Tues.’s Devo -The Festivals of the Lord

Read: Leviticus 22:17-23:44; Mark 9:30-10:12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19 Moses gave the Israelites instructions that would pertain to them and the foreigners living among them. If they wanted to offer an offering to the Lord whether it was a burnt offering or a peace offering, the animal offered must have no defects or mutilations. This sacrifice was to represent Jesus who was sinless. *** There were certain holy assemblies that were to be observed every year. They would be markers of God’s story. The first was the Passover which would be celebrated on the fourteenth of Nisan, the first month of their religious calendar and the seventh month of their civil calendar. This would represent Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus died on Passover and became our Passover lamb. The festival of Unleavened Bread began the next day and it represented Jesus’ burial. It was to be observed for a week meaning that we continually celebrate this festival through out our lives. It represents our sanctification - our dying to self and turning away from sin. The day after the Sabbath during these feasts would be First Fruits where they would bring the first fruit of their field to the Lord. Jesus died on Passover, was buried on Unleavened Bread and rose on First Fruits being the first of God’s fruits to rise from the dead. *** Fifty days from that day of First Fruits they were to celebrate the Festival of Weeks (seven weeks) or Pentecost. Pentecost was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit was given as a gift to men in Acts 2. This was the only feast where leavened bread was eaten because this was the time of grace. Sin was not the focus…grace was. *** Months later on the first day of the seventh month of the religious calendar and the first month of the civil calendar, they were to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets or Roshashana. It would be a day of the blowing of trumpets. This day would look forward to the day when Jesus would return with the blast of a trumpet. On the tenth day of that month they would celebrate the Day of Atonement. This was the most holy day when the priest would go into the Holy of Holies and make atonement for the nation for the year. They were to celebrate this day as a Sabbath and do no work on it. On this day the gates to heaven would be shut and everyone’s fate would be sealed. *** Five days later they were to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles which would represent a time when God would tabernacle with his people on earth. They were to celebrate this feast with joy making temporary dwellings out of branches of designated trees. This was to remind them that their home was not here but this was temporary. Our home is in the new earth and the new heavens. *** In Mark, Jesus told them that he was going to be betrayed into he hands of his enemies and killed. Three days later he would rise from the dead but they didn’t understand what he was saying. Instead, they discussed among themselves who would be greater in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus put it all into perspective when he took a child in his arms and told him that anyone who welcomed a little child on his behalf welcomed him. And to welcome him was to welcome his father. This probably flew over their heads also. *** Jesus had to explain to them that his name was not just theirs to use but anyone who believed. God’s family was bigger than them. They were responsible for their own salvation and the testimony they lived in front of others. *** The Pharisees came up with a new question to trick Jesus. They asked if a man should be allowed to divorce his wife. Jesus asked them what the law of Moses said. They said he permitted it with a writ of divorcement paper. Jesus explained God’s intention from the beginning for a man and a wife. When they come together in marriage two people become one person. If God caused this union then it should not be broken. *** Jesus explained later to his disciples that to put away a woman without a writ of divorcement was to cause her to commit adultery with the next man and also for the man. To ‘put away’ a wife was not the same as a legal divorcement. That is why you have to read the wording of the KJV. Lord give us a heart to understand your Word and what your Spirit is saying to us. It is not the letter of the law but the spirit of the law that we need to get. May we walk in grace and forgiveness.