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Yearly Archives: 2018
Yom Kippur, the Book of Life and the Windows of Heaven
Today marks one of the holiest days in the Jewish new year -Yom Kippur. In Jewish belief, it marks the end of ten days of repentance for sinful thoughts, actions and feelings over the previous twelve months.
Is there anything that Christians can appropriate from this most holy of days? The old testament contains many shadows of the coming messiah. For example, Yehsua was crucified on the exact day and time as the Passover lamb and the Holy spirit was given fifty days after Passover. It is clear that Yeshua fulfilled the law and that these events are no coincidence.
Yom Kippor or the day of atonement is also the day when the sins of the people were confessed before God and two sacrifices were brought to the door of the temple. On lamb was chosen and brought into the temple, placed on the altar and slain. At this point, the sins of the people were remitted. The priest would then wash in the baptismal pool or mikvah as a symbol of cleansing. The priest also sprinkles the blood seven times in the holy of holies. Yom kippor is the only day when the high priest goes into the holy of holies to offer an atonement. The other sacrifice, the scapegoat, was sent into the wilderness to be plunged over the cliff carrying the sins of the nation (Lev. 16:8-10).
It is unsurprising that the portion of scripture about Abraham leading Isaac to sacrifice is read on this year. Yeshua, like the scapegoat, was chosen by lot and stood before the people ready to give himself an atonement for all. This is also the time when the book of life is thought to be opened and God reviews one’s actions over the year. It is a good time to reflect on our behavior and attitudes over the past year. Finally, this is the time when the ‘windows of heaven’ are opened and the devourer is rebuked (Mal. 3:10). It is a time to start anew, to change course, to make things right with your fellow man and God; a time to be blessed again.
Pentecost 2018 -The Kingdom has Come
On Saturday 19th of May, the world witnessed the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The wedding coincided with the beginning of Pentecost or Shavuot. During the wedding some notable elements stood out as making a particular impact on those watching:
- The Lord’s Prayer was prayed before the global audience- a prayer about the kingdom
- A rapturous version of the song, ‘stand by me’ was given by the Kingdom Choir.
- It was the culmination of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s series on ‘thy Kingdom come’ a programme to promote awareness of the kingdom.
- An Episcopalian Bishop spoke about the power of Love. In Jewish thought, G-d’s love is shown through his law; there is no love without law. The sermon about the transforming and redemptive nature of love where love was equated with ‘fire’ and ‘power’ to ‘change the world’ was a message of kingdom.
Pentecost comes fifty days after Passover or first fruits and is symbolic of the law being given from Mt Sinai fifty days after Passover. The act of giving law is a statement of Kingdom; one can only issue law in sovereign territory. There are many aspects of the Lord’s Prayer which allude to the presence and power of the kingdom (in Hebrew, the words, ‘Malkut’ and ‘Memlecah’ representing kingdom are used). Pentecost was a powerful statement of G-ds authority coming to earth through the his church.
There are many aspects to this teaching that are interesting and intricate. Because of the importance of this teaching, YaYiN is making the full teaching, going into the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words freely available to all global Talmidim upon request. This will also incorporate a deep study of the real significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit or Ruach ha Qodesh.
We are also inviting new Talmidim to enjoy the benefits of the courses offered in the Beyt Sefer, the starting point for further progression in YaYiN. So, take advantage of this precious resource and gain fresh insight into the presence and power of the kingdom as taught in the Lord’s Prayer today!
'YAYIN' - YESHIVAT YESHUA HA NOTZRI 