The Resurrection of Yeshua and First Fruits

On this coming Sunday Christians around the world will celebrate Easter. This is in commemoration of Yeshua's resurrection from the dead. Unfortunately, this date is not chosen based on Scripture, but rather on a formula standardized in the fourth century that determined Easter was to be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. In Scripture we read nothing about the vernal equinox or full moon, instead Yeshua's resurrection is based on when Passover and the Feast of First Fruits occur.

Leviticus 23:5-6 (KJV)
⁵ In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
⁶ And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

The first month in the Jewish calendar begins on the new moon of Nisan which occurs sometime in March or April. This year it began on the evening of March 12, 2013. The 14th day corresponded to March 25, 2013. On that evening Jews and Torah observant Christians around the world began the celebration of Passover with a seder meal.

Prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. the Passover lambs were slaughtered on the 14th of Nisan. It was on this date that Yeshua was crucified as our once and for all Passover lamb. If Christians were to commemorate Yeshua's crucifixion, the anniversary was on March 25th of this year. How many Christians marked this date? How many erroneously will be going to "Good Friday" services on March 29th?

Leviticus 23:10-11 (KJV)
¹⁰ Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
¹¹ And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

These verses of Leviticus describe the Feast of Firstfruits. It occurs on the morrow after the sabbath during Passover (Unleavened Bread). It is very likely that Yeshua rose from the dead on the day of Firstfruits.

1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV)
²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

But how many Christians celebrate the Feast of Firstfruits? 

Besides Christians celebrating the death and resurrection of Yeshua on incorrect dates, the overriding problem with Easter is its pagan origins. The name "Easter" comes from "Eastre" the Teutonic goddess of spring, although from ancient times spring has been celebrated by pagans. When the religious leaders wanted to Christianize the pagans, their traditions were absorbed in Christian practices to make the transition more comfortable and acceptable. This blending of the impure with the holy is detested by God and should never have been done, because it has left sincere and devoted Christians guilty of celebrating pagan feasts. 

2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And no amount of focusing on the correct interpretations of Yeshua's death and resurrection can make a pagan holiday Christian. If Christians want to honor Yeshua's death and resurrection we need to follow the proscription of Scripture rather than pagan traditions. Let us remember Passover.