The Jewish Road Podcast

Why Are The Jews God’s Chosen People?

On this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast:
The Jewish people are unique among all the people of the world. It is not that we are better than anyone else, smarter, or more numerous. Our “chosenness” is something that most Jews would like to understand better. I certainly had no clue what being chosen meant. It didn’t always seem like a great deal to be chosen. After all, being Jewish has exacted a price in our history, from the crusades to the pogroms. And even today, in 21st - Century America, we live with the constant awareness of the Holocaust, even though we may not have gone through it ourselves.
In this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore why are the Jewish people God's chosen people and why did He choose them - all from a Messianic perspective. We talk about how the Abrahamic covenant plays a big role in this eternal relationship between God and His chosen people. We also explore how being part of the redemption story changes everything and gives meaning to being chosen.

Why You Should Join The Jewish Road In Israel

If you've ever been curious about Israel, now is the time to take the plunge and join The Jewish Road on an unforgettable trip to the Promised Land. Israel is not only the epicenter of the story of God - past, present, and future - but it's also a place where you can deepen your faith and gain a new perspective on the Bible.
Israel holds a special place in the hearts of Jews and Christians alike. For Jews, it is the Promised Land, a land that has been promised to them by God for centuries. For Christians, Israel is the place where Jesus lived, preached, died, and rose again to ascend to the right hand of the Father. On our trip, you'll have the opportunity to see Act One and Act Two come together in the classroom of Jesus, and you'll be able to explore all that Israel has to offer - from its stunning landscapes to its fascinating history. A trip to Israel is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Bible come to life.
We are currently planning a trip for Spring 2023. Join us on The Jewish Road to Israel! If you're ready to experience Israel in a whole new way, visit thejewishroad.com/israel today and sign up for our interest list. We can't wait to show you Israel through our eyes!

The Best Of Jewish Humor - Part Two

Times are tough and we need to laugh. When we started The Jewish Road Podcast, we knew we wanted to take the Word of God seriously, live urgently and be aware of the times we are in, and be sure to laugh a bit - because life is short.
So we tell our own brand of jokes, Jewish humor.
This episode gives you the best moments from season two so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a moment as we take you "Back To The Catskills" and deliver some of our faves.
Also, check out our new announcement about how you can now submit your favorite jokes on a new site: Back To The Catskills! Maybe we'll read one of your jokes on an upcoming podcast!

Can A Gentile Be Saved?

Can a Gentile be saved? Overwhelmingly throughout the Biblical narrative up until this point, the story has been primarily Jewish. Even from the beginning, the Israelites were called to be a light to the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). The early church was made up of Jewish believers, but what about Gentiles? Can they be saved?
This was the question that surfaced in Acts 10 when Jewish Peter meet a Gentile Roman named Cornelius. He was a God-fearing man who gave alms and prayed regularly. He even had a vision from God telling him to send for Peter (Acts 10:1-8). So he did and when Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet worshiping him (Acts 10:25). Obviously, this was not the reaction that Peter was expecting, but he saw that God was at work.
So what about today? The tables have turned. The question today is no longer, "Can a Gentile be saved?" but rather, "Can a Jew be saved?" While the answer to both questions is, "Yes!" and we know God desires for all people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), there is still a lot of confusion today. Join us on this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast as we discuss all of these issues and more!

The Afternoon Of Pentecost

When we look at Pentecost and Acts 2 we marvel and are amazed at the 3,000 who receive the Holy Spirit. We go to the next chapter and forget it's still Pentecost. Just six hours later, Peter and John are going up to the temple and a man who has been lame from birth is healed and the crowds are even more amazed.
Peter says, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?" Why do you marvel? This is the promised day that was spoken of by the prophet Joel. And in case you're still doubting, not only does Peter quote Joel, he applies it to what's happening right then and there. This is what was promised! The result? 5,000 were added that day.
The early church was filled with people who were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were men of Israel who worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And the message they preached was that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. If you want to understand the early church, you need to understand its Jewish roots.
Join us on this episode of the Jewish Road podcast as we look into the events of the afternoon of the Pentecost and how they were a fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophet Joel from Act one, being brought to life in real time.

