The biggest loss mourned by the Jewish people during this time of fasting and mourning is that of the temple. According to tradition, both the first and second temple were destroyed on the 9th day of Av.
Rabbis say that the temple not only played a large role Jewish life, but was central to their relationship with God. This is quite apparent as we read through the Old Testament , the Gospels and the Book of Acts. The rabbis also acknowledge that the temple was God's dwelling place among human beings and was the key to their relationship with Him. With the loss of the temple, they lost that special, close contact with God.
Losing fellowship with God, and not knowing how to restore it, is indeed a devastating loss and a reason to mourn. If you remember, the temple sacrifices were the only way the Jewish people could make atonement and be forgiven of sin.
The Jewish people have many reasons to mourn but the loss of the temple and loss of their communion with God is the greatest.
As I was thinking about Tisha B'Av today, I also had reason to mourn. Why? According to Hebrews 1, God spoke long ago through Moses and the prophets. Who did He speak to? The Jewish people. Who did God tell of His coming Deliverer? The Jewish people. I am saddened when I think about the fact that the vast majority of Jews have not recognized Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and the world.
Like the apostle Paul, "my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved (Romans 10:1). Paul was saddened by the fact that the Jews had "a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof"(2 Timothy 3:5).
Paul went on in Romans 10 to describe the religion of many Jews he knew. It was not meant as an insult (although most practicing Judaism today would see it that way), but rather said out of a heart of love for his fellow Jews.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (v 2-4).
I pray that Jewish people will know that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of Israel and the world and know that before it was destroyed, Jesus tore the curtain in the temple, giving us access directly to the throne of grace, made possible by His atoning sacrifice "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). I pray also that they will know that God has made His dwelling place, not just among human beings but within them through His Son and His Spirit. I pray that Jewish people everywhere will see the truth and proclaim,
Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach!
(Blessed be the Name of the Lord Jesus The Messiah!)
When a Jewish person comes to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as their personal Messiah and Lord, they may still mourn the losses of their people over the centuries, but will have a reason to rejoice that God, by His Son, Adonai Yeshua HaMashiach (the Lord Jesus Christ) has made His dwelling place with them and they have become the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within them.
That revelation of the wondrous grace of God is the only way to turn a day to mourn into a day to rejoice.
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The table I created below just gives a general overview of how the Jewish calendar months coincide with the January - December calendar. The Jewish calendar is much more complex with rules for leap years, cycles of years, etc.
Interestingly, the current year on the Jewish calendar is 5774 which, according to tradition, dates back to creation.
- JEWISH CALENDAR MONTHMODERN “CIVIL” CALENDARNissanMarch-AprilIyarApril-MaySivanMay-JuneTammuzJune-JulyAvJuly-AugustElulAugust-SeptemberTishriSeptember-OctoberCheshvanOctober-NovemberKislevNovember-DecemberTevetDecember-JanuaryShevatJanuary-FebruaryAdarFebruary-March
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