Christ in the High Holidays

This month begins the holiest days of the entire Old Testament calendar in Jewish communities around the world. They are the Feast of Trumpets (begins at sundown September 29 this year) and the Day of Atonement (begins at sundown October 8 this year), otherwise known as the High Holidays.

And even though these festivals are an important part of the biblical record, most followers of Jesus remain sadly ignorant of their significance as well. Why?

the themes and theological significance of these two days are woven throughout the New Testament

In contrast to other biblical Jewish holidays like Passover or Sukkot, the New Testament makes no mention of Jesus observing the Feast of Trumpets or the Day of Atonement. Perhaps that is one reason these days remain “off the radar” for most Christians. Nevertheless, I don’t doubt that Jesus and His followers joined the rest of the Jewish community in observing the High Holy days. Certainly, the themes and theological significance of these two days are woven throughout the New Testament and are ultimately and most meaningfully fulfilled in the person and mission of Christ.

Consider the Feast of Trumpets. Today it is commonly called Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year, but the Bible calls it “Yom T’ruah” or the day of blowing of trumpets. The blast of the trumpet, in this case a ram’s horn, was Israel’s call to repentance.

The call to repentance on the Feast of Trumpets also anticipates a future but, I believe, soon-coming event. The blast of the ram’s horn (shofar) connects today’s call to repentance to the coming day of judgment. Jesus taught that this would occur upon His return. He spoke of the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31). Likewise, Paul mentions the shofar of God when speaking of the last days, of judgment and the return of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

While the Feast of Trumpets signalled God entering into judgment with Israel, on the Day of Atonement He provided redemption and forgiveness of sin. The biblical observance of this holy day centred around sacrificial worship in the Temple and the indispensable role of the high priest, a descendant of Aaron. After the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in A.D. 70 and the subsequent demise of the Aaronic priesthood, Jewish observance of this High Holiday could no longer follow the biblical protocol. Eventually, the observance coalesced around the command, “You shall afflict your souls” (Leviticus 23:27). This command has been interpreted to mean fasting and so, to this day in the Jewish community, fasting is the primary duty associated with the Day of Atonement.

Jesus knew perfectly well the radical impact His words would make when He proclaimed, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Yeshua’s (Jesus’) statement scandalized the Jewish leadership of His day — so much so that it was used as a major accusation against Him during His trial (see Mark 14:57-58). Whatever His hearers did or didn’t understand about His claim, Jesus was actually predicting His death and resurrection, and how it would fulfil the entire purpose and meaning of the Holy Temple.

But there’s more, because Jesus not only fulfilled the role of the Temple but also the priesthood itself. The author of Hebrews identifies Jesus as having a “superior priesthood,” that of Melchizedek (see chapters 5-7). Therefore, He was able once and for all to make atonement for us when He died and rose again. The day our eternal High Priest Jesus entered “behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19) was the ultimate Day of Atonement, the day when He secured an everlasting covering and forgiveness of sin for all who trust in Him. Yes, the Day of Atonement, the Temple sacrifices and the priesthood are all fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

The day our eternal High Priest Jesus entered “behind the veil” was the ultimate Day of AtonementHebrews 6:19

Certainly, that is cause to celebrate this month and every month. My prayer is that my brothers and sisters in Christ will come into an ever-greater appreciation of the riches of our Jewish roots as seen through Christ in the High Holidays. Even more, and especially this month, I am praying—and invite you to pray with me—that my Jewish brothers and sisters may come to know Christ in the High Holidays and receive eternal salvation that can only come though Him.