Zion's Voice

Brit Hadashah Reflections   37

Torah portion           Numbers 25 : 10  – 30 : 1

Haftarah portion     Jeremiah  1 : 1 – 2 : 3

Brit Hadashah        John 15 : 1  - 17 : 26

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

One of the best known analogies in the Scriptures. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (we are the branches of course) Here a knowledge of the Hebraic meaning of this phrase sheds a very different light than that which most Bibles actually say! That it is an agricultural analogy is obvious. It is in the next verse that the Hebraic understanding sheds new light.

Earlier, in John 6:37 we are given Yeshua’s promise that “the one who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out”. Unequivocal. Solid. Precious. But the translators use of “takes away” in relation to branches that do not bear fruit is the issue. The Greek word here is “airo”. It has a different meaning. Strongs Greek lexicon offers “raise, take up, lift” as the correct meaning of the word. Note here that this Scripture is referring to “branches in ME”. (Ones we have been assured will in no wise be cast out!) Now, the audience, His disciples, Jewish men, clearly understood the analogy. A vine branch which creeps along the ground does not bear fruit. The vinedresser, in those days, would carefully place stones under those trailing vine branches to “raise, take up, lift” them so that they would bear fruit. It is the gentle care of the vinedresser to “raise, take up, lift” them which assured the fruit bearing.

Now here is the lesson for us. We are told here that “the branch cannot bear fruit of itself”. So rather than struggle in an attempt to bear fruit in fear of being ‘taken away’, we should “abide in the vine”, allow ourselves to be ‘raised, taken up, lifted’ by the vinedresser so that we may bear the fruit which He desires in us. Then, as we progress in our ‘fruit bearing’ He prunes us so that we may bear more fruit, even much fruit. The question then arises “How do we abide in the vine?” By reading His word, paying close attention to His word, by His counsel in our times of prayer, by His encouragement through wise words of trusted disciples. By seeking Him.

The crunch comes in verse 6 of this reading. “If anyone does NOT abide in Me. He is cast out as a branch and is withered” The Apostle Paul made reference to this in Romans 11. In his analogy of the Olive Tree he referred to branches ‘broken off’ because of unbelief. Make no mistake here. Salvation is the free gift of a loving merciful God, but it is not a ticket to live as you please. It is a call to bear fruit. And those who truly put their trust in Him are not broken off because He “raises, takes up, lifts” them to bear fruit.

The teaching continues. “If you keep My commandments, you WILL abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love”. Why did Yeshua tell them this? “that your joy may be full”. And still many of us are taught today that “Jesus kept all the commandments, so we do not have to!!!” Yeshua did not teach that!

He taught about living fruitful lives to His glory. And Yeshua told His disciples just what was required of them after He leaves them. It is His word. I did not write it, I just ‘reflect’ upon it here. It is clear, but many of us still find very inventive ways to avoid ‘keeping His commandments’ in exactly the same way that the Israelites did and became ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’. Finding them was the very reason for Yeshua’s mission on earth.(Matthew 10 and 15)

This passage of Scripture is worthy of our close attention. Speaking to His disciples Yeshua said “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit”. But then He spent time telling them that it was not going to be easy. They were carefully chosen, as you have been. Being chosen by God comes with responsibilities. Remember what the Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth. “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not our own? For you were bought at a price; therefor glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”. And isn’t that a word for today? An age when the very foundations of our faith are being constantly challenged by those in our government and in our schools.    But we are not left alone. Yeshua promised them, and we have seen that promise fulfilled, that when He left them, upon His return to be with His Father, He would send “a Helper”. One whom we identify as the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth. But that Helper is not an enforcer. He is a Comforter. A Guide. One who points the way to Yeshua, our Saviour. Be blessed as you ponder what He is saying to us through this most valuable Scripture passage as we allow ourselves to be ‘raised, taken up, and lifted’ so that we may become abundant fruit bearers in His name.      

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   36

Torah portion           Numbers 22 : 2  – 25 : 9

Haftarah portion     Micah  5 : 6 – 6 : 8

Brit Hadashah        John 13 : 1  - 14 : 31

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Last week we arrived at a point where Yeshua rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt triumphant, but for the purpose of being ‘examined’ in many ways and declared “without blemish’ by the Roman authorities. The confirmation of His role and purpose as the Passover Lamb. The other gospel accounts move to the trial, scourging and crucifixion of Yeshua. But the Apostle John is different. Before moving to that point, John enlightens us to a change in Yeshua’s ministry from public proclamation to private teaching of His disciples as He spends His last hours with them. It is rich in content for all who are His disciples today.

Our passage begins with an act of humble service to His followers. He washed their feet. That was not an uncommon practise in those days, but it was normally a service provided by someone of lowly rank in the household of the master. Some Christian denominations continue with this ritual as an act of humility today in addition to the more commonly celebrated ‘communion’ ritual.

