Firstfruits Fulfillment

Firstfruits Fulfillment

 

Introduction

As a continuation of the feast of unleavened bread, the study of Firstfruits Fulfillment sheds light on how Christ, in part, spiritually fulfilled the barley harvest, and how the harvest will be fulfilled in the end.

Christ the Sheaf Wave Offering

Preparation

There are correlations between the Firstfruits of the barley harvest and events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion day. On the same day that the barley is selected, bound, taken to the high priest, and examined, the following events took place.

1. Jesus entered into the garden at the start of the 14th day of Nisan; the day of preparation.

Matthew 26:20, 30 KJV - "20 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.... 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Mark 14:26 KJV - "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Luke 22:39 KJV - "And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him."

John 18:1 KJV - "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples."

2. Jesus was chosen and bound; the rest were left alone as the selected firstfruits of the barley.

John 18:8-9 KJV - "8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."

John 18:12 KJV - "Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,"

3. Jesus was taken to the high priest as the selected and bound sheaf.

Matthew 26:58 KJV - "But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."

Mark 14:54 KJV - "And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire."

Luke 22:54 KJV - "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."

John 18:13 KJV - "And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year."

4. Jesus was examined and further examined as the selected and bound sheaf.

Matthew 26:59-60 KJV - "59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses," (See in full Matthew 26:59-66)

Matthew 27:1-2 KJV - "1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor." (See in full (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-24)

Mark 14:55-56 KJV - "55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. 56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together."

(See in full Mark 14:55-64)

Mark 15:1 KJV - "And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate." (See in full Mark 15:1-15)

Luke 22:66 KJV - "And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,"

(See in full Luke 22:63-71)

Luke 23:1, 14-15 KJV - "1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.... 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:"

(See in full Luke 23:1-25)

John 18:19 KJV - "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine." (See in full John 18:4, 19-24, 28-40; 19:1-16)

5. Jesus was beaten as the approved sheaf.

Mark 15:15 KJV - "And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified."

John 19:1 KJV - "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him."

Isaiah 53:5 KJV - "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Holiday Sabbath

When Jesus died on the cross, it was just before evening on the 14th; close to the start of the 15th. The day of preparation was about to end and the holiday Sabbath was about to begin.

Matthew 27:62 KJV - "Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,"

Mark 15:42 KJV - "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,"

Luke 23:54-56 KJV - "54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment."

John 19:31 KJV - "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."

In John 19:31 that sabbath as a high sabbath and not a weekly sabbath.

John 19:31 KJV - "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."

The Greek word, "megas" is rendered in English as "high" in John 19:31 and "great day" in John 7:37. (View)

Thayer's Greek Lexicon (megas): "μέγας i. q. solemn, sacred, of festival days… [John 7:37; 19:31]"

Resurrection Wave Offering

According to Roman timekeeping, it was still the weekly Saturday when Mary returned to the tomb of Jesus. Though the first day of the week, Sunday, started the evening prior according to Hebrew timekeeping. Upon arriving to the tomb, Jesus was already raised.

(See Hebrew & Roman Timekeeping)   

Matthew 28:1-2, 5-6 KJV -"1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. ... 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know thatye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, seethe place where the Lord lay."

When Jesus appeared to Mary, he told her not to touch him because he had not ascended. Then Jesus offered himself up to God the father to be accepted as the complete offering to God.

John 20:17 KJV - "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

The Remaining Crop

Partial Fulfillment

Paradise existed in the heart of the earth and was also known as the place of “Abraham’s Bosom”; where Jesus would be for three days and three nights.

Matthew 12:40 KJV - "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Luke 23:43 KJV - "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

Luke 16:22 KJV - "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;"

Jesus rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven.

John 20:17 KJV - "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

It was prophesied before Christ that those who died in faith would rise in the third day to live in the sight of the Lord. Christ also desired that his followers would be with him wherever he is.

Hosea 6:1-2 KJV - "1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight."

John 17:24 KJV - "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

Jesus Christ was the firstfruits.

1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV - "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept."

After Jesus arose from the dead, many of the saints which slept arose.

Matthew 27:52-53 KJV - "52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

Once Jesus was accepted of the father, the grave and death were defeated. People who henceforth died began their eternity with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV - "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Future Fulfillment

Since Jesus was our firstfruits offered up to and accepted by the father, followers of Christ have become a kind of firstfruits to him.

Romans 8:23 KJV - "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 KJV - "22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

James 1:18 KJV - "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

Revelation 14:4 KJV - "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."

Christ prophesies a promise that he will return to physically resurrect and gather the rest of his people.

John 14:3 KJV - "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Conclusion

It was important that Jesus was the firstfruits of the barley harvest because if he wasn’t, there would be no further harvesting; no one would be able to reside with him where he is. While the Passover lamb was to be killed on the 14th it was offered on the morrow after the Sabbath and it was not to be offered alone. Thus the resurrection was a vital piece in the death of Christ. As the offering he went through the preparation process, but still needed to be offered up for the LORD to receive.

God’s people had to watch soberly and carefully to observe the signs of the appointed times that God had set up for them to meet with him. They could not come empty handed during the barley harvest. God required a sacrificial offering to atone for his people's sin. The entire observance and offering of the ordinance of the feast of unleavened bread was fulfilled by Christ as he was selected, bound, beaten, and offered up the third day. The remaining barley are those who lived and died in faith before Christ’s fulfillment of the law. The harvesting aspect of the barely harvest is now left with one step remaining. The remaining crop needs to be harvested. Per scripture, this will take place at Christ’s second coming.