Memorial Day and Independence Day

Tikkun Global

Jerusalem, Israel

This week, Tuesday is Memorial Day in Israel. Immediately following is Independence Day. The sharp transition from tragedy to victory is shocking.  It is hard to describe the depth of emotional experience for our people in these two days. It feels like a roller-coaster ride. 

Memorial Day embraces the death of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the land and people of Israel in the face of such murderous and monstrous hatred. Most of them were young people in their 20's. Corporate grief rips the core of the nation's psyche. 

To me there is a deep connection between the sacrifice of their lives and the crucifixion of Yeshua (Jesus). For Christians, the meaning of life is transformed to understand that Yeshua gave his soul for us, to save us and give us eternal life. For Israelis, the depth of significance of Memorial Day and Independence Day is parallel to the death and resurrection of Yeshua for Christians. 

Yeshua was killed under the banner of "King of the Jews." The hatred of the Jews is parallel to the hatred of the King of the Jews. It is unfathomable satanic evil. 

And then immediately comes the resurrection. Life out of death. On Independence Day, it is becoming popular to read portions from Ezekiel 37 portraying the restoration of the people of Israel as a fulfillment of prophecy, a divine resurrection, the promise of continuing life. 

The death and resurrection of Yeshua permeates everything: the stars, the agriculture, the human body, the life of all Christians, and also the exile and restoration of Israel. Many events in Jewish culture take place during the seven weeks from Passover to Pentecost: the seder, the omer, Holocaust remembrance, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Lag b'omer, Jerusalem Day, and the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai on Shavuot.

In God's sovereignty, the destinies of Israel and the Church are being "grafted in" to one another. (Romans 11:17-24) Yeshua is savior of the world, head of the Church, and king of the Jews.  Let us keep interceding for the "fullness of the Gentiles" and the "salvation of Israel" in our generation. (Romans 11:25-26)