The Promise of Firstfruits

Lev 23:10-12 Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. (11) And he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah to be received for you. On the next day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. (12) And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to Jehovah.

Firstfruits is the third high holy day prescribed by God for the Jews to observe; the first two are Passover and Unleavened Bread (a week long celebration). Firstfruits is interesting because it is initiated by the high priest and presented before God. Notice what the priest presents: a sheaf of grain and a male lamb without blemish.

We already know that Jesus was our Passover lamb, without spot or blemish. We also know He was the bread came down from heaven (John 6:33). But what about Firstfruits and what are the implications?

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming;

Jesus was also our Firstfruits offering. He offered Himself to the Lord. When would He have done this? Immediately after His resurrection.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God.

Later on, you will recall, He tells Thomas to come feel the nail prints in His hand. Why was it okay to touch Him then? Because He had already ascended and accomplished what the priest had to do on Firstfruits!

Now to the implications. The sheaves that were waved before the Lord by the High Priest were considered holy - but because they were waved they also made the rest of the field holy!

Jesus was the Lamb without blemish that had to be presented on First Fruits, but where were His sheaves?

After Jesus died, the earth shook and a strange thing happened:

Mat 27:51-53 And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And the earth quaked, and the rocks were sheared, (52) and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose, (53) and coming out of the tomb after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Men rose from the dead! What happened to these? Did they die again? No! These were the sheaves! The would have been taken up with Jesus and presented to the Father. Why? As a down-payment that the rest of the field would soon follow. If that seems like a stretch, read this passage in Ephesians:

Eph 4:8-10 Therefore He says, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men." (9) (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? (10) He who descended is the same also as He who ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)

The promise of Firstfruits is that we will soon follow because we were made holy by Him who was able.

Rom 11:15-16 For if their casting away is the reconciling of the world, what is the reception except life from the dead? (16) For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, also the branches.