The Jewish Road Podcast

If Only This Were The Past

Now more than ever is a time to celebrate Hanukkah and hold onto the light of hope that it provides us. In 1932, Anti-Semitism was on the rise in Europe and many Jewish families could personally feel evil making its way towards them.
Despite what they saw out their window everyday, those with menorahs kept those lights alight and celebrated this historical holiday that not only brought light into their homes but brought a sense of strength and courage as well.
On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we dive into why we should find reason to celebrate Hanukkah today in a time when Anti-Semitism seems more persistent than ever: to provide strength, promise, and hope for the future - even in dark times.

The Biblical Backstory Of Hanukkah

We travel back into the timeline of the Bible to uncover a fascinating connection between the stories of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and Jesus.
While Hanukkah is widely known as the Festival of Lights, and is enjoyed by millions around the world each year, many are unaware of its Biblical backstory.
From the perspective of the Old Testament book of Daniel, we can draw a connection between Hanukkah and Antiochus Epiphanes IV, who, in 167 BCE, desecrated a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and attempted to ban their religious, cultural and civil practices. His oppressive rule acted as a trigger for the Maccabees, who eventually liberated the Jews from their oppressor.
Over two thousand years later, this brave stand still has an impact on us all—for although we may not change our circumstances overnight, we still must learn from them how to fight oppression and maintain our faith in ourselves against all odds.
This crucial link can help us think differently about the Festival of Lights, known as Hanukkah. We must remember that one day there will be another "Antiochus" to come onto the scene, so we must always remain vigilant and prepared for his arrival.
Through this episode, we can better understand Hanukkah's significance, and also discover why it is so important to be ready for another tumultuous time in Jewish history.

Missing The Messiah

I saw a show the other day where a famous musician put on a costume and showed up at a karaoke bar. This person who normally sells out arenas was on stage in front of thirty people. She started singing one of her songs and the people loved it, except they didn't know it was her. They missed it - until the end of the show and the big reveal. Then it all made sense.
On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we'll be talking about how the Jews of Jesus' day missed the Messiah and how we can avoid missing Him when He comes again. Toward the end of His time on earth, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, knowing her destruction was imminent. Why?
He said, "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
The Jews of Jesus' day missed their Messiah. They missed His birth, His life, and His death.
And they had everything they needed to expect His coming. And so do we.
We have all of the prophecies pointing to His first coming fulfilled in Him. And we have all of the prophecies pointing to His second coming on the cusp of being fulfilled right now as we speak.
From the opening words of the book of Genesis to the closing of the Old Testament, all signs pointed to Jesus, the Messiah. This episode is a reminder for us, especially in this season, to be watchful and prepared so that when He comes again, we will not miss Him but will be ready to welcome Him with open arms.

Waiting As A Bride

In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples of the image of many rooms in His father’s house - He gives an invitation to come and take up residence. This is more than just a dry statement of faith. Jesus speaks in metaphor, using the concept of a marriage to illustrate the human relationship with God. 
In first-century culture, men would often go away to prepare a ‘place’ for their bride - usually encountered for the first time at the wedding feast. In essence, Jesus both foretells and promises his return. He will come back for us like a groom coming for His bride. 
In waiting and preparation, our role is uniquely transformational: we live not in static uncertainty but in proactive anticipation of The Day when the Messiah returns as promised with all eagerly awaiting joy! 
As the world awaits this season to remember the birth of the Messiah in His first coming, let it also point us to His assured return. Waiting can be hard, especially in days like these. In this 50th episode of The Jewish Road Podcast, may you be encouraged and enlightened to gain a deeper understanding of an old passage made new. May this season be one where each of us draws closer to the Lord as we anticipate His coming again! Blessings in your journey as you wait upon Him like a Bride waiting for her Groom!

