Pastor Marc Bertrand

"How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish feasts?" Pt (2) The way in which Jesus fulfilled the Jewish feasts is a fascinating study. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jewish prophet Amos records that God declared He would do nothing without first revealing it to His servants, the prophets (Amos 3:7). From the Old Covenant to the New, Genesis to Revelation, God provides picture after picture  of His entire plan for mankind and one of the most startling prophetic pictures is outlined for us in the Jewish feasts of Leviticus 23. The Hebrew word for “feasts” (moadim) literally means "appointed times." God has carefully planned and orchestrated the timing and sequence of each of these seven feasts to reveal to us a special story. The seven annual feasts of Israel were spread over seven months of the Jewish calendar, at set times appointed by God. They are still celebrated by observant Jews today. But for both Jews and non-Jews who have placed their faith in Jesus, t...

"What are the different Jewish festivals in the Bible?" P t (3) There are seven Jewish festivals or feasts outlined in the Bible. While they are mentioned throughout Scripture, we find instructions for all seven laid out in Leviticus 23. Leviticus 23:2 refers to the seven Jewish festivals, literally “appointed times,” also called “holy convocations.” These were days appointed and ordained by God  to be kept to the honor of His name. These times of celebration are important not only to Israel, but also to the overall message of the Bible, because each one foreshadows or symbolizes an aspect of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Leviticus contains God’s instructions to His chosen nation, Israel, on how they were to worship Him. It contains detailed instructions about the duties of the priests as well as instructions on observing and obeying God’s Law and the sacrificial system. God designated seven specific feasts that Israel was to celebra...

How Do Christians Observe the Biblical Festivals? A Guide to God's Holy Days. Pt(4) The Bible lists a series of festivals that God gave to Israel. These festivals hold timeless significance for Christians because they show God's plan of salvation for humanity. The progression of the biblical festivals throughout the year vividly portrays the glorious plan of God to bring many children to glory in His family. The Bible lists seven festivals that God gave to the nation of Israel for them to celebrate each year (Leviticus 23). The New Testament shows many examples of Jesus, His apostles and the Church of God observing them as well. Each festival is full of rich Christian symbolism, pointing to God’s plan for humanity and Jesus Christ’s role in each step. Most of the festivals are also special annual Sabbath rest days, which are observed in addition to the weekly Sabbath day. Passover The first, the Passover , is a memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. The origin...

The Feast of Trumpets A Turning Point in History. Pt (5) The Feast of Trumpets depicts the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish the Kingdom of God. God instructed ancient Israel in the appropriate use of trumpets—a hollow animal horn, known as a shofar, and metal instruments—to communicate important messages. metal instruments—to communicate important messages. The Feast of Trumpets introduces the autumn festivals—representing the culmination of the present age of man and the beginning of an incredible time during which God will play a much more direct part in world events. Indeed, this festival, a Holy Day, signals the intervention of God in the affairs of humanity on a global basis. The Feast of Trumpets thus represents a dramatic turning point in mankind’s history. The return of Jesus Christ! The Feast of Trumpets depicts nothing less than the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God! The book of Revelation reveals a sequence of earth-shaking even...

Feasts that Typify Christ's First Coming Pt (6) Every Jewish feast represented an aspect of Christ’s ministry. There are three feasts that symbolized Christ’s First Coming: The Passover The Passover represented the crucifixion of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 Paul says, “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” The Passover first occurred while the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God sent plagues to punish Egypt, including an angel of death that killed every firstborn in Egypt. In order for God’s people to escape this plague, God told each family to kill a lamb that had no blemish. They were to smear the blood of that sacrificial lamb on their doorposts, so that the angel of death would pass over their houses, and their firstborn would be safe from the plague (Exodus 12). To remember this event, Jews celebrated the Passover, which not only looked back to their deliverance from Egypt and the lamb’s blood on their doorposts, but also looked ahead to the perfect Lamb that ...

Should We as Christians Celebrate the Jewish Feasts of the Old Testament? P t (7) Without question the most vexing challenge faced by the early church was understanding how believing Jews and believing Gentiles ought to relate to one another. The theme gets major play in Galatians, Hebrews, Acts, and is even the root of the issue that led to Paul’s stern and public rebuke of Peter. That so much t ime and attention was paid to this issue might incline us to believe it was settled. Or it just may prove how deep runs the temptation to botch this up. Let’s start here—we have peace with God by trusting in the finished work of Christ alone. Add anything to that and you have fallen into a false gospel. You do not have peace with God by trusting in Christ and by being circumcised, or by trusting in Christ and keeping the Feast of Weeks. Add anything to the work of Christ, and you lose the work of Christ. God gave the feasts to point our spiritual fathers toward Christ. They were shadows and H...

The Biblical Festivals That Teach Us About Jesus Christ. Pt (8) Few people are aware of the seven festivals God reveals in the Bible. Even fewer are aware that they center around and teach us a great deal about Jesus Christ and His role in God's plan for all mankind. The apostle Paul described the festivals of the Bible as shadows of things to come, prophesied events in which Jesus Christ will p lay the central role. “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts” (Leviticus 23:2). Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? God Almighty saying in Scripture, “ These are My Feasts .” Yet for most of traditional Christianity, these “feasts of the LORD” are thought to have been kept only by the Jews and are deemed meaningless for Christians. New religious holidays have been substituted that supposedly center on Jesus Christ. How did all this come to be? What is the true meaning of these “feasts of the LORD”? Do they have anything to do with Jesus Ch...