After the Lord Jesus arose from the tomb He appeared to the eleven disciples in different places and to many others who loved Him. He walked and talked with them, giving them “many infallible proofs,” (unmistakable proofs) that He was alive (Acts 1:33To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (Acts 1:3)).
Then, after many days, He led the disciples out of the city of Jerusalem as far as Bethany on the mountain ridge, Olivet, and from there He went up from them into heaven while they watched and worshipped Him, a cloud receiving and hiding Him from their sight.
“While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel” who gave them words of great comfort (Acts 1:1010And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (Acts 1:10)). It is written that the Lord went to “the right hand” of God the Father, which means the exalted and highest place.
It was written long before that God would give Him that place. David wrote, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand” (Psalm 110:11<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1); Acts 2:3434For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Acts 2:34); Heb. 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)).
The Feast of Firstfruits
A type, or picture, of Christ’s work finished, and of Him raised, was the first sheaf of the ripe grain harvest which was to be waved “before the Lord.” When Christ was raised, He was “the Firstfruits unto God.” His people are as the harvest for God. Because He was raised, His people may know they also will be raised, for it is written, “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:23).
It was “on the morrow after the Sabbath,” or the first day of the new week, that the ripe sheaf was to be waved. And it was on the first day of the week, “when the sabbath was past,” that Christ arose (Leviticus 23:10-1110Speak 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: 11And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:10‑11); Mark 16:1, 61And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mark 16:1)
6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:6)).
People then who believed and loved the Lord, met on the first day of every week to give honor to God and to His Son for the blessings brought by that death and resurrection. We now may meet to give our thanks that it was for our sins He died, and honor Him who is now alive in Heaven.
Further Meditation
3. You can read more about the Feast of Firstfruits in the very instructive pamphlet Three Sevens of Scripture: An Outline of the Moral and Dispensational Ways of God by D. K. Graham.