What is the New Covenant Passover?

In Rabbinic and Messianic Judaism there are many and varied traditions that are associated with Passover. Most are not found in the Torah (first five books of the Bible). Most Jewish denominations, i.e. the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform branches of Rabbinic Judaism as well as Messianic Judaism,  have produced booklets that their constituents follow when celebrating the Passover. These booklets are called the Haggadah which literally means “the telling”.

The point being that the Passover instructions in the Scripture are quite simple. The elements include the slaughtering and eating of a flawless lamb, the eating of unleavened bread for seven days and the offering of various animal sacrifices at the Temple.

This left a lot of room for our Jewish people over the centuries to develop creative extra-Biblical traditions and ways to retell the Passover story that became a part of Passover celebrations. 

This brings me to the New Covenant Passover. Did you know…

…that the Christian Communion, that is celebrated at various times throughout the year, depending on what denomination and church you are associated with, is actually a Passover celebration. In other words the Last Supper was a Passover meal.

Da Vinci's "The Last Supper"

This of course is no accident. The Messiah Yeshua’s (Jesus) crucifixion and resurrection was closely associated with the feast of Passover.

New Messianic Traditions

In I Corinthians 11:17-33 the Messiah follows in the Jewish tradition of creative Passover storytelling by instituting a new wrinkle to Passover observance. At the last Passover supper with His disciples, within hours of His crucifixion, He broke the matzah (unleavened bread) that they were all eating and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.“

Then He took the cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

What did He mean by this? 

Matzah

 Unleavened bread had two important and prophetic meanings in the Scripture. First The Torah calls it the bread of affliction and symbolized Israel’s suffering in Egypt. But leaven is also a Biblical symbol for sin. So Yeshua was saying that when you celebrate the Passover and remember Israel’s deliverance from suffering in Egypt, remember my suffering for your sins. Of course the disciples did not fully realize at that moment what this meant until after His death and resurrection.

Secondly, though the cup of wine was not a part of the Passover in the Exodus account, by the time of Yeshua (and even today) the cup(s) of wine were an established part of Passover observance. In the Scripture wine is often associated with blood and so Yeshua, after the meal was over, instructed His disciples that His blood represented a New Covenant.

So what is the New Covenant?

The New Covenant is the most important of all covenants between God and man. Just as the lamb’s blood in the Exodus account caused the angel of death to pass over Jewish homes and spare the firstborn in each household, so the covenant between God and man is that the Messiah’s shed blood covers the sins of an individual who accepts that atonement for their sins. Only then does God eternally forgive that person’s sins. They pass from eternal death to eternal life.

That’s why we faithfully observe the New Covenant Passover.

We must never forget the incredible and undeserved sacrifice God made by sending Ben Elohim (the Son of God) to take away the sin of the world.

Remember…and always be grateful.

Joel Chernoff

~The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA~

 

Prophetic Lessons From Passover: Lesson #1

Passover Symbolic Foods

Shalom and Happy Passover,

There are many wonderful and practical lessons to be learned from the Biblical feast of Passover. The Passover is one of the three national feasts of Israel that were commanded by God that Israel as a nation commemorate annually, and they are; Passover, Shavuot (the feast of weeks also know in the Christian world as Pentecost) and Succot (the feast of tabernacles). Each of these feasts also have a powerful prophetic Messianic fulfillment.

Over the next seven days of Passover I will share with you some of the lessons and insights about Passover that I feel might be helpful to you.

Lesson #1:

The Passover, which was the national commemoration of God’s great and supernatural deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 7-13), foreshadowed the Messiah’s first coming, His death and resurrection.

In traditional rabbinic writings…

…what Messianic Jews would refer to as the Messiah’s first coming and suffering for the sin of man is called the Messiah Ben Joseph or the Suffering Messiah. Rabbis throughout the centuries refer to what we believe is the Messiah’s second coming to reign as ruler of the world and king of the Jews as the Messiah Ben David, i.e. the Messiah Son of David. Despite the fact that most modern rabbis in traditional Judaism would deny or avoid admitting that the rabbis recognized two distinct messianic advents…it is a fact of history and can be easily established from rabbinic writings.

Prophetic Foreshadow

Pharaoh & Moses

What makes the Passover a prophetic foreshadow of the Messiah Yeshua’s coming and sacrifice for sins is contained in the account of the final plague God sent on Egypt. Because Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let Israel leave Egypt as God called for, God visited the plague of death to all of

The Blood of the Lamb

 the firstborn of both animal and man in Egypt. In order for Israel to avoid the angel of death’s visit to their households God told the Israelites to sacrifice and eat a lamb. More importantly He commanded them to take some of the lamb’s blood and put it on the doorpost of each household. As the angel of death passed over their houses and noted the blood on their lintels they would be spared…and they were.

Messianic Fulfillment

In the same way, we avoid the eternal death for our sins that we richly deserve when God sees the blood of the Suffering Messiah, Yeshua, on the doorposts of our hearts. This is exactly what happens when each of us obeys God and accepts what God so sacrificially provided through His Son the Messiah’s death and eternal atonement. God’s eternal judgment is averted and for those who have accepted His atonement the debt of their sins is covered for eternity.