The specifics are there for each one to read and to gain from it that which is revealed by the Holy Spirit of God. But the message which Yeshua was teaching was universal. “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me”  Yeshua said to Simon Peter. He says the same to everyone who reads it. He was referring to the spiritual cleansing that needs to happen in order to enjoy fellowship in Him. That fellowship of salvation is ONLY for those who have willingly submitted themselves to the “washing”, the “cleansing” which was wrought by the shedding of His blood for remission of sin.

There are, or there should be, resultant differences in behaviour and attitude in such persons. Yeshua illustrated this in the very act of washing the disciples feet. Humility. Much later, the Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Philippi said “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself”  Oowwch!!!

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” So what was NEW about this commandment? A very similar commandment was given to Moses on the mountain. Leviticus 19:18 says in part “you shall love your neighbour as yourself”.  But Yeshua adds the words “as I have loved you”. Friends, the difference may seem small, but it is different. The difference in this statement would shortly be obvious to them, even though that ultimate sacrifice made by Yeshua had not yet taken place. But that is not true for us. We have the record, no speculation needed. It is a love which knows no bounds or limitation. As I write this ‘reflection’ I am so very conscious that my journey in faith still has a long way to go.

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” One of the great sadness’s of life is to see how many people have absolutely no regard for God, and yet are convinced that they are “living as good a life as any Christian” (and they are) and will go to heaven. Most of the “Christian” nations of the world are seeing an erosion of Christian morality in their governments. It is easy to mock, and even to ridicule Christian faith. Christianity is being ‘sidelined’. BUT all of that takes no account of this clear teaching of Yeshua. It is unequivocal. It is uncompromising. It is fearful. And it is true.

Then finally, for this ‘reflection’, more words which fly right over the heads of the vast majority of Christians. My Bible (NKJV) says “If you love Me, keep My commandments” It reads as a commandment in itself. It’s a sort of “don’t argue” statement. However, the original Greek manuscripts from which this translation comes says something a little bit different. It says “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” It is something which will be evident in our lives. It’s not optional. Let us remind ourselves here that the same Person who spoke those words, the One who would shortly carry a Roman cross up the hill to Calvary was He who spoke those commandments (instructions for righteous living called  Torah) to Moses on the mountain. He was addressing His Jewish disciples. They knew exactly what He was talking about.

Understanding the Hebraic nature of these writings should give us a better understanding of what discipleship of Yeshau involves.

May we gain Godly wisdom to understand the message contained in these insightful teachings of the Master as He prepared to shed His precious blood that we might receive His salvation.    

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   35

Torah portion           Numbers 18 : 1  – 22 : 1

Haftarah portion     Judges  11 : 1 – 33

Brit Hadashah        John 11 : 1  - 12 : 50

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

A little background here! Yeshua and His disciples were down in the region of Qumran in the Jordan Valley. Probably about 30 Km from Bethany, and uphill all the way! They were there because we learned in John 10 that the Jews had asked Him to tell them plainly whether or not He was their Messiah. (they were looking for the strong man who would deliver them from the Roman occupation and the oppression that came with it). His answer infuriated them.  “I and My Father are One”. He was saying “Yes I am your Messiah and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is My Father. It is He who has sent Me. I am in Him, and He is in Me”. (They had earlier asked for a sign, and in Matthew 12 and 16 He gave them the sign of the Prophet Jonah) At that they took up stones to kill Him because His answer was received as blasphemous. So He fled with His disciples from Jerusalem to the Jordan Valley.

Our reading today opens with news that His friend Lazarus had died, and by the time Yeshua got there Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. He was as dead as dead could be! The sisters, Martha and Miriam were grief stricken at the loss of their brother. And Yeshua wept with them! Then, reinforcing His identity as the Son of Almighty God before those present (the very thing that had caused Him to flee from Jerusalem some days earlier) He called the very dead Lazarus to come out of the tomb. It is a well-known event, which resulted in many of those present joining the ranks of believers. But the sceptics (there are always sceptics aren’t there?) went and told the Pharisees. What they had seen was beyond dispute, but the religious leaders saw it as yet another challenge to their own authority. Incredible. So what did they do? They conspired, not only to do away with Yeshua, but to get rid of Lazarus too!

