The Jewish Jesus by Feed the Hunger

Jewish JESUS The

A DEVOTIONAL BY

Joseph L. Williams

Jewish JESUS The

a devotional by

Joseph L. Williams

Table of Contents Day 1: So Many Names 7 Day 2: It’s All Greek Hebrew Aramaic to Me 9 Day 3: Scriptures = Old Testament 11 Day 4: The Prophecies 13 Day 5: A Closer Look 15 Day 6: Old Testament Appearances 17 Day 7: Tabernacle and Temple 19 Day 8: Yerushalayim 21 Day 9: Did Jesus Abolish Old Testament Law? 23 Day 10: The Gospel of Levi 25 Day 11: It’s in the Genes 27 Day 12: The Baby Presentation 29 Day 13: Do We Have to Talk about Circumcision? 31 Day 14: The Jewish Boy 33 Day 15: A Life Foreign to Us 35 Day 16: Son of David 37 Day 17: Rabbi 39 Day 18: Tefillin, Tallit, and Tzitzit 41 Day 19: Getting to the Root 43 Day 20: Identifying Certain Groups 45 Day 21: Making Disciples 47 Day 22: Interaction with Gentiles 49 Day 23: High Priest 51 Day 24: The Passover Lamb 53 Day 25: Pass the Matzah, Please 55 Day 26: King of the Jews 57 Day 27: First Jew, then Gentile 59 Day 28: Synagogue vs. Church 61 Day 29: The Book of Hebrews 63 Day 30: Lost to This Day 65 Conclusion 67

Introduction Jesus’ life was very simple. He spent it walking from place to place and meeting the needs of the people, the Jewish people in particular. By the time of His ascension, however, He had commanded His disciples, and subsequently commands us, to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He was born a Jew, was raised a Jew, and died as the Savior of the world. In this devotional we will be looking at the life of Jesus, specifically His Jewish upbringing and influence. This is often overlooked today. In fact, I’ve noticed that there are three groups of people who don’t concern themselves with Jesus’ life as a Jew. First, I daresay many American Christians subconsciously view Jesus as a white-skinned English-speaking man who wrote the King James Bible. Our perception is simply not based in reality. It is highly doubtful that most churches today would even allow Jesus to preach from their pulpit. Let’s be honest—who would allow this plainly clothed Man without a seminary degree, with no possessions to His name and with only His feet as transportation, to be given a place of authority in the church? Second, there are those who believe that the Jewishness of Jesus is just not important. They believe that the Church completely replaced Israel as God’s chosen people because Israel failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They also believe that whatever happens to modern-day political or spiritual Israel or to the Jewish people corporately has no relation to the Church or to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. They believe God now only calls the Church “His people”. The Jews and Israel had their chance and missed it. Last, there are many believers who just don’t know or seem to care about Jesus’ life as a Jew. They walk in ignorance of this crucial aspect of His life. They mainly read the Bible at face value, rarely seeking to understand historical, religious, or cultural context, and have an inadequate commitment to know God’s Word. Let’s face it: we’re all a little guilty of this laziness. The commonality tying all three viewpoints together is a self-centered Gospel. Instead of studying the Bible and its context objectively and with a whole-hearted passion to know the full truth of God’s message, we allow biases and lethargy take over.

From the Old Testament law and prophecies to Jesus’ birth, upbringing, and ministry, we’ll look broadly at the Jewish religious culture, customs, and influence in His life and beyond. The majority of Scripture references will be from the Old Testament and two New Testament books (Matthew and Hebrews) written to a Jewish audience. Several names from the Old Testament will also continue to pop up. As with any devotional I write, it is impossible to be exhaustive. Rather, it is meant to encourage and inspire you to dig deeper into God’s Word in your own personal study time. If I achieve this objective, then to Him be the glory!

Day 1 So Many Names Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber. Genesis 10:21 Right out of the gate, it is important to try and establish a measure of clarity. It can get a little confusing to hear the different names used for God’s people: Semites, Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews. Let’s briefly look at each one to gain a better understanding. I think you will see an interesting pattern emerge, but allow me some grace as I paint with broad strokes. We start today’s study after the great flood looking for the origin of each word. Semites are the descendants of Shem, the middle of the three sons of Noah (Genesis 10:21). They settled in the general area known today as the Middle East. As we’ll see tomorrow, Semitic is the term used to define the language group to which Hebrew belongs. The word Hebrew is derived from the name Eber, also in the verse above. Abraham was a descendant of Shem and of Eber. It was Abram/ Abraham who was first called a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13). The last time the word is used in the Old Testament to label someone is by Jonah about himself (1:9). However, the Apostle Paul referred to himself as a Hebrew twice (2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5). Jacob was renamed Israel by God in Genesis 32:28. He was a descendant of Shem, Eber, and Abraham, and his descendants were called Israelites. This term is used as a corporate name throughout Scripture, even in the New Testament. References to Israel are particularly numerous in the first five books of the Old Testament. They can also be found in Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Kings, and so on. Once again, Paul referred to himself as an Israelite in the same verse as above, 2 Corinthians 11:22. What about the word Jew? This is derived from the word Judah. He was one of Jacob’s twelve sons. This means that he, too, was a descendant of all the same people in the family line we’ve been examining. So, Jews were specifically descended from the tribe of Judah. Jesus was accurately referred to as King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37) because He also was descended from Judah (Matthew 1:3). However, it seems over

time that Jew came to mean all people of descent from the twelve tribes. The meanings of these four terms have somewhat changed up to the present. Anti-Semitic is a term used to describe those who are racist against the Jewish people of today. Hebrew is the name of the modern-day Jewish language, and Israeli (Israelite) refers to anyone living in Israel. Jew is especially used in a religious context as the name of those that adhere to Judaism. For the sake of continuity in this devotional, I will mainly (but not exclusively) refer to them as Jews.

Day 2 It’s All Greek Hebrew Aramaic to Me Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. John 19:20 Now, let’s look at the language itself. Hebrew is in the Semitic language family and its sister languages include Arabic and Aramaic. You might already know that Arabic is the language of those who follow Islam. This should not be surprising, as Muslims and Jews both trace their roots back to Abraham. They differ on which son was blessed, Isaac or Ishmael. This is only the beginning of vast differences in beliefs between the two. Hebrew is a pictographic language, which means that each of the 22 letters stands for something. Think of it like Egyptian hieroglyphics, where meaning is conveyed visually in each hieroglyphic shape. Words used to describe the Hebrew language are “vivid”, “poetic”, “lively”, and “rhythmic”. Its modernized version is used today in Israel. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with a few exceptions written in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8–6:18, 7:12–26; Daniel 2:4–7:28; Jeremiah 10:11). Perhaps the assumption is that Jesus spoke Hebrew since that was the language of the Old Testament and the people of Abrahamic descent. It is likely that when Jesus read from the Old Testament in the synagogue, He was doing so in Hebrew (Luke 4:16–21). However, there were other languages present at the turn of the first millennium. The New Testament was written in Greek. The Romans spoke Latin. The sign put on the cross above Jesus’ head was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek (see above). There are two instances in the New Testament where Jesus spoke Aramaic: • Matthew 27:46: On the cross as He was about to die, “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)”. Interestingly, Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, which was originally written in Hebrew.

• Mark 5:41: Jesus raised a girl from the dead. “He took her by

the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’)”.

There are also several verses in John’s Gospel that mention a specific Aramaic word: Bethesda (5:2), Gabbatha (19:13), Golgotha (19:17), and Rabboni (20:16). God spoke to Saul (later, Paul) in Aramaic on the Damascus Road (Acts 26:14), and Paul spoke to the crowd in Jerusalem in Aramaic (Acts 21:40, 22:2). So, it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus spoke several languages (at least three). English was not one of them. This might sound silly, but the way some churches revere certain English Bible translations today, it makes you wonder.

