remember the Exodus out of Egypt. Messiah in the Passover explains how these
two observances, separated by time, share the same origin, and how we can
better understand Jesus’ life and ministry in light of the Passover. Messiah in the
Passover also covers the Seder in Jewish tradition and Church history, as well
as practical applications for teaching the Passover and having a family Seder
in your home. See the back page of this newsletter for information on how to
order your copy!
DENNIS KARP’S TESTIMONY
When Dennis Karp accepted an invitation to attend a presentation on a
feast he had celebrated all of his life, he never anticipated that he
would be forever changed by the experience! Like many Jewish people
from observant families, Dennis grew up attending synagogue and summer
camp regularly. As he grew older, he was increasingly saddened by the shallowness
he perceived, and by the time he went to university, he wanted nothing to
do with the religion of his childhood. Instead, he studied philosophy, experimented
with yoga and transcendental meditation, and partied. Not finding
what he was seeking in any of those, he gave up his search and resigned himself
to the pursuit of a nice family and lots of money.
One day, a friend invited him to church to hear a Jewish man talk about
Jesus in the Passover. He accepted the invitation with the goal of proving him
wrong. The Sunday morning arrived, and he was shocked to hear things about
this important feast that he had never heard before. This disturbed him, and,
intent on using his arguing skills to dispel the notion that Jesus could be the
Messiah, he began meeting with the speaker. Using the Hebrew Scriptures,
the speaker addressed every one of Dennis’ questions on topics ranging from
the virgin birth to the necessity of blood for the remission of sin. At their last
meeting, Dennis sought to challenge him by asking why there is so much chaos
in the world if we are in the “Messianic Age.” The speaker directed him to
Daniel 9, which refuted the last of his objections.
The following Saturday while singing Hatikvah in synagogue, he came
to the realization that Jesus was, in fact, not just a national Messiah, but his
personal Messiah. Since then, he has devoted his life to the ministry and served
within Chosen People Ministries in a variety of capacities, both in the United
States and in Israel. He currently works as the director of the mid-Atlantic
region of Chosen People Ministries, leads Son of David Congregation in
Maryland, and oversees the outreach in the Washington, D.C. area.
The Messiah in the Passover presentation will enrich your faith and serve as an
evangelistic tool in reaching your Jewish friends. To schedule a presentation at your
church, call 1-888-405-5874.
MESSIAH IN THE PASSOVER
B O O K R E V I E W
When we picture the Last Supper, many of us
recall Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”
Jesus and His disciples partake of fluffy
rolls more characteristic of an Italian-style Sunday
afternoon dinner than a first-century Jewish
Passover Seder. So, what was different? What
was the same? Was the Last Supper a Passover
Seder? Messiah in
the Passover, edited
by Dr. Darrell Bock
and Dr. Mi t c h
Glaser, addresses
these questions with
thorough studies of
Passover in the Old
and New Testaments.
Messiah in the
Passover is a comprehensive
volume of
the most pertinent
information about
Jewish tradition, the Gospels, and the Passover
from Bible scholars and seasoned Chosen People
Ministries’ teachers. Messiah in the Passover
expands upon themes of promise and fulfillment
within a first-century context, which helps the
reader to see the New Testament through Jewish
eyes and have a deeper knowledge of Jesus and
His relationship to His people. Understanding
the Jewish background of the New Testament
allows us to better understand the links between
Jesus and the Passover. Understanding Jewish life,
culture, and history across the millennia is layered
and multi-faceted. Like a tapestry, each individual
thread connects, and the reader can’t tug on one
without pulling on the other.
Each year, Christians honor Holy Week and
Jesus’ death and resurrection, while Jewish people
MARCH 2018 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 4