within his respect for the firstfruits of crops, animals, and humans throughout
the Old Testament. The Israelites were to bring the firstfruits of their grain,
wine, oil, wool to the Lord, who in turn gave them to the Levites for their
subsistence (Num. 18:22). Every first born male was to be consecrated to God.
The Israelites could redeem their sons through offering of a sacrifice such as
Joseph and Mary did with Jesus (Luke 2:23). This special respect for the first
born or firstfruit was instilled into the Jewish lifestyle for
generations.
Isn’t it interesting that God continued this aspect of it in the
New Testament. We don’t have to offer sacrifices to redeem our first born
anymore, because Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice. Paul emphasized his role
as the firstfruit of those who fall asleep before Jesus returns and are then
resurrected at the last trumpet (1 Cor.
15:20ff).
Recently, it came to my attention while reading
Leviticus 23, that not only did Paul refer to Jesus’ resurrection as the
firstfruit, he was raised on the Day of the Firstfruits which occurred on the
day following the Passover Sabbath. Forty-nine days later, on what we call
Pentecost, the Israelites were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate what they
called the Feast of the Firstfruits to celebrate the harvest of new grain, and
the church was born (Acts 2).
God must have used the firstfruits and firstborn as a clue to
what he intended to do when he sent his son to earth.
As so elegantly stated in Eph. 1 and 3, praise be to God, the mystery has
been revealed for us.