- The second thing I heard that deeply disturbed me is
from a young man in priestly attire who claimed that, the justification
for observing Sunday the first day of the week as the weekly Sabbath it is
because it was instituted by Jesus Christ on the day after His
resurrection.
The
reason for such an assertion I believe is from what we find stated by the
apostle John which reads as follows; “Then, the same day at evening, being the
first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were
assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to
them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His
hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So
Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you" (John 20:19-21).
As
far as anyone can clearly see, there is nothing in this passage of scripture
that tends to even suggest that Sunday, the first of the week has replaced
Saturday the seventh day of the week as the Lord’s weekly Sabbath. What is of
intrinsic importance to ask and know is why were the disciples assembled
together on the first day of the week and for fears of the Jews they had to
shut the doors?
The
reason why the disciples were assembled together on the first day of the week
it was to observe the Feast of First fruits as Moses was instructed by the Lord
saying; “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into
the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a
sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.
He
shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day
after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day,
when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a
burnt offering to the LORD. Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah
of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD, for a sweet
aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. You shall
eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you
have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout
your generations in all your dwellings.
Again,
this is a statute which the children of Israel are to observe forever
throughout their generations in all their dwellings. The reformation here is
that the ascension of Jesus Christ to the Father after His resurrection is the
new dispensation wave sheaf of the first fruits as we have been duly instructed
saying; “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came
the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all
shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
afterward those who are Christ's at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
This
day is to commemorate Jesus Christ as the new dispensation sweet smelling aroma
which is pleasing to God and so we have been duly admonished saying; “And walk
in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and
a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5: 2).
This
day is of great significance to all true believers because this day
commemorates and reminds us of God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great
love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up
together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7).
It
is from that day that one has to count fifty (50) days to arrive at the Feast
of Weeks or the Feast of Pentecost as we have been duly admonished saying; “And
you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day
that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be
completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you
shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:15-16).
Therefore,
the disciples being assembled together on the first day of the week on these
two occasions, on the Feast of First Fruits and on the Feast of Pentecost is no
justification to even suggest that the seventh day weekly Sabbath was replaced
by the first day of the week as the day of holy convocation.
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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