My husband is Persian, and this week the Iranian people celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri, the last Wednesday before the Iranian New Year, Nowruz. For almost 50 years this celebration was banned in Iran, as it originates from the ancient Zoroastrian religion of Persia. But this week, in defiance of Islamic prohibitions, the Iranian people lit the bonfires in the streets and jumped over the fires, hoping to trade their sorrows for the light.
The Zoroastrian religion originated in Persia, around 3500 years ago. Other than Judaism, it was one of the first recorded monotheistic religions, calling for personal purity – Good Thoughts – Good Words – Good Deeds, with the belief in the free will of mankind, and judgement after death. They attribute divine energy to Fire and Water and Earth and believe in the ultimate triumph of Light over Darkness. A faithful minority still practice Zoroastrianism today, but many of the customs and festivals are fiercely held forth as symbols of identity for the Persian people.
Zoroastrians In The Bible
We find a few famous Zoroastrians in the pages of our Bible. The Persian King Xerxes chose a new queen, to replace Vashti in the book of Esther. Xerxes honored Queen Esther by protecting the Jewish people from annihilation and blessing them to worship freely in Persia.
Isaiah prophesied of an anointed Zoroastrian king, by name, who would come and fulfill God’s purposes to repair the Temple, the wall and the city of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 44:28-45:13) Sure enough, the noblest Persian King, Cyrus the Great, rose up 150 years later and did exactly that, as recorded in Nehemiah and Ezra.
A mysterious link between the Persian people and our God exists even to today.
Trading Their Sorrows
Like Christians, Zoroastrians believe in the ultimate triumph of Light over Darkness, however we drastically differ on the source of the light offering the deliverance! They believe in power from the light of the fire to remove individual sickness, sorrow and darkness, as symbolized in the festival of Chaharshanbe Suri.
On this night, Persian families and friends gather and celebrate in anticipation of the coming New Year. With the fires blazing, people jump over the flames. Young men compete to see who can jump the highest. Above the fire, they chant:
– زردیِ من از تو، سُرخیِ تو از من –
Zardi ye man az to, sorkhi ye to az man
“May my paleness (yellow) be yours and your redness be mine.”
It’s a prayer to make a trade with the fire; to take away their sickness, weakness and sorrows in exchange for light and strength. As they jump over the red flames, this transfer happens and they jump into the New Year, strong and fresh and full of light. It’s like jumping out of Darkness and into the Light. The problem with jumping over fire is that every year you must repeat the process, as sorrows and darkness accumulate, waiting for the next, year-end trade.
A New Day and Rebirth
A few days after Chaharshanbeh Suri, the first day of Spring arrives and with it the marking of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz. Persians celebrate leaving behind the darkness and sorrows and entering into a new beginning. Nowruz literally means – New Day.
As Believers, we know the One Who gives us the lasting New Beginning. King Jesus came to make a permanent transfer for us, from that kingdom of Darkness, with its sickness and sorrow, to His Kingdom of Light with His peace and love. Not through fire, but through His own blood He rescues us, to free us from our sins.
He has delivered us from the power of darkness
and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
in whom we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
It’s not the red of the fire that brings strength and freedom, it is the red blood of Jesus, shed for us on the cross. His blood alone can remove our sorrow, sin and sickness.
He made the One who knew no sin
to become a sin offering on our behalf,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 TLV
This trade takes place when we are born-again. It is the permanent transfer from the power of the Kingdom of Darkness to new life in His Kingdom of Light. This is the better trade we pray for the Iranian people!
The True Light
Deeper darkness is growing and covering this troubled world; People are desperately searching for light. Jesus is the only True Light and source of new life.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man
coming into the world.
John 1:4-5, 9 NKJV
We can forever trade our sorrows for His light, if we believe and follow Jesus.
Yeshua spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 TLV
Shining His Light
When Jesus returned to His Father in Heaven, He gave us the task to shine.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
>Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.
>Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house.
>In the same way, let your light shine before men
so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 TLV
We are now the light of the world to our generation. He calls us to shine with the fire of His Spirit to draw the lost to Him.
