Christian
Churches of God
No.
CB83
Lesson:
Wave Sheaf
(Edition 2.0 20060403-20060403-20070519)
The Wave Sheaf is a mandatory part of the Passover Feast. Its timing helps us to know when to celebrate the Day of Pentecost. It also lets us know when we can eat the new harvest of grain. The Wave Sheaf Offering falls on the Sunday within the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Christian Churches of God
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(Copyright ã 2006, 2007 Carrie Farris, ed. Wade Cox)
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Lesson:
Wave Sheaf
Goal:
The goal is to review the meaning of the Wave Sheaf.
Objectives:
1.
Children will be able to understand the meaning of
the Wave Sheaf service.
2.
Children will understand what day and time the
service happens.
3.
Children will understand the 50-count to Pentecost
starts from the Wave Sheaf.
4.
Children will understand Christ is the first
sacrifice of the harvest season.
Resources:
Recipes for the Days of Unleavened
Bread (No. R2)
Relevant Scripture:
Leviticus 23:9-12
Exodus 29:24-25
Memory
Verses:
Leviticus 23:9-12
Format:
Open with prayer.
Ask the children what is the Wave Sheaf.
Review lesson on the Wave Sheaf.
Activity associated with the Wave Sheaf; making barley soup and new unleavened bread.
Close with prayer.
Lesson:
What is the Wave Sheaf Offering?
A. The Wave Sheaf is a mandatory part of the Passover Feast. Its timing helps us to know when another Feast starts – Pentecost. It also lets us know when we can eat the new harvest of grain. The Wave Sheaf offering is found in the Old Testament in Leviticus 23:9-14.
Leviticus 23:9-12: And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the people of
Israel, When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, you
shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest; and he
shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, that you may find acceptance; on the
morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And on the day when you wave
the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt
offering to the Lord. (RSV)
Why do we still keep the Wave Sheaf
Offering?
A. Besides being a part of the Passover Feast and a mandatory part of God’s Law, the Wave Sheaf Offering carries new meaning for us as Christians; it begins the count to Pentecost.
Christ was our Wave Sheaf Offering. Christ died for us on Wednesday the 14th of the First month (Abib) in 30 CE. He was laid in a tomb right before sundown on Wednesday evening. When it got dark that night it was time for the Passover meal. He was in the tomb for three days and three nights. If he did not do this then he would not have fulfilled the prophecy:
Matthew 12:39: But he answered and said unto them, an evil and
adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to
it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Christ had to be in the belly of the tomb three days and three nights like Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights.
Wednesday Daytime: Christ died
Wednesday Dark: 1st night in tomb
Thursday Daytime: 1st day in tomb
Thursday Dark: 2nd night in tomb
Friday Daytime: 2nd day in tomb
Friday Dark: 3rd night in tomb
Saturday Daytime: 3rd day in tomb
Saturday as it was nearly Dark, Christ awoke (was resurrected) to wait to ascend to God as the Wave Sheaf Offering
Sunday Morning: Christ ascends as the Wave Sheaf Offering.
After Christ died and was in the tomb for three days and three nights he was resurrected. He woke up on a Saturday at evening as it became dark and waited until it was time for him to ascend to his Father. The Wave Sheaf Offering was held around 9 a.m. on Sunday morning within the seven days of Unleavened Bread. So we know that Jesus ascended to the Father around that time on Sunday morning.
Mary Magdalene saw him before he had ascended to God as the Wave Sheaf Offering.
John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away
from the tomb. (RSV)
John 20:15-17 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do
you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have
carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”
(This means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet
ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending
to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (RSV)
Jesus was still waiting to ascend when Mary saw him. He could not be touched or he would have been a polluted sacrifice. He was going to be waved as the first-fruits, so that he could take his place in Heaven as our High Priest.
God wanted a leader of His people who was willing to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his own people. Satan was not willing to do that. Satan did not think of others first. He thought of himself first and everyone else second. That is not the way of God. God wanted to show us by example that self-sacrifice, laying down yourself for the life of your brother, was the example to all of us.
