Volume (continued inside)

Transcription

1 Volume 18 8 BY DAVID FRIEDLANDER David, David, wake up! I was hearing a voice, calling me from a great distance. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder shaking me and bringing me back to this reality from a deep sleep. (continued inside)

2 (continued from cover) A t eight years old, I last remembered drinking two cups of wine with my family at our seder meal and, shortly thereafter, heading off to bed. Now, my brother had been sent to awaken me so I could tell the family, who were waiting at the seder table, where I had stashed the afikomen. Before heading upstairs to bed, I had surreptitiously acquired it from under the pillow of my father s chair at the seder table.... The wine certainly had had its effect on me.... But, I was duly informed I had to produce the afikomen so the family s seder could continue. NO afikomen, no conclusion to the seder story! So, I awoke, best I could, and retrieved the afikomen from where I had hidden it, giving it to my father. Pieces of the afikomen were then passed to my mother, brother, and two sisters and me and all was well, once again. I knew that, after Pesach, my father would reward me with the usual fee of gold-foil-wrapped chocolate coins, for the feat of stealing the afikomen. I didn t understand all this, actually, nor many other customs and practices of the seder, but who was I to argue with chocolate coins? It would take me another 25 years to begin to unravel the answers to the questions raised in my mind by the traditional Jewish seder celebration, especially my questions relating to the afikomen. As the youngest member of an Orthodox Jewish family in New York City, I found that questioning my elders on the purpose and meaning of age-old Jewish traditions was not well received. Even as a child, I had questions like: Why kill an innocent little lamb? What s all this about leaven, anyway? Why do we break the middle matzah? And what s the reason for putting it under the pillow? Many symbols, many questions, but so few satisfying answers. But, as an eightyear-old, my job was just to sit and listen to the Exodus story each year and to learn and accept the age-old traditions of my ancestors. In my teens, I attended yeshiva in New York and studied Jewish law, Mishnah and Talmud. After college, I moved to Colorado in search of my life s adventure. A year later, I met the woman who would later become my wife and, in 1975, we were married in a traditional Jewish wedding. Two years later, our first son was born. In the spring of 1979, a new neighbor woman struck-up a friendship with my wife, Patti. This friendship included the woman telling my wife about Jesus and, before long, my wife became a Christian! How could she DO that? She then joined the neighbor woman in attending church, taking our infant son along! But wait, we re Jewish! You can t do that! Come back! My life was being turned upside down! In the days that followed, during the spring of 1979, Patti would follow me wherever I went, reading to me from the New Testament! What chutzpah! We re Jewish, I told her. Jews don t read or need the New Testament! But the words she had read to me had sparked a curiosity deep within me. Something profound had been stirred up. I determined that when the wife wasn t around, I would find opportunities to read one of the Gospels from the Bible my wife had just so happened to leave lying around. I started in Matthew. At that time, the six-hour, made-for-tv movie, Jesus of Nazareth, was having its television debut. It was to be shown in four parts, ending on Easter Sunday So, without my wife s knowledge, I secretly began reading the Gospel of Matthew and determined to read seven chapters a day, to keep pace with the showing of the movie, which I would then watch on each of the four evenings. This two-pronged approach had results for me that were like being hit with a hammer! Matthew is the only Gospel to say This happened that what was written by the prophets might be fulfilled. Fulfilled? I asked myself. How could that be? Was there more to the story that I had grown up learning at the yeshiva? I looked up the crossreferences to the prophecy to which Matthew was referring, each of the nine times he used that phrase. It was like someone was showing me an entirely new wing of a house I had lived in all my life! It was astonishing! The more I read, the more I felt my eyes opening! Easter Sunday arrived, which meant nothing to me as a Jew, but I had now read the last seven chapters of Matthew and I was shellshocked: Matthew related how the man claiming to be the Messiah of Israel was crucified and rejected by the leaders of his own people, my ancestors! How could this be? As my wife left to attend church that evening, I turned on the TV to watch the concluding portion of the movie. Two hours later, the Messiah was crucified. The actor portraying Y shua looked straight out from my TV screen. I knew he was looking right at me! His eyes pierced my heart. As he was crucified, I fell on my knees, prayed and wept. I wept for a long time, right there in front of the TV, in a pool of tears. I accepted Y shua into my heart as my Messiah! A new wing of the house had opened its doors to me! In my spirit, I then saw two hands coming down and, as it were, plugging together power to long strings of lights, (continued on page 8) ISSN PRINTED IN THE U.S.A EDITOR IN CHIEF: SUSAN PERLMAN EDITOR: MATT SIEGER DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION: PAIGE SAUNDERS ISSUES is a forum of several Messianic Jewish viewpoints. The author alone, where the author s name is given, is responsible for the statements expressed. Those wishing to take exception or those wishing to enter into dialogue with one of these authors may write the publishers and letters will be forwarded. editor@issuesmag.org Web: jewsforjesus.org UNITED STATES: P.O. BOX , SAN FRANCISCO, CA CANADA: 1315 LAWRENCE AVENUE #402 TORONTO, ONT M3A 3R3 UNITED KINGDOM: KENTISH TOWN ROAD, CAMDEN TOWN, LONDON NW1 9PX SOUTH AFRICA: P.O. BOX 1996, PARKLANDS 2121 AUSTRALIA: P.O. BOX 925, SYDNEY NSW

