The Jewish Road Podcast

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.

Has God Replaced The Jewish People?

On this episode of the Jewish Road podcast, we explore replacement theology and hone in on the book of Romans for a deeper look. The idea that "God is done with the Jews" is not new, but it has been gaining traction in recent years.
But where does this thinking come from?
And what does the Bible actually say about God's relationship with the Jewish people? We'll dig into all of that in this episode and offer some ways to respond to this line of thinking.
So whether you're a Jew struggling with this issue or a Christian who wants to learn more about what the Bible has to say on the matter, this episode is for you. Join us as we unpack replacement theology and explore what the Bible really says about God's relationship with the Jewish people.

Are God’s People Still His Chosen People?

Are God's people, the Jewish people, still His chosen people? We'll give you the punchline now: Absolutely.
But haven't they rejected Jesus as the Messiah?
And doesn't that mean that they're no longer His chosen people?
We believe the answer to both of those questions is a resounding "no!"
Are we talking about an old relationship that once was, and now God has moved on to another love, the church? We believe the Jewish are still chosen, still loved, still the apple of His eye.
First and foremost, God's love for the Jewish people is eternal and unchanging. He promised Abraham that He would make of him a great nation, and He has kept that promise. That covenant was and is an everlasting covenant (Genesis 17:7), and God will never go back on His Word.
You see, God's plan all along has been to use the Jewish people to bless the whole world. In Genesis 12:3, God says that He will bless those who bless Abraham and his descendants and curse those who curse them. All through history, we see God's faithfulness to His chosen people.
God's love for the Jewish people is eternal and unshakeable. They continue to play a vital role in world events, and the community of Jesus-followers should love them and pray for, and seek out, their salvation.
Check out The Jewish Road Podcast, episode 42, "Are God's People Still His Chosen People?"

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.