurriedly placed in the burial site before dusk, just before the special or high Sabbath, as no work can be done on a Sabbath (John 19:40-42).

    Since the 14th and 15th of Nisan can fall on different days, similar to how our birthdays shift each year due to the calendar cycle, the number of days between Passover and the Feast of Firstfruits will vary annually. Considering that Jesus Christ was fulfilling His prophecy of three days and three nights, these must be the exact days in between required to fulfill that prophecy.

    The Feast of Firstfruits, however, cannot occur on just any day; it always takes place on the first regular Sabbath following the High Sabbath or the 15th of Nisan. Yes, the resurrection of Jesus Christ did not occur on a Sunday but rather on a regular Sabbath. Refer to Leviticus 23:10-11:

    “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and harvest its crops, you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the (15th of Nisan) Sabbath, the priest shall wave it.’” Hence, Paul refers to Jesus Christ as the firstfruits in 1 Corinthians 15:23.

    As I have explained, during the Passover festival week, there would be two Sabbaths: the special or high Sabbath (15th of Nisan) and the regular Sabbath. Leviticus 23:10-11 refers to the day (or Sabbath) after the high or special Sabbath. How do I know this for sure? Because the following festival, the Feast of Weeks (commonly known as Pentecost), is counted starting from the day the wave offering of Firstfruits has been presented, which is the regular Sabbath. See Leviticus 23:15-16:

    “You shall count seven full weeks from the day (Sabbath) after the Sabbath (15th of Nisan), starting from the day (Sabbath) you brought the sheaf for the wave offering. You will count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.”

    Contrary to common Christian teachings and traditions, Pentecost always falls on a Sabbath, not a Sunday. This distinction is significant for Jewish people. As a result, many modern Christians’ emphasis on Sunday observance has led Jews to reject Jesus Christ and the Gospel, as they believe Jesus did not fulfill Scripture.

    So here lies the cause of confusion: modern Christians have been observing the traditions of men rather than adhering to Scripture. Don’t we Christians realize that the words of Jesus Christ, spoken against the Jewish religious leaders, are very much applicable to our discussion here? See Mark 7:6-8:

    “Jesus said, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ‘You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.’”

    Whenever Christians neglect Scripture and follow the traditions of men, we misread and misapply the Bible. To further prove my point, let’s look at New Testament accounts concerning the resurrection. See Mark 16:1-2:

    “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.”

    Mark referred to two Sabbaths in his narrative. Here, the first one is correctly translated into English as “Sabbath,” pointing to the special or high Sabbath. The second, which is translated as “first day of the week,” actually refers to the first regular weekly Sabbath. A quick check on an interlinear Bible would show both terms, “Sabbath” and “week,” were derive from the Greek word #4522, “sabbaton.”

    Mary Magdalene and the other women visited the empty tomb on the regular Sabbath, not on a Sunday. This misinterpretation may have arisen during the time of Constantine, as the Romans had an affinity for the Sun God, Sol Invictus. I encourage you to conduct your own research on this topic.

    Jesus Christ fulfilled three of the feasts outlined in Leviticus 23. As I mentioned in a previous post, these festivals served as rehearsals, anticipating the coming of the Messiah. This explains the excitement of the Jews when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey (John 12:12-15).

    The three festivals are the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (crucifixion), and the Feast of Firstfruits (resurrection). Please see Scripture for confirmation.

    Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

    Jesus Christ was the Passover lamb; through His sacrifice and offering, He made all who believe in Him righteous (unleavened) in God’s sight.

    Furthermore, Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15:23: “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ.”

    Without a doubt, Paul referred to Christ’s resurrection as the fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits, thus designating Jesus as the firstfruits.

    Before I conclude this discussion, I want to highlight what Luke’s Gospel reveals about the expectations of the Jews, particularly Jewish Christians. You can find this in Luke 24:13-27. In this account, the risen Lord Jesus Christ first listened to the conversation of two of His disciples before engaging with them. One of the disciples expressed their hopes by saying, “But we had hoped that He (Jesus) was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:21).

    Christ’s resurrection comes with the certainty that He would be buried for three days and three nights before rising from the dead. The Jewish religious leaders understood the significance of Jesus fulfilling His prophecy, which is why they placed guards outside the tomb to prevent any human intervention. You can find this account in Matthew 27:62-65. Ultimately, Jesus rose from the dead exactly as He had predicted—”on the third day.”

    The purpose of sharing this information is not to confuse or cause discord among Christians. Instead, it aims to educate, clarify, and explain the truths of Scripture, so that Christians may find unity in their faith. Also, it serves to affirm inerrancy of the New Testament Scripture.

    Many Christians may easily dismiss this discussion by saying, “Oh, it’s a small thing. The important thing is that I believe in Jesus.” However, we must remember that Christ Jesus warned us to be careful not to become a stumbling block for others in their faith. We live in an age where information is readily available, but both falsehoods and truths are prevalent on the internet. Those who evaluate, study, and scrutinize the Bible alongside Christian claims and practices often choose not to engage with Christianity due to inconsistencies in its teachings, claims, and practices.

    Each Christian is a defender of the faith. While being unable to explain God’s word is one issue, being part of the misrepresentation is another matter entirely. It’s essential to recognize that our belief in Christ Jesus comes with a responsibility to others. Jesus Christ and the apostles warned us about the consequences of causing others to stumble in their faith.

