Feast of Firstfruits

I never even heard of the Feast of Firstfruits until just a couple years ago.  But bear with me, and hopefully you will see what an absolute treasure it is, and how foundational to our faith.

Firstfruits falls during the 8-day celebration of Passover/Unleavened Bread.  According to Leviticus 23:15, it falls on the day after the regular Sabbath during the festival.  So this Feast always falls on a Sunday, whereas the first day of Passover falls on 14th day of Nisan according to the Hebrew calendar, which could be any day of the week.

The feast, as given in Leviticus 23, is to be a wave offering from the barley harvest.  This barley harvest is the very first harvest in the agricultural year of Israel.  Yeshua (Jesus) represents the firstfruits from the dead. 

1 Cor 15:20-23  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

This is the very day that Jesus rose from the dead.  The Resurrection Day that we celebrate today is really the fulfillment of the ancient Feast of Firstfruits!  Because of this monumental, eternity-altering event, we too can be raised unto eternal life.