Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 18th of Nisan

When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself (John 12:32).

One of the foundational doctrines of our Messianic faith is the resurrection of Yeshua. Many people appreciate the wonderful teachings of Yeshua. Some even acknowledge him as a great rabbi. Yet, it is his resurrection from the dead that sets him apart from any other person in history! We would expect such an important event to be foreshadowed in the Jewish Scriptures.

The Roman Church tried to create a picture of the resurrection by messianizing the pagan celebration of Ishtar (Easter), which is still observed. However, there is a biblical holy day which clearly foreshadows this triumph of Messiah's life. In the Torah, we are told that on the day after the Sabbath during Pesach (Passover) week there is to be a special observance called Bikkurim (the Feast of First Fruits).

This holy day was to be a time of thanksgiving for the ingathering of the barley harvest, the first grain to ripen in Israel every spring. As part of the Temple ceremony, the priest was to take some of the barley, lift it up, and wave it to the Lord in the sight of all the people (Leviticus 23:9-16). While this ceremony would turn people's attention to the harvest aspect of the festival, Bikkurim was to also have a deeper, spiritual meaning.

This spiritual picture comes into focus when Yeshua tells his disciples that his body will be like the grain of barley that must die in order to produce more fruit. Yet he would also be lifted up in the resurrection and "waved" before the people for all to see. No wonder many in Israel were drawn to Yeshua, the living Redeemer! Yeshua not only died on Passover, but he rose on Bikkurim in perfect fulfillment of the Torah. Have you celebrated the Risen One in your heart today?

...walk in the newness of life which Yeshua obtained for me by his death and resurrection.

BK