Yahusha (Jesus) the Messiah said…
“And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men. Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men. And He said to them, “Well do you set aside the command of Elohim, in order to guard your tradition.” – Mark 7:7-9
You know, the Pharisees and scribes were not really following the Most High’s commandments. They were not living according to His Torah (commandments). They had built up for themselves traditions of men. In the above passage, they had created special washing ceremonies that they required for the people, which became burdens. In our current day, have we set up for ourselves traditions that forsake the commands of our Father? Perhaps we don’t even realize some of these traditions that have been so engrained into our consciousness. Perhaps we rely on these traditions to interpret the pages of scripture, instead of the other way around.
Disclaimer: This may upset a few…
But a few years back, Yahuah (the Most High) began opening our eyes as my family noticed that we hold fast to holidays that are not exactly in scripture. We should all have learned by now that Yahusha was not born on December 25. Most serious believers also recognize that Easter is only loosely tied to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Messiah, and it’s traditions more closely related to the practices of the festivities of the goddess Ishtar (the pagan goddess of fertility). Three days and three nights from Friday to Sunday? Um, no. Trees, bunnies, chocolates, egg hunts, mistletoe, ham, hot cross buns, lights, yule logs, and other traditions become part of our lives during these seasons. But is this what the Most High desires? Did He command these observances in the pages of Scripture? Or are they traditions that we have created, that now provide avenues to interpret scripture?
I agree that we have many good feelings about some of these holidays. It may be the only time that the entire family comes together for meals, which is great. And I always liked getting presents during Christmastime. Who doesn’t? Those Christmas lights always look so cool, right? And it was always fun to open up plastic eggs to find a nice piece of chocolate inside. These holidays are engrained into the lives of many, especially here in America.
But what does the Most High desire? And can we worship him any way we want? Can we take customs of this world and fit them to worship Yahuah? Or does He have a prescribed method of worship and attention?
Remember the golden calf incident? The people wanted to celebrate their departure from Egypt. Aaron molded a golden calf and said, “…tomorrow is a festival to Yahuah.” – Exodus 32:7. The people were worshipping Yahuah in their hearts, but it was not what the Most High had prescribed. And the people paid for their transgression.
The Father also tells us to forsake those things that are not set-apart by Him. “Thus said Yahuah, “Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be awed by the signs of the heavens, for the nations are awed by them.” – Jeremiah 10:2
*** Take a minute and read the next few verses (Jeremiah 10:3-9) on your own and tell me what it reminds you of! Be honest!! ***
But I don’t want this to be a rebuke of the holidays of this world as much as I want it to be a reminder that Yahuah has holidays that He has prescribed for us! And they all speak of Yeshua the Messiah!
There are seven holidays found in scripture that are commanded as EVERLASTING, to be kept FOREVER IN OUR GENERATIONS. But for some reason the institutional church ignores them. Perhaps they teach them in a historical view, but rarely as something that Yahuah instituted as “A LAW FOREVER,” (Leviticus 23:14, 31, 41).
Did you know that Yahusha died on the Passover, was buried in the grave and became our sin during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and rose on the Feast of First Fruits? And that the Holy Spirit filled the men who had purposely gathered to observe Shavuot (Pentecost)? There are three more, the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) that are yet to be fulfilled. These holidays, or more appropriately, the Appointed Times, do matter. They aren’t just for one people group, as some like to say. Yahuah calls them HIS Appointed Times.
For the Most High says,
“The appointed times of Yahuah, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, MY APPOINTED TIMES, are these.” – Leviticus 23:2
Do you realize that every time Yahusha, our Messiah, was in Jerusalem it was to observe one of His Father’s appointed times? Did you know that the apostle Paul observed these feasts, even after the death of our Messiah? He was headed to Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 18:21). Luke reminds us that he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem for Shavuot (Acts 20:16).
It’s honorable to want to celebrate our Messiah, but it should always be in a way that is prescribed by the Father and in accordance with Scripture. Denominational doctrines and traditions of men can be difficult to shake. They were for me, and still are. But to seek truth in these end times is important. The appointed times speak of our Messiah’s first and second coming. And we are told to proclaim these times as set-apart gatherings (Leviticus 23:2). Paul even tells us how to properly observe the Passover (1 Corinthians 5:8).
The syncretic holiday we call Easter is approaching. And many will think about the work of Messiah, which is a good thing. But if you truly want to understand scripture, while honoring the Messiah and obeying the commands of Yahuah, look into the Appointed Times (or feast days) of the Most High. Not only are they all about the Messiah, but they truly speak of the redemptive plan for all humanity. The Passover meal, which this year is Saturday evening, April 12, begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the entire redemptive plan is laid out in these feasts.
Do some research. Check out the significance of the Appointed Times, and worship Yahuah His way!
FAITH IN MOTION 