How to Celebrate the Biblical Holiday of First Fruits (The Day the Messiah Rose Again!)

Let's talk about First Fruits! The third Biblical holiday of the year, First Fruits often gets overlooked in the shadow of Passover and Unleavened Bread. While it actually happens during the Week of Unleavened Bread, it deserves attention and celebration of its own.

As believers in Messiah, First Fruits is one of the most joyous days of the year because it commemorates Yahusha being raised back to life! After being killed on Passover, the Messiah rose from the dead three days later on the feast of First Fruits! When Paul mentions that the Messiah is the "first fruits of the dead" in 1 Corinthians 15:20 he's not only saying that Yahusha was the literal first fruits offering to YHWH, but also that the Messiah is the third festival of the year.

What is First Fruits? Historically it has been a day when the first of the barley harvest is gathered in the land of Israel, which makes it similar to the harvest celebrations of Shavuot and Sukkot. The theme of celebrating what YHWH provides is significant throughout Scripture, and should be central in our lives. Most of us aren't barley farmers, but we can still celebrate the provision that YHWH supplies us in the form of jobs, finances, a place to live, groceries, a garden, days of rest, friends and community, etc. Of course the ultimate provision is forgiveness for our sins...no matter how ugly or awful, forgiveness is available to us through the Messiah's sacrifice.

What should you know about First Fruits? It happens on the day after Shabbat during the Week of Unleavened Bread. Because Passover doesn't always land on the same day of the week (on most calendars), it's important to note that First Fruits doesn't always land three days after Passover - but it did when the Messiah was executed. The Festival of First Fruits is the kickoff for the counting of the omer, where we count fifty days to get to the next set apart time, Shavuot.

Significant events have taken place at First Fruits:
-Israel crossed over the Red Sea after leaving Egypt in the Exodus story. (Exodus 3:18, 5:3)
-The Temple was cleansed and sacrifices were reinstated under the reign of King Hezekiah. (1 Chronicles 29:17-18)
-Israel eats the first fruits of the Promised Land. (Joshua 5:10-12)
-Queen Esther foiled the plot of Haman. (Esther 3:12, 5:1)
-Noah's ark possibly came to rest on Mount Ararat after the flood on First Fruits.
-The resurrection of the Yahusha the Messiah. (Matthew 28)
-The walk to Emmaus, where Yahusha "expounded on all things concerning himself" from Scripture to a couple of his followers. (Luke 24:13-15)

All of these amazing events are a fresh start. Seeing your slave drivers swept away into the sea and leaving their land is a new beginning. The ark finally setting back down on the earth is mankind's second chance on the earth. Cleaning out the Temple, being saved from annihilation, eating from the Promised Land for the first time, and most importantly, the Savior being brought back to life? The freshest of starts, a blank slate. The trees bud, the flowers come up, and creation awakens. We are reminded that life starts all over again in the spring.

First Fruits is a time for:

1. Reading Scripture. Check out the stories of the empty tomb and read about the Messiah coming back to life. What did he have to say on the day of his resurrection? Wouldn't it have be amazing to hear him speak on the walk to Emmaus? Leviticus 23:9-14, Deuteronomy 26, and 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, would also be good to read.

2. Celebrating that the Messiah is alive! The greatest moment in history happened on this day. Rejoice and be glad! Spread the truth of this amazing act.

3. Recognizing and thanking YHWH for provision. Make a list of how much he really provides: material possessions, spiritual health, friends, physical nourishment, the positives of your environment, small things that make you smile. It's easy to overlook the many good gifts from him, make it a point to stop and acknowledge those today. Also remind yourself that he is providing for the needs of tomorrow as well.

4. Giving an offering. Pray about and discuss how you can offer first fruits of your own harvest. Tithing or donating money, giving your time to a good cause, and sharing your possessions are all ways to do that.

5. Remembering your heritage. Deuteronomy 26:5-11 gives the example of literally reciting the Israelite heritage of being rescued from slavery by YHWH when a person would hand their First Fruits offering to the priest. First Fruits is a time to remember both the story of the redemption of Israel as a whole, and also your personal story. Something along the lines of, "My life used to be like ______, but now YHWH has brought me blessings and - look - here I am able to celebrate his set apart times" fits well with the passage in Deuteronomy.

6. Blessing your spiritual leaders, foreigners, orphans and widows. Right after the above passage in Deuteronomy, Scripture makes mention of the tithing to the Levites, strangers in the community, and orphans and widows. What can you do to help these groups of people? Pastors, mentors, ministries, etc. all work hard to support your spiritual health, often at immense cost. Could you give them a gift or at least take the time to express your gratitude? How about those that could use support from you? What could you do to show them that they are loved and welcomed in YHWH's kingdom? 

7. Worship. Have a dance party to great praise music or fall to your knees in awe and reverence of YHWH. Celebrate the Messiah's victory and the amazing plan of redemption he has for us. Worship him on one of the greatest of days.

8. Feasting. The first harvest of the year is a big moment. Long before grocery stores, you lived off of the fruits of your last harvest until the next year. That could be scary when supplies start to dwindle and you're a ways out from the abundance of summer. The barley harvest was a collective sigh that even if there wasn't a lot in that moment there was more provision coming. Celebrate that with a special meal. If you're a gardener include the first bits of produce that are starting to come up in your part of the world. Depending on the year that's usually green onions, herbs, sorrel, fiddle heads, and asparagus for me.

9. Counting the omer. First Fruits is day one of the counting of the omer. Make a fun calendar or counter and mark off the first day as we lead up to Shavuot.

Happiest of First Fruits to you! Enjoy this amazing day of celebrating the unquenchable life to the Messiah!