Day 3 Scriptures = Old Testament He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:44–45 The Old Testament comprises 39 books written over a very long period of time. The first five books are called the Pentateuch and were written by Moses in the 1400s BC. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and was written around 400 BC. Let it sink in that we are reading a compilation of divinely inspired instructions, historical accounts, poetry, and prophecies that span one thousand years. Is man capable of accurately compiling such a collection on his own? I don’t believe so. Here is a brief summary of what took place over this millennium of writings. God set up a covenant with the Hebrew people through a man named Abraham, then his son, Isaac, and then his grandson, Jacob. The people grew in number and eventually became slaves to Egypt. They were liberated and led to the Promised Land by Moses. Early on during this age, God set up a sacrificial religious system. The people made symbolic offerings of animals to atone for their sins against Him. Jesus would later become the ultimate sacrifice even though most Jews to this day still don’t recognize Him as their long-awaited Messiah. We’ll look at this further on a future day when the Passover is discussed. God gave them commands and instructions to obey. Disobedience occurred in various degrees under the leadership of judges and through the reigns of good and bad kings. The land was finally divided into northern and southern kingdoms, which were both eventually conquered. Prophecies were given throughout this period concerning a future Messiah who would bring victory. We’ll look at some of those prophecies tomorrow. It is important to note that, as we study this devotional, whenever Jesus was referring to “the Scriptures”, He is specifically referencing the Pentateuch, Psalms, and most or all of the books written by prophets. We in today’s world often forget that the New Testament writings did not exist during Jesus’ day. So, it is through this lens that we need to find

understanding. When the term Scripture is used, it is referring to most of the books found in the Old Testament. Scripture is also indirectly referenced whenever we read the phrase, “As it is written”. For example, in Luke 3:4 it says, “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him”’”. He is quoting from Isaiah 40:3. To summarize, a millennium of divinely inspired writings set the stage for New Testament authors to record the First Coming of Jesus, the spread of the early church, and prophecies concerning His Second Coming.

Day 4 The Prophecies For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Yesterday, we set the stage for understanding the broad scope of the Old Testament. It is amazing that such a compilation exists for our spiritual benefit. What is equally amazing are the prophecies in these books about Jesus that occurred centuries before His birth. Did you know that there are at least 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament? Around two-thirds of them occur in Psalms and Isaiah. It seems every aspect of His life and ministry was foretold by these prophecies. Here are some of the more well-known examples. Isaiah 9:2–7 presents a message of hope about His birth. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are probably two of the most descriptive of how Jesus would suffer and die for our sins. Likewise, there are prophecies in the Old and New Testament about the climax of human history and Jesus’ second and final return, especially in Revelation. There are also short passages and verses about the Second Coming, like Matthew 24:30, 1 Corinthians 15:52, and 1 Thessalonians 4:17. I have heard it said that prophets are only given pieces of a larger puzzle. This seems to be true in the Bible. Various prophets were given different details, and we are blessed to view them collectively and see how they came beautifully into fulfillment through Jesus’ First Coming. Since we have not yet seen His Second Coming, we likewise only see pieces of the puzzle—some of which contain heavy symbolism and are cryptic. Be wary of those who claim divine inspiration and the key to unlock an understanding of what hasn’t happened yet. There are many around today who claim the gift of prophetic answers to more than what God may have revealed to them. In my humble opinion, the study of the prophetic is meant to give us an appreciation for our Biblical history, excite us about the future, and encourage us to live a fruitful life for the Lord today. So, as we consider what is to come in Matthew 24, the next chapter encourages us through three parables to (1) be ready for His return, (2) be good stewards of what God has given

us, and (3) help people in practical ways.

Day 5 A Closer Look For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 Let’s take a closer look at some of the many Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. I think you will find them encouraging, knowing that Jesus’ First Coming was prophesied in great detail many hundreds of years before He came. Specifically, Genesis was written before 1400 BC; Micah, Hosea, and Isaiah were written 700 or so years before Christ. All of the Old Testament was written at least 400 years before Christ. You get the point. It is also helpful to have knowledge of these prophecies for those experiencing “doubting Thomas” moments or to share with those skeptical of our faith. Here is a list of just a small fraction of the specific prophecies about Christ, followed by the Scripture references for both the prophecy and its fulfillment: HIS BIRTH • From the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:3) • Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:5–6) • Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22–23) • Called Immanuel (same) • Would spend a season in Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14–15) HIS MINISTRY • Preceded by an “Elijah” (Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:13–14) • Loved and praised by children (Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16) • Would proclaim good news (Isaiah 61:1–2; Luke 4:16–21) • Spoke in parables (Psalm 78:1–2; Matthew 13:35) • Praised as He rode a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1–5) HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION • Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13; Matthew

• • • •

27:6–10) His clothes divided up by casting lots (Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35) His body was pierced (Isaiah 53:5; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34) Forsaken by God (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46) Would be resurrected (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:22–32)

This is just scratching the surface of the Old Testament prophecies dealing with the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. It does not even include the Old and New Testament prophecies about the eventual return of the Messiah. Take comfort in the fact that God has a sovereign plan that He reveals over time to prophets. They are each given various pieces of the puzzle, as we’ve said. And we, through the compilation of the 66 books in the Bible, are given a comprehensive picture of God’s plan for the Jewish people and for all mankind. We can now look forward to the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding His Second Coming with great anticipation.

Day 6 Old Testament Appearances There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Exodus 3:2a Angels seem to be often misunderstood and improperly revered in today’s society. They are worn on jewelry and even prayed to. We know that angels are found throughout Scripture and are mentioned many times. God deploys them to convey His messages, to protect His people, and to battle against the fallen angel, Satan, and the angels who fell with him. There are two angels mentioned by name: Michael and Gabriel. Michael’s task was to protect the Jewish people (Daniel 12:1). Gabriel appeared four times: to Daniel (twice), John the Baptist’s father, and to Mary. It is a commonly held belief that whenever the Old Testament mentions “the angel of the Lord”, it is likely Jesus appearing to someone in pre-incarnate bodily form. This happened several times. It’s worth listing many of these occurrences, so that we can see the moments that God chose to have direct communication with the Jewish people. The angel of the Lord appeared to: • Sarai (Sarah) regarding Ishmael’s birth (Genesis 16:7–14) • Abraham when he was about to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:11– 18) • Jacob during a dream (Genesis 31:11–13) • Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3) • Balaam and his talking donkey (Numbers 22:21–35) • Gideon about his upcoming victory against the Midianites (Judges 6) • Samson’s parents about his birth and future (Judges 13) • Elijah after fleeing Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–18) • David as God brought a plague on Israel (2 Samuel 24:16–17; 1 Chronicles 21:15–19)

The angel of the Lord isn’t mentioned again after the birth of Jesus. Nonetheless, I find great comfort in the fact that God intervenes supernaturally in the lives of His people throughout the ages. And you know what is even more exciting? He still does this every day in the lives of believers because we have God living within us through His Holy Spirit. Just as angels convey messages and bring protection at God’s bidding, so the Holy Spirit guides us into making wise choices and avoiding evil. The catch is that the still small voice of His Spirit (1 Kings 19:9–18) is awfully hard to hear when we’re walking in sin and not pursuing Him with all our might.

