This website has given you an idea of how Rabbi Yeshua lived and what He taught His talmidim. But it is just a framework, trust me, there is tons more to know. I would like to take this last chapter and really look at what it would be like for us to follow Yeshua as His talmidim.
1. He was a Jew. He was born into the tribe of Judah (His earthly birth. His parents were Jews and had Him brought to the Temple both for circumcision and dedication. It would make sense that we would be circumcised (as males), and we would have our male children circumcised. And it would be important to dedicate each one of them, particularly our first.
2. He was a Rabbi, followed Torah and lived Torah. So must we. No matter what the church has taught over the centuries, He never canceled the Torah. If He didn’t want us to follow Torah, don’t you think He would have said so? And clearly said so? And it only makes sense that, if we are following a Jewish Rabbi, we would imitate Him. And that is what this whole manual has been about.
Matthew 5:17-19 "Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill (teach) them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these Commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."
3. He worshiped in the Temple and synagogue. He followed Jewish traditions aside from what was in Torah. He just taught us not to get so involved in man-made rules (this does not include Oral Torah or the Talmud) and to make sure we remembered the heart of the Torah. He sums up the Torah in these words, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) He also sums them up in Matthew 22:37-40 “Yeshua said to him, ‘You shall love Hashem your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind. This is the first and great commandment (Shema). And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets.‘” In other words, if you were to say what the whole Torah teaches, it would be to love HaShem and love others. That’s what we are to do every day!
4. He wore tzitzits on His robe/prayer shawl (tallit). Looking at the Tzitzits was a reminder of following the Torah. Probably, he also hung some sort of "mezuzah" on His doorway. Both of these physical objects reminded Him, and others, to obey all the Commandments – the whole Torah. So, shouldn’t we wear tzitzits? And why shouldn’t we affix a mezuzah to our doorways?
5. He was immersed, and His talmidim were immersed. More than once. Probably every time they entered the Temple area. We, too, are to be immersed, completely. Once in His Name and other times to remember to get ready to be clean before Him.
6. He taught repentance for the forgiveness of sins. We know we serve a forgiving and merciful Elohim (G-d). One who loved us so much that He would give us His “manifestation”– His only begotten son, knowing that He would be killed. And yet He still continues to forgive. "Father, forgive them for what they are doing." But there must be repentance. That is just what Yeshua taught. To repent and to forgive. We are to teach others about repentance just as He did.
7. He ate only clean foods. He did not eat pork, bacon, shrimp, or seafood. Neither should we.
8. He honored the Seventh Day Sabbath and all the Seven Feasts. So must we. These Feasts are eternal. They represent and foreshadow Yeshua's path. Remember He died on Pesach (Passover) – like the Pesach lamb, He brings freedom to those who love Him. He was the Chag HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread) – the Bread of Life, unleavened, uncontaminated by sin (leaven). He was the Reishit Katzir (Firstfruits) – He was raised from the dead on this Feast day – the first fruit of the resurrection. And on Shavuot (Pentecost), He sent the Spirit of HaShem – the Ruach HaKodesh – to fill and bless His people – so they could go out and make talmidim. Three fall Feasts are left, and this is how they could be fulfilled. Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) – The Trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise to be gathered by Yeshua to Jerusalem. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) – The world and all its inhabitants will be judged by the Holy One. And lastly, Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), where Yeshua will live in a tabernacle with His people for eternity.
9. He celebrated the new moons as instructed in Torah. Rosh Chodesh is when the new moon announces a new month. The Jews in Israel have a standard calendar for this; it might be wise to be in unity with them and follow this calendar. This monthly observation reminds us to be grateful that a new month has arrived, and it can also be symbolic of the moon's waxing and waning, that Yeshua came to earth to redeem us, but left. And once again, our Mashiach will return in His fullness and will restore the glory of HaShem upon the earth.
10. His talmidim never observed “Christmas” or “Easter”. Most likely, Yeshua was born during the Feast of Sukkot (Booths/Tabernacles), which is in the fall. And He was resurrected on the Feast of Reishit Katzir. If anything, we should celebrate these two Feasts to remember our Savior and Mashiach. This is a tough one. All our families, friends, and coworkers celebrate these two holidays. You can pray and ask Yahweh what you are to do.
11. He will return to the Temple in Jerusalem. There will be animal sacrifices. Messianic non-Jews will be able to stand by their Jewish brothers and sisters and offer up sacrifices. It will be an unbelievable time to serve the Master and be training new converts how to become talmidim (as we will be doing in these days too!)
12. Lastly, He studied and taught Torah. The Torah is very new to all of us, especially in understanding that we are to follow every Commandment possible. Obviously, we can not follow Commandments that are for Priests, Levites, or the Temple. But we can do our best to follow the rest. We do not have a Temple, so we do not have Judges to determine whether we are following the Law. Nor can we be physically punished for not following the Law (and remember the Judges required two witnesses for every disobedience of a specific Law). In our hearts, we can grasp the fullness and wonderfulness of following the Law, the Torah. Torah is written by Yeshua, and in Him and His Words we find life.
Deuteronomy 4:1 “And now Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live."