Waving of first sheaf

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The day after the Sabbath following the Passover was the Waving of the Sheaf of First fruits. This festival was a forward look to the Festival of Weeks (or Pentecost) that occurred seven weeks later. The Israelites were told, 'bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted for you' (Lev 23:10,11).

This festival speaks very clearly of Jesus. His resurrection took place on this very day of the year. He became in Paul's words the 'first fruits of them that slept.' Jesus is the first fruit, and a very wonderful first fruit.

But equally wonderful is the implication that there will be more fruit. There can only be a first fruit if there is more to follow. First fruits are not of a higher quality than the fruit that follows. Simply they are ripe before the others are. A farmer would be very disappointed if the first grain to be ripe was top quality, but what followed was scarcely fit to eat.

It is vital to see that God planned that Jesus should be the first born among many brothers. He did not want Jesus to be an only child. He wanted him to have many younger brothers and sisters. In childhood an elder brother is generally much bigger and stronger and cleverer than his younger brothers and sisters. However as they all grow to maturity the differences become smaller and smaller and eventually disappear. God's plan as revealed in scripture is that this should happen with Jesus and us.

May God give us eyes to see this great truth and faith to believe it!