Day 7 Tabernacle and Temple The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Starting during the nomadic life of Moses and the Hebrew people, God dwelt in a tabernacle, consisting of a tent and all of its contents, which were to be specifically constructed, including the priestly garments. These instructions were spelled out in Exodus 25–40. The tabernacle was contained within a 75-foot-wide by 100-foot-long enclosure. The courtyard around the tabernacle included a continuously burning bronze altar for offerings and a basin for washing. The tabernacle itself was an inner, curtained-off area of 15 feet by 45 feet that held the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Within the Holy Place was a golden table for the showbread, a golden lampstand, and the altar of incense. The Most Holy Place held the Ark of the Covenant, arguably made more famous in America by the first Indiana Jones movie than by the Bible itself. The lid of the ark was called the Mercy Seat, where the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled by the high priest for the atonement of the people’s sins. While the tabernacle could be relocated in times of wandering and war, the temple in Jerusalem became its replacement, as a permanent place to worship God. It existed in good times and bad, and was kept to God’s standards and defiled. King Solomon built the first temple (1 Kings 6), and the second was built by Zerubbabel after the Babylonian exile (book of Ezra). It was later renovated by Herod the Great, but then destroyed in AD 70. Of course, there is not room here to go over the tabernacle and temple in more detail. There is quite a lot to read in the Old Testament and some in the New Testament, as Jesus visited the temple often. The point for today’s devotional is to get the “30,000-foot view” and realize how Jesus replaced both the tabernacle and the temple. No longer did God require a religious structure or institution to have a relationship with Him. In John 1:14 above, the word used for dwelling

here is “tabernacle”. Jesus became flesh and dwells with us. God no longer required blood to be shed as an offering because Jesus “gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). A literal temple was replaced by a spiritual one. Each of us individually (1 Corinthians 6:19) and corporately as the Body of Christ (Ephesians 2:21–22) are now the figurative temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. Other analogies can be found in Hebrews 8–9. I encourage you to study this sometime.

Day 8 Yerushalayim On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. Zechariah 12:3 Yerushalayim is the Hebrew name for Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish world. This city is first mentioned as Salem in Genesis 14:18. It is also where David purchased land on Mount Moriah to build an altar to God (2 Samuel 24:18–25). It later became the site of the First and Second Temples. Centuries later, this same piece of real estate in Jerusalem was claimed by the Muslims as one of their holy sites and the city was named al-Quds. For many more centuries up to the present, the battle has raged for God’s Holy Land and City. Let’s rewind back to Jesus’ day and look at His close connection to this place. He was taken to Jerusalem as an infant to be dedicated to the Lord (Luke 2:22–24). His parents also went there every year for Passover (verse 41). On one of these occasions, Jesus, as a child, left His parents and went to the temple to engage the religious teachers in discussion (verses 43–50). As an adult, Jesus rode on a donkey into the city on the day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1–11). Shortly thereafter, He chased away the money lenders from the temple (verses 12–16). He again engaged the religious leaders there (21:23–46). Jesus mourned for Jerusalem because the people had rejected the prophets before Him, and because they would not see Him again until His final return (23:37–39). Jesus had the “Last Supper” and was arrested, crucified, and resurrected in Jerusalem. After His ascension, Jerusalem became the headquarters of the church (the book of Acts). Prior to His Second Coming, Jerusalem will be a major site of events at the End of the Age. Specifically, the Temple Mount in the heart of the city is a primary hotspot (Revelation 11). After God’s ultimate victory is won in Revelation 21:2, the Apostle John foresaw a future Jerusalem that we will all enjoy:

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” So how do we apply Jerusalem to us living in the West? Psalm 122:6a: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”. This city that has meant so much to the Jewish people, to Jesus, and to Christendom will be constantly surrounded by war and unrest. We need to pray for Israel in general and Jerusalem specifically until the day comes when Jesus returns and establishes His Kingdom there forever.

Day 9 Did Jesus Abolish Old Testament Law? Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:13–14 One of the arguments against Christianity today may seem valid to some, but in my opinion it usually just demonstrates ignorance. It should receive a sound Biblical answer in response. Sadly, it seems that few believers engage in this discussion because of a lack of knowledge and/ or confidence. Here is what I’m referring to: let’s say a Christian speaks out against militant Islam. A non-Christian will point to some seemingly violent act of God in the Old Testament and say that Christians are being hypocritical. Our “religion” is no better than any other. Or they’ll point to one of the unusual commands or laws in the Old Testament and say that the Christian is not obeying the entire Bible and, therefore, has no room to talk. Have you encountered this criticism from skeptics in your own life? I would appreciate a little grace as I try to lay out a somewhat complex issue in one brief devotional. Please also know that we are trying to understand a supernatural God in human terms. There are aspects we’ll not fully comprehend this side of heaven. Having given this disclaimer, let me attempt to summarize the symbiotic relationship between the Old and New Testament. Starting with Abraham, God chose the Hebrew people (who became the Jews) to bless all nations (Galatians 3:8). Before Jesus came, God instituted a religious system through Moses for the Jewish people to obey. We looked at this earlier. It covered ceremonies, civil law, and morality. It was not directed to Gentiles. It doesn’t mean that Christians ignore the Old Testament, for there is a wealth of knowledge and guidance that can be gained there. We just have to remember the target audience. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through

Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;? (John 1:17). Jesus fulfilled so many of the Old Testament practices and laws that they became no longer necessary. He opened the door of acceptance to the world. For the Jews and Gentiles, salvation and freedom henceforth came through Him to those who believed. Anyone who believes in the atoning work of the cross is not bound by legalism or performing for the sake of approval or special benefits. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws are still good, but many are kept in a spiritual way. The upcoming devotional about physical and figurative circumcision is a good example.

Day 10 The Gospel of Levi All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. Matthew 1:22 As you know, Matthew is the first of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Many of the stories are repeated in these four accounts, especially in the first three (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). That is why they are called the Synoptic Gospels. We rely on them because they are the best biographies on Jesus that exist. Although written in Greek, Matthew seems to be targeting Jewish believers. Tradition and the early church fathers believed that Matthew was the author. He was one of the 12 Disciples, or Apostles. Matthew, or Levi, as he is called in Mark and Luke, was a Jewish tax collector. This would have made him an ideal person to keep notes on the life, and especially the teachings, of Jesus that are found so prominent in this Gospel. The genealogy at the beginning of the book emphasizes Jesus’ direct line to King David and to Abraham (1:1). In particular, it includes stories that highlight one of Jesus’ titles, the Son of David. We’ll look at both of these aspects in this devotional. Similarly, the book also emphasizes Jesus as King, including accounts of Him being given this title by the Magi and by Pilate, the description of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem like a king, and by the sign over the cross. He was the prophesied King, the foretold Messiah for whom the Jews had been waiting. While all of the Gospels include quotes from the Old Testament, Matthew contains numerous additional ones. All of these were quoted to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the prophecies spoken by men of God like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and Zechariah. So, one could argue that Matthew’s purpose was demonstrated in the verse at the top. Everything about Jesus’ life took place to fulfill what God had spoken through Isaiah (and other prophets) centuries before. There is an important lesson for us in this, and the Apostle Paul emphasizes it in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. Like Matthew, we should be aware of our target audience and adapt our message accordingly. If we are

speaking to a youth group, we approach them differently than if addressing scientists. Why? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save someâ&#x20AC;? (verse 22b). We should use wisdom and tact as we approach people from different walks of life with the life-saving message of the Gospel.