Repairing The World This Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving week, there is much to be grateful for. As Jews, we are familiar with the concept of "Tikkun Olam" - translated from Hebrew as “Repair The World” - to remind us that though brokenness abides in our world, we've been invited to partner with God to help repair it.
We don't do this work alone. God's own acts of restoration have reverberated throughout history and continue to make their presence known today. As we look forward in anticipation to the return of Jesus, the ultimate recourse for our broken world is clear: He came once and will come again, restoring a world far better than its current state.
Far beyond humanitarian acts or green initiatives, we are called to bring a greater repair, one that brings salvation through the Messiah. We do not do this on our own: ultimately, it is only through Jesus that perfect order shall be restored in the world one day soon! 
What an incredible gift to offer thanks for this Thanksgiving week!  Don't miss a rare shorter conversation and stay tuned until the end when we make some announcements about upcoming opportunities. Plus, in this podcast episode, we'll tell you why you shouldn't pray until after your Thanksgiving meal. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you have a wonderful day filled with love, food, family, friends...and plenty of hope for God's redeeming grace!

A Short History Of Anti-Semitism In The Church

The barriers preventing many Jewish people from believing in Jesus are numerous and deeply entrenched. Unfortunately, much of this is due to the history between the Jewish people and the church throughout history. From the early church fathers to the Crusades, and extending from Martin Luther to the Holocaust, in the mind of the Jewish people, there is a history of how Christians have caused pain and suffering for Jewish people.
This podcast episode recounts a short history of Anti-Semitism for those unaware of how deep the roots go. We also give some initial steps Christians can take to overcome these barriers and extend an olive branch to our Jewish brothers and sisters.

A Conversation About Jewish Holidays

On this episode of the Jewish Road Podcast, we sit down with our friend, Rich Ferreira, from GTI Tours on his podcast. We talked about everything from an overview of the Jewish holidays that take place in the Fall as well as our upcoming trip to Israel.
Rich has been a friend for years who is well-versed in all things Israel and living as a Christian immersed in the Jewish context of Scripture. We are so lucky to have him as a friend and resource. Together we walk through Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
And of course, we talk about Rich's company GTI Tours and our upcoming trip to Israel with them. This is truly a not-to-be-missed episode packed full of information, conversation, and laughter. So grab your favorite fall cup of something warm, get cozy, and join us on the Jewish Road.

When Jesus Shows Up To The Feast

It seems as though Jesus keeps showing up at the right time unless you're part of the crowd trying to keep the same old traditions unchanged. He shows up and brings a whole new meaning to an ancient feast.
The Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It is a pilgrimage feast when Jews worldwide celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the earth's bounty. 
The feast lasts for seven days, and during this time, the Jewish people build temporary shelters, or sukkot, in which they live and eat. They also decorate these sukkot with fruit and foliage, and on each day of the feast, they make a pilgrimage to the temple to offer sacrifices. 
The Feast of Booths is a joyful time, but it also has deep spiritual meaning. For Jews, it is a reminder of the time when their ancestors wandered in the desert for 40 years. It is a time to reflect on God's faithfulness and give thanks for all he has given us. 
We are called to read the Bible and understand it. However, we often skim over passages we don't fully understand. We may not know the historical context or the meaning of the Hebrew words, so we simply move on, missing out on the true beauty and depth of Scripture. 
This is especially true when we come to John 7 and the Feast of Booths. John mentions the Feast 7 times in this passage, yet many of us miss its significance. 
As we begin this Feast today, let us slow down and take a closer look at this important passage. By doing so, we will better understand God's Word and His plan for our lives.

The Guilty One Is Set Free

In this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we take a look at the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement.
This holiday has roots in both the Old and New Testaments, and its implications are still relevant to how we live today.
Imagine being the Israelites in the wilderness and having your community's sin cast onto the head of a goat that was then set free in the wilderness, never to return again. Or imagine being a Jewish follower of Jesus as he hung on that cursed tree. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. At his death, sin was removed and the guilty ones were set free.
All of this plus what all of this has to do with the face-off between Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate makes for a fascinating exploration of this holiday and its implications for us today.

Rethinking Rosh HaShanah

Rosh Hashanah - Feast of Trumpets - Yom Teruah - Zikaron Teruah - the Jewish New Year. That's right, so many different names describing one holiday.
It is one of the biggest holidays on the Jewish calendar and is the start of the High Holy Days season. Synagogues are packed with Jewish people today, gathered to hear the blowing of the shofar and beginning 10 Days of Awe and repentance, hoping they will be inscribed in the Book of Life for one more year.
Yet, not one thing of all of that is found in Scripture. It is strictly tradition.
Maybe it's time we take a deeper look and rethink Rosh Hashanah.