A Calendar of Christ's Shadows
Let no one, then, judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a feast, or of a new moon, or of sabbaths, which are a shadow of the coming things, and the body is of the Christ;
Colossians 2:16-17 YLT
| Festival | Date | Purpose | Messianic Shadow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passover | Nisan 14 | A memorial of the Deliverance from Egypt. Each family was saved from God's judgment through the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. | Jesus was sacrificed on the same date and time as the passover lamb in the Temple. Everyone can be saved from Judgement through Christ's blood. Like the lamb, he was unblemished by sin. |
| Unleavened Bread |
Nisan 15 | Leaven is a symbol of sin. God commands all leaven to be removed from the home for 7 days. It is a time to focus on our holy walk with Him. | Jesus had no sin (leaven). He was buried on this day. Through Christ's sinless sacrifice we can have a relationship with God. |
| Day of First Fruits |
Nisan 17 | The 1st of the barley harvest was presented to the Lord in the Temple. The seeds had to die in the ground and resurrect to bring life or sustenence to the people. The barley sheaf was waved before the Lord in honor of His providence and ownership. | First Fruits means a promise to come. Jesus was resurrected on this day. He is the First Fruits of the Resurrection. (1Cor. 15:20-23) |
| Shavuot/ Pentecost aka Feast of Weeks |
Count 50 days after First Fruits | A memorial of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. Two Loaves of leavened bread were to be presented before the Lord at the Temple. It was also a time to reflect on their former status as slaves to Egypt. | It was this day at the Temple when the Holy Spirit was given to write the Torah on the hearts of God's people. (Jer.31:33) |
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Zechariah 14:16 ASV
| Festival | Date | Purpose | Messianic Shadow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feast of Trumpets/Yom Teruah aka Rosh HaShanah |
Tishrei 1 | It is the Jewish New Year and beginning of the Fall High Holy Days. Shofars (rams horn) are blown. It is the birthday of the world and coronation of the King. Celebrating God's royalty. | Considered to be connected to the sound of the trumpet at the great rapture of the Church as depicted by Paul in 1Thess.4:16-18. Another, thought is this is the Day of Christ's Coronation as King over all the earth. |
| Day of Atonement aka Yom Kippur |
Tishrei 10 | The holiest day of the year, spent in prayer and fasting. The one day of the year when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the people. On this day he would utter the sacred name of God and all the people would fall on the ground in reverence. | This is a great day for Believers to repent and recommit themselves to God. It is believed this day is connected to the Great Day of Judgement. |
| Feast of Tabernacles aka Sukkot |
Tishrei 15 | The most celebratory of all the feasts. It is a seven day bash of worship, food, fun and family. God commanded that everyone dwell in a Sukkah for the 7 days of the feast and rejoice with Him. | Many believe that Jesus was born during this feast. It is thought that this feast pictures The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the beginning of Christ's reign on earth. |
