A Christian Understanding Of The Jewish Festivals

In the Old Testament, God gave His people days of feasting and celebration. He gave them as days of remembrance. Many of our modern-day Jewish holidays are those same days of remembrance that we read of in the Bible. The Christian faith is deeply rooted in the Old Testament tradition. Jesus and His Apostles were practicing Jews who faithfully observed all of the days of feast and celebration that we now know as Jewish holidays. As they observed the holidays, Jesus and His Apostles were intimately familiar with their symbols, and with their significance (both historical and spiritual). The same cannot be said for many if not most of our Lord's modern-day followers. Should Christians Celebrate Jewish Holidays?The short answer is no. The Bible places no requirement upon Christians to celebrate Jewish holidays. There is, however, a beauty, a richness, and a historical and spiritual understanding that comes from them. As Christians, while we are not bound to Judaism, we do well to at least understand and respect the traditions that Our Lord Himself observed.As you read you will not only discover the rich tradition in each of these Jewish holidays, you will realized that, as Christians, you may already be observing some of them without even realizing it.

A window into Judaism’s sacred days—throughout history and today. Written especially for Christians. Holy days and holidays provide the peak experiences of Jewish life. These moments speak deeply to the Jewish soul and animate Judaism’s culture. They encourage Jews to participate in their shared historical experience, which reflects their covenantal relationship with God, and articulate Jewish values that have allowed for the survival of the Jewish people. But what can they mean to Christians seeking to understand their own faith? In this special book, Rabbis Olitzky and Judson guide you through the major Jewish holidays and what they mean for the Jewish people. Each chapter explores a different holiday and explains the origin, historical background, customs and rituals that are part of observance and the holiday’s Christian parallels. Examining observance in both home and synagogue—and in all Jewish denominations—this easy-to-use guide to the Jewish holidays will be a valuable resource for your own understanding of Jewish sacred time throughout the year. And by linking the Jewish holidays to familiar Christian holidays and practices, you will be better able to appreciate the roots of Christianity and how the fundamentals of Judaism relate to and reflect your own spiritual foundation. Rosh Hashanah–New Year Yom Kippur–Day of Atonement Sukkot–Feast of Booths (Fall Harvest Festival) Simchat Torah–Rejoicing in the Torah Hanukkah–Rededication Purim–(Festival of Survival) Pesach–Passover Shavuot–(Receiving the Torah) Tisha B’Av (Mourning and Commemoration) and Other Special Days Shabbat (Day of Rest)

Understanding the purpose and traditions of the Jewish feasts will give you a deeper appreciation for your God, your heritage, and the gift of redemption provided by the sacrificial death of Christ. The Fall Feasts of Israel will help you understand three of Israel's most significant festivals: Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. A complete examination of each feast includes a look at its biblical institution, its celebration in the time of Christ, and its observances by Jews today. "The feasts and laws of the Lord were a tutor to lead the Israelites to the Savior...the festivals find their fulfillment in Christ and His New Covenant." This book will give you insight into what God originally intended for the sacrificial offerings.

William Francis, author of The Stones Cry Out (1993), presents a worthy examination of the Jewish feasts and fasts established by God in Leviticus 23 and those inaugurated after the Babylonian exile. With studied skill Francis first explains the historical background of each feast, then offers its meaning and practice among Jews, and lastly makes clear its significance for modern Christians. The book reveals how Jesus participated in the feasts and how their meaning was fulfilled. The author's numerous visits to Israel and his precise probing for cultural insights into the Hebraic heritage of the Christian Church distinguish Francis as a preeminent voice among contemporary authorities on the Holy Land. Celebrate the Feasts is a valuable and informative book that combines a lucid writing style with careful scholarship, yet it avoids the intrusion of multiple citations and footnotes. Study guides follow each chapter, and a helpful bibliography lists Old Testament feasts in greater depth and detail. Celebrate the Feasts reminds us that uniting in joyful worship nourishes our souls, our social relationships, and, on occasion, our bodies. As you turn the pages, you will find yourself seated at the banquet table, enjoying the Feasts of the Lord!

Most readers of the New Testament study the great stories of Jesus through the lens of western culture. But how well can we really understand this Jewish teacher if we don't understand his context? In this series of books, Gary Burge uses his extensive knowledge of the first century world and the Middle East to offer insights not available to the average person. Each book will develop important cultural themes and wrap them around well-known New Testament passages. And the result will be insights rarely gained elsewhere. In this fourth volume of the Ancient Context, Ancient Faith series, Dr. Burge explores six different Jewish festivals as they were celebrated in the first century and examines how Jesus used the imagery of the festivals to unveil his own mission. Discover the Jewish Sabbath, Passover, Tabernacles, and Hanukkah as Jesus knew them.

"How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27) There's a selfish part of me that wanted to write everything that I know at this point, and the amateur in me wanted to write it all in one book, on the definitive way of understanding Jesus through the Jewish Festivals and through the themes that emerge, but I felt the Lord had commissioned me to sing a new song--not a whole opera, just one song that told the story, a royal ballad. If we understand kingship as the background and framework into which all the other stories fit, then we will be a good way along the path of understanding what it was that Jesus was trying to explain to the disciples. This road to Emmaus won't tell us everything, but it will have started us off on a journey with signposts we can continue to follow all our lives.

Celebrating the Biblical Jewish Holidays is part of ALL Followers of Messiah!Finding Jesus in the Jewish Holidays is an invitation to go on a treasure hunt and discover more of God and His intended blessings for us using the map provided by celebrating the Jewish holidays. Understanding these sacred times of the year, steeped in tradition and rich in profound meaning, will help us experience and see our faith more clearly and open the door to a fresh fullness of the inheritance we have as believers.In Finding Jesus in the Jewish Holidays, we introduce ourselves to our faith's Jewish roots and gain a heightened biblical perspective as we practice the same traditions and rituals Yeshua-Jesus embraced. We begin to see His life and ministry from a different viewpoint, through Jewish eyes.Understanding and celebrating Jewish biblical holidays is transformational. We can ignite a fire that renews and transforms us as we combine Old Testament tradition with a fiery desire to go more deeply into the blessings God has for us and abide more deeply in Jesus Messiah.

The events that took place during Jesus' final week on earth—Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the trial, Jesus' death and his resurrection—are foundational to your salvation and your Christian life. This eight-session LifeGuide® Bible Stud allows you to focus more closely on these amazing events and gain new understanding about who Jesus is and how he loves you.