Mercy was extended to all of those households under the blood of the sacrificed lamb of old and mercy is extended to all of those who dwell under the eternal blood of the Messiah Ben Joseph, Yeshua (Jesus).

Joel Chernoff

~The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA~

Poverty Not Terrorism #1

Serving lunch to the poor of Tel-Aviv

Over the last few years poverty has been the number one domestic political issue in Israel…not terrorism. With 33% of children and 25% of adults living below the poverty line of $314 per month you can understand the explosive nature of this problem and why it is the number one issue politicians must address if they expect to be elected.

At the same time, over the last few years Israel’s economy has been experiencing 4% annual growth while much of the industrialized world economy has been shrinking. This is very good in anybody’s book. However, that has now changed.

Recession Comes in Like a Bear!

The worldwide financial crisis has finally caught up with Israel. According to an article in the LA Times, economists are predicting that the Israeli economy will shrink 1.5% this year as well as “an 11% decrease in Israeli exports which account for half the value of everything the country produces.”  Even with a growing economy Israel could not take care of its poor, fight the war with terrorists and absorb new immigrants.

War-torn Israeli bus/an Israeli youth overwhelmed

Unemployment is sure to rise along with the numbers of people living their lives below the poverty line of $314 per month. Indeed some estimates say that 50% of the countries populace could slide under the poverty line.

“Pressures Boil Over!” ~ L.A. TIMES

This was the title of a recent article I read in the L.A. Times. What was startling about the article was their description of the seeming breakdown of law and order in Israel. Apparently, businesses are closing and leaving workers and creditors in the lurch. This has triggered the shameless looting of these businesses by those left holding the bag. Israel has been very embarrassed by this and is bemoaning the loss of shame among its citizens.

Right Time – Right Place

Why am I pointing this out? Since 1999, at the behest of God’s leading, the MJAA has developed the infrastructure outside and inside Israel to meet the growing humanitarian crisis. That effort is called the Joseph Project.  Since 2000, over $85 million in aid has been delivered and distributed in Israel.

The "Spirit of Grace," chartered for Israel, carries humanitarian aid thanks to one of the Joseph Project partners, FriendShips

I am amazed that as things get worse in Israel, God has already raised up this partnership of Jew and Gentile through the MJAA to bring deliverance in the form of increasing amounts of humanitarian aid to Israel for the glory of God.

$100 million

Preparing product for distribution from warehouse

Yes…that is the amount of aid the MJAA, through its Joseph Project, is seeking to move into Israel in the near future. Right now, we are currently negotiating in southern Israel near the border with Gaza to open up a regional distribution center capable of handling up to $10 million worth of aid at one time. This is in addition to our main center in Nitzenei Oz which holds at least that much.

What God has put in our heart is to increase our warehouse capability to 100,000 square feet so that we can hold the $100 million dollars in aid. We are working hard to accomplish this.

Please keep us in your prayers…

 That the resources will become available to rent, buy or build the additional warehousing needed to house this desperately needed aid for the growing poor of Israel.

Looking back over the last 14 years…

I am amazed to observe how God saw this humanitarian crisis in Israel many years in advance and positioned the Messianic community in partnership with many Christians around the world through the Joseph Project, to be in the right place at the right time to bring deliverance to Israel for Messiah’s glory.

The lesson for me?

God is always many steps ahead of our problems even if we cannot see the answer coming. The answer or deliverance is on its way! Who knows…deliverance may show up tomorrow!

Joel Chernoff

 ~The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA~

The Fate of Israel’s Accusers

Javier Solana,  EU Foreign Policy Chief, speaking for the European Union (EU) made the following harsh and threatening statement concerning the formation of Israel’s new government under Benjamin Netanyahu. He said,

Javier Solana

” Let me say very clearly that the way the European Union will relate to an [Israeli] government that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different.”

I cannot recall a time that I have heard a western government so blatantly threaten Israel. Disagree–yes–but not threaten. This is yet another sign of the growing darkness and political isolation surrounding Israel.

The way that Solana talks about the two-state solution you would think it came to us from Mount Sinai. This despite continued Arab terrorist attacks on Israel.

Solana, who has been no friend to Israel in the past, in my view, has no business lecturing Israel as to who should or should not be in their government. Where is the common sense, the fairness and rational thinking that the Western world prides itself as having?

Israel is the victim, not the bully

Children Protest Israel

Year after year Israel is the party seeking peace and willing to negotiate for that peace. The Arab nations have consistently been unwilling to make any concession of importance. They don’t recognize Israel as a legitimate State and openly or quietly seek its destruction. The Arab nations have not been deceptive in this. They have been consistently clear as to their desire to see Israel and the Jewish people disappear into the Mediterranean Sea.

What Javier Solana and others should be saying

Mr. Solana should be threatening Hamas, Hezbullah and the terrorist sponsoring states of the Middle East. He should be loudly warning Hamas and others that if the bombs don’t stop falling on Israel then the EU will use every resource at its disposal to penalize them for their conduct both economically and militarily.