John makes clear, we are not The Light, we are not gods, rather we bear witness to Jesus. We shine with His Spirit as His ambassadors, representing the Kingdom of Life and Light, in this earth. We shine for Jesus as sons and daughters of the Light sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven.
His Light in Iran
You may not know this, but for 20 years, the Iranian underground church has been the fastest growing church in the world. Millions are coming to Jesus through the brave witness of the born-again believers there, and Jesus Himself appears to many in dreams and visions.
The Islamic regime persecutes these Christian converts and underground house churches, through arrest, rape, murder and torture. I have met some of these brothers and sisters who fled to America for refuge. These are our brothers and sisters in chains, suffering for shining the Light of Jesus to others.
God’s Plan For The Persian People
Just like the Persian Zoroastrians, King Xerxes and King Cyrus the Great, God still has a plan for the Persian people. The great end-times harvest of Revelation 14 is at hand, and Iran will be part of it. We can too.
Today is Nowruz, Persian New Year, the time of rebirth and new beginnings. It is the time for hope. We currently stand on the cusp of history where Iran may open to the world. Without the repression of the Islamic government, the people may have a chance to come to Jesus.
Praise the Lord! It is time for the true spiritual rebirth of Iran into the Kingdom of Light in Jesus!
What Can We Do?
We in the West have a window of time to help the church in Iran. I am not sure how long that window will stay open, but many ministries are preparing to go in and help strengthen the Iranian church and bring in the Harvest.
As you can imagine, Bibles and study materials in Farsi are needed. They need funds for supplies for churches to be rooted in truth. Likewise, support for Iranian Pastors who bore the weight of shepherding a persecuted flock is crucial. They are exhausted.
Massive Prayer is needed for Iran.
PRAY 
– SALVATION – Pray for the Harvest in Iran for Jesus.
– UNDERSTANDING SIN – Surviving decades of Islamic Sharia law created confusion. Many Persians are resistant to any discussion of sin in the Christian context. They just don’t want to hear it. In Iranian Islam, you can be killed for the “sin” of your hair showing. The idea that a loving Jesus would punish sin seems impossible. This is perhaps the biggest stumbling block I have seen among converts in the walk of sanctification and understanding the cross. Pray for people’s understanding of sin. Pray for Believers to share the Good News clearly.
– UNITY – Many religious organizations are preparing to go into Iran; many are cults. Pray for UNITY within the Christian community with a heart to work together in love to shine for Jesus.
– PEACE – The Iranian people live with severe PTSD from decades of daily atrocities in their midst. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding that ONLY Jesus can give.
– LOVE – Pray that the love of Jesus shown through His Ambassadors will conquer every evil rising up to stop the move of God.
– JOY – The scripture says though sorrows may last for a night, the joy comes in the morning. Pray that the fires of Zoroastrian festivals will be replaced with the holy fire of God’s Spirit. Pray for Salvation to come, as they embrace the JOY of rebirth in Jesus! May they truly trade their sorrows for His light
Do WARFARE!
– BINDING the PRINCE of PERSIA – This demonic principality is still strong and active over Iran. He is the same who opposed the archangel Michael for 21 days, when fighting to get God’s answer to Daniel in Daniel 10. Pray that God would bind this principality and allow space for the message of the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of Light in JESUS to reach the hearts of the people in Iran.
This is lovely, Lori. A beautiful description of Iran and the Iranian people. So close to Jesus, i’m not surprised it is the fastest growing church. Jesus is water and light and the country has been dry for so long. May you have Peace in your family, may we have Peace in our country, may the world come to know peace, the true Peace, that comes with the only Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer,
Friend, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank You Susan!
Your words are so true – Iran has been a dry and weary land where there is no water!
Thank you for your prayers
Thank you for teaching me a bit about Iran. I did know of the revival going on there, but knew little of Zoroastrianism.
Thank you Lori, for educating us on the needs of the Iranian people and all the history surrounding them. I appreciated the practical advice on what to do to help and how to pray.