Holiday

A day or period of time during which regular work is suspended. In Israel, the Sabbath provided a weekly break from everyday labour, giving opportunity for rest and religious assembly, and was the pattern for set days of rest and annual festivals. The NT records events in the life of Jesus Christ which are marked by Christian holidays.

The Sabbath day

Genesis 2:2–3 See also Exodus 31:13–17 Their observance of the Sabbath marked Israel out as the distinctive people of God; Jeremiah 17:24; Mark 2:27; Hebrews 4:4

And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

The purpose of holidays

For rest and refreshment

Exodus 23:12 The Sabbath provided a rest period each week. See also Exodus 20:8–11 parallel Deuteronomy 5:12–14; Exodus 34:21

For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident.

To restore society

Leviticus 25:2–5 The sabbath year allowed the land to be rested; Leviticus 25:10 The restoration of family property in the Year of Jubilee; Deuteronomy 15:12 The sabbath year marked the release of Hebrew slaves.

To assemble for worship

Leviticus 23:3 Release from the ties of everyday labour gives opportunity for the people of God to meet together in worship; Numbers 29:12 See also Leviticus 23:27 parallel Numbers 29:7; Deuteronomy 16:8; Isaiah 1:13Psalm 42:4 See also Psalm 68:24–27, Psalm 118:27

For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the festive procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.

To recall God's deliverance

Deuteronomy 5:15 See also Deuteronomy 16:3, Deuteronomy 16:12; Hebrews 4:11

Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

Israel's seven annual holidays

Exodus 12:16 parallel Leviticus 23:7–8 the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; Leviticus 23:21 parallel Numbers 28:26 the day of firstfruits (Pentecost); Leviticus 23:24–25 parallel Numbers 29:1 the Feast of Trumpets; Leviticus 23:28–32 parallel Leviticus 16:29–31 the Day of Atonement; Leviticus 23:34–36 the first and eighth days of the Feast of Tabernacles

Christian holidays linked with the life of Jesus Christ

The Lord's Day

Acts 20:7 See also Mark 16:9 The church meets together on the first day of the week: the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.

Christmas Day

Luke 2:7 See also John 1:14

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Epiphany

Matthew 2:1–2, Matthew 2:9–11

Lent

Matthew 4:1–2 parallels Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2

Good Friday

Matthew 27:45–50 parallels Mark 15:33–37, Luke 23:44–46; John 19:28–30

Easter Sunday

Mark 16:5–6 parallels Matthew 28:5–6, Luke 24:4–6

When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

Ascension Day

See also Luke 24:50–51; Acts 1:9

Pentecost (Whit Sunday)

Acts 2:1–4