Tony and Jane Derrick

Dear Ministry Partner,

This year, Jews around the world will observe Yom Kippur (“Day of Atonement”) beginning at sunset on October 8 and ending when night falls on October 9. Yom Kippur is the most important holiday of the Jewish year, and Jews observe it with fasting, prayer, and repentance. This “atonement” specifically concerns the sins between man and God.

The observance began in Leviticus 16:29–30:

“This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you. For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”

Jews Praying in the Synagogue on Yom Kippur (1878) painting by Maurycy Gottlieb, Tel Aviv Museum of Art

You may be thinking, “That’s all well and good, but I’m not Jewish. So, what is Yom Kippur’s importance for me?” New Testament Believers (“Believers” is short for “believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah”) think it is important to commit to holiness every day. A New Testament Believer can pray, fast, and repent anytime, but a special day set aside for the purpose can bring a deeper meaning to the experience. That special day can occur on Yom Kippur with our Jewish friends; or one can, as the old hymn says, Take Time to be Holy at a different time.

Hebrews 10:11–13 clarifies what Yeshua accomplished that the Old Covenant could not.

“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are His footstool.”

Yeshua’s act of sitting down was clear evidence of a completed mission.

Most of us can quote some part of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Instead of celebrating only one day of the year for the atoning work of Yeshua on the cross, Believers can and should celebrate every day. I do not make light of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, because I admire the traditions that make up the Jewish culture.

So, what did Yeshua accomplish on the cross? The following are a few Biblical thoughts to consider.

Agnus Dei (The Lamb of God) (between 1635 and 1640) painting by Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664), Prado Museum

SUBSTITUTION FOR OUR SIN

He became a substitution for sin. Yeshua tells us in Mark’s gospel, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45). In other words, He came to take the place of sinners. An example could be found in TV shows you’ve seen in which someone was kidnapped and a ransom was demanded (usually money). Yeshua made the payment (paid the ransom) for our eternity by exchanging His life for ours. He was the ransom. As the priests sacrificed unblemished lambs to atone for the sins of the Jewish people, so God offered His Son as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb for everyone who believes.

Engraved Passion series: Crucifixion (No. 11) (1511) engraving on copper by Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

SUFFERED FOR OUR BENEFIT

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:18 that Yeshua suffered for our benefit. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”

REDEEMED US

Not only did Yeshua become our substitution for death, He became our Redeemer. The idea is that He paid a price to purchase us from sin. He explains it in a parable in Matthew 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.” He rescued us from the marketplace of sin. 1 Timothy 2:6 says, “who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Everyone who believes has been liberated from sin and death by the blood of the Lamb.

RECONCILED US

Moses Breaks the Tables of the Law (Ex. 32:19) (1866) engraving by Gustave Doré (1832–1883), Doré’s English Bible

Yeshua’s death on the cross also reconciles the one who believes. 2 Corinthians 5:19, “that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Have you ever been at odds with someone and then been reconciled? When you were an unbeliever, you were at odds with God, but once you believed in Yeshua’s sacrifice, you were reconciled — no longer alienated from the family of God.

ENDED SACRIFICIAL LAW

As mentioned a couple of paragraphs earlier, the sacrificial law came to an end at the cross of Christ when He became the ultimate (final) sacrifice. The Law could not justify the sinner; therefore, our heavenly Father established another way — a better way. The Law shows mankind their need, but it cannot provide the answer. Galatians 3:24 tells us, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

JUSTIFIED US

So every Believer has been justified — declared righteous — through the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross. “Justification,” as presented in the Bible, is used as a judicial term indicating acquittal. The claims of God’s Law against the sinner have been fully satisfied. The books have been cleared of the sin committed, and the charges will never be levied again. But take great care, because Satan is an evil accuser and will try and use the past against you. My advice: When you sense those accusations in your spirit, tell Satan to go to hell!

CONFERS PRIVILEGES AS HEIRS

Now our sins have been atoned for, and we no longer live with the impossible task of keeping the Law. One of the most glorious details that results from our accepting Yeshua’s sacrifice is that it completes our adoption into the family of God. We have the full privileges of our new position in Yeshua. We have been delivered from the flesh, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit enables us to enjoy our new status.

These verses from Galatians 4:4–7 conclude this lesson:

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Standing firm with Israel and ZLM,

[Tony]

Tony Derrick

P.S. Every Believer in Yeshua should live a life of confidence, because we are heirs of God’s Kingdom to come. Remember: He is coming again! *

Zola Tours invitation from Kirsten

So, what are your plans this spring? How about touring the Holy Land with David and me? If you’re like other Zola Tours pilgrims, you’ll find that preachers preach better, Bible reading becomes 3-D, and your walk with the Savior becomes richer … all from experiencing God’s miraculous country. If you believe in “expanding your territory,” then you’ll want to place your feet in the Promised Land at least once in your life.