3 (continued from page 3) each light representing a prior generation. I had been connected, with power, across the many generations of my Jewish ancestors, to the source of all power. I had come home! But I now had a thousand new questions, each vying for attention! In the amazing weeks that followed, my wife became aware of my acceptance of the Messiah as she saw changes in me, and I was full of many questions. I had developed a tremendous hunger to understand, and I read the Word like a starving man. The Easter season that year was right in the middle of Pesach! Patti met another Jewish believer in Jesus whom she invited to our house to help me understand and answer as many questions as he could. He even presented me with a Messianic Haggadah! The story of Pesach took on an entirely new dimension. In the thirty-plus years since that day of decision, I have come to more fully understand and appreciate the Pesach seder. I see the afikomen which splits the middle matzah as representing the breaking of the body of Messiah as a sacrifice once, for all people, for all time. I also now see the wrapping of that piece of matzah in a white linen napkin and its placement under the pillow as symbolic of his death and burial. Even the buying back of the afikomen by the father for a small reward speaks to me of the Roman guards who were paid off by the Jewish priests to tell anyone who asked that the body had been stolen, as related in Matthew 28: That afikomen is taken from its hiding place and pieces of it are shared among all seder participants at the third cup of wine which, not coincidentally, is called the Cup of Redemption, the same cup which Jesus drank at the Passover seder, which we now know as the Last Supper. Most of my people do not make this connection between the Passover lamb and the Lamb of God, Y shua. That little boy, so soundly asleep so many years ago, heard a voice awakening him from physical sleep to retrieve the afikomen. Many years later, he heard another Voice calling him to awaken him from a sleep of a deeper, spiritual dimension and, since then, nothing has ever been the same! Dayenu!... for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Messiah is it taken away.... But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:14,16) 8

