April 2023
Celebrate Messiah Newsletter
Yeshua the Messiah:
A Prophet Greater than Moses
Dear friend in the Messiah,
Shalom in His grace. Thanks for taking a moment to catch up with Your Mission to the Jewish People, especially during the Passover and Easter season when the connection between the Old and the New Testaments is so clear. During this time of year, we see the death and resurrection of Jesus foreshadowed in the Old and gloriously fulfilled in the New!
In this issue, we explore the relationship between two of our greatest Jewish biblical heroes: Moses and Yeshua. It is fascinating to consider how these two centerpieces of our faith spoke about one another; Yeshua referred back to Moses, while Moses pointed ahead to Messiah. Indeed, the Bible describes both Moses and Yeshua as prophets. The tremendous messianic prediction in Deuteronomy 18 is probably familiar:
The Lord said to me, “They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” (Deut 18:17–19)
This prophet will speak God’s last word for humanity; therefore, we must obey him!
The Importance of Moses for the Jewish People
I grew up in a traditional Jewish home in South Africa. My religious training was Orthodox, and I knew Moses was the most important Jewish person who ever lived. He was greater than David, the prophets, and even Abraham! God gave the Law on Mount Sinai through Moses, and in almost every version of modern Judaism, Moses is the central figure of the Jewish faith. For Jewish people, no one is more important than Moses.
We learn, especially those raised Orthodox, the Messiah will come and be a great leader, but he will not necessarily be more significant than Moses himself. You might ask if Jewish people believe Moses is more important than a future Messiah. In the down-to-earth, everyday understanding of Judaism, the vote would be very close!
Because of this view, the following words of the writer of Hebrews may have struck a discordant note, even back then, in the hearts and minds of whoever read this brief treatise:
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. (Heb 3:1–6)
Judaism also tells many stories about the greatness of Moses; he is Moshe Rabbeinu, our most excellent teacher of all time—or so most Jewish people think! According to the very words of Moses himself, however, there is more to his story of redemption.
Jesus’ Superiority to Moses in the New Covenant
The writer of Hebrews argued more explicitly than the passage in Deuteronomy for the superiority of Yeshua nd the New Covenant He inaugurated. Hebrews 3:1–6 describes how Yeshua would in all ways be superior to Moses, especially verse 3: “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house” (Heb 3:3).
Hebrews 11 also reveals this point of Yeshua’s superiority. The author took us on a tour of the “Heroes of Faith,” biographical snapshots of previous giants of the faith. The author focused on their faithfulness and achievements, underscoring the entire premise of the book of Hebrews.
The argument of Hebrews is simply this: Yeshua is superior to all those who came before Him. He is better than the angels, Moses, the Levitical priests, and even the high priest. He also provides a better rest, a better sacrifice, a better covenant, and a better hope!
However, by asserting Yeshua is better, the author does not suggest the angels, the patriarchs, Moses, the Levites, and the Old Testament are no longer valuable! Instead, it means Yeshua is God’s ultimate revelation for the world’s blessing:
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb 1:1–3)
The apostle John also records Yeshua mentioning Moses while speaking to Jewish people who were still trying to make up their minds about Him and His claims:
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:39–40, 45–47)
Yeshua certainly believes Moses wrote about Him and urges His listeners to consider Moses’ words. These passages in Hebrews and John summarise the relationship between Yeshua and the Hebrew Scriptures, and how the New Covenant fulfills the Old Testament. The Old Covenant and the great saints listed in Hebrews were part of the plan of God, which ultimately led to the glorious fulfillment in the Messiah Himself.
Jesus, the Perfect Leader
I. M. Haldeman, a fiery Baptist preacher who pastored the First Baptist Church of Manhattan for forty years and was a great friend of Chosen People Ministries, wrote about the uniqueness of Moses and how he foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus:
The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. . . . He was educated in the court, and dwelt in the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted for the city, and wandered in the wilderness. He was tempted with the pleasures of sin, and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backward in speech, and talked with God. He had the rod of a shepherd, and the power of the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassador from Heaven. He was the giver of the Law, and the forerunner of Grace. He died alone on mount Moab, and appeared with Christ in Judea.
I would love to have heard this powerful and passionate pastor preach these words! What a beautiful description of the greatness of Moses’ character.
Moses himself told us someone like himself would appear one day as the ultimate leader of the Jewish people. Though Moses was a great political, religious, and military leader, this meek and humble prophet pointed to an even greater Jewish leader: the Messiah Yeshua. Though he may not have had a complete understanding, Moses pointed to a greater prophet: God Himself enwrapped in flesh, proclaiming a greater exodus through His finished work on Calvary. Jesus offers a greater revelation of divine truth to Jewish people and Gentiles and invites us all to obey His words.
