26 NovemberDeuteronomy 16

Jesus died, was buried, and rose again

Deuteronomy 16:16 (NIV) Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed.

This chapter explains that three of the seven holidays are special farming festivals to honour God, which had to be celebrated in specific places. During Passion Week, which includes Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits, you celebrate your new life in Jesus by leaving behind your old, sinful ways.

*Passover – Jesus Died*

Deuteronomy 16:1 (NIV) Observe the month of Aviv and celebrate the Passover of the Lord your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night. The purpose of the Passover was to remember that, during the tenth plague, the shed blood of the lamb allowed each family who acted in faith to have death “pass over” their firstborn son.

To fulfil the Law, Jesus was taken outside of Jerusalem to die on Calvary Hill. This hill is likely the same as "Mount Moriah," where Abraham was ready to offer his son Isaac. Abraham had said, "God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son," which hinted Jesus to come. Later, a ram was found "caught in a bush," hinting at Jesus, who would wear a crown of thorns. So, Jesus became the Passover sacrifice, dying at the exact time and place predicted, fully completing the Law. Jesus was the “pass over”, the firstborn that died so that we can live.

*The Feast of Unleavened Bread – Jesus in the Grave*

Deuteronomy 16:3-4 (NIV) Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. 4 Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until morning. For Jewish people, eating bread without yeast for seven days symbolises a lasting effort to leave behind their past sins. It also showed the need to act quickly when God calls you. During part of this festival, Jesus was in the grave. Through Jesus, you are set free from your past sins. Are you making a solid effort to keep sin out of your life? Are you responding quickly when God calls you?

*The Feast of First Fruits - Jesus’ Resurrection.*

Out of gratitude, the Jews brought their “first fruits” or their best of their barley harvest to God. On this day, Jesus also rose from the grave and became the “first fruits” for those who were once dead.1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

In Deuteronomy 16, God calls His people to remember and honour Him through these three festivals: the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits. Each festival holds deep significance, pointing to key moments in Jesus’ life and ministry that fulfilled God’s promises.

Passover reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice, the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose death allows us to be free from sin and death. The Feast of Unleavened Bread calls us to leave sin behind, just as Jesus, free from sin, lay in the grave, bringing us new hope of freedom. Finally, the Feast of First Fruits celebrates His resurrection, making Jesus the "firstfruits" of all who will be raised to new life in Him.

Together, these festivals invite us to reflect on Jesus’ work and respond by committing ourselves to live fully for God; free from sin, quick to follow His calling, and bringing Him the best of our lives as an offering of gratitude. Through these reminders, we see God’s faithfulness in history and are encouraged to walk in the new life He offers.