Moshe Rabbenu was truly a great prophet! Even as our people stood poised to conquer Eretz Yisrael he foresaw the future exile and scattering of our people among the nations. Through the Ruach HaKodesh, moreover, he was given insight into our spiritual condition in the acharit-hayamim (End of Days). To this effect our physical estrangement from the Land would merely mirror a more fundamental one - we would be spiritually estranged from G-d Himself. There would come a time, however, when we would return to Hashem in complete obedience:
"However, from there you will seek Adonai your G-d; and you will find him if you search after him will all your heart and being. In your distress, when all these things have come upon you, in the acharit-hayamim, you will return to Adonai your G-d and listen to what he says; for Adonai your G-d is a merciful G-d. He will not fail you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors which He swore to them." (D'varim 4:29-31)
At Teshuvah Messianic Synagogue we believe that this restoration of the Jewish people to G-d has already begun and is increasingly evident in the growing strength and vitality of the international Messianic Jewish movement. The Messianic Judaism that we practice has been re-birthed by G-d in these acharit-hayamim in order to facilitate the wider spiritual regeneration of our Jewish people. We enjoy a renewed delight in both Torah and the traditions of our people (D'varim 30:1-14), conducting life cycle ceremonies and celebrating the Jewish festivals.
This renewal is something of which we read through the prophet Yechezk'el,
"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the countries, and return you to your own soil. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them." (Yechezk'el 31:30-33)
Indeed, Hashem went on to reveal through the prophet Yirmeyahu that this miraculous restoration of our Jewish people to Himself would be effected by the establishment of a 'B'rit Hadashah' ('renewed covenant') characterised by the forgiveness of trangressions.
"'For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' says Adonai: 'I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their G-d, and they will be my people. No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know Adonai'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.'" (Yirmeyahu 31:30-33).
We at Teshuvah fervently believe that G-d sent Yeshua, as His Mashiach, to inaugurate this B'rit Hadashah and thus bring about the renewal of our people. By trusting in Yeshua's merit we have found our relationship with Hashem and commitment to our Jewish people completely renewed. As the prophet Yeshayahu proclaimed (Yeshayahu 53:9-12),
"Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, yet it pleased Adonai to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring, and he will prolong his days; and at his hand Adonai's desire will be accomplished. After this ordeal, he will see satisfaction. 'By his knowing [pain and sacrifice], my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers. Therefore I will assign him a share with the great, he will divide the spoil with the mighty , for having exposed himself to death and being counted among the sinners, while actually bearing the sin of many and interceding for the offenders.'"
If you would like to know more about Yeshua, Teshuvah Messianic Synagogue or Messianic Judaism in general then please do contact us.
We'd love to hear from you!
Shalom,
Rabbi Dr. Julian Scott
Teshuvah Messianic Synagogue is accountable to the Union of British Messianic Jewish Congregations (UBMJC).