John chapter 12 gives the clue to the timeline of events during the last week Yeshua spent on this earth. By my calculation it starts on the sixth day of the week (a Friday by our calendar). On Sunday (universally known as Palm Sunday in our calendar) Yeshua rode in triumph on a donkey’s colt down the hill to the garden of Gethsemane. Spending the next four days being ‘examined’ by various authorities and found to be ‘without blemish’ (the prime qualification required of the Passover Lamb). Crucified on Wednesday afternoon, in the grave for the three full nights and three full days, and resurrected after sundown on the sixth day of the week (at the very commencement of Sunday, which is Saturday night in our calendar). Now it is not a ‘hanging offence’ to disagree with my timeline, but it is the only one which I find consistent with Yeshua’s sign, given to the Pharisees, which He called the ‘sign of the Prophet Jonah’. If that ‘sign’ were not fulfilled (which a Good Friday crucifixion does not) then the Pharisees would have another reason to reject Him as the Son of God, and His disciples would have had as much difficulty explaining it as we do today!

But in our passage, Yeshua fulfils the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 by riding on a donkey’s colt. Perhaps a bit of a disappointment to the crowds of people who cried out the words of Psalm 118 “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” as they welcomed their long awaited Messiah whom they expected would rid them of Roman oppression.

It is our great privilege to know that His mission was much greater than eliminating Roman oppression. And in less than two months, many thousands of them would know it too. But Yeshua had to teach them the unthinkable. He was there to be put to death.

“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified” “.. a grain of wheat which falls into the ground and dies, produces much fruit” “.. for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name”.  “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself” “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become ‘sons of light’”. “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness”.

Our reading opened with Yeshua declaring that “I and My Father are One” It got Him into big strife with the religious leaders in the community. We end our ‘reflection’ re-iterating the truth of that confession. Reminding ourselves that what began there as an act of human injustice, has become, in our lifetime, the beacon of hope for our world. In fact the ONLY hope. We put our trust in Him who died, or we remain in darkness.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   34

Torah portion           Numbers 16 : 1  – 18 : 32

Haftarah portion     Isaiah  66 : 1 – 24

Brit Hadashah             John 8 : 1  - 10 : 42

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Yeshua was teaching a crowd of people in the Temple early one morning when the Scribes and Pharisees brought a sinful woman to Him. They announced that she had broken the Law of Moses by adultery. They said that Moses Law clearly specified the punishment but “what do You think we should do?”  Here was an opportunity to trap Him into giving an answer which would condemn Him whichever course He took.

To confirm the punishment contained in the Torah would provide them an opportunity to charge Him with teaching against the laws of the land, Roman Law. To affirm Roman Law would provide opportunity for them to charge Him with not upholding Torah. Condemned either way. But Yeshua stooped to the ground and wrote something in the dust. What was it that He wrote there? Whatever it was had a silencing effect on all who stood with rocks in their hands. There are a number of speculative opinions available about what was written in the dust that day. Yeshua had just the previous day in the Temple, at the time of the Water Libation ceremony, declaring that it spoke of Himself as providing “living water” to all who would ask Him. So did He write Jeremiah 17:13 in the dust?  A sharp reminder to these religious men that they had themselves forsaken the very God they professed to worship. Did He write Hosea 4:14 there, reminding them of the overt responsibility of men in adultery? Did He write specific sins of the accusers, which they previously thought were secret? Whatever was written in the dust ‘convicted their conscience’. What would Yeshua have written in the dust that would have made me put down my rock and slink off in shame? That stuff that I think is a watertight secret? Then to know that He knows. Things for which I have never sought His forgiveness. Take a moment to put things right with Him. Then put down your rock!! Yeshua forgave the woman, told her ‘sin no more’ and sent her to get on with her life. Anyone of us can experience that loving forgiveness, but it requires an encounter with Him who alone has the power to forgive our sin.

Immediately following this incident in our text Yeshua announced the next I AM (the second of seven in John’s gospel). I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. The context, in the Temple, where the area was lit by the Golden Menora, kept alight by the careful continuous attention of the Priests. It was a focal point of gathering of the people. People who were familiar with the Scriptures. They knew that King David had written in Psalm 119 that the Torah was a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 118:105). And here was Yeshua declaring that He is the “light of the world”. He is telling them that He is the ‘living Torah of God’. The Temple Menorah, important to them as it was, became a symbol of the light that His teaching brought to them. As symbolic as the Water Libation ceremony was to His provision of a continuous stream of living water from which they would never again experience thirst. As symbolic as the Bread of life represented by His own presence among them.

It would be much later, after His death on a Roman Cross, that they would come to appreciate the import of His “I AM” words. But what followed was a profound conversation about their status as “sons of Abraham”. It is a conversation that involves everyone who reads this ‘refection’!! At its heart is the question “Who, exactly, is a ‘son of Abraham?’” Because to be a ‘son of Abraham’ is to follow the actions of Abraham. To do what Abraham did.  That they were physical descendants of Abraham is not in question. But Abraham believed God, and that was counted to him as righteousness. The Pharisees did NOT believe that Yeshua was of the Father. They even accused Him of being demon possessed. Yeshua told them bluntly that they were NOT ‘sons of Abraham’ spiritually because they rejected Him. He went further. Because they were not ‘sons of Abraham’ they were ‘sons of the devil’.

