Passover (Pesach) is always on the 14th day of Nisan, also called Abib (meaning barley). God told Moses to “tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb” (Ex. 12:3). The lambs were to be “year old males without defect” (v. 5), and were to be sacrificed on the 14th day of the month (v. 6). Israel was to “take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their houses” (v. 7). “The blood will be a sign … when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (v. 13), was the Lord’s assurance.
John’s gospel indicates that Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem took place on the 10th day of Nisan (see John 12:1 and 12), the day the lambs were selected. All the gospel writers tell of the questions and scrutiny that Jesus endured over the next four days as He was brought before Caiaphas, Annas, Herod and Pilate. On the morning of the 13th of Nisan, after being carefully examined by Pilate, Pilate declared, “I find no fault in this man” (Lk. 23:4 KJV). In other words, “This lamb is flawless and ready to be sacrificed.” Jesus was taken to the execution site and nailed to the cross. At three in the afternoon (See Luke 23:44-46), after three hours of darkness, and at the exact time when Passover lambs were being slaughtered for the evening feast, the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus, and redeeming blood flowed from His side.
HaBikkurim
A relatively unnoticed “first fruits” festival (HaBikkurim) occurred three days later when the priest was to waive a barley sheaf as a celebration of the harvest that was to come (See Leviticus 23:9-14). Paul calls Jesus’ resurrection from the dead the first fruits of all those who are to follow (See 1 Corinthians 15:20 and 24).
Shavuot
Fifty days after Passover was the festival of Pentecost (Shavuot). Pentecost is not just a “Christian” festival, but a biblical feast of harvest that also commemorates the giving of the law on Sinai. This is the day God chose for the initiation of the “law of the Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2), a day when Joel’s prophecy that “I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Ac. 2:17) began to be fulfilled. Pentecost is one of the “appointed feasts of the LORD” (Lev. 23:2), and always arrives on the 6th day of the 3rd month, the month of Sivan.
