Christ’s Resurrection is the Fulfillment of the Law

Christ’s resurrection is the day of victory over death.  It truly is something to be celebrated!  However, what do bunnies and eggs have to do with it?  Nothing!  The Romans introduced these pagan rituals, not God.  Although they do not have anything to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the law of Moses does.  In fact, Christ resurrected on Sunday as a fulfillment of the law.

Christ’s ministry is based on the law

Some may say that Christ’s resurrection being the fulfillment of the law is being legalistic and not something that is valid in the New Testament times.  It is true that we are not under the law of Moses in this age, however, to think that the law is abolished is a misconception.

Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

Christ is the fulfillment of the law of Moses.  If we want to know how Jesus conducted His ministry work, then it is essential to understand the law.  Though we are not under the law of Moses, we are not free from God’s law, we are under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:20-21).  Jesus fulfilled the old covenant into the new covenant.

How is Christ’s resurrection part of the Law of Moses?

The book of Leviticus contains the laws of the covenant God made with Moses.  In it, we see the seven annual festivals for the blessing of God’s people.  The third feast may be one you’ve never heard of.  It’s called the Feast of Firstfruits.  In the old testament, it was celebrated by waving the firstfruits of the grain harvest.  It is always the first Sunday that is after the Sabbath after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:11).   The Feast of Unleavened Bread is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month, the day after the Passover.

If this didn’t have anything to do with our salvation, then there’d be no point in understanding about these festivals.  However, since Christ is the fulfillment of the law, all the feasts must be fulfilled.  Let’s understand what the Feast of Firstfruits has to do with our salvation.

Christ is the Firstfruit

Without understanding the concept that Christ fulfilled the old testament, there would be so many verses that would never make sense.  Who could be so bold as to say that the word of God is nonsensical?!

 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Why did the Apostle Paul call Christ the firstfruit?  He was the first one to have been risen from the dead, meaning the first to resurrect.  It isn’t a coincidence that this took place on Sunday either (Mark 16:9)!  According to prophecy, Christ gave His flesh and blood to us through the bread and the wine on the night of the Passover.  The next day, to fulfill the Feast of Unleavened Bread, He was afflicted through His crucifixion.  Then, three days later, on the Feast of Firstfruits, Christ resurrected as the fulfillment of the firstfruits early Sunday morning.  The reality of the feast of firstfruits is Christ’s resurrection.  Truly Christ is the fulfillment of all the law!

How is the Resurrection kept?

If bunnies and chocolate eggs aren’t involved in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then how are we actually supposed to celebrate it?  It is an important day that should be commemorated as a lasting ordinance (Leviticus 23:14).  It contains great blessings for those who believe in the holy Scriptures.  In order to know how to keep the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we must look into the events of Christ’s resurrection.

After the crucifixion, Christ’s disciples had lost hope that He was the Messiah to redeem Israel.  Even though Jesus was walking alongside them on the road, they couldn’t even recognize Him.  Though they didn’t recognize Him, God didn’t come to this earth and suffer a cruel death only to be forgotten!  He restored their faith in Him first through the Scriptures, since that is the source of our faith.  Afterwards, what did He do?

Luke 24:30-31 “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.”

What an amazing promise that bread contains!!  Through the bread of the resurrection, the disciples of Christ were once again able to recognize Him.

Let’s break bread!

As the disciples recognized their Savior through the resurrection, we, too, want to recognize Him.  The only way to come to truly know God and understand His feasts is to actually keep them.  Christ’s resurrection is one of seven annual festivals that God’s people must keep.  The WMSCOG celebrates all of the feasts with great joy and expectation of Christ’s promise that we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.