MY, HOW FAR WE'VE COME

by Sam Nadler

"Up until the third century, believers everywhere celebrated
the Biblical Feasts listed in Leviticus 23."

Up until the third century, believers everywhere celebrated the Biblical Feasts listed in Leviticus 23. They understood that the Feasts pointed to the coming Messiah, His ministry, and His reign. For generations prior to the first century, the Jewish people had all the prophetic pieces laid out in these feasts, and they were awaiting the Messiah to see these events fulfilled. Now that He had come, they were able to see exactly how Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of the feasts they had been celebrating all these years. When Jesus walked this earth, He not only celebrated the Biblical Feasts with His people, but He chose these times to reveal specific details about Himself as the Messiah. He did it in ways that were relevant to the feast at hand. The celebration of the Biblical Feasts continued for centuries after Jesus’ ascension. It was the calendar of the believer, and it was understood for what it was: a celebration of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus the Messiah. But things changed in the 4th century when the reigning authority abolished the celebration of the Biblical Feasts, among other things.

It was a dark time in human history, but when we read the writings of Paul, it is clear that the intention was never to have stopped celebrating them! In 1 Corinthians 5:8 Paul writes,

Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor
with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Paul’s instruction to celebrate the feast (Passover, specifically in this case) is highlighted with the admonition of doing it not out of legalism, but with a sincere heart. Why? Because it’s all about Jesus! If you understand the ways each feast celebrates a different aspect of Him, your heart can’t help but be filled with joy as you celebrate the very One who saves you! Just as the Father tells us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, so we have the privilege of celebrating His Son, Jesus, with joy in the Biblical Feasts!

It has only been in the last ten years or so that believers have once again started to embrace the Biblical Feasts. Passover, a feast that for centuries had been put aside by believers, is becoming a regular celebration for many.

There is a growing interest among believers in the Jewish roots of our faith, and that interest is blossoming into a greater appreciation, not merely of Passover, but of the full redemptive plan as seen throughout all the feasts. And now, for the first time, Word of Messiah Ministries is partnering with Hope of Israel Congregation to host a Feast of Tabernacles Banquet this year on September 28th.

The Feast of Tabernacles is the perfect bookend to the beginning of the feasts we are already familiar with in Passover. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice during Passover was made with a view to the message that Tabernacles brings: His Kingdom come! He started with the end in mind: redemption was made so that we could dwell face to face with Him for eternity in the fullness of His Kingdom. What a tremendous opportunity to teach hundreds of people about this prophetic feast; how one day, we will live under the covering and physical presence of our King, Jesus! He is our Tabernacle, our All in All! We would love for you to join us at this special event. For details on how to register, click here.

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Sam Nadler is director of Word of Messiah Ministries in Charlotte, N.C. This article is reprinted
with permission from Word of Messiah's Shmooze Letter of July 2012.
Many other fine articles and other features may
be found at Word of Messiah's website,
http://www.wordofmessiah.org.

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