Day 11 It’s in the Genes This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 The Gospel I will quote the most in this devotional study is Matthew, as it was written primarily to a Jewish audience. It should be no surprise, then, that this book starts out with a genealogy to prove Jesus was descended from Abraham. Luke also records a genealogy that starts with Jesus and goes all the way back to Adam. The most common explanation for the two genealogies differing from King David to Jesus is that Luke appears to be tracing through Mary while Matthew goes through Joseph, though both parents belonged to the tribe of Judah. Both books had different target audiences as well. Matthew also spiritualizes the genealogy a bit, while Doctor Luke seeks to be literal in his account. For the sake of space, I am only going to give a brief summary of this family line to make today’s point. Let’s go all the way back to Abraham when he was still called Abram. God told Abram that He would bless him and make him a blessing (Genesis 12:2–3). This was in spite of his then-barren wife, Sarai, who had Isaac at an old age. Later, Isaac married Rebekah and they had Jacob and Esau. Jacob received Isaac’s blessing despite being the younger son. Jacob had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin. The descendants of these sons eventually formed the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Judah was the leader among the tribes and would see a future king rule the nations (Genesis 49:10). This was initially fulfilled through David and later by Someone far more important. From the genealogies, we realize that Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and descended from King David. Further proof is in John’s apocalyptic vision, Revelation. He sees that “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed” (5:5). From these Biblical accounts, we can conclude with confidence that Jesus was a descendant of the Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and

Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, and from the royal line of King David. We can rest in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sovereign plan, which was made before the foundations of the world, to send His Son through a very specific race, tribe, and family line.

Day 12 The Baby Presentation When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Luke 2:22 In our modern-day Christian denominations, we either have infant baptism or baby dedication. Some churches do both, based on the preference or belief of the parents. Jesus was dedicated via presentation at the temple. Luke is the only Gospel that records this and a few other interesting facts about Jesus being presented to God in Jerusalem. In the previous verse, Doctor Luke mentions that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (we will look at circumcision tomorrow). The time then came for “the purification rites required by the Law of Moses”. What exactly is Luke referring to here? Leviticus 12 gives us the answer through an instructive timeline. According to Levitical law, a woman was ceremonially unclean for seven days after giving birth to a son. The child was then circumcised on the eighth day, so Mary and Joseph were being obedient to this command. Further, the mother needed 33 days “to be purified from her bleeding” (Leviticus 12:4). So it was after this period of time that Jesus’ parents took Him on the six-mile journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, brought Him to the priest, and offered a specific sacrifice. Apparently, Mary and Joseph were poor because they could only sacrifice two small birds instead of a lamb (Luke 2:24). The purpose of sacrificing the pair of birds was for Mary’s benefit and for this reason: “one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean” (Leviticus 12:8). So, let me close with a personal application. God made it clear to Moses that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to Him (Exodus 13:1–16). Mary and Joseph were obedient to this as well (Luke 2:23). Likewise, once our lives are dedicated to the Lord, we need to present ourselves to Him as an offering. We need to give Him control of our lives. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges us all: “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your

true and proper worship.â&#x20AC;? We need to consecrate ourselves to the Lord on an ongoing basis. We do this through actions like prayer, Bible study, worship, and discipline. You are never too young or too old to dedicate your life to serve Him and serve others.

Day 13 Do We Have to Talk about Circumcision? This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. Genesis 17:10 This might be an uncomfortable topic for some, but it is integral to the Bible. God instituted circumcision when He changed Abram’s name to Abraham (Genesis 17). No doubt that was an uncomfortable procedure for him and the adult males of his household! As mentioned yesterday, all males henceforth were circumcised on the eighth day after birth, including Jesus. The physical act of removing the foreskin from the male penis was an outward sign of the Hebrew’s covenant with God. It signified that the man was consecrated to serving Him. The opposite was also true; to be uncircumcised was to be cut off from God’s blessing. During the life of the early church, there arose a disagreement from the Jewish believers as to whether Gentile converts should be circumcised (Acts 15:1–29). Not surprisingly, this matter was of concern to the Pharisees who had been converted, as their whole lives had been dedicated to observance of the laws of Moses. This matter was taken before the early church council in Jerusalem by Paul and Barnabas. Peter was also present, and they gave a compelling argument that salvation is through grace, not by keeping the law, including the requirement to be circumcised. It was also obvious to the council that God was doing miracles among the Gentiles and giving them the Holy Spirit as well. So, the decision was made to encourage new Gentile believers to make wise choices about certain specific issues of the day, rather than requiring this physical demonstration of being one of God’s people. In the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4) Jews were encouraged to circumcise their hearts. In Colossians 2:11, Paul reminded the believers in Colossae (and us) that in Christ “you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ”. Here’s an application for us to consider today. While God desires for

us to do the right thing, we are not saved by works. We are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:10). However, because as children our parents and teachers expect obedience, it is easy to slip into legalism and only “feel good” about ourselves when we are continually doing the right things. Instead, since we have salvation and the Holy Spirit living in our “circumcised” hearts, we should more readily produce good works as a natural result. May that be true of us today.

Day 14 The Jewish Boy Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. Luke 2:41–42 Luke Chapter Two gives us another exclusive glimpse into the early life of the Jewish Jesus. We will look much more closely at Passover on another day. For now, we read this passage that contains the only Gospel story of Jesus when He was a child (verses 41–52). Every Jewish man tried to make the annual trip to Jerusalem for three festivals, including Passover (Deuteronomy 16:16). So, when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus took the journey, many others were also on this pilgrimage, including family and friends. This would be very similar to the caravans we see portrayed today in movies or in National Geographic. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising, then, that Jesus’ parents didn’t realize on the trip home that they didn’t have their Son. The women and children were usually in the front of the caravan and the men in the rear, so they may have assumed that their maturing son was somewhere in this long line. Instead, they later “found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46). What we’re going to focus on today was Jesus’ age. At the age of 12, Jewish boys were preparing to take their journey into adulthood. At age 13, males were required to observe the law, just as full-grown men were. This didn’t make the new teenagers adults, but they were of the age that observation of and obedience to the law were expected, and they were now accountable for their actions. You might also agree that in previous centuries and millennia children had greater responsibilities at much younger ages than their counterparts in today’s advanced societies. In many of the poorer countries where I travel, a lot of the children have responsibilities that American teens have not yet remotely tasted. Today, this Jewish teenage transition is celebrated through Bar Mitzvah. Translated, this means “son of the law” or “son of the commandment”. This requires fervent study of the Torah, which encompasses the

first five books of the Old Testament (referred to by Christians as the Pentateuch). Let us take this example from Jewish life as a guide to raise our children to obey Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s law. While we are not bound by legalism, we are compelled to obey His commands out of love for the One who fulfilled the law, not abolished it. We ought to mirror the servantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life that Jesus led, a life of devotion to the will of the Father, a life full of Scripture embedded in our hearts and proceeding from our lips.

Day 15 A Life Foreign to Us Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:19–20 There are several aspects of Jesus’ life that we do not relate to very well. These are not so much Jewish aspects as they are aspects of living in His day that are just not relatable to the modern world. Here are some that came to mind. For one, Jesus spent His whole life walking. We are so used to driving somewhere in five minutes that we can’t relate to this reality. I’ve seen estimates north of 20,000 miles that Jesus walked in His lifetime—most of which were before His three or so years of ministry. For example, it was mentioned earlier that every Jewish man was expected to travel to Jerusalem three times a year for the festivals. This would have been a 240-mile round trip from Nazareth each time. Further, life would have revolved around the basic essentials—food, water, and shelter. Jesus lived even one step beyond this during His ministry, likely relying on the goodwill of others each day to survive. Conversely, we live in a land of plenty that would be inconceivable to the people of Jesus’ day. That is both a blessing and a huge responsibility for us to be good stewards. Jesus didn’t start His ministry until age 30. This is not to say He didn’t have an occupation before then, as He was a craftsman, possibly a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Today, most men and women go into ministry right out of high school or college, preferably after seminary. Would Jesus be accepted into a Bible college today? Another aspect of the Jewish Messiah’s life was a continual occurrence of the miraculous. The Gospels record many instances, but many more were not written down (John 20:30, 21:25). We don’t see a lot of miracles in the Western world today. It has been my experience that most miracles take place where the message of Christ is in its early days of being declared in a particular location. In conclusion, it is amazing to me that a simple, “uneducated” Man

who was basically homeless, had no seminary education, spoke no English, and never preached in a church could impact our modern-day world. Likewise, we in the American Body of Christ should be very cautious as to the man-made measures we use to evaluate other believers. Where we may see an â&#x20AC;&#x153;unqualifiedâ&#x20AC;? person, God may see someone available to change the world. The Bible is full of stories in which the Lord worked through the simple and humble to do great things. May we be so fortunate to be used in this way.

