Comments on: Behold the Lamb!

By: GerardoR

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:04:42 +0000

I have a question I would like to get you guys’ opinion on. Is it ok for a Christian to attend a Jewish Seder? I am not referring to one of those interfaith or Christianized seder’s but to a genuine Jewish seder.

I have been mulling over this the last couple of days. I personally dont have a definitive opinion. Obviously we affirm everything in the old testament but Christ has fulfilled the old testament. I see it almost akin to being circumcised for religious reasons AFTER you receive babtism.

What do you all think?

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By: Ben Toh

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:04:31 +0000

Maybe it’s like that now famous (or infamous) super-strict overachieving disciplinarian Chinese Tiger Mom Yale professor. Maybe I needed that kinda mom growing up. But it’s too late now…my Chinese mom was a softie, and she only spoilt me! So now you know.

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By: John Y

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:55:07 +0000

It is these Jewish-specific cultural insights into the Scriptures that make me wish that I had grown up Orthodox Jewish – you know, just to catch all these nice little cultural insights into our faith. However, my jewish friends tell me that having a Korean mom is pretty similar to having a Jewish mom on multiple levels so I guess it’s all good.

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By: Abraham Nial

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:06:57 +0000

Thanks for the recommendation of Reversed Thunder.

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By: Sharon

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:42:44 +0000

Hi. I’ve been studying Revelations lately and thanking God for helping me to understand his “last word”after all these years. I highly recommend Eugene Peterson’s book Reversed Thunder.

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By: Abraham Nial

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:36:54 +0000

Thanks Dr James Kim. Happy to know you received much grace from Rev 21,22. There is a special anointing on the Book of Revelation, especially for our time (personal opinion), although special blessings are explicitly mentioned in the Book itself. Praise God who is making new history in UBF! May many more respond to the knocking at the door! Happy Easter!

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By: James Kim

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:24:17 +0000

Hi Abraham. I like your post especially the last part about the engagement period and consummation of the wedding between the bride (Church) with the Lamb, Jesus Christ when he comes again. Incidentally at NU Easter conference last week, we studied Revelation 21,22 for the first time (in UBF history). We all received much grace. “Come, Lord Jesus”.

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By: Abraham Nial

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 04:54:17 +0000

Joe, your articles always make great read.
I got fascinated sometime back learning how so many of Old Testament imagery get illuminated in the New Testament truth and make us better appreciate God’s greater and grander plans. I have come to believe that the Old Testament contains the seed of truth that gets it full meaning in the life and teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus indeed is the fullness of the truth.
There is no doubt that Jesus used Jewish settings/customs to teach deeper truth to the public and to his disciples. The unleavened bread and the wine represent Jesus’ body and blood. However, I just want to add one more imagery in the Last Supper which I learned newly.
At the wedding engagement, a Jewish young man goes to the house of the girl’s father. At the consent of the girl’s father, the man and the girl share wine from the same cup as a sign of the betrothal. By sharing from the same cup, the girl says yes to the wedding, and makes a commitment to remain loyal and faithful during the engagement period. The engagement period is understood to be one year, but the exact date of the wedding is unknown, except for the Bridegroom’s Father. As part of the preparation for the wedding, the Bridegroom must prepare a house for his soon to be established new family. In the mean time, the Bride also must go through certain preparation process, especially vigilance and faithfulness because of the uncertain imminent wedding day. One day, the Bridegroom’s Father who has been keenly observing the progress of the preparation realizes that the moment is ready and makes a sudden announcement of the wedding.
At the Last supper setting, Jesus said He was going to prepare rooms for His beloved people. He shared the same cup with all of his disciples. He also said that he will return to receive His Bride, but about the timing only His Father knows. Was Jesus making a statement of our wedding engagement with Him in this age and the wedding of the Lamb and the consummation of the wedding at His return in the age to come by using Jewish wedding custom? I think so.
By the way, I hope we will not be surprised to see a Jewish King taking over all the evil governments of the world and ruling the whole world sitting on an eternal throne in Jerusalem. Happy Easter!

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By: GerardoR

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:17:27 +0000

Great article Joe. I had never heard about the crucifixion of the lamb.

Another amazing reference in the Talmud concerning the doors of the Second Temple. According to the Talmud (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 39b) “Forty years before the destruction of the Temple (ie. 30 C.E.) the lot did not come up in the right hand, nor did the crimson stripe become white, nor did the westernmost light burn; and the doors of the heikhal (the Holy Place of the Temple) opened of their own accord, until Rabbi Yochanon ben Zakkai rebuked them.
It is also important to note that the Talmudic reference is 40 years before the destruction of the Second Temple. The Second Temple was destroyed in 70 C.E. The date of this amazing event was 30 C.E. which is the exact year that Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth) was sacrificed in Jerusalem.
The very massive doors of the Temple opened on their own accord. There is also a secular Jewish source that indicates the doors also opened on their own accord.
At the same festival (Passover)… the Eastern gate of the inner court of the Temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, , and had been with difficulty shut by twenty men, and rested upon a base armered with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of it’s own accord about the sixth our of the night. (Josephus; The Wars of the Jews 6.5.3)

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By: Ben Toh

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:13:05 +0000

By: Oscar

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:58:45 +0000

I participated in a seder presented by Jews for Jesus. It was so interesting! I wish I could have remembered everything I learned because just last night I met a woman who participated in the passover and I wanted to talk to her about what I had learned. Missed opportunity! I’ve never heard of the passover lamb actually being crucified. And I can’t imagine all the blood that would have flowed from having to sacrifice so many animals. Yikes.

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