Rosh Hashanah and Jesus: The Prophetic Fulfillment

When we open the Old Testament, we read about festivals and celebrations that may seem distant from our lives today. Yet Scripture tells us these feasts are more than just history lessons – they are typologies and foreshadowings that point to Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16–17). Rosh Hashanah points to Jesus and finds prophetic fulfillment in Him. 

Next week is Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Feast of Trumpets and the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is one of the High Holy Days of Judaism that involves themes of judgment, remembrance, repentance, and introspection. When investigated closely, Christians can see that Rosh Hashanah is a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus Celebrate Rosh Hashanah?

Before we dive into how Rosh Hashanah points to Jesus, it’s important to see if Jesus celebrated this High Holy Day.  The Gospels don’t mention this celebration by name, but Jesus was a Jew who lived fully obedient to the Law (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:17). This means that He would have observed all of the appointed feasts, including the Feast of Trumpets.

We know from Luke 2:41-42 that Jesus’ parents modeled this same devotion to the feasts. Luke tells us that “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.” Although this particular passage refers to Passover, it indicates that Jesus was brought up honoring the traditions and customs of the Jewish faith. The reporting of this in the Gospels assures us that Jesus did, in fact celebrate Rosh Hashanah as part of the commanded feasts.

Themes in Rosh Hashanah that Point to Jesus

Many Christian theologians, especially those from evangelical and Messianic Jewish backgrounds see several ways in which Jesus is connected to or seen as the fulfilment of the themes in Rosh Hashanah. Let’s look at the themes as they relate to Rosh Hashanah and how they find their fulfillment in Jesus. The following is just a sample of the ways this celebration points to Jesus:

1. The Shofar (Trumpet Blasts)

• Jewish Tradition: This is a wake-up call to repent. It is a “spiritual alarm” of sorts that serves as a reminder to return to God before the Day of Atonement. Blowing the shofar is also used to announce God’s kingship, like trumpets at a royal enthronement.
• Christian Fulfillment: Blowing the trumpet points to the second coming of Jesus. He calls His people to be awake and ready for that day (Matthew 24:42). The final trumpet will sound at Jesus’ return, raising the dead and gathering His people (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

2. Kingship of God

• Jewish Tradition: Rosh Hashanah tradition emphasizes God as King of the universe where His sovereignty and control over all things is remembered.
• Christian Fulfillment: When Jesus comes back, He is revealed as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). At this time, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He IS the LORD (Philippians 2:10–11).

3. The Book of Life

• Jewish Tradition: On Rosh Hashanah, tradition holds that God opens the heavenly books. The righteous ones are inscribed in the Book of Life, while the wicked are written in the Book of Death. At the same time, others await repentance before Yom Kippur.
• Christian Fulfillment: For Christians, Jesus is the Lamb whose Book of Life secures eternal salvation when believers put their faith and trust in Him (Revelation 21:27). Believers rejoice that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

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4. Repentance

• Jewish Tradition: Rosh Hashanah begins the Ten Days of Awe, a time for soul-searching, repentance, and seeking forgiveness. This is a time for those who have strayed to return to the Lord.
• Christian Fulfillment: Jesus began His ministry with the words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). His death and resurrection make forgiveness complete (Acts 3:19). Jesus removes the need for sacrificial atonement of sins because He IS the sacrifice.

5. Remembrance of Covenant

• Jewish Tradition: The shofar recalls God’s covenant with Israel, especially the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–19).
• Christian Fulfillment: Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant in Christianity (Hebrews 8:6; Luke 22:20). In Him, the law is fulfilled and written on believers’ hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).

6. The Hidden Day

• Jewish Tradition: Rosh Hashanah always begins on the new moon, which is the basis of the structure of the Jewish calendar. For this reason, Rosh Hashanah, and all other Jewish months, begin in alignment with the lunar cycle. The sighting of the new moon in ancient times ensured that the holiday was celebrated at the correct time, regardless of when the new moon was confirmed. Because the exact timing was uncertain, it became known as “the day no one knows.”
• Christian Fulfillment: In Christianity, the second coming of Jesus can also be considered “the day no one knows.” Jesus said of His return, “No one knows the day or the hour” (Matthew 24:36). The hidden day points to the mystery of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

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Final Thoughts

Rosh Hashanah is a beautiful reminder that every feast and celebration in the Old Testament was designed to point us toward Jesus. From Passover to Pentecost, from the Day of Atonement to the Feast of Tabernacles, each celebration contains rich symbolism that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. When we take time to study and read the Bible carefully, we begin to see how all of Scripture fits together, revealing Christ from beginning to end.

Blessings,

Amy

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