The Jewish Road Podcast

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).

Testing By The Lamb Of God

SO, four times Yeshua is confronted by the religious leaders, and four times He answers and shows Himself to be the perfect Lamb of God without spot or blemish. Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians all put Him to the test. 
Now He turns the tables on them and He has a question for the religious leaders…on the last day that Yeshua is speaking publicly so it’s very important to hear what He says. And His last message is about His identity, who is He? 

Testing The Lamb: Sadducees

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern-day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday.  That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem).  What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:
The Priests and the elders
The Pharisees and the Herodians
The Sadducees
The Pharisees (take one more shot)
The Sadducees (Matthew 22:23-33) 
A third confrontation was from the Sadducees…This confrontation was a question of THEOLOGY.It had to do with the Resurrection

Testing The Lamb: Pharisees And Herodians

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern-day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday.  That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem).  What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:
The Priests and the elders
The Pharisees and the Herodians
The Sadducees
The Pharisees (take one more shot)
The Pharisees and the Herodians (Matthew 22:15-22)
A second confrontation was from the Pharisees and the Herodians…
This confrontation was a question of POLITICS.

Testing The Lamb: Priests And Elders

Entering Jerusalem as He did isn’t the end of the story. Unfortunately, in its modern-day observance of Passion Week, it jumps from there right to the crucifixion. Palm Sunday → Good Friday.  That is the result of the early church deciding not to follow the Jewish calendar. That decision was made at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD (It was a symptom of a deeper problem).  What actually happened after the Triumphal Entry is that He went back and forth from Bethany to Jerusalem every day, and entered into dialogue (confrontation-attack) with four different groups:
The Priests and the elders
The Pharisees and the Herodians
The Sadducees
The Pharisees (take one more shot)
The Priests and the Elders (Matthew 21:23-22:14)
So, the first line of attack comes from the priests and the elders and the question that is at issue is His AUTHORITY.
And it’s worth our time to pause for a moment and ponder the question of authority.

Setting Aside The Lamb

By the time Jesus gets to Jerusalem and the event of the Triumphal Entry, it was the tenth of the Jewish month Nisan. 
And according to Exodus 12:3-6, it was on the tenth day of Nisan that the lamb was to be set aside for the Passover sacrifice. 
Between the 10th and the 14th of Nisan, the lamb was to be inspected, scrutinized, and tested to be sure it was without spot or blemish (Ex. 12:5). 
So the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem was the day of the setting aside of the Lamb of God. And over the next few days, there was a testing to prove that THIS LAMB was without spot or blemish.
“…knowing that you were redeemed…with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Messiah” (1 Peter 1:18-19).