4 For those who lived in the little shtetl of Vaysechvoos, no event of the year brought as much joyous anticipation as the first seder I know I m just a boy... he began, but if I could ask a question, isn t it possible that Eliahu the Prophet might come to Vaysechvoos this night. Each house was made spotless and Pesach to announce the coming of the Messiah? bright. For the days leading up to the holiday, The Sage said, All things are possible. all chometz was removed and all the special Well, what if we prayed that Eliahu would Pesach dishes and utensils were brought out. The come here? Could we do that? families eagerly awaited the gathering round the The Rabbi, who was also present at the table and the lengthy and elaborate telling of the meeting, stood up, smiled and spoke directly to Pesach story. The youngest sons spent hours in the young man. Young Perchik, I would like practice, chanting the mah nishtana with feeling nothing better than to have my congregation pray. and expertise. The girls helped their mothers Prayer is a very good thing to do. with preparations for the delicious Pesach meal. And so they did. They prayed for there to be And so it was in each home in Vaysechvoos as no pogrom, for a Pesach without worry, and yes, Pesach approached. for Eliahu to make an appearance in Vaysechvoos. However, this year the sweetness of the holiday There was so much fervor in the prayers that went was mixed with some concern as rumors began forth over the days leading up to Pesach; many spreading that a pogrom could be imminent; an really believed that Ha Shem would intervene. announcement had gone out throughout the And rather than the women and children leaving region warning Russian parents to beware of the the village, they all stayed. Jewish practice of using children s blood to prepare And Ha Shem indeed heard their prayers. Pesach matzah. Keep watch, the announcement There was no pogrom in Vaysechvoos, though said, these disgusting people kidnap small word came of one in nearby Kiev. The boys got to children and remove some of their blood and use reasoned, I need to do my part to come up with any other course to take but to get them out of the chant the mah nishtana and the girls enjoyed it to prepare their holy food. Then they dump the some suggestions to avert this catastrophe. Perchik village in the next few days. cooking the holiday delicacies. The families sang bodies of the children in the fields. thought long and hard and then it came to him, The men were shaking their heads in and drank the Pesach wine and at the close of the The townspeople shuddered at the thought of perhaps a vision from Ha Shem Himself! agreement, when young Perchik spoke up. seder, they waited for the arrival of the prophet. the Cossacks rampaging through their little town: As the people of Vaysechvoos filed into their I, um, wonder if I could say something. It While Eliahu did not make an appearance in What can we do? asked Shimon the butcher. synagogue, which also served as a meeting hall, may not be important, but can I please speak? Vaysechvoos that year, more than ever they How can we prepare for this? Feivel the Tanner the Sage addressed them, The older men were somewhat annoyed at this strengthened their hope that Messiah would come wanted to know. This was a matter for the Sage to My dear neighbors. This is indeed a sad time presumptuous youngster. However, before they and that Pesach and all the holidays could be weigh in on and so a meeting was called. for us. While we should be looking with joy to eat could put him in his place, the Sage, who is very celebrated without fear in the days to come. Meanwhile, Perchik, the son of the tanner, who was already working as an apprentice in that craft, our Pesach seder meal in less than a week s time, instead it seems that we must plan for a pogrom. wise, turned to Perchik and said, Son, please go ahead. There is no age requirement on coming up G L O S S A R Y was giving the matter serious thought himself. It s not that he believed he had a fraction of It is not safe for the women and children to remain in Vaysechvoos if the Cossacks come. They with good solutions. Perchik was nervous, but took strength from Chometz: leaven Mah nishtana: Pesach: Passover Matzah: the wisdom of the Sage, But... Perchik need to be taken to a safe place. I can t think of the kind words of the Sage. The Four Questions unleavened bread 4 5