Now we dare not mince words here because this is an exceptionally important lesson. Yeshua is saying clearly that there are TWO families on this earth. One is the family of Abraham and the other is the family of the devil. No-one can belong to both families. God’s family is the family of Abraham. Those in that family LOVE the things of God. His word. His teaching. His associates as fellow family members. The DOERS of His word. And anyone NOT in Abraham’s family belongs to the other family. Yeshua tells us here that this other family includes many members who are quite religious, but who do not accept the Son of the Father and His teachings. It is a salutary warning to those who may be regular church attendees, but are still not in the family of Abraham.

Take time to ask the Lord to show you how you can be sure that you are indeed a member of the family of Abraham.   

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   33

Torah portion           Numbers 13 : 1  – 15 : 41

Haftarah portion     Joshua  2 : 1 – 24

Brit Hadashah        John 5 : 1  - 7 : 52

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Yeshua travelled to Jerusalem for one of the festivals. We are not told which one. Commentators are divided in opinion about this but it has no bearing on the events anyway. The pools of Bethesda, in the present day Muslim quarter of the Old City, today many metres below the present paved surface, close to the Church of St. Anne (famous because of its amazing acoustic qualities) is a ‘must see’ for visitors to Jerusalem. The place where Yeshua again provoked the Pharisees to anger, not just because the paralytic man was healed on the Sabbath, but this time because the man was told to ‘take up his bed and walk’!! (carrying the bed was considered ‘work’ by the Rabbinate, therefore forbidden on the Sabbath). Then to compound matters Yeshua openly declared to them that He and the Father were one, a confession which they regarded as treasonable. (Also one which Jews today view with utter contempt. But before we condemn Jews out of hand for this, we should remind ourselves that ‘the Jesus’ with which Jews have been confronted for centuries,  fits perfectly into the mould of a false prophet such as is described in Deuteronomy 13. We know that He is NOT, of course, but that is how the ‘church’ has portrayed Him to Jews!!  One who takes them away from the commandments of Moses.)

The defining statement in this exchange with the Pharisees comes right at the end of John 5. Yeshua told them that Moses had written about Him! He clearly identified Himself there as “the promised prophet like Moses”. Take time to refresh your memory. Read Deuteronomy 18:15-19. And if you have an interest in the judgement of self-proclaimed prophets read to the end of the chapter!

Chapter 6 of our reading finds Yeshua back in the Galilee. A ‘great multitude’ followed Him. John takes the trouble of informing us that Passover was near at hand. I am left wondering about this.  In the normal course, in obedience to the Torah commandment, all Jewish men (including Yeshua and His disciples) would be close to Jerusalem for this festival. As I ponder this I find myself speculating that Yeshua had become such an attraction, and the text provides evidence of this, mainly because people were desperate to know if He really was the longed for Messiah, the “prophet like Moses”, (the ‘strong man’ who in the manner of Moses and the Egyptians, would deliver them from Roman oppresion), and that could have delayed their journey to Jerusalem. We will never know. But what we do know is that Yeshua performed a Messianic miracle before their eyes. He fed them. The multiplication of the five small loaves (and two small fish). Immediately (see John 6:15) the crowd had seen enough. They sought to forcibly take Him and proclaim His kingship. They would have willingly followed Him into battle to defeat the Romans. But that was never part of God’s plan was it?  Yeshua was building a “Temple” not made with hands. And what did the prophet Zechariah say? “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says he Lord of hosts.” (Referring there to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem by Zerubbabel 500 years earlier).

Continuing the theme of the miraculous provision of bread, Yeshua pressed the point with His disciples. They remembered the provision of “manna” in Moses day, but He declared that it was not Moses who provided the bread, but YHWH Elohim. And it is the same YHWH Elohim who multiplied the 5 small loaves. But there was more. As He identified Himself yet again as working under the complete authority and guidance of the Father, He made the first of His seven I AM statements. It is profound. It is the very essence of eternal life in Him. Their forefathers ate “manna’ in the wilderness, but they eventually died. Everyone dies. But Yeshua declared I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. Those who partake of the bread He offers will be saved from the death which follows the White Throne Judgment of the Father. They are ones who will be present at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (Read Revelation 20 for a fuller account of this awesome encounter destined for everyone, yes all of us!).

