This is the premise for a wonderful new book that will be coming later this summer/early fall from Reformed Fellowship: Meeting Jesus at the Feasts by Dr. John Sittema. I've been spending my evenings since January editing this book for Reformed Fellowship, and it's been one of those great experiences where I learn something new every time I sit down to edit.
Dr. Sittema examines each of the seven Old Testament feasts--Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Firstfruits, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles--as well as the Sabbath and the Year of Jubilee. He shows how each element of the celebration pointed the Old Testament people to Christ, revealing the gospel, and then shows how Jesus, in the New Testament, fulfills each of these celebrations, which served as types of him and the gospel. One fascinating concept I learned is that through the centuries, the Jews continued to celebrate the feasts that God had established, but they added in their own traditions and ceremonies.When Jesus comes, he condescends and observes and fulfills the feasts as they've come to be celebrated rather than as his Father originally instituted them.
That's just one of the intriguing concepts that struck me as I worked on this book. Here's an example of one of my favorites from the chapter on Passover. Sittema explains that one of the customs that developed through the centuries was the tradition of a lamb for the people. This was an actual lamb without blemish that was tied to a stake so that the people could come by and examine it, ensuring that this was, in fact, an animal without blemish. And how does this reflect Jesus' being our perfect Lamb?
That [Jesus] died, and that his death was physically, psychologically, and spiritually horrific tells only part of the story. When he died completes the tale.
The timing of the day was rich with meaning. As noted earlier, the lamb for the people had been staked out at 9:00 a.m. At the same time that the high priest was tying off the frisky four-footed beast, Jesus was nailed to the cross on the other side of the wall before the eyes of the watching world. Later in the afternoon, at the traditional time for the slaughter of the “lamb for the people,” the high priest cut its throat, concluding the peace offering with the standard liturgical proclamation, “It is finished.” But, at the very same time, on the other side of the wall, Jesus, the priest presiding over his own sacrifice, also cried out, “It is finished!” and breathed his last (Mark 15:37; Matthew 27:45–50). Jesus did not merely keep the Feast of Passover. He took it over.
Sittema's content is compelling, and his skillful writing style, passion for his topic, and knowledge of the feasts enhance the reading experience. Meeting Jesus at the Feasts will give you a better understanding of the gospel and the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. If you're looking for something that will be thought provoking and edifying for a Bible study (each chapter ends with discussion questions), you'll enjoy this book. You can read the introduction to the book here. And I'll let you know when it's available!
