TSIYON NEWS

The 7th Hebrew month figured prominently in the earthly life of Yeshua. The evidence suggests that He was born on Sukkot in the 7th month, and was recognized under the Covenant of Israel on the eighth day, the Last Great Day.

Since His birthday was in the 7th month it is likely He began His ministry in that same month, as Scripture says: "Yeshua was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry." (Luke 3:23 CJB)

On what day of the 7th month did Yeshua begin His ministry? Yeshua was publicly introduced in His ministry when He came to Yochanan (John the Baptist) to be immersed. On seeing Yeshua on that occasion Yochanan exclaimed: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This statement is clearly about the ultimate atonement that comes into the world only through Yeshua. What day would that have been, if not Atonement Day? (John 1:29-36)

Yeshua fulfills all of the Appointments of YHWH in the 7th month, and all the rest as well. By observing those special days we honor Messiah for who He is, what He has done, and what He will yet do - all for His Father and for all of us. Done with the right heart, all of the appointments draw us closer to Him. All of the special days of this 7th Hebrew month are listed near the bottom of this newsletter.

While all of that is important, there is much more to Yeshua than fulfilling special days. He came into the world as a real flesh and blood person - as an innocent and helpless baby. As a baby, in His childhood, and throughout His life, He grew up and functioned as part of a family. Much of His day to day life was very ordinary, just dealing with life in the context of His family and His community. In this sense, He was not much different from you or I. In a way, that's the point, isn't it?

He came to be what we are, to enter fully into the human experience. This is what was needed to save us. He didn't just tell us what to do. He actually came as one of us and showed us how to do it! Then, He went beyond all frontiers of love to give His perfect human life for us so that we could be reconciled to God through Him. Hence, "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"