Feast of First Fruits - Chag Bikkurim

by Jesma O'Hara

Leviticus 23:9-14

This feast was first celebrated after the children of Israel had come into the Promised Land.

The firstfruits offering was waved before the Lord by the priests on the day after the Sabbath, a Sunday morning. This wave offering consecrated the whole harvest, setting it apart for God.

Yeshua most beautifully fulfilled the feast of firstfruits by presenting himself before the father on Resurrection Sunday morning as the first fruits offering of those who would come to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob through his death and resurrection.

The fact is that Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: the Messiah is the first fruit; then those who belong to the Messiah at the time of His coming!

1 Corinthians 15:20-2

By offering himself as the firstfruits of those who believe in Him, Yeshua paved the way, consecrating or setting us apart for God

This thought of the first fruit consecrating the whole harvest is also found in relation to Israel in Romans 11:16

“Now if the challah offered as first fruits is holy, so is the whole loaf. And if the root is holy, so are the branches.” (challah is a loaf of bread)

The message of the feast of firstfruits is consecration, being set apart for God. It also contains the wonderful promise of resurrection, because Yeshua offered himself as a perfect wave offering before the Lord, to make the way for all who would believe in Him

Events which occurred on the Seventeenth month of Nisan, The Feast of First Fruits

1. Noah's ark comes to rest on Mount Ararat

2. The Israelites cross the Red Sea

3. Israel eats the first fruits in the Promised Land

4. Yeshua's resurrection

Introducing John & Jesma O'Hara John, a businessman & Jesma have five children, and two grandchildren, Isabella and Asher. Both serve on the Eldership of Hesed Fellowship and are board members of International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem, Australian Branch and Jesma has also been the Editor of their magazine for the past 12 years. Hesed Ministries is involved in supporting a number of projects : Field workers in Israel, Orr Shalom Children's Homes, Kesher Friends of WIZO and Mercy International in Thailand. They also support orphanages and schools for AIDS affected children in Malawi and Kenya. Jesma is Chairman of the Board of Nambour Christian College, co-educational inter-denominational college of over 1200 students, from preschool to year 12. They are also the Australian Representatives of Orr Shalom Children�s Homes. Jesma's Qualifications Masters in Early Judaism and Early Christianity. B A major in Religious Studies Studied in Jerusalem at AMI Jerusalem Centre For Biblical Studies and Research and Educator�s From Abroad Study Course at Yad VaShem.