HaShem (G-d) has been speaking to me about Yeshua's (Jesus) New Covenant. As I have been studying the beginnings of Messianic Judaism, I have been really searching for a meaning we may have missed in studying Yeshua's last supper with His talmidim (disciples).
Many people believe when He says, "This is My blood, which ratifies the 'New' Covenant, my blood shed on behalf of many people." (Mark 14:24), that His death on the stake will bring about this New Covenant. And that this covenant will be new, never presented before. However, he could have been referring to Jeremiah 31, the prophetic Scripture about the New Covenant. "Behold, the days are coming, says Adonai, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah." This is a future new covenant. Everyone in Yeshua's day who had studied Scriptures knew this was the covenant He was speaking of.
If you continue to read, it says in verses 33 -34, "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, says 'Know Adonai', for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says Adonai. For I will forgive their iniquity and their sin, I will remember no more."
When I was in Israel in 2010, we were on a tour of Nazareth. The guide led us along a path and explained that G-d does "not waste anything." That He uses all for good. I believe this is what HaShem (G-d) will do with the blood of Yeshua. He will use it to seal the future New Covenant of Jeremiah, for His chosen people. And through this Covenant, He will forgive sin and remember it no more. Praise Him for His mercy.
What about this New Covenant? We know these things from Scripture (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20):
1. He will ratify this Covenant with his blood.
2. It will be for our atonement.
3. It is a "new" Covenant; in other words, this Covenant had never been instituted throughout the history of mankind.
4. It will be a future Covenant.
What Covenants had been made with the Jews until this time? Here is a brief recap:
1. He covenanted with Noah that He would never destroy the earth by a flood (Genesis 9:11)
2. He covenanted with Abram to give Him and His descendants the Land (Israel) (Genesis 16:18)
3. He covenanted with Abram that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4)
4. He gave the Land as an eternal Covenant (Genesis 12:7)
5. He gave the Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17:10
6. The Jews made a Covenant with HaShem that they would follow Torah. Moses sealed this with a blood Covenant (Exodus 24:7)
7. He made the Sabbath a Covenant forever (Exodus 31:16)
8. He made a Book of the Covenant containing the whole Torah and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:27). This Covenant was between HaShem and His people
9. He made the Land Covenant not only with Abraham, but with Isaac and Jacob (Leviticus 26:42)
10. He made the Covenant statement "I will be there Elohim; I am Adonai" (Leviticus 26:45)
11. He said He would keep His Covenants to those who love Him for a thousand generations.
12. Yeshua made an eternal New Blood Covenant for remission of sins when we fail to follow the Torah (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20).
The dictionary defines Covenant as a binding agreement. HaShem has bound these Covenants in blood. And they are eternal.
So, where does the church (assembly of HaShem) fit in? The only chance for the church/assembly (of "converted gentiles") is to follow Hashem and His Torah. With that, they will be "grafted in" to Israel (Romans 11). By Hashem's grace, love, and equity, He has made a way for us to be a part of His Covenants. Rabbi Yeshua and his teachings teach us how to do this. And He makes this eternal New Covenant for our atonement (only if we repent and teshuvah!)
Just like when Moses is speaking to the Chosen People as they are getting ready to enter the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 29:14-15, "It is not with you alone, that I am making this sworn Covenant, but with whoever is standing with us today before the Hashem our Adonai, and with whoever is not here with us today." This ("whoever is not here") includes those who meet these requirements in Deuteronomy 30:6, 10:
1. "Love Hashem your Adonai with all your heart, all your soul."
2. "Obey the voice of Hashem your Adonai."
3. "Keep His Commandments."
4. "Turn (teshuvah) to Hashem your Adonai with all your heart and soul."
By doing these things, authentically and heartfeltly, you become a part of Israel, a part of the Covenants (and the future blood Covenant of Yeshua HaMashiach). Read all of chapter 30, you will be so blessed.
Remember in John 17 when Yeshua is praying his final prayer to the Father before his arrest, He asks; "I do not ask for these (His talmidim) only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all (all the Jews that believe) may be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world (Gentiles) may believe that You have sent me." All this so that the world"will believe. HaShem does not want any to perish.
Yeshua came and taught His people to return to Hashem. And through this return, they would be a light to the rest of the world. That's how we get grafted in. We believe in the One true G-d, we follow Him and His Torah, and then we will be joined to the Covenants of Israel. And this is sealed by the blood of the New Covenant. This is the mystery.
Remember Yeshua's last words to the talmidim before He ascended. Some call it the "Great Commission":
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore (you, the Jewish people who follow HaShem), and make talmidim (disciples) of all nations (Gentiles), baptizing (cleansing in the mikveh bath and converting them) in the Name of the Father, Son, and (Hashem's) Holy Spirit, teaching them (Jews and Gentiles) to observe all that I have commanded you (the Torah). Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20