Day 16 Son of David He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. Luke 1:32 As we’ve covered, both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels list David in their genealogies. David is one of many names, yet this connection is greatly magnified in the New Testament. Matthew gives special recognition in his first sentence. Jesus was not just descended from the Jewish patriarch, Abraham, but also from the revered Jewish king, David. In addition, Luke also records that the Angel Gabriel told Mary that her Son would be the prophesied One from David’s line (above). Why is that important? During the reign of King David, God told him through the prophet Nathan that the Messiah would eventually come from his family line. This prophecy can be found in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17. Solomon also mentioned this when he was dedicating the re-established altar in 2 Chronicles 6. This promise is referred to today as the Davidic Covenant. Isaiah also later prophesied that the Savior would come from the “house of David” (16:5; 22:22) and “reign on David’s throne” (9:7). The Jews of Jesus’ day were clearly familiar with this prophecy. Many were asking if the Son of David, the foretold Messiah from the tribe of Judah, the one who came from Bethlehem, the town of David (Luke 2:4, 11), had finally come. Since Matthew was mainly written for a Jewish audience, let’s look at this book for examples of when Jesus was called the Son of David. Some of the instances include the two blind men (Matthew 9:27), the amazed crowd that witnessed one of His miracles (12:23), the Canaanite woman (15:22), and the crowd as He entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday (21:9, 15). Due to this prophetic covenant, the first three Gospels mention that Jesus Himself responded to the prophecy that the Messiah would be the Son of David (Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37; Luke 20:41–44). He did this by quoting David from Psalm 110:1. After some questions from religious leaders that were meant to trap Jesus were unsuccessful, Jesus

asked them why David will one day call the Son of David, Lord. On the surface, this seems like a contradiction or an inaccuracy in Scripture. However, the explanation is simple. David will call his descendant Lord because Jesus is also the Son of God, supernaturally conceived in human form by a human mother who was from his family line. The prophecy concerning the title Son of David is but one of the many prophecies weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already discussed that Jesus fulfilled. This one, however, was a vital sign to the Jewish people. Pray that many Jews today will have their eyes opened.

Day 17 Rabbi “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.” Matthew 23:8 This may be a news flash to you: Jesus was viewed as a Rabbi—at least by His disciples. The following are some examples in Scripture. Nathanael called Jesus Rabbi the first time he saw Him (John 1:49). Peter called Jesus by this name on the Mount of Transfiguration and later near the withered fig tree (Mark 9:5, 11:21). The same is true for the blind man who was healed in Mark 10:51. Judas called Jesus by this title before and as he betrayed Him (Matthew 26:25, 49). The Hebrew and Greek meaning of this word is “teacher”, with the Hebrew being even more specific, “my teacher”. Does this not make sense that He has this title? The New Testament is full of His teachings to the people of His day and, subsequently, to us. He is our teacher, so we are to follow Him closely and “do life” with Him, just as the disciples did. It is interesting to note some of the ways that rabbis teach their students. One of the methods is by asking questions. This encourages thought, study, and dialogue among the followers. In one short passage alone (Mark 8:14–21) Jesus asked the disciples eight questions. Rabbis also teach through parables, and boy, Jesus shared a lot of parables! Matthew 13 alone is full of them, such as the Parable of the Sower, the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, and the Hidden Treasure with the Pearl. Look through the Gospels and discover for yourself the pervasiveness of these two methods. Sometimes I wish Jesus would just be direct and cut through the questions and figurative language, but that’s just my laziness talking. Jesus is our Rabbi. He is our one Teacher. In the passage mentioned at the beginning, Christ cautioned the teachers of the law and the Pharisees of His day against taking titles out of pride. I have been convicted by this. In my own life and ministry, I have been ordained, so technically I have the title of Reverend. If you know me, however, you have never

heard me ask to be called this—except in settings where I’m joking with friends. The focus of our lives should not be on us, but on the one true Rabbi, Jesus. When people see us, they should see Him. For many of the lost, we may be the only Jesus they ever see. So, let’s reflect our Teacher by living according to His teachings.

Day 18 Tefillin, Tallit, and Tzitzit Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. Matthew 23:5 This topic was covered in a previous devotional, but is worth revisiting here. In Matthew 23, Jesus was scolding the Pharisees and teachers of the law because they made the law an impossible burden on the Jewish people. Further, they wore religious clothing in a prideful way that drew attention to themselves and not to their assumed devotion to God. So what are the phylacteries and tassels that this verse mentions? Let’s start with phylacteries. This is the word tefillin in Hebrew. It was worn during morning and evening prayer time. The phylactery is a black box that contains a parchment with four passages from the Old Testament: Exodus 13:1–10, Exodus 13:11–16, Deuteronomy 6:4–9, and Deuteronomy 11:13–21. One phylactery was worn on the forehead and the other on the left arm. There were leather straps attached to the black box for wrapping around the forehead, and another wrapping from the left hand to the upper arm near the heart. Within all four of the passages in the box, God stated that His commands are like signs or symbols on their hands and foreheads. So, the Jewish people took this literally and created the phylactery. Devout Jewish men still wear them today. The Jewish men also wore an outer garment called the tallit, with tassels on the four corners. These tassels are called tzitzit. Having these on the garments was a command by God through Moses in Numbers 15:37– 41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. This garment became a prayer shawl and covered the head during prayer. Today, it is worn as an inner garment. It is reasonable to assume that Jesus would have worn both items. The woman with the bleeding problem touched Jesus’ outer garment and was healed (Mark 5:21–34). Likewise, others who desired healing also wanted to touch the edge of His garment (i.e., the tallit with the tassel: Matthew 14:34–36). One could easily argue that during the many times Jesus went alone to pray (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16, 6:12),

He was probably wearing an earlier version of these items than are worn today. Our practical application for Christian life today is to look at Proverbs 7:1–3: “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” The symbolic position of our heart and mind is most important to God, not the physical appearance of devotion and obedience.

