פסח

Pesach [Passover] is a beautiful and wonderful time of year. The moed teaches us about freedom from bondage, salvation, redemption, and G-d's great love for His people. It is sometimes referred to as "the time of our joy".

As we examine what Scripture says about this special day, we find some specific commandments regarding the original event in Egypt and find other commandments regarding the annual remembrance of the event.

In addition to the commanded and traditional elements of Passover we should never forget Who Pesach was given to picture: Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. We should always remember that "Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed." (1 Corinthians 5:7).

חג המצות

The moed of Chag HaMatzot [the Feast of Unleavened Bread] occurs the day after Pesach and gives us a picture of removing sin from our lives immediately as we are set free from bondage in Egypt. In this moed we can see the sinless Messiah and the sanctifying work of G-d's Holy Spirit.

As we remove the physical leaven from our homes we should also strive to remove the spiritual leaven of sin from our lives.

Consider what Scripture says about this festival and the commandments surrounding it: what are we to do and when are we to do it?  And we should never forget the One for whom we do all of it: our Maker and Redeemer.

ראשׁית קציר

The spring-time moed of Reishit Qatzir [Beginning of the Harvest] is also sometimes called Yom HaBikkurim [the Day of Firstfruits] and it occurs the day after the Sabbath during the week of the Chag HaMatzot.  This moed teaches us that should always put G-d first in our lives and honor Him since He set us free from bondage. In this moed we can see the resurrection of Messiah as the "first fruit" of those who are asleep.

What does Scripture says about this festival and what commandments are related to it?   Oh, Lord please "open our eyes" to see Messiah in this moed. Scripture was given to speak of Him and we should listen and hear its voice... His voice... during these times.

שבעת

The moed of Shavuot is also known as the Feast of Weeks (shavuot means "weeks").  In Christian nomenclature it is often called Pentecost (which comes from the Greek word pentekostes meaning "fiftieth").  It occurs about 50 days after Passover.  In this moed we can see the Most High giving the Law at Mt. Sinai and then giving the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem 1,500 years later.

As we examine this moed and discover all that Scripture has to tell us about it, we should consider that it was the same very same G-d Who gave us the Law Who also gave us His Spirit.  What does Scripture says about this festival and its related commandments? What are we to do and when are we to do it?

יום תרועה

The moed of Yom Teruah is known by many names. Yom Teruah literally means the Day of the Shofar Sound. In Christian nomenclature it is called The Feast of Trumpets. It occurs six cycles of the new moon (i.e. six months) after Pesach on the first day of the seventh month in the Biblical calendar.

It marks the end of a long, hot, and dry summer and the beginning of the fall festivals.

As we examine this moed and discover what Scripture has to tell us about it, we should consider that the same very same G-d Who granted grace and mercy by sending His Son to die for our sins will send that same Son again to defeat His enemies and judge the world.