The covenant in My blood

The New Covenant began at the death of Messiah.

Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you. Luke 22:20

For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established. Heb 9:16

This means Jesus lived and ministered under the Old Covenant. This is why most of Yehoshua’s teachings expose the true spirit of the Torah.

But when the completion of the time came, Elohim sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under Torah, to redeem those who were under Torah, in order to receive the adoption as sons. Gal 4:4-5

Once we have finished reading the Old Testament, we come to the New Testament which starts in Matthew 1. But did you know that the New Testament era, or new covenant, does not really begin in Matthew 1? That’s right. It’s not baby Messiah in a manger that brings in Yehovah G-d’s new way of grace. The new covenant didn’t begin until 33 years later at the death of Messiah.

Note that the words “testament”, “covenant”, and “will” are all the same Greek word diathéké. This is important because it’s a death, not a birth, that is required to activate a will or testament. Therefore, the New Testament era (also known as the new covenant) actually begins at the death of Messiah, not at His birth.

For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established. For a covenant over those dead is firm, since it is never valid while the covenanted one is living. Heb 9:16-17

A will does not go into effect until the death of the one who made it. Likewise, the new covenant did not go into force until Yehoshua died.

Heb 9:18  Therefore not even the first covenant was instituted without blood.

Heb 9:19  For when, according to Torah, every command had been spoken by Mosheh to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
Heb 9:20  saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim commanded you.” Exo_24:8.

This same reason, at the Last Supper, Yehoshua told His Talmidim (disciples) the new covenant would be coming through His blood (not His birth):

Luke 22:20  Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.

This means that Yehoshua's entire earthly ministry was under the Torah. Yehoshua was born under the Law (Torah), and we draw the dividing line of human history at his death, not at the birth:

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law (Torah), to redeem those under the law (Torah)” Galatians 4:4-5.

This does not mean that all of Yehoshua’s teachings before his death were only relevant to those living under the old covenant. Yehoshua knew the new covenant was imminent, and the goal of His teachings was twofold: (1) to show people the futility of trying to keep the Law (for it is impossible to keep the Torah without his Ruach Spirit) and (2) to prepare them for a new way of grace through the Ruach (Spirit). These are the two main messages we see in the teachings of Messiah.

For the kingdom of Yehovah is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Ghost).
For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to Yehovah and approved by men. Romans 14:17-18