Looking Back to Move Forward
Each year what are known as the High Holy Days in Judaism[1] occur. Often these special days spur both individual and collective reflection and preparation:
Reflection on the previous year includes honest soul-searching evaluation of one’s life and actions with others and before God.
Preparation focuses on what is ahead – not only observance of the upcoming holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,[2] but also making needed changes in one’s life.
Rather than digging deeply into the traditions of these Holy Days in this short article, I want to spend time “looking back” so you can truly move forward.
Over 2,000 years ago Jesus[3] traveled through Israel. In Jerusalem, Capernaum, and Nazareth He came with a message of reconciliation for sinful people to the God of Israel. His purposeful words, precisely spoken, moved listeners to reflect on the Holy Scriptures – the very words written by the prophets who pointed to a coming Redeemer:[4] the promised Messiah a prophet greater than Moses.[5]
Jesus used very select words in one conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus cut through the outer layer of this leading religious teacher’s beliefs which were largely based on the traditions of men. In responding to Nicodemus’ lack of understanding, Jesus steered back to the Scriptures stating, “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven; the Son of Man.” [6]
With a few carefully chosen words, Jesus looked back to the prophetic Scriptures to help Nicodemus move forward to what Jesus had already told him was needed: to be “born from above.”[7]
Jesus knew the holdups in Nicodemus’ heart, so He used words that would guide this teacher to what was written in the Scriptures: “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!” [8]
With these powerful words, Jesus declared to Nicodemus His identity as the Son of Man of whom the prophet Daniel had written.[9] This is the Son of God seen in the text in Proverbs 30 and Psalm 2. By wonderfully weaving these passages into His conversation, Jesus encouraged Nicodemus to look back to “the Law, the Prophets and the writings.”
Taking time to reflect on our lives is a wonderful and instructive exercise for us all. But too often, we “get stuck in the past” when we reflect. Guilt, pain, or denial may keep us from taking the steps to move forward.
Are you willing – with a seeking heart – to look back (maybe for the first time!)? To read the Scriptures that speak of the One who would come to bring Jacob back to the LORD? We pray you will find the One prophesied to be a light to the nations so the Lord’s Salvation would reach to the end of the earth![10]
Written by Jeff, LIFE Staff
As Jesus told His generation, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”[11]
Trusting Messiah Jesus personally is the most important step you can ever take. If you truly want to “move forward” in a way that brings eternal life, please contact us so we can help you “look back” to what Scripture tells us on how to be rightly related to our holy God.
Footnotes:
[1] Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, follows these; Leviticus 23:33-36).
[2] Rosh Hashanah, today considered the civil Jewish New Year, is biblically known as the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25; Numbers 29:12). Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32).
[3] “Jesus” comes into English from the Greek form, Yesous. His Hebrew name is Yeshua.
[4] Isaiah 41:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:34.
[5] Deuteronomy 18:15; Hebrews 3:1-6.
[6] John 3:12.
[7] John 3:4-8.
[8] Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (Law); Proverbs 30:4-5 (Writings).
[9] Daniel 7:13-14 (Prophets).
[10] Isaiah 49:1-8.
[11] John 5:39.