Chapter 7 relates an account of a major feature of the Feast of Tabenacles. The water libation ceremony. A joyous daily ritual when water from the Gihon Spring, channelled into the Pool of Siloam via Hezekiah’s tunnel was carried into the Temple and poured over the Altar. Yeshua likened Himself to that “living water” which would never cease to flow. So much to learn about Hebraic significance in this passage of Scripture. Be blessed as you search it out.  It is worth it.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   32

Torah portion            Numbers 8 : 1  – 12 : 16

Haftarah portion     Zechariah  2 : 14 – 4 : 7

Brit Hadashah          John 2 : 1  - 4 : 54

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Commentators have a wide range of opinion regarding the timing of the wedding at Cana of Galilee! The third day. If it has significance it is lost to most of us. I think it was a Tuesday!! But maybe the wedding festival lasted several days, and by the third day all the wine was gone! In any event, what followed was quite significant because it is the first miracle of Yeshua recorded by John. Upwards of 120 gallons of water turned into best quality wine. That is the recorded fact, but in the story the most significant element of this miracle comes from the mouth of Miriam, Yeshua’s mother. “Whatever He says to you, do it”.

We are only five verses into our ‘reflection’ and we are given the most valuable lesson any of us could ever have. And that from the heart of the person who knew Him best. His mother. The servants at the wedding were obedient to that which Yeshua said, and witnessed an amazing miracle. Who knows what God has in store for those who just take Him at His word?  Just to listen to His Word and do it.   Selah!

There are two accounts in Scripture about Yeshua being angered by the scene He encountered in the Temple in Jerusalem. John tells about the first when Yeshua visited the Temple for Passover early in His ministry. The other gospel writers comment on the second when Yeshua visited the Temple on His final visit to Jerusalem in the year He was crucified. It seems that Yeshua was appalled by the concept of a place of Worship being turned into a commercial enterprise. Perhaps another lesson from this passage of Scripture for those who want to learn.

During that visit to Jerusalem, there were many who believed in Him because of the signs which He did among them. But Yeshua did not commit Himself to them because He discerned that their motive was not right. In essence I think that means that because He is able to discern the heart He could see that there was no change taking place. It was a mental assent rather than a repentant spirit. Another lesson. How often today do we hear a gospel of repentance preached?  It is more often the case that we hear a prosperity gospel “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be solved, financial, emotional, and practical”. So there are those who believe because of what they can see Him doing for them, not because He teaches that those who belong to Him WILL show it in a change of lifestyle. A repentant ‘turning around’.

A high ranking Pharisee called Nicodemus found this out at first hand. “You must be born again” he was told. Then the most famous Scripture in our Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes IN Him should not perish, but have eternal life”. Followed by :- “But he who DOES the truth comes to the light, that his DEEDS may be clearly seen, that they have been done by God”.

Can you see that Yeshua is clearly teaching that when we put our trust in Him, IT SHOWS.? It makes a difference in how we live. The Apostle James stated it even more clearly. “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” James 2 : 18  This is NOT salvation BY works, but works BECAUSE of salvation.

Yeshua had a most fascinating encounter with the Samaritan woman at a well. He asked her to draw Him some water from the well. “If you knew who it was that asked for the water, you would have asked Me to give you water” He said, “because if you drink the water that I give you, you will never thirst again!”. The story is well known and He shocked the woman by telling her things about her private life which illustrated that He was a Prophet. But as the conversation developed, Yeshua said something quite amazing. Most of us have read it many times without absorbing the importance of it. (Especially those of us who are staunch Israel supporters) The day is coming when true worshippers will not worship in Jerusalem, but “will worship Him in Spirit and in truth”.

There is presently NO Temple in Jerusalem. But it was the place of earthly worship designated by God. Ezekiel describes a Temple yet to be built. The “Temple Mount Faithful” are planning to rebuild a Temple in Jerusalem. But Yeshua is prophesying that the Father will not be worshipped there. For your consideration I offer the following. When a new temple is built in Jerusalem, it WILL for worship. However, there is another who will demand worship in that Temple. It will happen at the end of this age. The Bible refers to him as “the Beast”. Antichrist. And there is NO Temple in the New Jerusalem.

Watch and pray.       

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   31

Torah portion           Numbers 4 : 21  – 7 : 89

Haftarah portion     Judges  13 : 2 – 25

Brit Hadashah           John 1 : 1  - 51

 Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

The gospel of John is different to those which precede it in our Bibles. His focus is significantly on the deity of Yeshua, whereas the other gospels report on His humanity.

“In the beginning” he starts off. Right back to the mighty act of creation. The Word which became flesh and dwelt among us was there. Grasp the enormous implication of that. Our well recognized Messiah Yeshua who climbed the hill at Calvary to die on that Roman cross is the same One who spoke light into being. The same One who made the firmament and divided the waters. The same One who spoke blessing and promise to Abram. The same One who spoke to Moses on the mountain. The same One who brought fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice of Elijah on Mount Carmel. And the same One who appeared to Rabbi Sha’ul on the road to Damascus.

Now if that does not stir your heart, it should! The continuity of the whole of Scripture is vested in the person of Yeshua. He is both the author and the purpose and fulfilment of Scripture. Without Him, the Scriptures are just an interesting documentary of the history of one people group. But He is the purpose, and John knew it full well.

