Messiah and the High Holy Days
There are many wonderful things in Rabbinic/mainstream Judaism. There is a genuine love for the Tanakh (Old Testament), a genuine reverence for God, and a very high moral standard. Missing the Messiah, however, has caused an insecurity in exactly how one will stand in the judgment of God (a major theme of the High Holy Days).
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, one of the most revered Rabbis of the first century, a man credited with helping Judaism survive the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, was weeping on his deathbed. His students asked him why such a great man of Israel should weep. He replied, "I see two roads before me, one to the Garden of Eden (heaven) and one to Gehenna (Hell), and I do not know on which one they will take me, should I not weep?" (Talmud, berachot 28b). Messianic Jews, along with those of all nations who have received the atonement of Messiah, by contrast, enter into the judgment of God without fear. This is not because of pride, for we are well aware of our sins, but because of the sure atonement found in Messiah.
In Isaiah 6, the great prophet Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord on His throne. Isaiah is in great fear because he senses his own unrighteousness in the presence of the glory of the Lord.
“Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” (Isaiah 6:6,7 HNV)
Because of Isaiah's humility before the throne of God, he is able to receive the coal from the altar that granted atonement. The High Holy Days, like the vision of Isaiah, give us opportunity to remember the glorious throne of the Lord. The message of the High Holy Days stands in direct contrast to the message the secular world feeds us: that everyone is okay, that God accepts all people without judgment, and that any standard of morality is fine. God is too holy for that. The world needs to know, and believers need a constant reminder, that God's standards for holiness are absolute. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" he declares to Israel in Leviticus 19:2. In Messiah, however, the fear of the Lord gives way to joy and gratitude as we recall that, like Isaiah, we have received atonement from the altar so that we can rejoice instead of perishing in the presence of the Lord.
Throughout my life I have connected deeply with the awe in the message of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is truly life-changing. I hope you will join us.
Be greatly blessed,
Rabbi Josh
There are many wonderful things in Rabbinic/mainstream Judaism. There is a genuine love for the Tanakh (Old Testament), a genuine reverence for God, and a very high moral standard. Missing the Messiah, however, has caused an insecurity in exactly how one will stand in the judgment of God (a major theme of the High Holy Days).
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, one of the most revered Rabbis of the first century, a man credited with helping Judaism survive the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, was weeping on his deathbed. His students asked him why such a great man of Israel should weep. He replied, "I see two roads before me, one to the Garden of Eden (heaven) and one to Gehenna (Hell), and I do not know on which one they will take me, should I not weep?" (Talmud, berachot 28b). Messianic Jews, along with those of all nations who have received the atonement of Messiah, by contrast, enter into the judgment of God without fear. This is not because of pride, for we are well aware of our sins, but because of the sure atonement found in Messiah.
In Isaiah 6, the great prophet Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord on His throne. Isaiah is in great fear because he senses his own unrighteousness in the presence of the glory of the Lord.
“Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” (Isaiah 6:6,7 HNV)
Because of Isaiah's humility before the throne of God, he is able to receive the coal from the altar that granted atonement. The High Holy Days, like the vision of Isaiah, give us opportunity to remember the glorious throne of the Lord. The message of the High Holy Days stands in direct contrast to the message the secular world feeds us: that everyone is okay, that God accepts all people without judgment, and that any standard of morality is fine. God is too holy for that. The world needs to know, and believers need a constant reminder, that God's standards for holiness are absolute. "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" he declares to Israel in Leviticus 19:2. In Messiah, however, the fear of the Lord gives way to joy and gratitude as we recall that, like Isaiah, we have received atonement from the altar so that we can rejoice instead of perishing in the presence of the Lord.
Throughout my life I have connected deeply with the awe in the message of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is truly life-changing. I hope you will join us.
Be greatly blessed,
Rabbi Josh