The name of each festival is a link to a page containing its description and reference in Leviticus.

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: Jesus Christ's sacrificial death on the cross and his burial

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. (Matthew 26:17-19)

After eating the Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane, and there Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and taken to trial, where many false witnesses came forward to bring charges against him. Then the high priest charged him on oath by the living God to tell them if he was the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus could not deny his divinity, so he was accused of blasphemy and declared worthy of death (Matthew 26:63-66).

After some difficulty, the religious leaders secured from Pilate, the Roman governor, Jesus' condemnation to death by crucifixion. Jesus was then taken to Golgotha and crucified between two robbers (John 18:28-19:16,18).

Jesus was crucified at the third hour and died six hours later. This was the Jewish day of Preparation for the Sabbath, and Jesus was taken down from the cross and buried. (Mark 15:25,33-47)

Firstfruits: Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead

The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'

"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." (Matthew 27:62-28:7)

Jesus at his resurrection was the firstfruits of those who die and are raised to life again: Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Feast of Weeks: The first harvest of believers in Jesus Christ after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit

This is also known as Pentecost. When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Because this was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, there were God-fearing Jews from every nation staying in Jerusalem. They were amazed, because each heard the message spoken by the disciples in his own language.

Peter stood up and addressed the crowd, telling them about Jesus Christ of Nazareth: He had been put to death, but God had raised him from the dead and had made him both Lord and Christ.

The people were convicted by what they heard, and Peter called them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

That day, about 3,000 accepted the message and were baptized, and the Lord continued to add to their number daily. (Acts 2)