Did you ever read the “Where’s Waldo?” book. Many children eagerly sifted through the pages, searching for Waldo hidden within the chaos of a crowded scene.
Sorting through prophecies and symbolisms of the Old Testament can feel similar, like an intricate game of “Where’s Jesus?”
But the richness of God’s Word is that it often reveals a deeper truth if you know where to look.
Jesus often pointed to the “beginning” (Genesis), the Law of Moses (first five books) and the prophets (Jeremiah through Malachi) to reveal God’s plan for mankind and clues to recognize the Savior.
For the Jews of His time, understanding the Old Testament was key to discovering that Jesus is their promised Messiah.
And if you have heard the Good News from the New Testament and received Jesus as your Savior, Old Testament prophecies and symbolism provide further proof and assurance that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- Passover — Leviticus 23:4-8
This feast remembers the last plague in Egypt, when the angel of death “passed over” the children of Israel who applied the blood of the lamb to their doors. The Israelites took a bundle of hyssop and dipped it into the blood in the basin at the threshold.
Going up, they put it up on the lintel, then touched the two sides of the frame (Exodus 12). Can you see the imagery? Bottom to top, side to side: the motion formed a cross.
When John the Baptist said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NLT), he understood the Old Testament reference.
And in the New Testament we see that Jesus — born in a stable, visited by shepherds and led to the slaughter — is that Lamb sent for us. His death allows the judgment we deserve to pass over us.
When we accept Christ, we accept the loving gift of a second chance — because of His death on the cross, we have a clean slate!
2. Unleavened Bread — Leviticus 23:6
This seven-day feast begins on the day following the start of Passover. In the haste of the Israelites to leave Egypt, there was no time to add leaven (yeast) to their bread.
During this time, remembering the hardships in Egypt and how God freed them from captivity, the Jews eat nothing leavened.
Leaven often represents sin and decay in the Bible. Once incorporated, yeast becomes an inseparable part of the bread; the same is true for sin’s effect on our lives.
The Jews were constantly sacrificing unblemished animals to temporarily atone for sin. Only the Messiah, the perfect sinless sacrifice, could offer a permanent solution.
The unleavened bread represents Jesus’ sinless life; He is the only perfect sacrifice for our sins.
In John 6:35, Jesus boldly states that He is the Bread of Life. Not only does He remove our sins, He nourishes our souls!
That is the life-changing power of Jesus, the Bread of Life. Just as unleavened bread reminds us of Christ’s sinless sacrifice.
- Firstfruits — Leviticus 23:10
The Feast of Firstfruits is one of three Jewish harvest feasts to thank and honor God for all He provided. Although they didn’t know it at the time, the children of Israel were celebrating what would become a very important day.
The priests sacrificed Passover lambs on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, and the first day of Passover was the 15th. The Feast of Firstfruits was celebrated on the third day, the 16th of Nisan. This “third day” celebration was the same day that Jesus resurrected from the dead.
In 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul refers to Jesus as the firstfruits of the dead. He represents the first of the great harvest of souls — including you — that will resurrect to eternal life because of the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20).
- Feast of Weeks or Pentecost — Leviticus 23:16
This feast is the second of the three harvest feasts. It occurs exactly seven weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits, so it’s also called Pentecost which means “50 days.”
Traditionally, people were expected to bring the first harvest of grain to the Lord including two leavened loaves of bread.
God’s plan to save souls included more than the Jews. Through Jesus, this plan was revealed. In Matthew 9:37 Jesus tells His disciples that “the harvest is great, but the workers are few.”
Then He put the plan into place: In Acts 1:4 He tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.
That arrival was the day the Church was born — Pentecost — and the harvest began with 3,000 souls. The message spread to both Jews and Gentiles (the two leavened loaves of bread), extending the harvest to us!
Pentecost reminds us of God’s plan to reach every person and nation.
- Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus 23:24
In a beautiful declaration God commands His people to rest. During this time all regular work is prohibited, and men and women present a food offering to God.
In Leviticus 23:24 God commands His people to gather and to commemorate the decree with trumpet blasts.
On the same front, the sound of a trumpet is also associated with the rapture, or the time Jesus will return for His bride (1 Corinthians 15:52). Once He returns, there will be a wedding feast of celebration. Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb” (NLT). He’s preparing us to celebrate!
This scene of celebration reflects the promise of Revelation 19:9 — the ultimate wedding feast of the Lamb.
- Day of Atonement — Leviticus 16, 23:26-32
To make “atonement” is to make restitution for wrongs committed. As a day of humility and repentance to God, it was a time for the Jews to get their hearts, consciences and lives right before Him.
