Jason Sobel thought he understood his faith. Raised in the heart of New York City, he was a dedicated young Jewish man, fully immersed in his people’s life and culture. By day, he worked in a bustling recording studio, rubbing shoulders with rock stars and rappers. Yet, amidst the glamour, something felt amiss.
“There has to be something more than this,” Sobel recalled, reflecting on his life then. His search for meaning led him on a spiritual journey. He began frequenting the synagogue, studying with his rabbi, and exploring martial arts and Eastern philosophy. But it wasn’t until a profound spiritual experience that his life took an unexpected turn.
While meditating, Sobel experienced what he describes as a supernatural encounter. “My soul began to leave my body,” he recounted. “Next thing I know, I was up in Heaven, standing before a King.” Sobel was enveloped in a glorious light, feeling the overwhelming presence of God. “I didn’t know anything, but I knew that was Jesus… seated there on that throne, and He told me I was called to serve Him.”
This experience shook Sobel to his core. Returning to his body, he was overwhelmed by the power of what he had witnessed. “I’m called to serve Him,” he exclaimed, bewildering his mother with his newfound conviction. “We’re Jewish, for goodness sake,” she reminded him.
A conversation with a Messianic Jewish friend further deepened Sobel’s spiritual journey. His friend read to him from the prophet Isaiah: “He was wounded for our transgressions… by His stripes, we are healed.” The familiarity of the passage struck Sobel. “It must be the New Testament,” he said. But it wasn’t. It was from Isaiah 53, written centuries before Jesus’ birth.
This revelation led Sobel to a Messianic congregation, where he experienced worship in a way that resonated deeply with his Jewish identity. Hesitant but compelled, he prayed and raised his hand when asked if he wanted to commit his life to Jesus. “You’ve just been born again,” they told him.
Sobel’s journey didn’t end there. In 2005, he pursued his rabbinic ordination through the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. Today, he’s a prominent voice in the Messianic Jewish movement, writing books and hosting a television series exploring Christianity’s Jewish roots.
“Every major event in the life of Jesus happened on a biblical holiday,” Sobel explained. “We’re doing what Jesus did. All of the biblical holidays point to Him.”
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