83 – Food, Faith & Freedom – Finally Finding Jesus in Messianic Judaism | Hope Egan

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Nov 18, 2025

Hope Egan, an Outreach Coordinator and associate producer at First Fruits of Zion, shares her inspiring journey into Messianic Judaism. She discusses how it beautifully reconciles Jewish identity with faith in Jesus. Hope delves into the importance of finding one’s spiritual home, the nuances of dietary laws, and how her experiences reflect the complexities of faith. With insight into the evolution of Messianic practices, she emphasizes the need for a personal relationship with God amidst theological exploration.

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ANECDOTE

From Cultural Judaism To Seeking God

Hope Egan recounts growing up in a Reform Jewish home with cultural rituals but little relational faith formation.
Her search for God led through Unity, Catholicism, Orthodox shadowing, and finally Messianic friendship with Elizabeth.

ANECDOTE

Recovery Sparked A Spiritual Search

A compulsive eating recovery in Overeaters Anonymous sparked Hope's dependence on God and hunger for truth.
That path led her through various Christian traditions and finally to a Messianic Jewish friend who reshaped her understanding.

INSIGHT

Hyasode Restored Jewish Identity

Hyasode and FFOZ resources restored Hope's sense that Jesus is Jewish and the Bible was written by Jews.
This removed the forced choice between Judaism and Christianity and strengthened her faith in Yeshua.

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In the first century, Jewish believers in Jesus kept being Jewish. There was no conflict between their Jewish identity and their discipleship. Unfortunately, that changed, and for most of church history, Jewish followers of Jesus had to stop being Jewish. Today, many Jews are seeking God and are interested in Jesus, but they are not interested in giving up their Jewish identity. The solution is Messianic Judaism. Our guest today, First Fruits of Zion's Outreach Coordinator, and this very podcast's associate producer, Hope Egan, is here to share the story of how she found her spiritual home in Messianic Judaism, lost that home, and then found it again. We'll discuss ecclesiology, the food laws, and how to prevent an obsession with theology from derailing your personal walk with God.

👉 Key Discussion Points:

► Messianic Judaism Offers a Solution for Jewish Identity and Faith: Messianic Judaism beautifully shows that being Jewish and following Yeshua (Jesus) are not contradictory but deeply connected, just as they were in the first century. If you are a Jewish person seeking God, you can absolutely embrace Yeshua without giving up your rich heritage and identity.

► The Spiritual Journey: Finding Your Way Home: Hope Egan's story is an inspiring testament that your spiritual journey is rarely a straight line, and that's okay! Finding your spiritual "home" can sometimes involve a few detours, a period of feeling lost, and the courage to find it again.

► Theological Study: A Lifelong Adventure: Don't be discouraged if you feel like you never have all the answers. That's the best part! The exploration of profound truths is a continuous, exciting journey that offers endless opportunities for discovery. Embrace the questions you find with each study; they are the very things that invite you to keep learning.

► The Priority: A Personal Walk with God: While it's fascinating to dive deep into theological topics, remember the most essential relationship of all: your personal walk with God. Let your study and passion for theology enrich your relationship, but don’t let it become an obsession that distracts you from loving and walking with him. Keep your focus on your heart connection, and the rest will fall into place!

👉 Resources

HaYesod: The Foundation
Biblically Kosher

Articles
What Replaces Replacement Theology?

How the Gentile Church Lost the Jewish Kingdom

How misunderstanding one simple New Testament idea derailed the whole church.

Locating the New Testament Church within Judaism and the Jewish People

✡️ What is Messiah Podcast? ✝️

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.