#4 "SHABBAT SHALOM"

Before we look further for the Jewish Messiah, let's check out a Sabbath service...


While at sea on a cruise last year the Christian Fellowship meetings were hijacked by charismatics who claimed: ‘the Holy Spirit is going to set this ship on fire with sparks coming out the funnels’!    

(Meanwhile the ship’s entertainment carried on promoting Darwin’s evolution.)

In desperation I asked if I could attend a Jewish Sabbath service and was warmly welcomed, the only condition being that I wear a kippuh (prayer cap). No problem.

The Jews on-board greeted each other with “Shabbat Shalom” (Sabbath peace) then an elderly woman in a wheelchair proceeded to light 2 candles with much reverence. 

No sloppy behaviour or dress here!

An elderly man then read from the Siddur (prayer book) and gave the Kiddush blessing over the cups of wine and the challah (plaited loaf) the ship’s company had provided. 

It was so meaningful, as if we were celebrating Holy Communion at the Lord’s Supper. In case you didn’t know, God spoke to Jeremiah about the comfort of breaking bread and sharing the ‘cup of consolation’ in chapter 16, verse 7.

At the conclusion another elderly man explained to me what had taken place so I asked him why they used a loaf and cup of wine.         

He told me it was just considered a good way to end the week.      

The simple reverence of this ancient tradition was profound – I just wished that these people knew the significance of their celebration.

I thanked the reader of the Siddur and asked him: “Why don’t you people accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah?”

His answer??

“I don’t know.”


NEXT...we ignore taboos and open the B'rit Hadashah (NT) 
http://hotspuds.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/messiah-in-brit-hadashah.html