GRADUATION AND LIBERATION
At this time of year, students all over America are eagerly looking
forward to graduating. And, many of them view graduation as liberation!
However, these two concepts are also linked together by the holidays
of this season.
This letter is being written during Passover and Easter week. But
by the time you read this, these tremendous holidays of redemption,
or liberation, will be over. And, graduation day for many high schools
and colleges will be on top of us. So, we wanted to share a couple
reflections regarding graduation.
As most of you are aware, twenty years ago Menorah Ministries started
a "partnership" of sorts with a brand seminary, St. Petersburg
Theological Seminary (SPTS). It has been a wonderful relationship
that has blossomed into the establishing of the Netzer David International
Yeshiva, which we talked about in our last letter. Patrice teaches
Hebrew and Older Testament courses there; John teaches er Testament
and Jewish backgrounds of Scripture courses; and Barb, our office
manager (and seminary graduate), "pinch hits" for us when
needed. As a result, a number of students have come to this area
to study, many people from Congregation Ohr Chadash (the Messianic
synagogue we founded) have taken classes--and some have graduated--at
the seminary, a few students have become members of the synagogue,
and we have several faculty members who are part of the synagogue
as well; all in all, a very productive relationship. And, what's
even more exciting is knowing that the students we train impact
an ever-growing number of people in two important ways. First, they
are more effective in reaching Jews (and Gentiles) with the message
of Yeshua, the Messiah. And, second, they are better equipped to
help people grow and mature in their faith.
One of our former graduates--an educational coordinator in the
North Carolina public school system--recently wrote us and expressed
his appreciation for the education he received at the seminary (SPTS):
"While I was a student at the seminary, I learned in great
detail the historical and exegetical truths of our faith. SPTS teaches
at the very root of our faith. The Judaism of Jesus was not suppressed
by Him; it was, to the contrary, fulfilled in Him.
"I have gone on in my education and am now working on my EdD.
During graduate school, I studied approximately 40 hours of theology.
Although this graduate school and seminary was academically challenging,
it did not drive home our Jewish roots as SPTS does. This foundation
was only laid at SPTS.
"Let me plainly state, SPTS ignites a torch that was all but
extinguished. Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew, the Jewish Messiah. He
never changed synagogue polity, nor did His apostles. Where did
this background go? This is why we, as the Body of Christ, must
return to the roots of our faith. St. Petersburg Theological Seminary
is the avenue by which this can be achieved."
Or, as one of this spring's graduates put it, quite succinctly
and simply:
"Your teachings have brought great understanding to my soul.
Thank you!"
This important education and transformation--or liberation--process
continues June 3-9 in the Philippines. Under the direction of one
of our Menorah Ministries couples, Roger and Naomi Walkwitz, the
Asia Pacific Messianic Fellowship holds its first annual Bible conference.
This will bring together participants from Singapore, Japan, the
Philippines, and Zealand in a real "first" for the Far
East. Pray for this important event, especially in light of the
recent SARS "mini-epidemic" in that part of the world.
(Next year Patrice and John will be the featured speakers.)
A note on a related international education/transformation opportunity:
The two largest language "blocks" of Jewish people, outside
of Hebrew and English, are Spanish and Russian. We have started
the exciting process of translating and publishing both the Messianic
siddur (services for the Sabbath) and the Messianic machzor (services
for the holidays)--which we produced--in Spanish and in Russian.
As these materials are distributed and put into use, the opportunity
to significantly impact these major Jewish population groups multiplies
geometrically! Stay tuned and do pray!
Thanks for being part of such exciting and life-changing efforts
through your prayers and giving!
Well, back to Passover. Passover is clearly a holiday of redemption
or liberation. It's the time that celebrates God rescuing our Jewish
people and setting us free from Egypt. It also recalls a Passover
nearly 1500 years later when Yeshua liberated us all from another
kind of slavery during a Passover week that dramatically culminated
in his resurrection!
But, how is this related to graduation? Well, on the seventh day
of that first Passover, our people saw all the Egyptian armies marching
toward them. On that day, God stepped in and fought for Israel,
as the Scripture says, and opened the Red Sea. Traditionally, this
day is viewed as the day the children of Israel grew up collectively
in one day, and graduated into a nation!
During Passover week, we recall these literally earth-shaking events
with what our local papers have described as "A Jewish Celebration
of Easter?" In closing, we want to leave you with some thoughts
we occasionally share at that very Jewish resurrection celebration.
"The Shattering of the Heavens"
The heavens thundered and shook as the Jewish people trembled
when God came down onto Mt. Sinai and spoke to Moses.
The heavens parted at Yeshua's birth as God himself stepped into
history, and angels from the heights of heaven sang on the hillsides
of Judah.
The heavens "tore open" and a voice was heard, as God
spoke and announced that Yeshua was the supernatural Messiah at
his mikveh (baptism).
The Temple veil, with its picture of the heavens, ripped apart
when Yeshua, the Passover Lamb of God, died, and atonement was
finally accomplished.
The earth literally moved, and the two-ton stone rolled uphill
to reveal for all to see that Yeshua had risen from the dead as
the Jewish prophets had predicted, and to prove to all concerned
that he was the Messiah of Israel and the Lord of the Universe.
The heavens parted yet again as Yeshua ascended through them
to claim his throne and rule over all forces and creatures throughout
the universe.
The heavens will part once more, and the Mount of Olives will
split apart, when he returns to rule the earth from Jerusalem.
In keeping with this, we join Jews in synagogues around the world
who daily and expectantly pray:
"May our eyes behold your return to Zion with mercy; blessed
are you, O Lord, who returns your presence to Zion."
Most warmly in Yeshua,
John and Patrice
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