Summary of the book Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts, by Dr. Richard Booker
This book explores the "Feasts of the Lord" (Leviticus 23) not merely as Jewish traditions, but as a prophetic blueprint for the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Here is a detailed chapter-by-chapter summary of the expanded edition including ways that we can better understand and participate in these feasts.
Part 1: The Spring Feasts (The First Coming)
Chapter 1: The Passover (Pesach)
Booker establishes the foundation: the blood of the lamb. He parallels the original Exodus—where the blood on the doorposts saved the Israelites from the angel of death—with the crucifixion of Jesus.
Scripture: Exodus 12:1-14; Leviticus 23:5; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Significance: Jesus is the "Lamb of God."
Application: For the Christian, this represents Justification.
Family Celebration: Host a Christian Seder meal. Use the elements (bitter herbs, unleavened bread, grape juice) to tell the story of the Exodus while explaining how Jesus fulfilled each part—specifically the "Cup of Redemption."
Chapter 2: The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah)
This feast began the day after Passover. In the Bible, leaven (yeast) is almost always a symbol of sin or pride. Booker explains that Jesus was buried on this feast day.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:6-8; Exodus 12:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:8.
Significance: Jesus was the "sinless bread" (the Matzah) broken for us.
Application: This represents Sanctification.
Family Celebration: Perform a "leaven hunt" with your children. Use a candle and a feather to find and sweep out any bread or crackers with yeast from the pantry, symbolizing a family commitment to "sweep out" sin and start fresh in holiness.
Chapter 3: The Feast of Firstfruits (Bikkurim)
Celebrated on the Sunday following Passover, this marked the beginning of the barley harvest. Booker highlights that Jesus rose from the dead on this exact day.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
Significance: Jesus is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Application: This represents the Resurrection Life.
Family Celebration: Since this is Resurrection Sunday, celebrate by giving a "Firstfruits Offering" to a ministry or those in need. Plant seeds in a pot with your family to visualize the concept of life springing forth from the ground.
Chapter 4: The Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot)
Occurring 50 days after Firstfruits, this feast celebrated the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law. Booker draws a parallel: at Sinai, the Law was written on stone; at Pentecost, it was written on hearts.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-4; Jeremiah 31:31-33.
Significance: The birth of the Church and the empowerment of believers.
Application: This represents Power.
Family Celebration: Decorate your home with green branches and flowers to represent the harvest. Bake two loaves of leavened bread (as prescribed in Leviticus) to represent the Jews and Gentiles becoming one body in Christ.
Part 2: The Fall Feasts (The Second Coming)
Chapter 5: The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah)
After a long summer harvest, the fall feasts begin with a "shout" or a blast of the shofar. Booker interprets this as a wake-up call and a prophetic shadow of the gathering of the saints.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Significance: The regathering of Israel and the Rapture/Return of Christ.
Application: A call to Repentance and alertness.
Family Celebration: Buy a shofar (or a simple horn) and let the family take turns blowing it. Eat apples dipped in honey to symbolize a "sweet" new year of walking with the Lord while discussing the promise of His return.
Chapter 6: The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
The holiest day on the calendar. Booker explains that while Passover is about individual salvation, Yom Kippur points to national salvation and final judgment.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:26-32; Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9:11-14.
Significance: The final cleansing of sin and the "Second Coming" in glory.
Application: This represents Redemption in its final, corporate sense.
Family Celebration: Observe a day of "humbling your soul." This can be a day of family fasting (or "screen fasting" for younger children) and focused prayer for the salvation of the nations and Israel.
Chapter 7: The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
A seven-day festival where Israelites lived in booths (Sukkot) to remember God’s provision. Booker describes this as the climax, pointing to the Messianic Kingdom.
Scripture: Leviticus 23:33-44; Zechariah 14:16; Revelation 21:3.
Significance: God "tabernacling" with man (The Millennium).
Application: This represents Rest and Celebration.
Family Celebration: Build a "Sukkah" (a temporary shelter or even a tent) in the backyard or living room. Eat meals inside it for a week, look at the stars, and thank God for His physical and spiritual protection.
Part 3: The Expanded Content
Chapter 8: Hanukkah (The Feast of Dedication)
Booker includes this to show its importance in the life of Jesus (the "Light of the World").
Scripture: John 10:22-23; Daniel 8 (prophetic background).
Family Celebration: Light a Hanukkiah (nine-branch candelabra). Each night, read a scripture about Jesus being the Light and discuss how your family can be lights in a dark world.
Chapter 9: Purim (The Feast of Lots)
Based on the Book of Esther, exploring God’s providential protection.
Scripture: The Book of Esther.
Family Celebration: Have a "costume night" where kids dress up as characters from Esther. Read the story aloud and "boo" whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, celebrating God’s victory over the enemy.
Chapter 10: The Feasts and Your Walk with God
Booker synthesizes the "Cycle of the Feasts" into a map for spiritual growth.
Scripture: Colossians 2:16-17.
Family Celebration: Create a "Biblical Feast Calendar" for your fridge. Mark these dates alongside your standard calendar to keep your family’s rhythm focused on God’s redemptive timeline.
What About Lent?
Lent is a traditional Christian observance rather than one of the "Feasts of the Lord" found in Leviticus 23. However, it fits perfectly as a season of preparation leading up to the Spring Feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits).
While the Feasts are God’s "Appointed Times," Lent is a 40-day journey (excluding Sundays) used by many Christians to mirror Jesus' time in the wilderness, focusing on the "leaven" (sin) we need to remove before the Passover sacrifice.
Summary Calendar
The 2026 Biblical & Christian Calendar
Purim (Feast of Lots): Begins at sundown Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Lent (Season of Preparation): Begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and concludes on Saturday, April 4, 2026 (the day before Resurrection Sunday).
The Spring Feasts (The First Coming)
Passover (Pesach): Begins at sundown Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah): Begins at sundown Thursday, April 2, 2026 (lasts 7 days).
Feast of Firstfruits (Bikkurim/Resurrection Sunday): Begins at sundown Saturday, April 4, 2026 (Celebrated April 5).
Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot): Begins at sundown Saturday, May 23, 2026.
The Fall Feasts (The Second Coming)
Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah): Begins at sundown Friday, September 11, 2026.
Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): Begins at sundown Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): Begins at sundown Friday, September 25, 2026 (lasts 7 days).
The Winter Feast
Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication): Begins at sundown Friday, December 4, 2026 (lasts 8 nights).