    The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s power for salvation (Romans 1:16). We Christians possess immense power. Isn’t it often said, “With great power comes great responsibility”? This is the story of Jesus Christ presented in the Gospels from the Feast of Passover to that of the Firstfruits. We know Jesus is the Christ because He fulfilled Scripture.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • Jesus Christ, the lamb of God

    Here are the details of Jesus Christ’s journey in the days leading up to Passover—the day He was crucified. This is from man’s perspective however, because God intended Him to be the acceptable sacrifice for redemption (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

    John 12:12 notes that the events took place the next day, six days before the Passover (as indicated in John 12:2). Both Matthew and Mark (Matthew 21:17 and Mark 11:11) mention that after that day’s events, Jesus returned to Bethany for the night. The following day, as He was on His way back to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:12-15). When He arrived at the temple, He overturned the tables of the money-changers and drove out those conducting business there. In the evening, they left the city and returned to Bethany (Mark 11:19). The next morning, they saw the fig tree that Jesus had cursed, and it had withered (Mark 11:19-21).

    In John 12:1, it states that six days before the Passover (the 14th of Nisan), Jesus arrived in Bethany on His way to Jerusalem, which would mean it was the 9th of Nisan. The triumphal entry of Jesus occurred the next day, which, according to Jewish timekeeping (as expressed in Genesis 1:5), begins in the evening and continues until dusk, before the next evening. Therefore, the triumphal entry took place on the morning of the 10th of Nisan. That same day, Jesus overturned the tables and drove out the money-changers.

    Mark later tells us, “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread” (Mark 14:1). From the 10th of Nisan to the 14th is four days, which aligns perfectly with the period required by the Mosaic Law for observing the sacrificial lamb, making sure it is without blemish (Exodus 12:3-6). The night Jesus was betrayed by Judas marked the end of this four-day observation. After Jesus was arrested Judas confessed he betrayed an innocent blood ( Matthew 27:3-4). Thus, Jesus was indeed sinless—the perfect and true sacrifice acceptable for redemption.

    During these four days of observation, the religious leaders also found no fault in Him. Instead, they resorted to trickery, schemes, and fabricated charges to condemn Him. This situation resembles that of Joseph, who was sold by his own brothers. In the end, Joseph said, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). In Genesis, Joseph served as a shadow or type of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, while Jesus is the fulfillment or anti-type.

    Jesus Christ clearly was doing God’s redemptive work by fulfilling the Leviticus 23 Jewish Festivals, a rehearsal preparing for the tabernable of God with His people. 

    Scripture declared: “These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:28-29)

    Jesus Christ declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Mat 5:17-18)

    Both the Old Testament and the New Testament align perfectly, telling the story of God’s redemptive history. This is evidence of the inerrancy of the Bible, encompassing both Testaments.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • Get Your Head in the Game

    This morning, we emphasized the importance of being like Mary, not Martha, and denouncing the treachery of Judas.

    Judas was a constant companion of Christ, together with the eleven apostles. In contrast, Mary would only be able to hear Jesus when He was at Bethany. While Jesus taught both the apostles and Mary, Mary had the right attitude and focused on His teachings whenever possible. She absorbed His words deeply (Luke 10:39). Could Mary have understood that Jesus’ discussion of His death referred to His fulfillment of the Jewish Passover? (Read Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44; Luke 18:31-34; Luke 24:26; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31-32; Mark 10:33-34; 1 Corinthians 5:7) Was that the reason behind her act of anointing His feet and wiping them with her own hair? Bear in mind, Scripture’s context has it days before the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus responded to Mary’s devotion by saying, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.” 

    Scripture recounts Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet with a pound of expensive ointment. While the ointment undoubtedly cost a significant amount, it held no financial value for Mary, as she perceived Jesus as far more precious. In contrast, Judas, despite being a constant companion of Jesus Christ, failed to recognize His worth. He prioritized the monetary value of the expensive ointment over Jesus. Christians should reflect on their priorities and ensure that they align with God’s will. In other words, “Get your head in the game”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 emphasizes that there is a time for every human activity under heaven. However, amidst the constant busyness of life, we often find ourselves preoccupied with trivial matters. In fact, Jesus Himself even admonished, stating, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).

    To clarify, Christ Jesus is not teaching us to despise our loved ones; rather, He was emphasizing the importance of loving Him above all else. Keep in mind that the passage was in the context of Christ Jesus sending out His apostles to proclaim the Gospel. So, Christ Jesus is actually teaching us that nothing should hinder or distract us from sharing God’s Word. Similarly, if we truly care for our loved ones, we ought to let them know God’s Word, not compromising ourselves in the hope of getting their favor. Ultimately, Ecclesiastes concludes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

    Know that Jesus Christ is far more precious than any material thing or other pursuit in this world. Even our loved ones would perish if they were not in Christ Jesus. As mentioned in Psalms 37:4-5, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalms 37:4-5).

    Incidentally, Psalm 37:5 was the passage inscribed on the penholder my son gifted me. Perhaps I can say my son, guided by God’s Word, led me to Christ Jesus, even after his passing. I, too, was once consumed by life until God intervened through the death of my only son, allowing me to hear His Word.

    Do you yearn for your loved ones to embrace the faith of Christ? Paul admonished us to emulate his example, as he follows Christ’s (1 Corinthians 11:1). What did Christ exemplify for Paul to follow? Jesus Christ remained steadfast and exclusively spoke and obeyed God’s Word.

    We can only encourage people to enjoy basketball if they also understand the rules. Likewise, we cannot expect them to follow along if you’re too busy playing a completely different game with them altogether. So follow Jesus Christ and His Word, trust Him. Perhaps, by His grace, our loved ones would also find Christ and His Word.

    So, Paul admonished, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes fairly and according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Life itself is a competition, but anyone who hopes to be in Christ Jesus must compete in His rule—that is, in His Word.

    For reference, our passage this morning starts at John 11:55 and continues until 12:8.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!