It is Yeshua Himself who commanded Moses to tell the people how to live righteously before each other and before Almighty God. Is it any wonder that He said (as recorded in Matthew 5:19) “I did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets” How could He since He was the author?

The Apostle John takes time to acquaint us with the prophetic references to the Messiah. First, John the Baptizer. He was Yeshua’s cousin in the flesh. They would have grown up knowing a lot about each other. John the Apostle tells us that John the Baptizer came to this earth with a special mission, that being to herald and bring attention to Yeshua. But John the Baptizer must have been extremely impressive too, because the Scribes and Pharisees were able to discern something quite different about him. They couldn’t quite work him out. “Who are you?” was the question. Then they had a few guesses. All wrong. But John clearly testified as to the true identity of Yeshua. He had absolutely no doubt. He said “I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” and the very next day as he watched Yeshua walk by “Behold the Lamb of God”. What an insight.

However, those close to John the Baptizer were looking for the coming Messiah and began to follow Yeshau upon John’s confirmation of His identity. “We have found the Messiah” was their triumphant testimony. Soon Yeshua had attracted close followers whom He chose to be His disciples. Friends and family members of each other mostly.

Is there a lesson for us here?

We are blessed to have the Scriptures. John has made it clear that Yeshua is the author, and the substance, the purpose, and the fulfilment of those Scriptures. And we KNOW Him. We have met Him. We trust Him. It challenges me to ask myself what I am doing to introduce my friends and family to Him.

Ah! But you do not know what my friends and family are like! True. But He does. The overwhelming bulk of persons who trust in the saving grace and sacrificial death and resurrection of Yeshua were told about Him by someone else. But generally, that ‘someone else’ was a person who had a life ordered by God. A disciple of Yeshua in fact. And it showed. It is often true that we talk to others more by what we are than by what we say.

So here’s the challenge. When I was a VERY young man I heard a visiting evangelist (to our town in Wales) say “Get on fire for the Lord and the world will come to watch you burn”.

There are many good lessons to be learned from our study of the gospel of John in the coming weeks. For this week, there are two stand-out lessons for me. The first is the recognition of the Creator of the Universe, taking human form, living as we live, but in perfect obedience to the will of the Father. The second is to observe the way in which Yeshua attracted those early disciples to Himself. It was a word of mouth recommendation of those who knew Him.

God will bless you as you talk about your Saviour. He is worthy of our praise and our commendation.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   30

Torah portion           Numbers 1 : 1  – 4 : 20

Haftarah portion     Hosea  2 : 1 – 22

Brit Hadashah           Luke 23 : 1  - 24 : 53

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

For most Christians, our reading this week is the most familiar in all the Scriptures. At the conclusion of the reading last week, Yeshua declared that He is indeed the Son of Almighty God. To the Pharisees, a statement of blasphemy which was ‘the last straw’.  Unceremoniously, Yeshua was taken to the Roman Governor, with false accusations about His ‘treasonous’ acts of subverting the nation and forbidding the people to pay taxes to Rome. Pontius Pilate questioned Him at length and declared that he was unable discover any fault worthy of the death penalty. In fact, no fault at all!! But Pilate discovered that Yeshua was from Galilee. That was under the jurisdiction of Herod, so Yeshua was paraded before Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem (presumably for the festival of Pesach) and who was pleased to meet Yeshua because of His reputation. But all Herod’s questioning was met with only silence from Yeshua. So He was taken back to Pilate, humiliated but without accusation.

Now this is an important part of the story because it verifies two things. Firstly, that Yeshua was found ‘without fault’ by TWO investigations by the Roman authorities. In addition the Pharisees could only muster ‘false accusations’, so that made three investigations that Yeshua was ‘without blemish’. So the second verification was that Yeshua fulfilled a principal requirement of the condition necessary for the chosen Passover Lamb that was to be slain. Without blemish.

The atrocity, which His crucifixion was, is too horrific to understand. But it happened. By mid-afternoon, Jerusalem experienced a devastating earthquake. Yeshua was dead. The sun was obscured so it became dark. The huge veil which separated the Holy place from the Most Holy place in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The magnitude of this cruel episode was not lost on the captain of the Roman guard. “Certainly, this was a righteous Man!” he declared. The crowd who had looked on were terrified at the thought of what they had been party to. They could not imagine what might happen next. But that was because they did not understand that this was not the ordinary punishment of a deserving criminal. What they had witnessed was the voluntary act of the Son of God, presenting Himself as the final Passover Lamb ‘without blemish’, paying the penalty of man’s unrighteousness in order that any who trusted in that selfless act (metaphorically painting that shed blood on the doorposts and lintels of their heart) would know peace with God, forgiveness of sin, and be ready to appear righteous and forgiven before Him. “Passed over” when final judgment is declared. What a picture!

