This sheaf was, typically or mystically, Christ risen. “On the morrow after the Sabbath,” the first day, or resurrection day, it was waved.
In the ordinance of waving we observe these particulars. (Lev. 23:10-14).
1. The Jew was to bring the sheaf.
2. The Priest was to wave it before the Lord, and it would be accepted for Israel.
3. The Jew, or Israel was then to offer a burnt, meat, and drink offering.
4. Israel was not to eat of the new corn in any shape, till this was done.
This is typical of the way of a believer touching the resurrection of Christ, as shown in Luke 24:26-53.
1. The disciples brim, the sheaf; i.e., they believe the resurrection of Christ. (366-45).
2. Christ Himself, the true Priest, lets them know that this resurrection was for them, accepted for them. (46-51.)
3. They make their offerings on this ground, offerings of worship and joy. (52.)
4. They know of no eating, no feast, no communion; but in connection with the waved sheaf. The temple to them is only the place of its celebration. They occupy it, as it were, only—in company with Jesus risen. (v. 53).
The sweet point of attraction is v. 53 of Luke 24 The congregation can do nothing for the moment but rejoice in the wave sheaf. It is the commanding, the absorbing thought. They fill the Temple, not as worshipping Jews, with sacrifices, for the remembrance of sins, but as believing sinners, with thanksgivings for the resurrection, which bears the remission of sins.
It is the first harvest day with them—they had lost sight of all Temple service, but as it witnessed the ordinance of waving the sheaf of firstfruits.
Some may ask, how could they seek the Temple, after they had reached to faith in Jesus risen? They sought it, and used it, and knew it, and as the appointed place for rendering their offerings on the first clay of harvest; that harvest which the God. of Israel was now (dying His land and people.
It is another form of owning like David, Oman’s floor as the only place of service. (1 Chron. 21) The wave sheaf—Jesus risen—tells us, like that mystic spot, that “Mercy rejoiceth against judgment:” and how can we occupy any other ground? David would not seek the former altar, and the disciples forgot the old Temple; or the Temple in any of its services but one-that which belonged to the first day of harvest.
The resurrection in earlier parts of Luke 24 had done its sweet service with the disciples. It had chased away their fears, cleared up, their doubts and difficulties, and done the business which their loving spices had proposed to do, and that too in a. much better way; but now it had done its service for them. It changes their religion—giving them to triumph in the remission of sins, instead of going on as they had been wont to do, to perpetuate the remembrance of sin. It rebuilds their Temple for them without any cost or trouble to them, just as it had rolled away the heavy stone for them from the sepulcher, so now it rolls away a yoke which neither they nor their fathers had been able to bear, and calls their spirits forth into the sunshine and liberty of the resurrection morning.