Day 19 Getting to the Root Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 We have a lot of sayings and idioms in our culture. I imagine this is true for all cultures. “It’s raining cats and dogs outside.” “Don’t jump down my throat!” “Cat got your tongue?” This list could go on and on. Is it not logical to conclude, then, that these types of figurative sayings also existed in Jesus’ day? Further, might He have used some of the idioms of His day? Yes, He did. I have mentioned a couple in previous devotionals. Specifically, in The Search for Truth on Day Nine, we looked at Matthew 24:36: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Long story made short, Jesus is using an idiom that describes the Feast of Trumpets, which takes place in August/September each year. It starts on the first day that the new moon is seen by two independent witnesses. This uncertainty over the day is why no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus is simply stating that He will return on a future Feast of Trumpets, not addressing the uncertainty of His return. On Day 25 of Digging Deeper, we looked at how Jesus referred to His Second Coming like “a thief in the night” (Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–2). The High Priest would sometimes sneak into the temple like a thief in the night to make sure everyone was doing their duty. If not, there were consequences (Revelation 16:15). Here is another example of a Hebraic idiom. In Luke 13:35, Jesus is sad for the people of Jerusalem, and He says: “you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” This was also proclaimed as Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now refer to as Palm Sunday (Luke 19:38). This phrase—“Blessed is he who comes”—first appeared in Psalm 118:26 and is actually a proclamation used at a Jewish wedding when the bridegroom approaches the bride. This prophetic statement is telling us that, one day, Christ will return for His bride, the church (Revelation 19:6–8). This is a challenge for us in the modern Western world. We cannot

necessarily take every word of the Bible at face value. We need to do our best to pursue the original intent and meaning, to understand Jewish history, culture, and context. This can only be accomplished through further study and prayer, asking God to open our eyes to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;wonderful thingsâ&#x20AC;? in His Word (Psalm 119:18).

Day 20 Identifying Certain Groups Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 In order to “correctly handle” God’s Word, we need extra knowledge beyond it. This includes tools like study Bibles with footnotes, exhaustive concordances, Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, and commentaries. So, as we pursue a deeper understanding of the Jewish aspects of our faith, it’s important to know the meaning of certain terms. Today, let’s look at the different names of groups that were present at the time of Jesus: Nazirites—a Jewish group dedicated or consecrated to a special service. Specifically, they vowed to avoid wine, to never cut their hair, and to not have any contact with a dead body (Numbers 6:1–21). Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist were Nazirites. Zealots—a Jewish group that forcefully stood against Roman rule. Simon the Zealot was one of the Twelve Disciples (Luke 6:12–16). Pharisees—in Hebrew means “separated ones”. They strictly followed the Law of Moses and Jewish tradition (Matthew 15:2). They believed they were the only ones with the proper authority from God to interpret the law. Paul was formerly a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Sadducees—belonged to the priestly line and were usually wealthy and politically minded. They rejected anything past the first five books of today’s Old Testament, as well as the oral traditions. They were often mentioned with the Pharisees due to their common dislike for Jesus (Matthew 16:1–21).

Sanhedrin—the 70-member ruling body or council of the Jewish people. Sadducees and Pharisees were in the Sanhedrin and were against Jesus and His disciples (Matthew 26:59). It was also this group that had Stephen stoned (Acts 7:54–60). Disciples—we will look at this group in depth on another day. These were committed “learners” or followers of Jesus. John the Baptist also had disciples (Luke 7:18). So did the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15–17). Apostles—in Greek means “messenger” or “sent one”. Technically, the group we call the Twelve Disciples were actually also twelve apostles (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13), a higher position for the disciples of Jesus. Other later apostles included Paul (Romans 1:1), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), and James, the brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19). Whether or not any of these names come up again in the study, it is still useful for your own personal knowledge. It’s also important that we don’t just skip the words we don’t know or understand.

Day 21 Making Disciples Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 Recalling terminology from yesterday, Jesus had Jewish disciples, and He also appointed twelve to be apostles. So then, who were the disciples? Let’s look beyond Jesus’ life first, and then return to it. In the book of Acts and forward, followers of Jesus often went by the following names: • Disciples—Acts 6:1–2, 18:23, 21:16 • Saints/Holy People—Acts 9:13; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:12 • Brothers/Sisters—Acts 6:3; Ephesians 6:23; James 1:2 • Christians—Acts 11:26, 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16 Jesus the Rabbi, as the Teacher or Master, had close followers, who were His learners or pupils. They were referred to as disciples. As previously mentioned, Jesus wasn’t the only one with disciples. John the Baptist had them, as well as the Pharisees. Even Moses is mentioned as having disciples (John 9:28). John the Baptist taught his disciples to pray and fast (Luke 5:33). He even had two of his disciples switch to following Jesus (John 1:35–40). One of the two was Andrew, the brother of Peter. Jesus’ disciples followed Him closely as He went about His itinerant ministry in Judea and Galilee. No doubt “the Twelve” were given a more intimate path of discipleship than others. He also sent the disciples out two by two to do ministry. He did this with the Twelve in Mark 6:7–13. He also sent out a larger group of disciples, specifically the 70 (or 72, as translations differ) in Luke 10:1–24. Here is something else interesting to note. Just as the Twelve may have been a symbolic connection to the twelve tribes of Israel, so the 70/72 may be related to the seventy-plus-two elders of Moses’ day who were anointed with the Spirit (Numbers 11:24–26). As Jesus’ earthly ministry was almost complete and He prepared to ascend to heaven, Christ gave a clear command. He instructed His disciples to keep the chain of discipleship going. They were called to go into

the world and make disciples. The Gospel from that point on was and is for every nation, not just the Jews. This is our charge as well.

Day 22 Interaction with Gentiles I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16 We know from Scripture that the Gospel was meant for the whole world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, wherever they are. What about during His life and ministry? Did He interact with any non-Jews? Or was He being exclusive up to a certain point in time? After all, in one particular passage, Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out only to minister to Jews (Matthew 10:5–6). Technically, we could look at non-Jews in the life of Jesus starting with the Magi, or Wise Men (Matthew 2:1–2). They came from the East to visit Jesus as a young child, possibly of toddler age. The East at that time would have included Babylon and Persia. So, you could say that this was His first interaction with Gentiles. During Jesus’ three and a half years of ministry, there were a couple more notable interactions with Gentiles. There was the Roman Centurion with the paralyzed servant (Matthew 8:5–13). There was also the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon possessed (Matthew 15:21–28). Jesus changed lives in both stories. You could also argue that any ministry to the Samaritans was viewed as non-Jewish. Most were half-Jews and were treated as second-class citizens due to their idolatry and intermarriage with foreigners. Jesus went to one of their villages and changed an adulterous woman’s life, which led to many other Samaritans also believing in Him (John 4:1–42). It is worth noting that Doctor Luke was believed to be Greek. While he was not one of the disciples, he was close with Paul. God obviously had a calling on him to accurately record both the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and the beginning of the early church in the book of Acts. Aren’t we glad that he did?! Even with His primary focus on the Jewish people during His ministry, Christ commissioned His disciples—and us—to the ends of the earth to spread His love to all nations (Mathew 28:19; Mark 11:17; Acts

1:8). There is a good example of this truth taking hold in the story of the Apostle Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Through a vision from God, Peter and his companions were shown that the household of this Italian Centurion—and subsequently all Gentiles—could receive salvation, the Holy Spirit, and baptism (verses 44–48). Give thanks to God today for being invited into His ever-expanding Jew and Gentile family!