Yeshua was placed into the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jerusalem council who dissented from the council decision to seek Yeshua’s crucifixion. It was late in the day, just before the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. A Sabbath. (A lack of understanding of the Hebraic nature of this event has caused the church to confuse this Sabbath with the weekly Sabbath which came two days later). The celebration of this event at Easter can never satisfy the clear teaching of Yeshua that He would be in the grave for three nights and three days!! The resurrection of Yeshua would have taken place immediately at the conclusion of the weekly Sabbath, but was not discovered by the ladies until they visited the tomb very early the next morning.

That same day, the first day of the new week, Yeshua met Cleopas and his friend as they journeyed to Emmaus. They were the first of over 500 people who had an encounter with the risen Messiah. As He walked with the two friends, He spoke with them, beginning with Moses, then through the Prophets and Psalms, expounding to them all things concerning Himself. They would later say “Did not our heart burn within us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

That same experience is available to us today! Ask the Holy Spirit of God to show you, as you read the Scriptures, both the Hebrew and the Apostolic Scriptures, the revelation of the wonder and perfection of God’s plan for mankind. Get excited about the Scriptures and your heart will burn within you as you hunger to know more.

Yeshua then met with the rest of His close disciples. He spoke with them. He ate with them. He encouraged them by opening their understanding of the Scriptures. They became eye witnesses of the resurrected Messiah. That emboldened them to testify to the resurrection of Yeshua, against threat of persecution, nothing could stop them because they had that personal encounter with Him. He had conquered death and hell.  Then He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father to await the time for His return as King of kings and Lord of lords. Hallelujah!

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   29

Torah portion           Leviticus 25 : 1  – 27 : 34

Haftarah portion     Jeremiah  16 : 19 – 17 : 14

Brit Hadashah           Luke 21 : 1  - 22 : 71

 Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

The Temple in Jerusalem, in the days when Yeshua walked this earth, was a magnificent, dominant, seemingly impregnable feature of the city. It was the very centre of religious life. And like some of our mega-churches today, had also become a centre of commerce, which had drawn the ire of Yeshua as He drove the merchants out of the Temple courts. He had described what was to be “a House of prayer” (Isaiah 56) as “a den of thieves” (Jeremiah 7). Harsh words eh?

Imagine the shock when, as some of them were discussing among themselves the beauty of the place, Yeshua announced to His disciples that a day was coming when “not one stone will be left on another”. Destroyed. Finished. No longer useable. Unthinkable statement. So they asked Him when this would happen. His answer was prophetic then of the physical destruction of the Temple by Titus in 70 C.E. (less than 40 years ahead) and it is prophetic today, because His answer embraces a time when certain events would take place, which many people readily identify as events which are occurring before our very eyes in our day. Days which herald the coming return of Yeshua as King of kings to rule and reign from Jerusalem. “Look at the fig tree” He said. “When that is budding, you know that summer is near.” So it will be when Yeshau returns. You will see the signs, then “watch and pray”. The signs are all around us aren’t they?

The season of Passover was upon them. Yeshua knew that in a few short hours He would be condemned to die on a Roman cross. The Scribes and the Pharisees wanted Him out of the way for sure, and to that extent they were complicit in His death. They brought false accusations against Him, and of course, because they were false, they did not stand up to rigorous scrutiny by the Roman authorities, who openly declared that they could find no fault in Him.

But Yeshua had a few more things to teach His disciples before that appalling crime was committed. As He reclined with His close friends around the table of the Passover Seder He told them that this would be the last time He would share Passover with them in this life. Understanding the form and substance of the Hebraic Passover Seder gives us a clear insight into the sequence of events around that table. And it is vastly different to that which has been taught in our modern churches for centuries.

Passover is an annual remembrance, throughout their generations (i.e. as long as there are Jews on this earth!). The Seder (a Hebrew word which simply means “order” or “arrangement”) has been developed as a ritual remembrance which is used in Jewish families to teach the children (and anyone else present) about the miraculous salvation of the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt about 3,500 years ago. In Leviticus 23, it is described as the first of seven annual “mo’edim” (appointed times) of the Lord. This is what Yeshua and His disciples were about in our readings today. Tradition has it that there are FIVE cups of wine at a Seder meal. Four are drunk, and the fifth (Elijah’s cup) remains untouched until he comes to herald the coming of the Messiah.

The ‘third cup’, often referred to as the ‘cup of redemption’, taken after the meal, is the cup which is recognized by Christians in celebration of ‘communion’. (Note:- From a Hebraic understanding of the Scriptures I conclude that this was always intended by Yeshua to be an ANNUAL remembrance at the Passover Seder. Unleavened  bread representative of His sinless body, and His blood the guarantee of the New Covenant which is to be made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah). Regrettably, the lack of understanding of this Hebraic connection results in loss to the church, because the Lords ‘appointed time’ of Passover has been replaced by the Christianised pagan celebration of Easter.

