Learning from Our Jewish Friends

 

Learning from Our Jewish Friends

 

Yesterday (September 25, 2022) at sunset marked the beginning of the Jewish Holiday called Rosh Hashana.  It is the first day of the 10-day period called Israel’s “High Holy Days” and is the start of Israel’s New Year (this being Year 5783).  This 10-day period is commonly referred to as the “Days of Awe” or “Days of Repentance”, and culminates in the observance of Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement”.  (https://www.jewfaq.org/what_is_judaism )

I think it is important for Christians and others who are Bible students to not only be aware of these observances, but to also understand their relevance to those who believe in Jesus Christ.  It is to our benefit to know that our Lord has committed to bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse her (Genesis 12: 2-3; 27: 29; and Numbers 24: 1-9). However, even as we do not accept Israel’s teachings as our doctrine today, we definitely appreciate the value of their beliefs as having laid a foundation for our current doctrine (2 Timothy 3: 16-17).

With the onset of Israel’s New Year, our Jewish friends are called on to begin a period of soul-searching; reviewing their actions over the past year; and making plans to correct past mistakes.  These days of preparation come to conclusion on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In the Torah Scripture, the LORD gave instructions to Moses as to how the Nation of Israel was to approach Him once yearly through their High Priest, to demonstrate their repentance and atone for their sins. That process required the blood of animals that had been sacrificed to be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant, in the Holy of Holies in Israel’s Temple (Leviticus Chapter 16).  

Today, in the absence of Israel’s Temple, a Jew is to demonstrate repentance and make amends on an individual basis. Current Jewish religious practice defines how that is to be accomplished (https://www.jewfaq.org/yom_kippur )

For Christians, we believe that our Lord Jesus fulfilled God’s requirement for the shedding of innocent blood to atone for our sins through His suffering, Crucifixion and death (Hebrews Chapter Nine).  That is the foundation for our faith in the Gospel of Grace…that He died to atone / pay for our sins (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10: 9-13). We believe that His Resurrection confirmed that God has accepted His blood as full payment for our sins and established His complete victory over death on our behalf.  Through God’s Grace, we who believe what our Lord Jesus has done, have received eternal life… (and other blessings that will be the subject of another posting).

The context for what we as Christians believe is key for our understanding of how God has dealt with mankind over the centuries, especially through His Chosen People Israel.  God had been preparing them to be a “holy nation” and “kingdom of priests”, who would evangelize the Gentile world (Exodus 19: 1-6). Although they failed to meet that expectation through their rejection of our Lord Jesus, they have nonetheless given us invaluable information for our learning and doctrine (Romans 11: 1-11).

Dr. W.A. Robinson