Every fall and spring, David and I host study tours to Israel. Treat yourself, or your whole family, to this trip of a lifetime. Get in touch with our Zola Tours manager, Sandra. She can attentively walk you through every detail. Please contact her at 214-696-9760, email her at travel@levitt.com, or visit levitt.com/tours to see options and itineraries.

Note: We now spend one extra day in Jerusalem!
Spring Tour 2020 options
Prices include tips, taxes, & fuel surcharge (subject to change).
Deluxe (Israel only)Mar 16–26$5,288
Grand Petra (Israel & Petra)Mar 16–29$6,488

A Note from David and Kirsten

Shalom friends! We pray that October finds you happy and full of grace! We have been busy with Zola Levitt Presents — exciting days are on the horizon. We hope you are enjoying our studio conversations with Dr. Jeffrey Seif. We’re honored to sit with him every week and learn more about Christianity’s vitally important Jewish roots.

We’re also immensely thankful for those of you who financially support this ministry. After Zola went to be with our Lord, his son Mark forged ahead, knowing that the message and the mission to teach Jews and gentiles their connection remained the same. God’s hand has guided different faces and personalities to deliver the Biblical message through the past 13 years, but the purpose of ZLM and its weekly television program has not changed … nor will it.

Last Sunday as communion was being served, I thought “If you don’t understand the Passover, you miss the depth and spiritual significance of the Lord’s supper.” Zola was one of the first teachers to demonstrate how Christ’s Passover Seder and the Church’s Eucharist are interwoven. We caught a lot of Zola’s insights and wisdom on video and in his books, and we feel called to continue sharing them. You make that possible when you support ZLM with your gifts and prayers. Thank you! You are helping to open the eyes of Believers across the country and elsewhere to the beauty and importance of learning about Israel, our Jewish Messiah, and spreading the Good News!

On Zola Levitt Presents this month

Zola Levitt

In October, we conclude our series The First Christians. The programs have been refreshed and updated but still retain Zola Levitt’s teachings, the original interviews and dramas, plus music.

Messiah
Recent archaeological digs have unearthed fascinating indications that the traditional site of King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion was, in fact, a Messianic synagogue. Ray Pritz, author of Nazarene Jewish Christianity, examines the history of the Messianic Believers (Jews who accept Yeshua as the Messiah). After 2,000 years, Messianic Believers continue to share their faith. Zola joins them in their inspirational music, sung unto the Lord.
Death
In the first century, one entered and exited the world with bandages. We witness this wrapping procedure and the burial ritual at an authentic tomb. On the Mount of Olives, Zola shares Scripture that speaks of Yeshua’s victory over death. Those who first believed in Him could truly exclaim, “Death is swallowed up in victory!” (1 Corinthians 15:54, from Isaiah 25:8).

After The First Christians, we present an encore of our Return to Eden series. Originally produced in 2018 to mark the modern State of Israel’s 70th birthday, these 10 programs offer a unique perspective on the story of the Bible, spanning Genesis to Revelation. From Israel, Dr. Jeffrey Seif describes the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, when mankind lost personal fellowship with the Creator of the Universe. How would this relationship ever be restored? The journey back started with Abram, continued with the Tabernacle completed under Moses, the Temple on Mount Moriah, the earthly ministry of Messiah Himself, and into the future with the eventual return of paradise.

Jeff Seif
Out of Eden
The sin of Adam and Eve led not only to man’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden, but more importantly, to the loss of personal fellowship with the Lord. To bridge this gap, God instituted the sacrificial system, first with the Tabernacle and later in the Temple with a new focus — not on a garden in Mesopotamia, but a mountain in Moriah.
Back to Eden
The journey to restoring a relationship with God has no shortcuts. God tested Abram’s faith. The Tabernacle allowed people access to the Holy God by providing the setting for sacrifice necessary to atone for sin.
Recreating Paradise
For 369 years, the Israelites could approach the Lord via the Tabernacle in Shiloh. The winged creatures that had blocked the entrance to Eden were integrated into the sanctuary, inviting people to enter. The Menorah symbolizes not only the Jewish people but also the Tree of Life.

We trust that those who missed Return to Eden will enjoy the opportunity to see it in its entirety, and that viewers who saw it previously will discover new details when they see this important teaching again. Watch for a brand-new series in January 2020: Joshua: More than a Conqueror.

Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim! —
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! — Psalm 122:6

David & Kirsten

P.S. As mentioned earlier, we see exciting days on the horizon. Working diligently behind the scenes with plans to share our efforts with you in mid-November, we’re tantalizing you now and will tell all when the time is right. Stay tuned! *

Zola Levitt Ministries is ECFA approved and has Charity Navigator’s top rating of 4 stars.

Share This Page