In elementary school, two of my closest friends were Jewish.  I was jealous of two things:

1. God picked them first
2. They have really cool parties and lots of them - between11-16 depending who you ask.

The Feasts/Festivals were instituted by God to bring them into remembrance of who they were and what God had done or was going to do for them. Some of my best memories from my childhood involve attending these festivals with my best friend, Sara.

            In Leviticus 23, God institutes eight of the feasts.

1. Sabbath – meant as a day of renewal, not bondage. Jesus said in Mark 2:27 that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of man and not the other way around.  In fact, we find Jesus healing people, teaching, and “violating the Sabbath” many times during his ministry.  This had been prophesied in Isaiah 1:13-15 and Hosea 2:11 because God was frustrated with their religious attitudes that killed the spirit of the Law.
2. Passover Feast was to be done every spring to commemorate the Israelites liberation from Egypt as a result of the visitation of the Death Angel.  The Lord sent the Angel to kill all the firstborn sons and the Israelites were given the only means of escaping this tragedy – marking the doorposts of their home with the blood of an unblemished young male lamb.
3. Feast of Unleavened Bread began the day after the Passover Feast and lasted for seven days.  It is marked by a holiday and synagogue worship on the first and last day.  Jewish tradition added to God’s command not to eat things with leavening by actually removing all leavening agents from the house.  This has led to Spring Cleaning on Steroids.  Every crack is scrubbed to remove traces of banned substances.  The night before Passover, the lights are turned off, a blessing is read for the removal of crumbs, and the family searches by candlelight for remaining crumbs to be swept up with a feather and wooden spoon.  Parents of young children often plant crumbs for their children to find, since good cleaning has left nothing to be found.

            The meal itself is filled with symbolism from start to finish.  Children play a central role and ask set questions throughout the meal that allow the adults to explain the symbolism.  The unleavened bread, or matzo bread, is broken and distributed several times.  This festival was to foreshadow the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God – his body broken like the matzo bread – his blood shed for the remission of sin.

4. The Festival of Firstfruits came at the beginning of harvest time and provided a physical example of the need to put God first in all things.  This festival foreshadowed the resurrection of Christ.  (1 Cor. 15:20-22)

    

5. The Feast of Pentecost came seven weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits.  It marks the day the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Israelites became committed to serving Him.  Dairy foods (like cheesecake and blintzes) are eaten to compare the sweet, nourishing food with the Word of God.  This festival was to foreshadow the Holy Spirit – as Pentecost is a celebration of the giving of the Law, Pentecost in the book of Acts is the celebration of the Holy Spirit’s enabling us to walk victoriously.

    

6. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, was the most solemn day of the Jewish year.  The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies and offered sacrifices for the sake of the nation. This event was so serious, that the priest would die instantly if there was any unconfessed sin in his life. He alone walked behind the thick curtain that separated Man from God.  Upon Christ’s death, the curtain was ripped – from top to bottom. This festival was to foreshadow the death of Christ and the permanent atonement he gave us access to.  (Luke 23:45)

    

7. The Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah, was to be marked by peace-offerings and the blowing of the Shofar.  It is the beginning of the Jewish year and is described as a day of Judgment.  Many foods are served at this meal, each with their own meaning.  Pomegranates are a symbol of righteousness, as they have approx. 613 seeds, which is the same as the number of laws in the Torah.  It is also considered by some to represent the fall of man, since some scholars believe it was the pomegranate that Eve ate in the garden.  This festival foreshadows “The Day of the LORD” when he returns.  (Rev. 8:6 & 10:7; 1 Thess. 4:16-17).
8. Festivals added to commemorate later events:
1. Purim – celebration of God’s preservation of Israel during their Persian captivity.  It is marked by gift exchanges, charitable giving, really good cookies, wearing costumes, and a loud party at the synagogue.
2. Hanukah – The Festival of Lights is celebrated as a remembrance of the miraculous.  The Temple oil had been profaned by invaders and there was only enough oil left for one day.  That oil stayed lit until the new oil could be pressed – eight days later.  During the celebration, gifts are exchanged nightly during the eight day festival and fried foods are eaten to celebrate the oil that lasted eight days instead of one.

Jesus:  The One and Only

Week 2

Facilitator Guide

Since this is the first time you have met in your group, allow the women to introduce themselves in ten words or less.

1.  Have someone read Luke 2:7 and 2:24.  The rank of the child was indicated by the material used for the swaddling cloth.  Fine scarves were used for the rich while the poor used common cloth.  And in sacrifices, the rich used a lamb, while the poor used pigeons.  Both of these indicate that Mary and Joseph were not wealthy people.

• What are some potential reactions Mary and Joseph could have had regarding their ability to provide for Jesus?
• Have you struggled with guilt over the right way to provide for your children?
• How?
• Compare this situation with 1 Timothy 5:8.  How do we reconcile these two verses?
• What do you think we are supposed to take away from this event of Christ being born in a barn?

2.      Looking at Luke 2 and Matthew 1-2,

• What sorts of things could Mary have “pondered in her heart?” (Make sure they mention the following):
• Magi visit
• shepherds visit
• Simeon prophecy
• Anna prophecy
• escape from Herod
• angelic appearances to Joseph
• What are some things you thought about when reading Luke 2 in the past few days that you hadn’t thought of before?

• What sorts of things should we treasure in our hearts?
• What are ways we can “treasure things in our heart?”

3.      Read Luke 2:41-47

• Jesus was lost for THREE days.  Imagine thinking you’d lost God.  What sorts of emotions could Mary and Joseph have been experiencing?
• An ordinary day’s journey was 18-30 miles, but caravans typically travelled only 3-8 miles on the first day. That way, if anything had been forgotten, you could go back and get it and still be able to catch back up with the caravan. 
• Read 2:43 & 49.  Does this indicate that Jesus stayed in Jerusalem on purpose?
• How is Jesus’ answer not disrespectful?
• What would have been the purpose of Christ spending that time in the Temple?