July 13, 2018:
On the Jewish calendar, Rosh Chodesh started at sundown last night. What does this mean? The Hebrew calendar cycles according to the moon. God set the calendar up this way so that the people could both tell time and determine what day of the year it is. Romans brought the calendar which is set by the sun, we call this calendar the Gregorian calendar. We are all familiar with how it works.
The Hebrew calendar is quite different. All the feast and festivals in the Bible are set to start according to the Hebrew calendar. Therefore, to understand the calendar is to have one key item to help us understand the Bible.
The idea behind the festival “Rosh Chodesh” is that it is the “head of the month”. The moon has just started showing again after being dark for one to two days. Perhaps you have wondered at why Nicodemus did not understand the idea of being “born again” (John 3:1-10). Notice a couple of things in this story. Nicodemus came to Jesus (Yeshua) by night. This was a teaching opportunity for our Messiah. It is quite possible that this took place on Rosh Chodesh. Why? There was a common Jewish saying at this festival that the new moon or month was “born again”. The idea was simply that the old month had passed and a new one is beginning. It was possible that Nicodemas and Yeshua were observing the moon while this discussion was taking place.
This time of the month symbolizes a new beginning. Think about it for a moment. If the old month passed away and a new month has begun… Yeshua’s rebuke of Nicodemus becomes understandable (John 3:10). Life is full of phases. Just like the moon cycling through it’s phases each month. We cycle through times of spiritual ups and downs. Yeshua was telling Nicodemus that when a person accepts the Messiah, he enters a new phase in his life. Just like the moon, the old phase is gone forever. Paul wrestled with the idea of old things passing away and new things beginning in 2 Corinthians 5. He stated that when the old is done away with, a person becomes a brand new creation through Jesus our Messiah (2 Cor 5:17).
Rosh Chodesh is a commanded festival in the Old Testament (Numbers 28:11-15). It was a very important day that required several sacrifices. Each of the sacrifices had significant meaning. For example, each month started with a sin offering so a person could start the month with a clean slate (Num 28:15).
As Christians, we gain a deeper understanding into how and why new beginnings are important by understanding the Jewish festivals. Paul stated that the New Moon festival is a shadow of things to come (Col 2:16-17). What is the point of all of this? Is it about a dead festival that is no longer useful?
On the contrary, it is about an important festival that was celebrated twelve times yearly! The number twelve is interesting in the Bible. Take for instance that there were twelve tribes that descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. God commissioned them to change the world with His instructions that were given to Moses. The tribes dropped the ball in evangelizing the world. Yeshua started again by appointing twelve disciples who were later called apostles. The significance of wording is important. A disciple is a learner, while an apostle is an ambassador. They were sent to change the world, and did.
This study can get deep when you consider the months, characteristics of the months, and such. We won’t go there today. I want to leave you with one thought. This day is a celebration of a new beginning. Each one of us goes through cycles in our lives. Some cycles of life leave us embarrassed at how we handled our walk with God. Today I encourage each reader to determine to put the past failures behind you. Turn to God and ask Him to start a new work in your life, beginning again, fresh. There is nothing wrong with being born again, again and repurposing our lives for our Master and Savior, Jesus our Messiah.
In the future, I will add to this study on Rosh Chodesh.
Thanks for reading,
Joe.