5 A CHRONOLOGICAL LOOK AT HOW JESUS SPENT HIS LAST WEEK LEADING UP TO PASSOVER Saturday and Sunday Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, 1 arriving at Bethany six days before Passover, 2 on Saturday. Jesus was anointed at Simon the leper s house. 3 On Sunday, a great crowd came to Bethany to see Jesus. 4 Monday The next day 5 Jesus entered Jerusalem, 6 visited the temple 7 and returned to Bethany. It was Nisan 10, when the Passover lambs were selected. Likewise, the entry into Jerusalem was the day when Jesus presented himself as Israel s Paschal Lamb. Tuesday On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed the fig tree, 8 and in Jerusalem he challenged the temple practice of selling on the premises. 9 Some religious leaders began to plot ways to kill him. That evening Jesus left Jerusalem, presumably returning to Bethany. 10 Wednesday On the way to Jerusalem, the disciples saw the withered fig tree. 11 At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus authority and wisdom was questioned by some religious leaders. 12 That afternoon Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and delivered his discourse to those assembled. 13 Two additional things occurred on that day: (1) Jesus predicted that in two days he would be crucified at the time of the Passover; 14 and (2) Judas planned the betrayal of Jesus with some religious leaders. 15 Notes 1. John 11:55 2. John 12:1 3. Matthew 26:6 13; Mark 14:3 9; John 12: John 12: John 12:12 6. Matthew 21:1 9; Mark 11:1 10; Luke 19:28 40; John 12: Matthew 21:10 11; Mark 11:11 8. Matthew 21:18 19; Mark 11: Matthew 21:12 13; Mark 11:15 17; Luke 19: Mark 11:18 19; Luke 19: Matthew 21:20 22; Mark 11: Matthew 21:23 23:39; Mark 11:27 12:44; Luke 20:1 21:4 13. Matthew 24:1 25:46; Mark 13:1 27; Luke 21: Matthew 26:1 5; Mark 14:1 2; Luke 22: Matthew 26:14 16; Mark 14:10 11; Luke 22: Matthew 26:17 19; Mark 14:12 16; Luke 22:7 13 Thursday Jesus and his disciples prepared the Passover lamb, 16 and they had their seder meal together. 17 Jesus shared heartfelt words with his disciples and offered an intercessory prayer in their behalf. 18 They arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus suffered in agony awaiting what was to come. 19 Later that night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. 20 He was tried first by Annas and later by Caiaphas and other religious leaders. 21 Friday Early in the morning, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod Antipas, and Pilate again. 22 He was led to the cross and crucified at 9 A.M. and died at 3 P.M. and was buried later that day. 23 Jesus died at the time when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed. Saturday Jesus body was in the tomb during the Sabbath, and the Pharisees hired Roman guards to keep watch of the tomb. 24 Sunday Christ was resurrected from the dead. 25 His was the first of many resurrections to come, in which it was a type of first fruits offering. (First-fruit offerings were made on the day after the Sabbath.) Matthew 26:20 30; Mark 14:17 26; Luke 22: Matthew 26:30 35; Mark 14:26 31; Luke 22:31 39; John 15:1 18:1 19. Matthew 26:36 46; Mark 14:32 42; Luke 22:39 46; John 18:1 20. Matthew 26:46 56; Mark 14:43 52; Luke 22:47 53; John 18: Matthew 26:57 75; Mark 14:53 72; Luke 22:54 65; John 18: Matthew 27:1 30; Mark 15:1 19; Luke 22:66 23:25; John 18:28 19: Matthew 27:31 60; Mark 15:20 46; Luke 23:26 54; John 19: Matthew 27:61 66; Mark 15:47; Luke 23: Matthew 28:1 15; Mark 16:1 13; Luke 24: Leviticus 23:9 14; 1 Corinthians 15:23 Adapted from Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ by Harold W. Hoehner. Copyright 1977 by The Zondervan Corporation; 1973, 1974 by Dallas Theological Seminary. Used by permission of The Zondervan Corporation. 6

6 The Three Symbols of Passover The following excerpt is from the Messianic Family Haggadah.* This haggadah retains the essential elements of the traditional seder service, but weaves in some New Testament understandings that explain the Passover/Jesus connection. Leader: Rabbi Gamaliel said that in order to tell the Passover story properly, we must mention three important things: Pesach, matzah and maror the Passover Lamb, the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs. Reader 2: The Passover Lamb was God s provision for our people in ancient Egypt. John, a first-century Jew for Jesus, called Y shua the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Y shua was God s perfect lamb sacrificed for us. As our ancestors applied the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts of their homes, sparing the firstborn sons from death, today we apply the blood of Y shua, God s lamb, to the doorposts of our hearts through faith. When we do this, we are forgiven of our sin and are set free to serve the living God. Reader 1: We eat the matzah, the unleavened bread, as our ancestors did when God took them out of Egypt in haste and there was no time to wait for their bread to rise. The matzah is like our Messiah Y shua, who was without leaven, without sin. The piercing and stripes of the matzah bring to mind the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said of Y shua: Reader 2: This bitter herb, or maror, reminds us of the embittered life that our people endured as slaves in Egypt. The bitter root, chazeret, reminds us that bitterness goes down to the root of our very being and cannot merely be topped off. We are all slaves to sin and bitterness and we will never know the sweetness of freedom until we let the Messiah Jesus uproot the sin in our lives and set us free. Leader: In every generation, we are to see ourselves as though we personally came out of slavery in Egypt. For God not only redeemed our ancestors, He redeemed us too, and for this reason we praise him. Raise the second cup and say: All: We praise you, O Lord, for bringing us from bondage to freedom, from despair to hope, from sorrow to joy, from darkness to Your great light. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness as they left Egypt for the Promised Land. We are offered the bread of life, Y shua, to satisfy us forever. *Arranged by Janie-sue Wertheim, this haggadah is available for purchase at purplepomegranate.org 7