The Jewishness Of Pentecost

Somehow over the last 2,000 years, the followers of Jesus have morphed so much so that Christians today don't remotely resemble their spiritual ancestors. The church doesn't look all that Jewish. So much so, we get a surprised and perplexed look when people find out that we follow Jesus AND WE'RE JEWISH!
It's almost as if the two don't really go together. Go back 2,000 years and tables were completely turned the other way.
Our podcast series will explore the Jewish roots of the early church and how its founders were steeped in Jewish culture, thought, and tradition. They were...Jewish. We'll also see how this rich heritage has been lost over time and how we can reclaim it today.
In first-century Jerusalem, it's been 50 days since Passover, Jesus was crucified, rose again, and appeared to more than 500 followers over the course of 40 days.
Now, it's ten days after that and there is a gathering in Jerusalem waiting for the promised Helper. When the Holy Spirit descends on this gathering of Jewish followers, it would change the world. The beginnings were Jewish from its inception and would start a movement still prevalent today.
Let's dig in and look at Acts 2 from Act Two (see what we did there?), and of course, jump back to the roots of Pentecost, AKA Shavuot, from Act One.

Jewish Mindset After The Resurrection

 Have you ever been waiting for something with all your heart, and when it finally arrives, it's not what you expected?
That's what happened to the disciples after Jesus' resurrection. They were devastated that he didn't fulfill all of their Messianic prophecies, but then Jesus appears to them on the road and opens their eyes to see everything in a new light. In Luke 24, hearts are opened and eyes can see.
In this podcast series, we explore the Jewish roots of Christianity and how Jesus is still the Messiah even in ways they never could have imagined.

The Jewish Mindset During The Ministry Of Jesus

Let's review a couple of fundamental truths.
Jesus was Jewish.
The disciples were Jewish.
The prophets who had said he was coming for centuries were Jewish.
The early church made up of the first "Christians" were Jewish.
Christianity is rooted in Judaism, but many people don't know this. 
If you're like most people, you may say that Jesus was a Christian and that the early church was started by Christians. What is missing from that statement is that it removes the Jewishness from Jesus, His disciples, and the beginnings of the early church.
It's a Jewish story, and viewing the story from this lens changes everything. 
Too often, the Christian faith is separated from its Jewish roots. This can lead to a misunderstanding of the Bible and of Jesus Himself.
At the Jewish Road Podcast, we are starting a new series that explores "The Jewish Roots of the Early Church." In this first of five episodes leading to Shavuot (Pentecost), we take a look at the story of the Good Samaritan and learn how Jesus was truly a Jew who came to fulfill all of Israel's hopes and dreams and give you a perspective on this popular story you might not have heard before. Tune in!

Can These Dry Bones Live?

Holocaust Remembrance Day was this week.
As we remember the 6 million Jews who were murdered along with millions of others, we also look to God's faithfulness and restoration. In this episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, we explore Ezekiel 37 and see how God brings life back to His people - not just flesh and bone, but eventually to breathe His spirit.
This podcast is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and love for His people. It's an important listen for anyone who wants to understand the Holocaust and the Jewish people better.

Feast Of First Fruits

Have you ever wondered about the biblical origins of Resurrection Sunday?
In this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we explore the Feast of First Fruits and how it ties into the story of Jesus’ resurrection. We bring context to the resurrection story by going back to Act One, the Old Testament, and working through the themes of Jesus being the second Adam, what the Apostle Paul would later call the firstfruits of all creation.
You won’t want to miss this in-depth exploration of one of an important holiday. This episode is packed with insights that will help you understand the resurrection in a whole new light.
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-23).