Day 23 High Priest Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:27 The book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish converts who were tempted to revert to their Judaic roots. We’ll look at this more in-depth later. So, it should not be surprising, then, that one of the purposes of the book was to point to Jesus as the fulfillment of all that was foretold in the Old Testament. This included many references to Jesus as the final and ultimate High Priest. But let’s rewind a bit and look at this position. The first high priest mentioned in the Old Testament was during the time of Abram and his name was Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). Some of the other high priests mentioned by name were: • Aaron, during the time of Moses • Hilkiah, during the reign of the good king Josiah • Eliashib, who helped Nehemiah rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem • Joshua, during the prophetic ministry of Haggai; helped rebuild the temple • Caiaphas, who had a high profile during Jesus’ crucifixion One of the main sacrificial duties of the high priest was to “sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement” (Exodus 29:36a). They also had to offer a morning and evening lamb sacrifice, along with flour, olive oil, and wine (29:38–41). The book of Leviticus spells out five types of offerings that were made: burnt, grain, fellowship, sin, and guilt. There’s not room to elaborate here, but you can read about these on your own. Once a year, the high priest also entered the Most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, on the Day of Atonement for the corporate sins of the Israelites. Now, back to Hebrews. The author reminded the Jewish followers about Jesus’ ultimate role in the verse above. Jesus was in the order of Melchizedek because He was appointed by God (Hebrews 6:20) and not through the tribe of Levi. He was not only the High Priest, but He Him-

self was the Sacrifice and ultimate atonement for sins. Praise God today for sending His Son to atone for our sins: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16

Day 24 The Passover Lamb In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 To the casual reader—and perhaps to you as well—there are parts of the Old Testament that are hard to understand or are difficult to swallow. One of these is animal sacrifice as an integral part of religious life. This is both foreign to us in the modern world and despised by animal lovers. It seems barbaric, but I encourage you to read all of the Scriptures mentioned in today’s devotional to get a more complete view. Why did an animal, specifically a lamb without blemish, have to die for a person’s sins to be forgiven? Here is the explanation the Lord gave to the people through Moses in Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life”. The shedding of blood was necessary in the eyes of God to forgive the Jewish people of their sins and to reconcile them to Him. One of the spring feasts that Jews commemorate is Passover. It begins on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish religious year, and the people were given very specific instructions on what to do (Exodus 12:1–14; Leviticus 23:5; Numbers 28:16–23; Deuteronomy 16:1–7). This somber feast commemorates the Jews’ deliverance from Egypt and the time they put the blood of unblemished lambs on their doorposts. Tomorrow we will look at the Passover meal. For today, we focus on the fact that Jesus fulfilled this feast with His death. Jesus became the perfect and final Lamb that needed to be slain. He had to be. God ordained that His own Lamb would be slain so that we could be redeemed (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19). Revisit the story of the Last Supper and crucifixion. Realize that this climactic moment in history took place at Passover (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18). And look forward with hope that, one day, the Lamb who was slain will return and be worshipped forever by all heavenly creatures and those whose names are in the book of life (Revelation 5:6–12, 13:8). The rest will have eternity to wish they had recognized the

Messiah. We should be motivated by this future reality and witness to our non-believing friends and family while there is still time.

Day 25 Pass the Matzah, Please On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” Mark 14:12 As Christians, we remember Jesus’ death on the cross with communion: the cup representing His shed blood for our sins, and the bread symbolizing His body that was broken (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Let’s look at the overall menu today because we usually imagine Jesus and the disciples having wine and crackers. Or in many western churches today, grape juice and cubed pieces of bread! As mentioned yesterday and in the verse above, the Last Supper took place at Passover. This was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During this feast, God’s people ate bread without yeast for one week. This is called matzah, and can be found in grocery stores today. Yeast symbolized sin, and the Jewish people were recognizing the need to purge it from their homes and hearts. Let’s take a deeper look at this Passover meal. I covered the topic of the so-called “Holy Grail” on Day 21 in Digging Deeper. In it I mentioned that there was not one cup, but four used at the annual Passover meal and, subsequently, at the Last Supper. The four cups represented the four “I will” promises of God in Exodus 6:6–7 to deliver His people out of Egypt: “I will bring you out”, “I will free you”, “I will redeem you”, and “I will take you”. Jesus fulfilled the meaning behind each cup. You can study this further on your own, but you can surmise how He fulfilled each one. As far as the meal itself, Exodus 12 is instructive. It included “meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast” (Exodus 12:8). The lamb had to be without blemish, and the preparation process of the body was crucial. Other elements have been added to the meal over time, such as an apple mixture, eggs, and vegetables dipped in salt water. Each dish carries more symbolism about Hebrew/Jewish history and the life of Jesus, which merits your further

study. The purpose for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s devotional is to help us break out of a poor understanding of the Last Supper. In reality, it was a full meal with rich and somber meaning, and was eaten in a reclined position as was the custom (Matthew 26:20). Likewise, we should approach the communion table with the understanding and respect it deserves. Then, we must examine our hearts, remove sin from our lives, and express gratitude for the Lambâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sacrifice.

Day 26 King of the Jews When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Matthew 27:35–37 When the Magi, or Wise Men, as most refer to them, were looking for Jesus sometime well after His birth, they called Him the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1–2). Today, we are going to look at this title given to Jesus that appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 22–23; John 19). The Passover meal was complete. Judas’ betrayal plot was in full motion, and so was Peter’s denial. Jesus had been interrogated by the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate. Now, He was in the hands of a company of soldiers with ill intent. Jesus was stripped and beaten by the soldiers. They did the equivalent of what we call “playing dress-up” today and made Him to look like royalty. They clothed Christ in a robe, put a crown of thorns on His head, and placed a staff in His hand. They mocked Him and said, “Hail, king of the Jews”. Then they stripped Him of the robe, spat on Him, and took the staff and beat Him with it. Later, this title was given again to Jesus via a sign that was placed above His head on the cross. It was customary during this time to write the charges against a condemned person on a wooden board that accompanied them to their execution. This placard was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek to make sure that everyone who saw it knew why He was dying. The chief priests didn’t take to this wording well, as they wanted it to read only that Jesus claimed to be King, not that He actually was King. Pilate refused to change it, though. What Pilate meant as a mockery was a true title—and then some. He was and is and is to come, the King. Jesus may have been labeled King of the Jews upon His death, but He died for the sins of the world. As a result, we are engrafted into God’s family tree (Romans 11:11–24). We are one in Jesus, and we are children of God (Galatians 3:26–29).

One day, the King will return to establish His kingdom forever. In Revelation 11:15, the seventh trumpet is blown and heaven proclaims: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Let us agree with John as he closed this final book (22:20) and look forward with anticipation to the King’s triumphant and final return: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”.

Day 27 First Jew, then Gentile For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16 I hope we can agree that all of the Old Testament and the New Testament Gospels primarily revolve around the Jewish people. I believe we can also agree that Jesus was raised a Jew, and His earthly ministry was almost exclusively to the Jews. By the time Jesus had ascended into heaven, however, a transition had taken place. Jesus had already proclaimed His love for the world (John 3:16). He announced that disciples should then be made from all nations (Matthew 28:19) and should be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). It was even prophesied centuries before by Isaiah that Jesus would be “a light for the Gentiles” (42:6). The primary messenger of the Gospel after Jesus was the Apostle Paul. He was a former Pharisee who had an incredibly strong Jewish upbringing and education (Philippians 3:5–6). However, he was primarily a missionary to the Gentiles. His letters to Gentile churches make up a good number of the books in the New Testament, including Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Colossians, and Philippians. Paul understood the historical perspective of the Old Testament. He mentioned in Romans 1:16 that salvation was offered first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles. After all, the Messiah was a Jew, so salvation came from the Jews (John 4:22). I covered the issue of “replacement theology” on Day 17 of Terminus, but it is worth repeating and rephrasing in the context of this study. This is the belief that the Jewish people in general, and now the modern-day nation of Israel in particular, have permanently fallen out of God’s favor and have been replaced by the Gentile Church. Since the Jewish people failed, any reference to Israel from Acts forward is interpreted to mean the Church by those who believe in replacement theology. Those opposed to this theology believe the Jewish people should not be hated or forsaken for their role in Jesus’ death because this was proph-

esied to happen (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). Further, opponents of replacement theology believe that the Jewish people still have a special role to play, and that modern-day Israel is a miracle prophesied in many places, including Ezekiel 37:1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;14 and Matthew 24:32â&#x20AC;&#x201C;35. I encourage you to study all of these scriptural references on your own, and let the Holy Spirit impress upon your hearts the truth of the matter.