After that Passover Seder with His disciples, He spoke to them about the betrayal which would shortly take place. He spoke about the testing which they would endure for ‘His name’s sake’. Then He went to a quiet place to pray. It is the place where He suffered great agony as He contemplated the magnitude of that which He was to bear. I do not think that agony was in regard to the physical deprivation He knew was to take place. It was the agony of the knowledge of the ‘chata’ (the sin) that He was to bear in His sinless body. The sin which would separate Him from His Father in Heaven. My sin. Your sin. Selah! If this ‘reflection’ means nothing else, it is worthy of your contemplation of the agony borne by our Saviour Yeshua on our behalf.      

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   28

Torah portion           Leviticus 21 : 1  – 24 : 23

Haftarah portion     Ezekiel  44 : 15 – 31

Brit Hadashah           Luke 18 : 1  - 20 : 47

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

It never ceases to amaze me how God speaks directly into ones situation through His word. Our reading this week opens with an encouragement to ‘pray and not lose heart”. We know that God is not deaf! He hears our prayer, and yet we are encouraged to ‘pray, and keep on praying’. The unjust judge in the parable dealt with the widow’s plea so that she would not keep bothering him. God is different. He loves our communication with Him as we pray, and has no difficulty with us who ‘pray and keep on praying’ about the same matter over and over again. The most important point is to recognize that God, unlike us, sees the whole picture. He sees the end from the beginning, and has our best interests at His heart ….  even when we do not understand the process.

The parables flow as Yeshua continues to teach the people the essence of Torah living. Caring for one another in love. Being child-like in our faith, trusting the words and actions of a loving Father. The blind man on the road to Jericho had heard of the miraculous healings which had been witnessed as Yeshua travelled around the country. Suddenly a large crowd of people came along the road. What was happening? Yeshua of Nazareth was passing through Jericho. The blind man cried out, not once, but many times, louder and louder making himself heard above the noise of the vast crowd. “Yeshua, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He would not be silenced. He asked, and kept on asking. Then those wonderful words coming from the very heart of God. “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Yeshua, glorifying God.

The story of Zacchaeus is a bit different. Everyone who has ever attended Sunday School knows the story. He was a ‘chief tax collector; and he was rich” my Bible tells me. We need to understand the Hebraic context of this encounter to fully appreciate the enormity of the hateful feelings of the ‘man in the street’ for a person such as Zacchaeus. He was a servant of the Roman authorities. He collected taxes on their behalf, and added plenty for himself in the process. He would have been considered a traitor. Because of his short stature he climbed a tree to get a good look at Yeshua as He passed by. Then ‘shock, horror!’, Yeshua, addressing him by name, invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ home. It changed Zacchaeus’ life. He remembered the obligations of Torah on those who believe! Exodus 22 speaks about restoration of property stolen from others, and Zacchaeus had done plenty of that. So he made the correct restitution, and for that Yeshua declared “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;” What does that mean? Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness. He did the right thing! Then forever more, those who become ‘sons of Abraham’ through their faith, have righteousness credited to them. They receive salvation. But take careful note here. That faith was exhibited in their actions. It is infinitely more than verbal assent to something we believe. It is faith which results in righteous action. What we do, not what we say.

The story of Zacchaeus is immediately followed by the parable about stewardship. This emphasizes the role expected of those entrusted with “Sonship”. The slothful servant lost what he had been given because he had not ‘borne fruit’ for the kingdom. There is clearly the expectation that as His earthly stewards, the believers should be doing works which bring reward and harvest. It is not doing works in order to be saved. It is doing works because we have already received His salvation.

Yeshua then entered Jerusalem, riding on the colt of a donkey. The last week of His earthly sojourn. The Pharisees were enraged as His disciples shouted and cheered “Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord!”  But Yeshua wept over the city. Such hypocrisy and disregard for the ‘instructions for righteous living’ which was given by Moses. Speaking words which sound religious, but acting, that is DOING that which showed that they were far from the heart of God.

Dear friend reading this ‘reflection’. What would Yeshua say if He were to visit our church services today. Would He be delighted to see how much money is collected in the offering bag? And what happens to that money? Would He be pleased to see the way we care for the poor and needy in our community? Would He look us in the eye and say “Well done good and faithful servant?” Our reading today has provided us with a glimpse into the very ‘heart of God’. His intent in sending Yeshua was to ‘seek and to save that which was lost’. To find those who are counted as “sons of Abraham”. Be blessed as you seek the Lord, asking Him to reveal truth from His word, which He has promised ‘will not return to Him void but will accomplish that for which it was sent’.

Shabbat Shalom

RS