Have you ever wondered what is the purpose of the Creator and what is the role of Israel in His plan? These are some of the questions that were discussed in a series of meetings called “Alef Course” that took place in Haifa, Israel. The meetings were attended by non-believing guests who were curious about the Jewish roots of the Bible and the identity of Yeshua the Messiah.
Yeshua (or Jesus) is a Hebrew name that means “The Lord saves”. Messiah (or Christ) is a Hebrew word that means “The Anointed One”. The Old Testament Scriptures prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, who would be God’s chosen one to liberate Israel and all humanity. Many Jews who lived at the time of Jesus expected a Messiah who would physically save them from Roman oppression. They did not realize that the prophets also foretold a greater freedom. God sent Yeshua the Messiah to save us spiritually from the bondage of sin, offering us eternal spiritual freedom.
During his first coming, Yeshua the Messiah came as a Suffering Servant, as we see in Isaiah 53. He came to fulfill our unfulfillable need for reconciliation with God. He showed himself as a humble servant, offering us undeserved love and grace. He took our infirmities and bore our diseases; he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; he gave his life as a ransom for many (Isaiah 53:4-12; Mark 10:45).
At the last meeting of the “Alef Course”, the guests heard about the Way of salvation through the Sacrifice of Yeshua and were invited to accept water immersion (baptism) as a sign of their covenant with the Lord. On Friday, they went to the Jordan River and five people from the “Alef Club” were baptized in the name of Yeshua the Messiah. They experienced the joy and peace that comes from knowing God personally and being part of his family.
Thank you to all those who supported us in prayer all this time! Please do not stop your support and pray for those who were born again after the Aleph course and are taking their first steps in the Kingdom of God.