Day 28 Synagogue vs. Church Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Matthew 9:35 There are no references to synagogues in the Old Testament, but there are many in the Gospels and the book of Acts. Jesus spent a significant amount of time teaching in them (Matthew 4:23, 9:35), including in His hometown of Nazareth (13:54). Luke 4:14–30 gives an earlier and more detailed account of Jesus in the synagogue, and how He read from a scroll containing the book of Isaiah. It is believed that the synagogue originated as early as the Babylonian exile. It was a place where the Jewish people could corporately gather on the Sabbath and on holidays to study Scripture and pray. The speaker would sit in Moses’ seat and read aloud (Matthew 23:2). By Jesus’ day, the synagogue was integral in the life of the Jewish people. Let’s look at another word: church. The first mention of this word was by Jesus in the book of Matthew. In one instance, He said to Peter, “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (16:18). The other mention is in the context of dealing with sin in the church (18:17). The first time church is mentioned in Acts occurred with the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira: “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events” (Acts 5:11). After the book of Acts, there is no mention of synagogues, except in a metaphorical sense in Revelation. Conversely, the rest of the New Testament consistently mentions the church, over a hundred times, in fact. New Testament-era synagogues co-existed with the first churches. How well they co-existed is questionable. It was likely a time of increased tension. Regardless, it seems clear that the church would go forward as a place for believers to congregate and for the message of Christ to spread. Synagogues continued in their Judaic traditions, and were not places where believers were welcomed. Many of the Jews did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, despite His many attempts to teach them that He was

the fulfillment of their Scriptures. This unbelief by Jews continues today, even though there is a growing number of Messianic Jews, especially in modern-day Israel.

Day 29 The Book of Hebrews In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrew 1:1–2 You may be asking why we are looking at a book written a few decades after Jesus’ life. It’s because Hebrews brings to light the transition that Jewish Christians were struggling with. They were tempted to either revert to Judaism or try to “Judaize” the Gospel. In other words, they were trying to convince themselves and the Gentile believers to still follow the rituals, sacrifices, and laws of God, neglecting the truth that revolves around what Jesus fulfilled. The Apostle Peter even struggled with this to a degree, and Paul confronted him about it in Galatians 2:11–21. Think of it: for centuries, the way to God was marked by ritual, obeying the law, and animal sacrifice. Now, this was no longer what was most important or needed. I imagine this paradigm shift was difficult to grasp for many. The author of this New Testament book—written in Greek, not Hebrew—was possibly Paul, Apollos, or Barnabas. Through numerous Old Testament quotes, he established clear facts for the Jews. God was now speaking to man through Jesus. He was (and is) greater than angels and even the revered Moses (Hebrews 3:3). The book also contains several exhortations to avoid false teaching (2:1), not rebel or have unbelief (3:7–12), mature in the faith (6:1), persevere in doing God’s will (10:36–39), and properly worship Him (12:28–29). It greatly elaborates on the strong theme of Jesus as the ultimate High Priest, which we looked at on a previous day. Passages on the subject include Hebrews 4:14–5:10 and 6:20–7:28. In Chapter 8, He is named High Priest of a New Covenant. And since He is the High Priest, He could enter into the Most Holy Place because of His own shed blood (9:12). The forgiveness of sin was dealt with once and for all (9:26–28). Hebrews concludes with a wealth of practical application. One of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible for me is Hebrews 11, also

known as the “Faith Chapter”. It takes us through the Old Testament and speaks of many individuals who were credited with having great faith. Likewise, we should have faith. We should “…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1b). Hebrews closes in Chapter 13 with some final exhortations to these Jews, urging them to righteous living in marriage, money, obedience, and prayer. Though we are not the originally intended audience, we would be wise to heed these words as well.

Day 30 Lost to This Day From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:66 To say that many of the Jews in Jesus’ day were not receptive to Him would be an understatement. Even though Jesus “had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him” (John 12:37). Sadly, it was prophesied in Isaiah 6:10 and 53:1 that they would fail to believe. I find it interesting that the Scripture reference for the verse above includes 666, as six is the number of man. How fitting that this verse shows a crucial failure in man to follow Jesus, even by those closest to Him. Though John 6 starts with the amazing miracle of feeding the five thousand and includes Jesus walking on water, it ends with this desertion. John 12 mentions that many Jews believed, but would not publicly profess their faith. They were afraid of the Pharisees, and rightfully so (12:42). The religious leaders held much sway and were ultimately the ones God allowed to incite the masses and convince the Roman authorities to crucify Jesus. Before we go casting stones, however, let’s examine ourselves. How often have we abandoned our faith to look good in front of our friends? When have we kept quiet for fear of offending others, even though we know the truth that will set them free? So I ask you now to stop, pray, and examine your own heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind instances where you had an opportunity to witness and testify, but through fear or doubt, you caved in and symbolically deserted Christ through your silence or even active rebellion. Repent of each act and pledge to represent Him with loving boldness in the future. Many Jews today are still as lost as their ancestors. Yet, it is estimated that there are over 260 Messianic congregations of various sizes in Israel and perhaps 350,000 Jewish believers worldwide. The number of Jews who believe in “Yeshua Ha Mashiach”, or Jesus the Messiah, has been growing steadily. Pray for revival to grow among the Jewish people.

Despite millennia of persecution, the last 1,900 years of which they have been without a homeland, the Jewish people have miraculously survived as a race and been re-established as a nation. Why? Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story for them and each of us, though written, is not done yet (Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:11). Eternity is at stake, so letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach out to the Jew and to the Gentile with fervency!

Conclusion Let me conclude by reiterating something from the introduction. I am a Gentile and not a Messianic Jew. What I have learned about the Jewish aspects of the Messiah has been through research. I’ve tried to paint the best Biblical picture I can with the knowledge I have and by referencing over 300 verses and passages to support the various daily topics. For further study, I highly recommend finding a believer from a Jewish background, whether in person or through the media, and hear what they have to say. Their faith journey makes them a more compelling teacher than what I have attempted to do through this devotional. My goal is to encourage a desire to learn more in this area, not be an authority on it. In particular, I would encourage studying on your own or through the teaching of someone knowledgeable in the area of the Hebrew language. In this devotional, I didn’t really scratch the surface on this aspect, but it is rather fascinating. God’s story for the Jewish people and for all of humanity is better appreciated through understanding Hebrew. Certainly, Greek is a more complex language than Hebrew and will help with further understanding of the New Testament. Here are some other resources you may find helpful: • Consult an exhaustive concordance or expository dictionary to help with some initial understanding of the Hebrew and Greek words in a particular Bible verse • My father, Dr. J.L. Williams, has written a study guide called “Understanding Your Hebrew Roots”, which is available for free on his website, www.jlwilliams.org • Our staff reads a free devotional each weekday morning from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, called “Sapphires”. I am amazed at how God uses him to share the Messianic Jewish perspective to Christians. His website is www.hopeoftheworld.org • Feed the Hunger also partners with Messianic Jews in Jerusalem, Shmuel and Pamela Suran of Chazon Yerushalayim. Their website is www.jerusalemvision.com. A piece of Pamela’s beautiful artwork is on the inside back cover of this devotional. You can view her artwork at www.pamelasuran.com As I close, may our hope for the Jewish people of today be the same as the Apostle Paul’s in Romans 10:1: “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved”.

And may our prayer for all lost people be that they come to grasp the unshakeable truth in Galatians 3:26–29: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

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