⁸ In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ⁹ And he burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. ¹⁰ And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls around Jerusalem. ¹¹ And the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile. ¹² But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. (2 Kings 25:8–12)

Tishah B’Av (the ninth day of the month of Av, on 26/27 July 2023) holds a profound significance for those of us who follow Yeshua (Jesus) as our Messiah. Traditionally observed as a day of lamentation for the destruction of both the First and Second Temples (in 586 bce and 70ce), Tishah B’av has a special meaning for those who see Yeshua as the ultimate fulfilment of the Temple.
 
In Jewish tradition, the Temple in Jerusalem was the centre of worship, the place where the Divine Presence (Shekinah) resided among the people. After the destruction of the Temple, according to Jewish tradition, the Shekinah also went into exile. However, from a Messianic Jewish perspective, we recognize that with the coming of Yeshua, a new understanding of the Temple emerges. Jesus himself proclaimed, “Destroy this Temple, and in three days, I will raise it up” (John 2:19). He was referring not to the physical Temple, but to his own body, which would be crucified and raised from the tomb.
 
For Messianic Jews, Tishah B’Av becomes a day of reflection on the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice as the ultimate atonement for sin. Through his death and resurrection, Yeshua became the living temple, the bridge between humanity and God, allowing direct access to the Divine Presence. He tore down the barrier that separated us from God, making a way for all nations to approach Hashem. Yeshua, the “Temple not made with hands” is the very embodiment of God’s presence.
 
As we mourn the destruction of the physical temples in history, we also celebrate the fulfilment of the temple in Jesus. In him, we find hope, reconciliation, and eternal life.

On Tish B’Av, Messianic Jews find solace in the assurance that even in times of darkness and mourning, we have a High Priest who understands our pain and intercedes on our behalf. Yeshua’s sacrificial love becomes a source of comfort and healing as we reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
 
Tishah B’Av reminds us of the redemptive power of God, who can transform mourning into joy and brokenness into wholeness. As we contemplate the destruction of the Temples of old, we are reminded that Yeshua’s sacrifice builds us into the renewed Temple, where believers are living stones, built together to form a dwelling place for God (1 Peter 2:5).
 
From this perspective, Tishah B’Av becomes a day of renewed hope and faith, as we recognize that the ultimate temple is not confined to a physical structure but resides within each believer’s heart, forever connecting us to the divine love and grace of our Saviour, Yeshua the Messiah.
 
Our hearts go out to all our people, and all who mourn at this time. As Yeshua taught us “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5: 4). As we recognise the provision of God’s mercy, forgiveness and restoration in Yeshua, we can truly know his comfort, strength and renewal.

Prayer

Lamentations 3:18-24 (JPS):

I thought my strength and hope Had perished before the LORD. To recall my distress and my misery was wormwood and poison; Whenever I thought of them, I was bowed low. But this do I call to mind, Therefore I have hope: The kindness of the LORD has not ended, His mercies are not spent. They are renewed every morning— Ample is Your grace! “The LORD is my portion,” I say with full heart; Therefore will I hope in Him.

Holocaust Theology in the light of Yeshua? Messianic Jewish Reception of Eikah – Paul Re’emi, a prominent Hebrew Christian and Holocaust survivor, wrote a commentary on the Book of Lamentations, using it to reflect on his own experience of the Shoah and his faith in Yeshua. You can read about how he and other Jewish disciples of Yeshua reflect on this day and its meaning here and powerpoint here.