Resurrection Sunday was this past week. So, is Easter over? You might think so, but it is not! It is the season of Eastertide on the Christian church calendar. Eastertide is the season of 50 days that leads to Pentecost. So why would this be important or matter? Why is counting the days significant?
Re-read Leviticus chapter 23. Verses 10-16 tell us that God instituted a particular offering, a wave offering, that was to be performed the day after Passover. The wave offering could be a sheaf of wheat or it could be a portion of meat that was literally ‘waved’ over the altar or in some instances over the people. The wave offering was not only a symbol performed by the priests for the people but it was also a practical food offering, or gift, for the priests and their families.
Wave offerings also included bread, gold, oil, grain, gourds (often offered as first-fruits wave offerings). That day is the first day of counting 50 days until Shavuot, or Pentecost.
The day after Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On this day a sheaf of barley was designated to be tied up in a bundle and left standing in the field. The second day after Passover, the marked sheaf was cut and prepared for an offering.
The third day after Passover is the Feast of Firstfruits. On this day the sheaf of barley was presented to the Lord as an offering of dedication. Firstfruits is a picture of Jesus’ resurrection. See the symbolism of three days?
Remember that numbers are significant in the Bible and not random! What other numbers? Here are a few examples: Moses spent 40 years in the desert herding sheep (great training for what was to come!); the Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert; Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying; Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection.
Do you see the pattern? Of course! Then 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples were all gathered in the Upper Room and the Holy Spirit came upon them! Acts Chapter 1 tells this part of the story.
In the seasons of the church year, we find that Advent has 40 days, Lent has 40 days and the counting of the Omer has 50 days or 7 weeks. (An ‘omer’ is a unit of dry measure – a little less than 4 quarts). These periods of time help us in our journey of faith as we seek to follow Christ and deepen our understanding of his word.
The period of Lent, which culminated on Resurrection Sunday, was a time for introspection, lament, spiritual disciplines that are characterized by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity). Lent often feels heavy, sad, even depressing. But what great joy it leads to in our observance and celebration of Resurrection! New life! Christ has overcome! His resurrection is the fulfillment of prophecy! Christ is the firstfruits that God spoke to Moses about in Leviticus. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we all can have eternal life with him! (1Cor 15:20 ff).
This next season of 50 days until Pentecost is also a time of rejoicing and expectation. Rejoicing still in the resurrection and anticipating what the Holy Spirit will do next in our lives!
If you have been watching the news during the past few months, you may have read or seen news reports of an outpouring of God on college campuses across the country. God is not done with his people yet! He is drawing people to a new and renewed commitment and as a result, many more are being drawn to our Savior. How exciting to be able to witness this today! Pray that the spirit of revival continues across the land and around the world! May these revivals be a sign of what God is doing!
So what do we do during these 50 days besides ‘count the omer’? “Anticipate great things from God and attempt great things for God”! This quote was the motto of the school I taught at for a long time. It was engraved on the beams of the chapel where my classes were held. May each of us anticipate that God will continue to show himself to us and use us to bring others to a saving knowledge of him.
This year, the days of counting the omer began on April 5 and ends with Shavuot on May 25. During this season I want to deepen my expectation and anticipation of what God will grow in me and how he will use me.
Shalom!
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