Yeshua is God’s final word of grace, salvation, and hope for a dark and sinful world.
Yeshua is the perfect leader. Moses himself understood the limits of his humanity. He was superb but far from perfect. He brought the Israelites closer to God, and he brought God closer to the Israelites. But Yeshua brought a better and permanent salvation through His once-for-all sacrifice for sin and triumphant resurrection from the dead. He also provided an eternally durable and glorious New Covenant for Israel and the nations of the world (Jeremiah 31:31–35).
The Passover prophetically portrays this New Covenant, which foreshadows the work of Messiah as the perfect lamb whose blood was shed and smeared over the doorposts of our hearts, enabling us to enter the very presence of God Himself forever (John 1:29).
Moses was a great leader whom God used to reveal His plan and purposes for the Jewish people, but he pointed to someone greater than himself. We now know this greater One has come, and His name is Yeshua, the Savior of the world. We celebrate this salvation during Passover and Easter by remembering the exodus led by Moses, who paved the way for eternal salvation for all who believe in Yeshua.
The One greater than Moses has come, and His name is Jesus the Messiah!
Have a blessed Passover and Easter season. Remember to pray for and spread the good news to those who first brought the message of salvation to you—the Jewish people!
Your brother in the Messiah,
Lawrence (Romans 11:11–15)
A Redeemer Like Moses
In Rabbinic Literature
The concept of a future redeemer similar to Moses is common in rabbinic literature dating to the seventh century. The rabbis who compiled the Talmud and other key Jewish texts in the Middle Ages assumed the final messianic redeemer would follow the pattern of the first redeemer, Moses. Thus, not surprisingly, they noted a multitude of patterns between the two. Here are a few examples:
Pesikta 5:8 reads, “As the first one appeared among Israel and then disappeared from among them, so the last redeemer will appear among Israel and then disappear from among them.” In other words, just as Moses had “two comings” to Israel, the Messiah will have a first coming and a second coming.
Just as the first redeemer caused manna to come down for the people of Israel, so too the last redeemer will cause manna to come down (see Psalm 72:16).
As the first redeemer caused the well to give water (Numbers 20:11), so the last redeemer will cause water to spring forth (see Joel 3:18).
These examples show how the concept of a Messiah “like Moses” is relatively common in rabbinic Judaism. Admittedly, the connection between Moses and a future Messiah may not be explicit within Deuteronomy 18:15. Still, it probably has its origins there: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.”
Messiahs in the First Century
Jewish people in Jesus’ day were also looking for a Messiah like Moses. This desire makes sense. The Jewish people of this period saw themselves as slaves to a great foe—not slaves of Egypt, but slaves of Rome. They hated the power of Rome and its meddling hands in their land. Israel despised the taxes, the military occupation, and the political necessity of mixing Jewish religion with pagan Roman ideologies. They wanted a redeemer to come and lead Israel out of her slavery; they wanted a prophet like Moses.
It is no surprise several failed messianic movements arose during this period. In each case, the movement’s leader was crushed and usually tortured and killed. It is striking how much these messianic impostors followed a predictable pattern: they headed out to the wilderness, gathered many followers, performed signs and wonders, and did everything possible to convince everyone they were the new Moses who would lead Israel to redemption from her oppressors.
Why were there so many impostors, and why did people follow them? It is because the coming of a new Moses was the widespread hope of the Jewish people at the time. But, unfortunately, it is easy to fall for a fraud when he appears as expected!
“Like the initial redeemer, so the ultimate redeemer.” – Ruth Rabbah 5:6
Fulfillment in YESHUA
Only one first-century man who claimed to be the Messiah still has followers today—Jesus of Nazareth. Like other messianic teachers of His time, He was tortured and executed. Unlike anyone else, though, He rose from the dead. His resurrection is His vindication, the proof He is precisely who He said He was—the Messiah (1 Corinthians 15:20–26). Yeshua is the redeemer like Moses. The blood of lambs ensured God would spare the Israelites from the death of the firstborn (Exodus 11–12). This Passover event was the pivotal moment for the exodus from Egypt. Yeshua laid down His own life as a Passover lamb to deliver His people from a greater oppressor than Egypt or Rome—death itself (John 1:29).
The New Testament features numerous similarities between Moses’ and Yeshua’s lives. In these instances, the apostles demonstrate how Yeshua, and only Yeshua, perfectly fits the portrait of the Messiah painted by the Old Testament. Central to this portrait is Messiah’s similarity to Moses.
