It is the High Holidays in the Jewish faith right now. Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year) started last Sunday and Yom Kippur is next week. These days are known as the "10 Days of Awe."
I love that phrase: "10 Days of Awe." I have an affinity to it. And I have a sadness about it. For the vast majority of the 13.5 million Jews in the world there is a lack of awe when it comes to what the High Holidays lead to on a deeper meaning.
Many Jews rightfully see these days as a time of repentance, when God judges His people and decides if He will write their names in the Book of Life. God will weigh our good deeds and our sins and decide if we are in the Book or not.
Many years ago, in a somewhat drunkard stupor, I realized that my feeble good deeds will NEVER be enough to outweigh my sin and sins. I understood that I needed a Saviour who was sinless and completely good to be the substitute (lamb) for me. He's Jesus.
In the ensuing years I have been on a journey to re-capture the very best of these "10 Days of Awe." It starts with Rosh Hashanah - the "head" of the year. We eat apples with honey (quite delicious) and remember the goodness, sweetness, and blessing of God on His people. It then leads into days of repentance, of mourning, of lament as we reflect on our own brokenness, sin, and the tragedies of our world.
And it culminates with Kol Nidre and the next morning Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement. I can only understand the climax of these 10 days through the lens of Jesus/Y'shua the Messiah. Yom Kippur does not make sense to me unless and until Jesus is THE atonement, he is the scapegoat for the sins of the world.
Then I can CELEBRATE, then I have a renewed taste of grace and mercy and the breath-taking person of Christ.
Many Jews rightfully see these days as a time of repentance, when God judges His people and decides if He will write their names in the Book of Life. God will weigh our good deeds and our sins and decide if we are in the Book or not.
Many years ago, in a somewhat drunkard stupor, I realized that my feeble good deeds will NEVER be enough to outweigh my sin and sins. I understood that I needed a Saviour who was sinless and completely good to be the substitute (lamb) for me. He's Jesus.
In the ensuing years I have been on a journey to re-capture the very best of these "10 Days of Awe." It starts with Rosh Hashanah - the "head" of the year. We eat apples with honey (quite delicious) and remember the goodness, sweetness, and blessing of God on His people. It then leads into days of repentance, of mourning, of lament as we reflect on our own brokenness, sin, and the tragedies of our world.
And it culminates with Kol Nidre and the next morning Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement. I can only understand the climax of these 10 days through the lens of Jesus/Y'shua the Messiah. Yom Kippur does not make sense to me unless and until Jesus is THE atonement, he is the scapegoat for the sins of the world.
Then I can CELEBRATE, then I have a renewed taste of grace and mercy and the breath-taking person of Christ.
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