During the time of Passover, Yeshua (Jesus) went to the cross and was sacrificed as our Passover Lamb. Therefore, we are to “celebrate the feast, not with the old leaven, … but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7–8).[1] Obviously, Judaism does not celebrate the resurrection of Yeshua; however, it is interesting to read in Leviticus 23 about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. When the Israelites came into the land, they were to wave the sheaf of the first fruits unto the Lord on the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:10–11). These Scriptures are fulfilled by the resurrection of Christ on the Sunday after His crucifixion. So the celebration of Easter Sunday is actually taken from this idea of waving the sheaf of the first fruits during the time of Unleavened Bread.

The Resurrection is all about the power of God. When God reached His arm down into the grave to resurrect Yeshua, the power that was turned loose was so extreme that all the godly ones waiting in Sheol also came to life (Hosea 13:14). Their tombs were opened, and they walked through the city of Jerusalem, appearing to many (Matthew 27:52–53). Resurrection was a vibrant experience for them.

This same power of God is available to us in our generation. We are to know the surpassing greatness of His power that is beamed toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:19). It is the power that raised Christ from the dead, and now God is beaming this power toward us. Paul was not just seeking to know Yeshua; he wanted to know Him and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Paul also prayed for us that we might know “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe … which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named” (Ephesians 1:18–21).

Christ was the first fruits. But when you lose the Hebraic tradition, you lose the concept of what was happening. The Church sees the Resurrection as just about Jesus. But when we look at Yeshua’s resurrection in the context of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we realize that it was a trail to Pentecost whereby many sons would be proclaimed. God is all-powerful and He is bringing many sons to glory. We are all from one Father and Yeshua is not ashamed to call us brethren (Hebrews 2:10–11). God’s ultimate purpose in resurrection was not just for Yeshua. It was to turn loose that same power by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in many sons coming to birth.

Fear of death is the true slavery (Hebrews 2:14–15). So when we celebrate resurrection, we are celebrating the fact that death itself has been made to bow to the power of God. You cannot distinguish this idea of Christ’s resurrection from the power of the Holy Spirit to set free the sons of God in this generation (Romans 8:14–23). Whatever we fear, whatever we are going through is broken by this power. And our hearts are turned loose to cry, “Abba! Father!” until we ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit are declared to be the sons of God—just as happened for Yeshua. Happy Passover! Happy Easter!

[1] Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).