Rabbi Jason Sobel - Mysteries of the Messiah Bible Study Guide: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today

T he Bible is one of my favorite mystery books. From the opening words of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation, Gods Word is filled with tantalizing clues, fascinating revelations, and an extraordinary plot. Many of the Bibles mysteries have nagged at our imaginations for centuries. There are odd characters, dysfunctional families, bloody battles, and courageous heroes, yet we find incredible wisdom within the writings. And readers ask, Who is this mystifying protagonist called the Messiahthe Redeemer who will come to save the world?

During the next six weeks, you and your group will investigate several mysteries that surround Jesus the Messiah. You will dig into Scripture and uncover the connections between the Old and New Testament prophecies that are essential to investigating these mysteries. As Jesus said, Every Torah scholar discipled for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure both new things and old (Mathew 13:52). Each session will spark these connections between the old and new, resulting in an unraveling revelation that will cause your heart to burn with increased hope and overflow with blessing.

The Mysteries of the Messiah video study is designed to be experienced in a group setting such as a Bible study, Sunday school class, or any small-group gathering. Each session begins with a brief welcome section and opening starter questions to get you and your group thinking about the topic. You will then watch a video teaching and jump into some directed small-group discussions. You will close each session with a time of prayer.

Each person in the group should have his or her own study guide, which includes video teaching notes, group discussion questions, and between-sessions personal studies to help you reflect on the material during the week. You are also encouraged to have a copy of The Mysteries of the Messiah book, as reading it alongside the study will provide you with deeper insights and make the journey more complete and meaningful. In addition, the book has many more mysteries and teaching could not be covered in the sessions.

Before you start your adventure, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you on your journey. First, the real growth in this study will happen during your small-group time. You will have the opportunity to listen to the weekly teaching and learn from others as each person shares what God is doing in his or her life. To this end, its important for you to attend each session, as your commitment will build trust among your other group members. If you choose to only go through the motions, or if you refrain from participating, there is a lesser chance you will find what youre looking for during this study.

Second, small groups can offer a unique opportunity for sharing, learning, and building friendships. So I encourage you to make your small group a safe place where people feel free to share their insights, prayer requests, and even differing opinions. Each person should be able to contribute freely without the stress of judgment or criticism. One way to foster this openness is to not attempt to fix peoples issues, or theology, but listen and discuss. You want to create a sense of deep community and spiritual growth.

Third, each session contains teaching related to Hebrew and Greek by the numbers. Most of the worlds languages separate numbers from letters, but not Hebrew and Greek. Both languages use letterstheir respective alphabetsfor numbers. Each letter in the Hebrew and Greek alphabets has a numeric value. Because of this, numbers can spell words and words can add up to numeric values. Numbers are a significant part of uncovering the mysteries of the Messiah, connecting the Testaments, and going deeper in your study of the Bible.

Fourth, this study references several sources from many centuries of Jewish thought. These sources will help you open up the Jewish meaning of many passages and their connection to the Messiah and New Testament. Just as Christian pastors and teachers use multiple sources to explain Scripture, we are bringing together essential sources to study the Messiah.

Finally, most of the Scripture references in this study are from the Tree of Life Version of the Bible. The Tree of Life Version speaks with a decidedly Jewish-friendly voicea voice like many of the Bibles authors themselvesto recover the authentic context of the Scriptures and biblical faith. It was produced by messianic Jewish and Christian scholars who sought to highlight the rich Hebrew roots of the Christian faith. Since this translation restores the Jewish order and numbering of the books of the Old Testament, you may find that certain verse citations are one number off compared to other translations of the Bible.

Maximum benefits for this study will come from not only commitment to your group but also your own personal study time. The individual study suggestions are there to help guide you deeper into Scripture and enhance your learning. If you miss a personal session, please dont feel you should also skip the group time. Your group is first priority, and you will still be wanted and welcome even if you havent completed your personal work at home.

Its my hope that Mysteries of the Messiah will bring you insights about the Redeemer and how he can be discovered in the many connections throughout the Old and New Testaments. Its my earnest prayer that the uncovering of these mysteries will give you eye-opening moments and new ways to reflect on your life and the Messiah who came to die for you, live again for you, and give you incredible hope for a future with him.