As we get closer to Passover, I thought I would share a little Exodus and Deuteronomy Hebrew breakdown of the word Chai... aka Life or Living. It seems simple at first; but there are layers upon layers to this symbol.

You may see many Jews today wearing this symbol as jewelry... what exactly does it mean and symbolize. The little dash to the left is the Hebrew letter for Yod - it means Hand of God. The other letter is Chet - means living (the truth, the way, the life).

In the Exodus Passover they marked the door posts with lambs blood , this symbol is that of a doorway. So when Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, He was referring to the sacrificial lamb at Passover - marked by the Hand of God Himself (Yod)

John 10:7 “So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep” and John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture”

What Jesus was saying is that He Himself stepped into place as the sacrificial lamb. John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” To accept Him, one must simply step through the doorway which is cover by His blood.

As for the Jews today, unless they are “Messianic Jews”, they will not recognize Jesus. But that symbol of Chai, is part of their everyday life. They actually mark their door ways with a Mezuzah which is enclosed with the Shema Prayer (Deut 6:4) blessing their house.