God’s first-born, our leader, had to show us what was required. It is no accident that every single one of the disciples except John died spreading the Good News. They demonstrated, in the same way that their Master did, their love for all of the brethren in trying to overcome Satan and the forces of this world, and showing all of us what an example we should be to the world.
We come together at 9 a.m. on the first Sunday during the Days of Unleavened Bread to remember Christ’s sacrifice.
A. Christ was the first of the
first-fruits of the barley harvest, symbolized by this Wave Sheaf service on
the first day of the week, Sunday. By his actions, he set in motion a chain of
events that would bring an army of priests out of this world. It would separate
and consecrate (dedicate something or somebody
to a specific purpose) them to God. It is preparing us for the Millennium, when Christ will
return to set in place God’s Law and His will over the Earth. That is the
significance of this service and it starts the countdown to Pentecost, which is
a symbolism of the redemption of the elect of the First Resurrection.
Children’s questions follow.
What is the first Feast of God’s year?
A. Passover.
Why are we here at this time of year?
A. Because God tells us to be here (see Ex. 12:14-20; 13:6-8; 23:15; 2Kgs. 23:21), so we can learn to fear and worship Him more correctly.
What does Passover picture?
A. The salvation of the nation of Israel and subsequently the entire planet.
Who does the Passover Lamb picture or represent?
A. Christ. The lamb that was sacrificed on the night of Passover was an example of how Jesus Christ would come and be our sacrificial lamb (Jn. 1:29-30; 1Pet. 1:19). He would become the perfect sacrifice (Heb. 7:27; 9:12; 10:10-14; 1Pet. 3:18) and grant us reconciliation or bring us back in our relationship with God the Father. This was Christ’s first visit to Earth as a man and he came to fulfill the role of our High Priest.
What time was Christ put on the stake in 30 CE?
A. Same time as the morning sacrifices (9:00 a.m.).
What time did Christ die?
A. Same time as the afternoon sacrifices (3:00 p.m.).
When was Christ put in the grave?
A. Before dark on the day he was killed or crucified. Christ died on a Wednesday afternoon.
What is the sign of Jonah?
A. Christ was in the grave three days and three nights just like the Sign of Jonah tells us. See the paper Who is Jesus? (No. CB2). Christ rose from the dead late on the weekly Sabbath. He ascended, or went into Heaven at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Jesus Christ was accepted as the perfect sacrifice. Every year during the Feast of Unleavened Bread we keep the Wave Sheaf Offering at 9 a.m. on Sunday, in memory of this event (Lev. 23:10-14).
How many days and nights does the Sign of Jonah say Christ was in the grave?
A. Three days and three nights (Mat. 12:39-40).
What time did Christ rise from the dead?
A. At the end of the weekly Sabbath, about the same time he was placed in the tomb on the day of his burial.
Who raised Christ from the dead?
A. God the
Father (Acts 3:15; 5:30; 10:40;
13:29-30).
What did Christ do when he was raised from the dead?
A. Waited until the time of the morning sacrifice to go his Father in the third Heaven. Christ rose from the dead late on the weekly Sabbath. He ascended into Heaven at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning.
What was the High Priest doing at 9:00
a.m.?
A. He waved
the first-fruits of the barley harvest. The sacrifices were commenced in
preparation from dawn and continued to 9 a.m. when the sacrifice was placed on
the altar and the sheaf was waved (Lev. 23:9-14).
What did this sheaf/bundle of barley represent?
A. Jesus Christ as the perfect acceptable sacrifice. He was the first of the fruits. The barley harvest is before the wheat harvest, which is at Pentecost.
What do we start counting from the Wave
Sheaf?
A. From the
Wave Sheaf we begin to count the 50 days till Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16). On a
calendar we can start to number the 50 days from the Wave Sheaf till Pentecost.
What does Pentecost mean?
A. Count 50.
What else happens from the Wave Sheaf that relates or pertains to food?