We encourage you to study the comparison chart on the next page. You can easily tear it out to keep this tool readily available in your Bible, on your fridge, or anywhere else you will see it so it as a means for inspiration. You can also share with Jewish people the similarities between Moses and Yeshua.
Moses |
Messiah (Jesus) |
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Moses survived the slaughtering of infant males at the hands of Pharaoh (Exodus 1:15–22). |
Messiah survived the slaughtering of infant males at the hands of Herod, who was targeting the newborn King he heard about (Matthew 2:3–18). |
|
Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born because they saw he was no ordinary child (Exodus 2:2; Hebrews 11:23). |
Messiah’s parents fled to Egypt to hide Him from King Herod’s search (Matthew 2:13–15) because He was “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). |
|
Moses stripped himself of the glories of Egypt and chose to identify and suffer alongside his people (Hebrews 11:24–26). |
Messiah emptied Himself of all the glories of heaven and chose to suffer to the point of death for His people (Philippians 2:6–8). |
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Moses returned to his homeland after the death of Pharaoh, who was seeking his life (Exodus 4:19). |
Messiah returned with His parents to His homeland after the death of Herod, who was seeking His life (Matthew 2:20). |
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Moses asked God for His name, and He replied, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:13–14). |
Messiah claimed the title, “I am” (John 8:58). |
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Moses experienced forty years in the desert and trained as a shepherd before stepping into his role as Israel’s deliverer (Exodus 3:1; Acts 7:30). |
Messiah was tested for forty days in the desert before stepping into His role as the Good Shepherd and Redeemer (Matthew 4; John 10:11). |
|
God sent Moses as a prophet to Israel (Deuteronomy 34:10). |
God sent the Messiah as the ultimate prophet promised by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15; John 20:21). |
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Moses appeared to the children of Israel as their long-awaited deliverer from slavery and Pharaoh (Exodus 3:10). |
Messiah appeared as God in the flesh—as the long-awaited redeemer from slavery to sin and the rule of Satan (Acts 26:16–18). |
|
God revealed Himself to Moses in a unique way (Exodus 6:2–3). |
Messiah is the unique revelation of God (John 14:9; Colossians 1:15). |
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The first plague Moses unleashed turned the Nile waters into blood (Exodus 7:14–22). |
In His first miracle, Messiah turned water into wine (John 2:1–11). |
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God gave Moses signs and wonders to perform so Pharaoh and the Israelites would believe the Lord sent him (Exodus 4:1–9, 7:8–17). |
Messiah performed many signs and miracles so the people and their leaders would believe God, His Father, had sent Him (John 3:2, 5:36, 10:37–38). |
|
Through Moses, God judged the Egyptian gods (Exodus 12:12). |
Messiah confronted and cast out demonic powers, exhibiting authoritative judgment over them (Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 11:20). |
|
Moses initiated the sacrifice of a lamb during Passover (Exodus 12). |
Messiah offered Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). |
|
God parted the Sea of Reeds (“the Red Sea”) through Moses (Exodus 14:21–29). |
By walking on water and calming the storm, Messiah demonstrated divine authority over the wind and waves (Mark 4:35–41; Proverbs 30:4). |
|
Moses drew water for the people from the rock at Horeb (Exodus 17:6). |
Messiah offered living water to anyone who came to Him (John 7:37–38). |
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Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so the Israelites would live when they looked upon it (Numbers 21:9). |
Messiah must be lifted up, and whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (John 3:14–15). |
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Through Moses, God gave and taught the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19–31). |
Messiah taught and elevated the Law in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). |
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Through Moses, God rained down manna and quail for the people to eat when there was no food (Exodus 16). |
Messiah multiplied a few loaves of bread and fish for crowds of 5,000 and 4,000 to eat (Matthew 14:13–21, 15:32–38). |
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Moses spoke to God in a uniquely intimate way, “face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). |
Messiah and God spoke intimately to each other in a far more unique manner—as Father and Son (Matthew 3:17; John 17). |
|
Moses’ face radiated with the bright glory of the Lord |
Messiah’s face “shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” during His transfiguration (Matthew 17:2). |
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Moses was willing for God to blot him out of His book (accursed) while interceding for Israel (Exodus 32:30–33). |
Messiah willingly became a curse for us (Deuteronomy 21:23) to redeem all people from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). |
|
In his parting words, Moses commissioned Joshua to lead the people into possessing the land, assuring him the Lord will be with him (Deuteronomy 31:7–8). |
In His parting words, Messiah commissioned His disciples to take the gospel to all the nations, assuring them He will be with them always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:16–20). |
|
Israel entered into the Mosaic Covenant with God through Moses (Exodus 24:8). |
All people enter into the New Covenant with God through Messiah (Luke 22:20). |
Gospel advances in Russia despite COVID lockdowns
Ministry in Far East Russia started in September 2004 and has continued primarily in three locations: Birobidzhan, Blagoveshensck and Artyom. The ministry in Artyom has continued strongly through the commitment of Nicolai and Natasha Feoktistov. They have done a very good job in keeping their ministry going through the COVID. Sadly, they lost the use of the hall that they had been using for many years and had to find another place of worship. Thankfully a Methodist Church in the area was willing to rent out their basement to them for their services, but they had to do significant refurbishment to the space to make it suitable for a place of worship.