The observance involved the sacrifice of animals as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies. What the high priest did there couldn’t offer more than an annual payment for their sins.
However, hiding in plain sight was the promise of One who could atone for their sins permanently (Hebrews 9:12).
Where is Jesus in these sacrificed animals? The bull and one of the goats were an offering of thanks, but the “scapegoat” took on their sins (Leviticus 16:10). The scapegoat was to be burdened with all the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness.
The Jewish leaders condemned Jesus, and He — burdened with the sins of all mankind — was led out of the city to be crucified: “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins — and not only our sins but the sins of the world” (1 John 2:2, NLT).
The necessity of the Day of Atonement was rendered void by Jesus’ death on the cross — our debt has been paid! Yet for this life-changing truth to truly resonate, people must understand it in a language that touches their heart.
The story of Jesus’ sacrifice is the greatest message of hope the world has ever known.
- Feast of Tabernacles or Booths — Leviticus 23:34
Celebration always follows the Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God’s provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. For seven days, people live in temporary structures, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness.
The Lord Himself was with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple called the Tabernacle, so the feast also celebrates His presence as He tabernacles (dwells) with us.
Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23, NLT). He put on a temporary tabernacle — a human body — to dwell on this earth and offer Himself as a sacrifice for all humanity.
Revelation 7:9 paints a beautiful picture of this truth: “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.” This verse highlights the inclusivity of God’s Kingdom — people from every corner of the world united in worshipping Jesus.
This feast also points to the promise of Jesus’ return, when God will rally with His people. On that day, there will be no more death or suffering, and He will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). What a day of joy and celebration that will be!
In Review:
- The four spring feasts focused on the first coming of the Messiah, as they described His death, His burial, and His resurrection, as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit.
- The three fall feasts focused on His second coming, as they described what He will accomplish in the future, including the rapture of the Church, His victory over sin and Satan and the inauguration of His kingdom on this earth for 1,0000 years, and in the New Heaven and New earth forever, world without end.
The Spring Feasts – The Suffering Savior
The Feast of Passover – Leviticus 23:4-8
- Commemorated the provision God made for the Israelites when the death angel struck all the firstborn in Egypt and the angel of death passed over the Israelite houses that had been marked by the blood.
- Fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. God’s judgment of eternal death will not affect those who are covered under the blood of Jesus Christ.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Leviticus 23:6-8.
- Commemorated the night God told the Jews not use any “leaven” in their bread, for they would not have time for it to rise before they left Egypt. Leaven is symbolic of “sin”!
- Fulfilled as the sinless Lamb of God was buried in the tomb to rise again in three days.
The Feast of First-fruits – Leviticus 23:9-14.
- Commemorated the beginning of the spring barley harvest.
- Fulfilled when Jesus rose from the grave, the “firstfruits of those who are asleep”! (1 Cor. 15:20)
The Feast of Pentecost – Leviticus 23:15-21.
- Marked the end of the spring harvest – observed by offering two loaves of “leavened” bread unto the Lord.
- Fulfilled 50 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit came and baptized “two sinful loaves” – Jews and Gentiles, into one body; the Church.
The Fall Feasts – the Returning Savior
The Feast of Trumpets – Leviticus 23:23-25
- Marked the end of the summer harvest with the blowing of the “shofar” (trumpets) a hundred times, with the “last trumpet” a long, extended blast.
- Will be fulfilled on the day of the Rapture of all of those who received Jesus Christ as their Savior during the Church age, which began on the day of Pentecost.
The Day of Atonement – Leviticus 23:26=32
- Commemorating a “day of solemnity” – Israelites afflicted their souls for their own sins, and the sin of their nation, a goat was sacrificed and its blood poured out upon the altar, and a second goat was held by the priest and then driven into the wilderness to “take their sins away!”
Will be fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation period when the Jews stand in awe at God’s grace and they receive Jesus as their Messiah: The One whom God sent to atone for their sins.
The Feast of Tabernacles – Leviticus 23:33-44.
- Commemorating the 40 years their forefathers dwelled in tents in the wilderness.
- Will be partially fulfilled when the Jews who are saved during the Tribulation live in the Promised Land with the Lord Jesus for 1,000 years. Zechariah 14:16, Amos 9:11, Isaiah 65:17-20, 2:2-4, 11:11-12, 27:12-13.
- Will be finally fulfilled in eternity as the “tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people!” – Revelation 21:3-4
The seven feasts are bound together by “the Sabbath” – which means to “cease work” or to “rest from one’s labor”!
- When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can rest from our labor of trying to earn our acceptance with God. This “Sabbath rest” will last for all eternity.
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