A. We are able to eat of the new harvest. This means new grain from the year and it also means we gain spiritual understanding (Lev. 23:14).
Could Christ be touched before he ascended or went up to his Father?
A. No. (Jn. 20:15-17)
What happened when Christ ascended to his Father’s Throne?
A. He was anointed above his fellows (Heb. 1:8-9; Ps. 45:6-7), and he became the perfect acceptable sacrifice. He is our High Priest (Heb. 7:27-28; 9:12; 10:11-14). He qualified to replace Satan as Day Star of the planet (Rev. 2:28; 22:16; compare Num. 24:17).
Could Christ be touched when he returned to Earth after his ascension?
A. Yes (Jn. 20:27).
Did he eat with people?
A. Yes (Jn. 21:12-14).
How many days did Christ stay on Earth
after his ascension to his Fathers Throne?
A. 40 (Acts 1:3).
How many days would there still be to Pentecost?
A. 10 remaining days till the 50th day of Pentecost.
Summary:
From the lesson on the Wave Sheaf we see the importance of keeping God’s Holy Days on the correct day and time. We learn things done anciently helped predict or tell what was done in the future. Christ fulfilled all the sacrifices and reconciled us to the Father. On the day following the weekly Sabbath within the days of Unleavened Bread is the Wave Sheaf Offering. Because Christ was the perfect acceptable sacrifice from Wave Sheaf we can begin our count to the seven perfect weeks, which ends in the day of Pentecost at 9 a.m. (Sunday).
Bead Activity to Pentecost
Activity: purchase seven blue pony beads, one purple pony bead and 36 white pony beads per child, one foot rattail cord and optional key chain per student. Have a sample of the craft project ready prior to the lesson. You may need to tape the ends of the rattail to make the cord more like the ends on shoelaces. Review the concept with the children that there are seven perfect Sabbaths, and then Pentecost occurs. The children are instructed to put on six white beads, then one blue bead, and repeat the pattern until the string has seven blue beads on it in the correct sequence or pattern. Children can count their beads to ensure they have 49 beads on their string. The purple bead goes on as Pentecost. This can also apply to lessons teaching the Jubilee.
Activity
Attempt to show the children what a sheaf
or bundle of grain looks like and show them the pearls of barley. Discuss how
barley is the first crop that comes up in Israel and what it takes for crops to
grow.
Activity
Beef Barley Soup and Unleavened Bread
Barley Soup/Stew
1 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley
3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ¾ cups chopped onion
1 (10 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Bring barley and broth to the
boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat, and simmer for five minutes. While barley cooks,
heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté
three minutes. Add mixed vegetables; sauté two minutes. Add vegetable mixture,
chicken, salt, thyme, and pepper to barley mixture; simmer four minutes.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 ¾ cups)
(Courtesy Cherie Willet)
4 cups plain wholemeal flour
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons butter
11/2 teaspoons salt
220 ml (1 cup) milk or water
ADD salt to flour.
CUT UP butter into small pieces and add to flour.
BEAT egg yolks, oil and milk or water together.
ADD mixture to flour, stir well, and then knead.
DIVIDE dough into pieces about the size of a golf ball and roll out thinly.
BAKE in a moderate oven 1800 C (3500 F) until golden brown.
(Courtesy Dale Nelson)
Other activities:
Children can draw a picture of the High Priest waving the sheaf of barley. After reading through the “story part” of the lesson divide the children into 2 teams. The questions without answers are cut apart and divided into 2 piles. Allow children to race to their pile of questions one pair at a time. Whoever arrives first at their pile of questions answers their question first. Any questions that are missed go into the new middle pile for review at the end of the activity. Play continues until all questions are answered correctly. Variations of this activity can be: substitute crab walking, grapevine, hopping on one foot or running. This activity can be done outside after soup is made and waiting for soup to cook.
Use an old Jenga game and number the blocks. Each player takes out one block and answers a question before continuing to build with the block.
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