Praise the Lord that Celebrate Messiah and Beit HaMashiach was able to raise $15,000 to help them with this renovation, and they now have a wonderful worship centre from which to conduct their ministry. They have a kitchen, bathroom, children’s ministry area and small but well-appointed worship area. It is all that they need to continue to reach out to the Jewish people in that area. Our missionaries who were working in Birobidzhan, in the Jewish Autonomous Region, Genia and Irena, have moved back to their home town of Blagoveshchensk, where they continue their ministry amongst the Jewish people in that town. They also continue to oversee the ministry in Birobidzhan. Please join us in prayer for a new missionary couple to take up ministry in Birobdizhan and continue the good work that has been done there all these years.
A report from the field in Ukraine
Our team has just returned again from a town in southeastern Ukraine where we distributed more than 15 tons of food and dozens of beds and quilts. We had special packages prepared for about 30 children, and provided funds for the children to have fruit and vitamins every day.
We’re planning to go to the east of Ukraine again in the next few weeks to distribute almost 25 tons of food we received from Samaritan Purse. We also organised 28 tons of canned meat.
It sometimes seems completely impossible to understand how it all happens. God is good.
We were asked by a local Rabbi to help organise Passover Seders. Of course we would like to help as much as we can. We will also be helping the Messianic organisation from Kiev, with whom we have been working for a very long time.
They run a kitchen for almost 200 elderly Jews from the Kiev area. Their leaders also drive with food packages to our Jewish brothers.
Thank you for your support and prayers.
With blessings
Marek Paśnik
Send Me ministry, Poland (a partner with Chosen People Global Ministries)
The Unstoppable Feast:
Passover in War-torn Ukraine
For thousands of years, Jewish people across the world have eaten matzah (unleavened bread) during Passover to remember God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. However, this practice has sometimes been challenging. In certain times and places, procuring matzah and other supplies for Passover has proved tricky. Most recently, Ukraine has been one of those places since the start of the war. As a result, in 2022, matzah production in the country was not possible, which is still the case so far in 2023.
Matzah Movers
Throughout the war, Jewish organisations have tried to step in to meet the need for Passover matzah in Ukraine. One of these organisations shipped two tons of matzah from Israel to Strasbourg, France, but needed help getting the shipment into Ukraine. Chosen People Ministries, along with Celebrate Messiah, has also partnered in this effort. We rented two large vans, and two volunteers drove more than 800 kilometres to get this matzah to Poland, near the Ukrainian border. The rental and petrol cost was around $3,700. From there, we helped distribute matzah to people in fifteen cities in Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Lviv.
In addition to supplying the Messianic congregations we partner with in Ukraine, we distributed the matzah to about 300 not-yet believers. Along with other organisations, we also passed out food packages so these families could enjoy and celebrate an authentic Passover. The Ukrainian families were most grateful for the matzah since access to food and other necessities, let alone matzah, remains challenging. This month, we will gladly continue helping Jewish people in Ukraine celebrate this wonderful holiday, a reminder of God’s deliverance and a foreshadowing of Messiah’s sacrifice.
Chosen People Ministries has also been working to provide for Ukrainians beyond Passover. A Jewish man showed interest in learning more about the Messiah after receiving a food package, a sleeping bag, and winter shoes for the cold winter months: “I don’t know who you are, but I see undeniable evidence of love. You came to me when no one else wanted to help me. I was sitting in my apartment without electricity and heat, and you brought me what I needed most. Then you told me it is not because of you but because of the love of the Jewish Messiah. It broke my heart. Thank you, and tell me more about Him.”
Thanks to Your Support
Thanks to your support, we can aid Ukrainian refugees with essential items difficult or impossible to procure within the country.
One Messianic congregation we helped thanked us, saying, “We heartily thank the brothers and sisters of Chosen People Ministries for the financial assistance provided to purchase everything necessary for the winter of 2022–2023—a very difficult time for Ukraine. May God reward you with mercy for your mercy in the name of Messiah Yeshua!”
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