In short, the EU should be firmly standing with Israel

Israeli President Shimon Peres(L) and Solana(R)

Instead we hear warnings, threats and implied or overt accusations of war crimes from the likes of Solana and others. Now that… ticks me off. They accuse Israel of war crimes when day after day Hamas lobs bombs indiscriminately into the civilian populace of Israel.

Talk about the height of hypocrisy…perhaps it really is anti-semitism raring its ugly head.

The future of Israel’s accusers

Having said this let me point out what God says is the fate of Israel’s accusers in the “last days” before Messiah returns. The prophet Isaiah 54:15, 17 says the following:

If anyone stirs up strife with you it is not from me, whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you…no weapon formed against you shall succeed…and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in accusation. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication is from me, declares the Lord.

The fate of Israel’s accusers in the last days is this… God will make it possible for Israel to refute, i.e. effectively discredit, any accusation or accuser that rises up against her. Remember, this isn’t because Israel is perfect, has the right answer or has done the right thing, but because God himself is advocating for Israel.

Why is God advocating for Israel?

Simply put…God has a purpose and plan for humanity and planet earth. The restoration of Israel is at the center of His stated and prophetic plan in the “last days”. Once Israel has been restored physically and spiritually He will return to Jerusalem to set up His kingdom. This is clear in prophetic Scripture.

God is protecting His agenda for mankind and therefore will not allow anyone or any country to upset that plan. He is God!

Make a list!

Lastly, for future reference, I want you all to note who the accusers of Israel are and follow their fate and how God vindicates Israel in the face of those accusers and accusations.  I, myself, am going to begin to draw up such a list of accusers and track how God has dealt and is dealing with them through Israel. Now that should and will be interesting. Let’s compare notes as time progresses.

More on this later…

Joel Chernoff

-The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA-

A New and Unique Perspective

Blog Focus

This being the first blog entry in The Joel Chernoff Report (TJCR) I take the liberty (since it’s my blog) to give some direction as to its future content. TJCR will look at and comment on a wide range of issues and events surrounding the Biblically prophesied physical and spiritual restoration of Israel.

ISRAEL

Since I am very aware of these prophecies as I study them in Scripture, I believe that we live in a time when we are seeing Biblical prophecy come alive and be fulfilled. We know from Scripture what the prophetic trajectory looks like and now we have the privilege of seeing these events unfold before our eyes. These are both terrifying and exciting times.

The interesting thing about Biblical prophecy is that God chooses to share with us what I call “prophetic/signpost events”. He chooses not to tell us exactly when and where or even in what order various important prophetic events will happen. He simply states that these events will transpire in the prophetic period called the “Last Days”. In Scripture the “Last Days” is that time period just before the Messiah returns to Jerusalem and sets up His Kingdom over the whole earth. The reason these prophecies were given to us by God was to help us know that His return was imminent.

What do Messianic Jews believe about the Messiah?

Many within today’s Jewish world either do not believe the Messiah has come or don’t know or care. Messianic Jews (like me) believe that the Messiah has come and that He is returning at the end of the prophetic period called the “Last Days”. He is known to Messianic Jews by His Hebrew name, Yeshua while the western world knows him in English as Jesus.

How do we know we are in the “Last Days”?

There are two significant prophetic events” that confirm with certainty that we are in the “Last Days”.

Israel is Born

1.  The Physical Restoration of the Nation of Israel: (ie the Jewish people being re-established in her original land grant) This event was prophesied over and over both in the Tenach (Old Testament) and in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament). This was only to happen in the “Last Days” and indeed this was fulfilled in 1948 after almost 2000 years of exile, with the re-establishment of the State of Israel. Significantly, this is the only time in history that a nation was disbursed from its original homeland and later restored to the very same homeland as a people. This was indeed a miraculous prophetic fulfillment.

2. The Spiritual Restoration of Israel: The Jewish prophets foretell a massive spiritual awakening will sweep the nation of Israel in the “Last Days” and move our people to a place of right relationship with God. I believe that Messianic Judaism also known as the Messianic Jewish Movement is that revival.

Why I believe Messianic Judaism is that revival?

In 1967 there were fewer than 2000 Messianic Jews in the US. Today that number, according to Jewish population studies in the US, estimates the number at between one to two million in the US alone. In 1967 there were zero Messianic synagogues and today there are over 700 worldwide and those numbers are increasing faster than anyone can keep track.

National Messianic Conference

Consequently, I can confidently assert that since 1967, Messianic Judaism is the fastest growing stream of Jewish religious life on the planet today. This movement is not the product of any person or organization but simply the work of God’s Spirit in fulfillment of prophecy according to God’s purposes and plans.

Middle East Conflict

Having said all of the above you can see why the events and continuing conflict surrounding Israel are so important. The spiritual and physical restoration of Israel is central in God’s prophetic plan for planet earth and the Messiah’s second coming is inextricably and prophetically connected to Israel’s restoration. Indeed Yeshua himself said that He will not return to Israel until the Jewish people say “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Last word on TJCR focus

TJCR will specifically focus on events surrounding Israel, her allies and her enemies and bring a Messianic Jewish and prophetic perspective to those events.

For Messiah’s glory,

Joel Chernoff

-The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA-