As many of you know, I went down a rabbit hole not too long ago and the things I have learned have totally transformed my life, for the better. Things can still be confusing, and I am by NO MEANS an EXPERT on this topic, but I feel led to share what I have been learning and I will update posts as we continue on this journey.
Today, I want to share with you a little about how we have been celebrating the Biblical Feasts and Sabbath. I will also give you some scripture references for each celebration. This is intended as a starting point for others who may have stumbled upon this as I did. Please do your own research and pray about how GOD will lead you on your journey.
Biblical Feasts & Sabbath
Sabbath (Shabbat)
When: Friday evening at sunset to Saturday evening at sunset
Scripture: Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Isaiah 58:13-14
History: GOD rested on the seventh day after creation and HE commanded HIS people to do the same as a sign of covenant rest.
Ways to Celebrate: Share a special meal, Light candles at the dinner table, read from the Bible, rest and worship with family – we try to have a nice dinner before Sabbath starts and then easy meals during the Sabbath
Sample Menu:
Oven Roasted Veggies, Salad w/dressing
Challah bread or Sourdough Loaf
Apple Crisp or a Special Dessert
Grape Juice, Sparkling Grape Juice, or Wine
Crockpot meals, and Cold Plate dinners are on rotation for our Sabbath meals as well as casseroles that can be made in advance and just reheated. We will often use paper plates as well to reduce the work load on everyone and make it more of a restful experience.
We also have been doing some monthly devotionals as a family. You can find them HERE.
I know there is a debate on whether it should be Saturday or Sunday, but I’m not going to argue about that or try to influence you in one way or another… that is between YOU and GOD. Recently our family has been led to observe the Sabbath on Saturday though.
Spring Feasts
Passover (Pesach)
When: 14th day of Nisan (March or April)
Scripture: Exodus 12; Luke 22:7-20; 1 Corinthians 5:7
History: Passover celebrates the deliverance from Egypt, when death ‘passed over’ homes marked with the lamb’s blood.
Fulfillment: Jesus is the Lamb of GOD who takes away sin.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that JESUS has freed us from the slavery of SIN!
Ways to Celebrate: Read through Exodus 12, share a Seder Meal, and thank GOD for redemption.
Sample Menu:
Grilled/Baked Fish or Lemon Pepper Chicken
Greens, Baked Potatoes, Deviled Eggs
Fruit Salad or Flourless Chocolate Cake
Grape Juice, Sparkling Grape Juice, or Wine
Note:
You could also plan a ‘Bethlehem Dinner‘ for your family and friends.
Also note that this is not the same as EASTER! It may or may not fall on a Sabbath day, but it is usually treated as a Sabbath Day.
Feast of Unleavened Bread
When: Begins the day after Passover and lasts for 7 days
Scripture: Exodus 12:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
History: Commemorates leaving Egypt in haste with no time for the bread to rise.
Fulfillment: Symbolizes purity and removal of sin.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that JESUS can remove the ‘leaven’ or SIN from our lives if we believe in HIM!
Ways to Celebrate: Eat unleavened bread and reflect on scripture.
Sample Menu:
Grilled/Roasted Meats
Greens, Salads, Veggies
Fruits and desserts without ‘leaven’
Many families prepare for this by doing a ‘Spring Cleaning’ and getting rid of all leaven in the home as the leaven represents SIN.
Feast of Firstfruits
When: Day after the Sabbath following Passover
Scripture: Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20
History: The Israelites offered the first sheaf of harvest to GOD.
Fulfillment: JESUS rose as the FIRSTFRUITS of RESURRECTION.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that JESUS was resurrected and will come again!
Ways to Celebrate: Have a special SABBATH meal and thank GOD for HIS blessings and celebrate the resurrection of JESUS.
Sample Menu:
Fresh Salad, Roasted Veggies
Seasonal Fruit, Unleavened Desserts
Feast of Weeks (Pentecost/Shavout)
When: 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits
Scripture: Leviticus 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-4
History: Celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the law at Sinai
Fulfillment: The HOLY SPIRIT was poured out on believers.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that GOD provides for HIS people and HE will pour HIS SPIRIT out on those who ask!
Ways to Celebrate: Study the 10 Commandments, pray for the HOLY SPIRIT to be poured over you, and share a special meal with your family and friends.
Sample Menu:
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole or other creamy pasta
Seasonal Salad and veggies
Strawberry Poke Cake or a Special Dessert
Fall Feasts
Feast of the Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
When: 1st day of the 7th month of the Jewish Calendar (Tishri)
Scripture: Leviticus 23:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
History: Marked by trumpet blasts calling people to repentance.
Fulfillment: Points to Christ’s return at the sound of the trumpet.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that JESUS will come again!
Ways to Celebrate: Blow a shofar, reflect on repentance, and prepare for CHRIST’S coming.
Sample Menu:
Roast/Grilled Meat
Fruits, Pomegranates
Challah bread or Sourdough Loaf
Apple Pie or a Special Dessert
Grape Juice, Sparkling Grape Juice, or Wine
Notes: If you can watch the trumpet blowing on YouTube, then I highly recommend it! You can also buy a ram’s horn and try learning to blow it.
Day of Atonement
When: 10th day of the 7th month of the Jewish Calendar
Scripture: Leviticus 16; Hebrew 9-10
History: The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to atone for Israel’s sins.
Fulfillment: JESUS CHRIST died and rose again to atone for all of our sins with HIS BLOOD.
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that there will be an ultimate cleansing of SIN!
Ways to Celebrate: Fasting, praying, confessing, and reflecting on forgiveness.
Sample Menu: (AFTER FASTING)
Salad, Rice
Challah bread or Sourdough Loaf
Fruit or light dessert
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
When: 15th – 21st day of the 7th month of the Jewish Calendar
Scripture: Leviticus 23:33-43; John 7:37-39; Revelation 21:3
History: Celebrates Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness living in tents
Fulfillment: Symbolizes GOD dwelling with HIS people
What does this mean to Christians today? It means that CHRIST will come again to TABERNACLE with HIS PEOPLE and REIGN over the earth!
Ways to Celebrate: Build a small booth, eat meals in it every night, and give thanks for GOD’s provision.
Sample Menu:
Grilled meats
Corn on the cob, veggie platters
Grapes, Figs, Olives
Challah bread or Sourdough Loaf
Pumpkin Cake or a Special Dessert
Apple Cider or Lemonade
Note:
This feast spans several days so we often do camping style meals and then have a meal similar to a Thanksgiving dinner on the last night.
Many people also choose to Camp Out for this Feast… we like to include outdoor activities like star-gazing as well.
You can find more resources here;
I hope this helps someone in some way… I will definitely refer back to it myself and update it as I go along!
God Bless!
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