Firstfruits

"Counting the days" (omer) then begins and continues until the day after the seventh Sabbath, the 50th day, which is called Shavuot or Pentecost (the next feast on the calendar).

Biblical events on the day of Reishit:

There are some significant Biblical events that happened on this day:

Manna:

The manna, which God provided from heaven as food for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness, stopped after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

Joshua 5:10-12

Joshua 5:10–12 NKJV

Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.

Queen Esther risked her life to save the Jewish people:

Esther 3:12-5:7

Est. 3:12- 5:7

Even though significant events happened on this day, Jewish people rarely celebrate Reishit today.

However, it has great significance for followers of Jesus as the most important day of the year.

Because of all the Biblical events that that took place on this day, they all pale in comparison one.

Although most believers in Jesus have never heard of Reishit, they celebrate it as Resurrection Day, or Easter.

Reishit is the day of Jesus’ resurrection:

Luke 24:44-47

Luke 24:44–47 NKJV

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus is the firstfruits:

Firstfruits is a picture of Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus rose on the third day of Passover season, 16 Nisan, the day of Firstfruits.

That event gave new meaning to this agricultural holiday.

God of course, designed it that way from the very beginning.. Its yet another foreshadowing of Jesus.

The apostle Paul, a Jewish believer and rabbi, wrote, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Jesus is the firstfruits, and because He lives, we can live.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 NKJV

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

Jesus’ resurrection is the promise of the future resurrection of believers.

John 5:28-29

John 5:28–29 NKJV

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The resurrection is critical to the Christian faith:

The importance of the Resurrection to the Christian faith cannot be understated.

1 Corinthians 15:13-20

1 Corinthians 15:13–20 NKJV

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

The entirety of the Christian faith hinges on the resurrection.

God has been trying to tell us this since the old testament times. He even created a feast that was centered on it.

Sadly, whether it was willfully ignored, or misunderstood, the jewish people didn’t follow what God was trying to tell them.