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Christian world has often rejected the biblical/Jewish traditions and substituted non-biblical ones. The danger
of legalism is always there, yet incredible spiritual blessing can be found through a biblically-based study. So
we'll seek a balanced approach to understanding the importance as well as the negative aspects of
traditions.
Traditions are not the only element of a Hebraic Roots study. As we begin to objectively study the New
Covenant, we find there is no escaping the inherent Jewishness of faith in Y‘shua. He was a traditional Jew
living in the land of Israel. He called other Jews to follow Him as Mashiach (Messiah) the anointed one from
YHWH. His early followers considered themselves to be Jews who had found the promised Messiah, and
naturally continued the Jewish expression of their faith. Their acceptance of Y‘shua didn't mean they
converted to a new religion. The Jewish believers actually saw themselves as having received the fulfilment
of what was spoken of in the Tanakh — the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Covenant). They understood this to
mean they were now Messianic Jews who would naturally continue in their God-given heritage.
A look at Acts 21:20 confirm this: ―Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which
believe; and they are all zealous of the law‖ (Torah = revelation or instruction from YHWH) The early
believers continued in the only lifestyle they knew, and their new understanding that Y‘shua was Messiah
made them even more zealous for their traditions because their eyes had been opened to the spiritual
reasons behind them. I'll illustrate this in a moment, but first I want to point out that Non-Jewish Believers
were not excluded. Paul wrote to them concerning their new life in Messiah: ―Therefore, brethren, stand fast,
and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle" (2 Thes 2:15). These
non-Jewish believers understood many of the details of the Hebrew Scriptures and embraced them. An
example of this is the cup shared at Messiah's last Passover Seder. The element is not mandated in the
Hebrew Scriptures, yet it became part of the tradition of Passover (there's that word again). This third cup is
called the Cup of Redemption; and, although it is a rabbinical tradition, it was blessed by Y‘shua Himself.
Now back to the promised illustration. I'll continue with the Passover traditions and explain the Matzah Tosh
(Matzah means, of course, unleavened bread and "tosh" means "pouch"). The Matzah Tosh is a pouch with
3 separate compartments, or pockets.
The matzah itself has to be prepared according to certain specifications: It must be pierced, to avoid any
chance of its rising and giving the appearance of containing leaven - and it must be striped, to show that it
has been properly baked. During the Seder, a piece of unleavened bread is placed into each of these
pockets; and at a certain point, the middle piece is taken out and broken in half. Part of the broken piece is
placed back into its pocket in the tosh and the other is wrapped in white linen and "buried" (hidden).
The Seder continues until it is time to eat the meal itself. Afterwards, before the celebration can resume, the
children are sent in search of the broken piece, which has become known as the afikomen (a Greek word
meaning "that which comes after" or "that which comes again"). The child who finds it returns to the Father
and is given a reward. Does anyone see any significance to this tradition? I have written a teaching pictorial
CD about the Passover in great detail (please see Product List at the back of this book), but for now I'll cut to
the chase and give the Messianic interpretation.
The description of the appearance of the matzah helps us to understand. When the middle matzah is taken
from the tosh, it represents Y‘shua being sent to earth and made visible to us. The matzah is then broken
into two pieces: one representative of His spirit, which is returned to the matzah tosh. The other
representative of His body, which is wrapped in white linen and buried. The matzah is brought back, just as
Y‘shua was brought back from death and the grave. The one who finds this is given a great reward, just as
we are blessed when we "find" our Messiah.
It was possible this piece - the afikomen - that Y‘shua held up before His disciples that night and said, "This
is my body, given for you‖. Each year at Passover, Messianic Believers continue to "do this in remembrance"
of Him; to celebrate not only our redemption from slavery to Egypt, but the greater redemption provided to us
by Messiah from our slavery to sin and death.
That was just a brief explanation of one of many "pictures" of Messiah YHWH has painted in the traditions of
one of the Biblical Feasts. It's like a Treasure Hunt: YHWH has placed within the traditions and customs of
biblical Judaism hidden blessings that can only be discovered, only be experienced, if we know where to
look. It is my desire to help all believers to discover these "buried treasures".
One of the most famous books of our time is Alex Haley's "Roots". It's been translated into many languages
and even made into a film. In the book, a black American searches for his origins and ends up in a remote
village on the African continent. Such genealogical research can help us both to understand our own
heritage, and to appreciate the achievements of past generations. It can even help towards understanding
ourselves. The Christian church should also study the Hebrew roots, manifest in the Scriptures we know as