On this morning when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we’re going to start with a journey back to our Jewish roots with a look at one of the seven Feasts, or festivals that were prescribed by God in the Old Testament as a picture of the Messiah, Jesus. Many of you know of the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread that Jesus fulfilled feasts completely and exactly.
He came into Jerusalem on the very day the Passover lambs were set aside for slaughter, was nailed to the cross at the exact time the Passover lambs were being prepared for slaughter in the Temple, and then died at the exact moment the lambs were being slain in the Temple. He was then buried at the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. At that time, he took our leaven, our sin, upon Himself and carried it to the grave.
This morning, we’ll look at the third of these feasts, the one that Jewish disciples of Christ should have been celebrating on Easter Sunday; the Feast of Firstfruits.
The instructions for observing the Feast of Firstfruits is found in Leviticus, chapter 23. This passage immediately follows the passage that set forth the instructions for the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread.
9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, ’When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 ’And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 ’Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 ’Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. 14 ’Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.- Leviticus 23:9-14
There are three main principles associated with the Feast of Firstfruits:
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
Luke 24:1
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. Matthew 28:1
For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering. – Romans 8:3
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:21-24
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. – James 1:18
Welcome to Central Church of Christ: Not a place, but a people called out by God to Show His Love, Tell His Story, and Be His Family. Today we begin a new message series from the Bible called, “Let’s Talk About It” exploring some of the common mental health struggles people, even Christians deal with, and how Christ through His Word can help. Please turn to the disciples story with the storms of life in John 19:7-11 as we prepare for today’s Let’s Talk About It Topic.
FEAR
The church historian Eusebius (Church History 2.7.1), writing in the early fourth century, claims that “tradition relates that” Pilate committed suicide after he was recalled to Rome due to the disgrace he was in.[98] Eusebius dates this to 39.
From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontius_Pilate#Removal_and_later_life>
42% of people 2019 survey – fear Death
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;I myself will see him with my own eyes— I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
In Hosea 13:14 God promised His people: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! ….”
And the 23rd Psalm has these comforting words:
“Yea though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW OF DEATH, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.”
Article
The 19 yr. old was cited for reckless driving, 4th-degree assault and 3 counts of reckless endangerment after holding his breath in a tunnel.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-holding-breath-in-oregon-tunnel-causes-three-car-crash/)
In John 5:24 Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
And in John 6:40 He said“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
And, of course, one of the most famous quotes in Scripture is found in John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
In Matthew 16:21 we’re told that “From (the time His disciples saw Jesus transfigured on the Mountain) Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
In fact, Jesus mentioned it so often, that the Jewish leaders went to Pilate and said: “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“…what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” I Corinthians 15:3-9
2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O grave, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:51-57
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2021 Central Spring Cleaning List – MAIN BUILDING
According to Gary Collins the effects of stress are wide ranging including: ulcers, headaches, rashes, cardiac issues, insomnia, reduced productivity, relational volatility, reclusive tendencies.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (Matthew 6:25)
“Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.” (Matthew 8:18)
#2 – Probe Your Priorities
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ’Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ’Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ’Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Mark 4:37-40
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:7
“God’s got this!”
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
