A study of the feasts of Israel will not only bring a greater understanding of the Jewish roots of our faith, it will teach the believer in Messiah much about G-d's plan of redemption throughout the ages. The first three of seven feasts are directly related and described here: Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits.

Passover or Pesach

Passover, the first and probably best known feast, comes in the spring, in the Jewish month of Nisan, also called Abib. Passover commemorates the redemption of the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. On the first Passover each Hebrew household sacrificed a perfect yearling lamb and sprinkled the blood on the crosspiece and sideposts of the door. The "Angel of Death" passed over the houses which were protected by the blood of the lamb; but where there was no blood, the first born was slain. Even so, we are all slaves, in bondage to sin. We are redeemed and set free by the blood of Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, the pure and spotless Lamb of G-d. (1 Peter 1:18,19)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread occurs simultaneously with Passover. It begins the day after Passover eve, and lasts for seven days. Because they are so closely related in time and purpose, the names are often interchangeable. During Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread the Jewish people put away all leaven from their house and eat unleavened bread or Matzo. Leaven in Scripture is usually a symbol of sin; the unleavened Matzo graphically portrays the pure and sinless Messiah. It is pierced, even as our L-rd was pierced by the nails in His hands and feet and the Roman spear in his side. The Matzo is striped in the baking, reminding us that Isaiah said, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities ... and with His stripes, we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

The Feast of First Fruits

The Feast of First Fruits is directly related to Passover and Unleavened Bread, for it is to be celebrated on "the morrow after the Sabbath." This means the day after the first day of Unleavened Bread. In Bible times this feast was a feast of thanksgiving for the barley harvest, the first grain on the season. The first harvest is viewed as a promise of the larger harvest to come because the conditions which brought about the first harvest will also bring the rest. Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, is the First Fruit whom G-d raised from the dead. Just as the barley harvest was the promise of more to come, He is our promise of resurrection and eternal life, through faith in Him. He has conquered death and the grave.

Homemade Matzah recipe