The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
Even though as believers we know the reality daily of the truth that Yeshua was born, died, rose again, appeared to hundreds after His resurrection, and ascended to Heaven seated in glory with all authority from the Father, yet God has given His corporate family and people appointed times to publicly give witness and testimony to these mighty and wondrous acts.
The Holy Spirit gathers God’s people together to celebrate, worship, and remember — all of which helps us not to forget and to strengthen our faith, hope, and love. These corporate demonstrations and annual times also draw the attention of the whole world to the one true God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua the Messiah. He has given us a new song of love and redemption by making Himself personal to each of His own who belong together in His redeemed family. Praise the Lord! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRnG2xzzEaU
Today (Sonday, the day after the Sabbath) is, according to the Word of YHVH to Moses for Israel, the appointed beginning, following the Passover, of the counting of the omer, the first-fruits of the sheaves of the wheat harvest to come at Shavuot/Pentecost. (The Bible knows nothing about any implicit importance to the 16th or 17th of Nisan.) The fruit harvest comes during the Ingathering in the Fall, highlighted and celebrated during the Feast of Booths, based on the finished atonement.
Yesterday, at Yeshua’s Inheritance Cong., we celebrated corporately the joy of knowing that Yeshua is alive. There was also the baptism of A, who came to us through the Jews for Jesus evangelism campaign last November, and through coming regularly to our services and Bible studies, decided to be baptized. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism unto life, while the baptism in water proclaims the truth that we have died with Messiah, been buried with Him in His death, and will be raised from among the dead just as Yeshua rose from among the dead. What a great testimony of faith in the truth that our Savior has conquered death! We also fellowshipped together in the Lord’s Supper, remembering not only that Jesus died for us and our sins, but the He is coming again!
He is risen in glory! Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!