Zion's Voice

Brit Hadashah Reflections      42     

Torah portion                  Deuteronomy 11 : 26  – 16 : 17

Haftarah portion           Isaiah  54 : 11 – 55 : 5

Brit Hadashah                Acts 3 : 1  - 5 : 42

 Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

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Possibly the most exciting and certainly a most challenging passage of Scripture this week as we begin to learn of the extraordinary ministry of the disciples of Yeshua in the early days of their empowered lives. Talk about boldness? Fearless in their exploits. The prophet Daniel said “they that know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits” (Daniel 11:32) And the ‘Preacher’ said “whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might.” (Ecclesiastes 10:9) Well these men became living proof of the life of faith. Why? Because they KNEW their God.

A man, lame from birth, carried to the same spot each day to beg alms of those entering the Temple. Can you hear him? “Spare a mite sir?” How many times each day would those words have passed his lips? Eyes cast down not wanting to look at the faces of those who rejected him. How many people (like me!) hurried on without a glance? But on this day, Peter and John stopped. “look at us” Peter demanded. And a short time later, this elated man walked with them, leaping and praising God, into the Temple. They were soon surrounded by a large crowd. Only a short few weeks earlier Peter had denied even knowing Yeshua. Now, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he preached a message of repentance to the expectant crowd. What a change. It often amazes me, but it ought not to, that we barely recognize that his audience was entirely Jewish. For that reason Peter was able to show them, from the Scriptures how Yeshua was the fulfilment of God’s promise to raise up for them “a prophet like Moses”. He was, and He still is, the fulfilment of that promise. (“To the Jew first, and also to the Greek”)

If that were the end of their day witnessing to the love of Yeshua they would have thought they had a good day, wouldn’t they? But it was not. Because as they spoke to the large crowd assembled in Solomon’s Porch, the Captain of the Temple, no less, together some priests and Sadducees turned up. (Note here that the Sadducees do not believe in ‘resurrection’) They were incensed and threw Peter and John into jail!  Who says God is not in control? Most of us would say “How terrible”. But God WAS in control then, and He is in control now.

The very next day “their rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas John, Alexander and all the family of the High Priest gathered to see ‘justice done’.”  But what they heard was the gospel of Yeshua, preached boldly, clearly and without compromise, and that in the presence of the man, now walking, who only one day earlier was crippled, begging in the Temple. The outcome was staggering in its manifestation. The text makes clear that they all ‘marvelled’ at what they heard. They were truly convinced that Peter and John had been with Yeshua in His resurrected form. BUT they thought their standing in the community was being threatened if they made that confession. So they chose their rank and status above the truth. Dear friends, can you see, as I can, that the same obstinacy prevails today? And that not only in the hierarchical community of Judaism. It is costly, in this life, to confess Yeshua as Lord. It cost these Apostles their very life later on, but it did not stop them from being fervent witnesses to the saving grace of God which was wrought by the death and resurrection of Yeshua.

The work of the Kingdom continued and those who were now enjoined to the “ekklesia” shared things in common. Several decided to sell such land possessions as they had and present the proceeds as gifts to their community. It was a voluntary act of love. There was no pressure upon anyone. BUT, we are told of a couple, Ananias and his wife Sapphira who also sold a land possession but only gave a portion of the proceeds to the community. There was nothing wrong in doing that, except that their offering was presented in a manner which portrayed that they were giving ALL the proceeds, as others had done. It was a devious, insincere, act on their part and the Apostle Peter was aware of their deception. He pronounced it to be “lying to God”. Ananias fell down dead, on the spot, before Peter.  Sapphira, his wife, unaware of this, turned up three hours later and she too confirmed by her declaration that she had co-conspired with Ananias to hold back part of the proceeds of the sale. She too dropped dead at the Apostle’s feet.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Hebrews 10:31

May you find peace and joy in faithfully serving Him who alone is worthy of our praise. To Him be all the glory.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections         41     

Torah portion                        Deuteronomy 7 : 12  – 11 : 25

Haftarah portion                 Isaiah  49 : 14 – 51 : 3

Brit Hadashah                      Acts 1 : 1  - 2 : 47

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

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We now ‘reflect’ on the account of events in the days following the ascension of Yeshua into heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. Luke tells us that this is “Volume 2” of that historical account, written for Theophilus. (Please refer to my Brit Hadashah ‘reflection’ Number 21 for more information on this matter). Luke begins with the dramatic scene, forty days after His crucifixion, as Yeshua ascends into heaven, watched by His disciples, up into the clouds and out of their sight. What an awesome and probably an even sad sight that must have been for them. Alone again, Yeshua gone from them for a second time.

But with their faith strengthened by the post resurrection encounters with Him, they had two more promises to encourage them. Firstly they were promised that they would receive “the power of the Holy Spirit”. And secondly that “this same Yeshua, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven”. That first promise was a mere ten days away. The second promise has been the bedrock of the hope of all believers from that day to this.

Six weeks earlier, Judas Iscariot had committed suicide. Using Psalm 109:8 as their guide, they decided that Judas’ place, as an overseer with them, should be filled by another. Then by means of the quite ordinary action of ‘casting lots’, Matthias was selected as his replacement. However, we should carefully note that this was no haphazard selection. They were diligent in seeking God in prayer, trusting His guidance. I suggest to you that this was not a ‘majority’ verdict. I believe it would have been a unanimous selection. And here is a lesson for us. Too often, in my experience, church groups are ‘democratic’ in their practices and ‘majority’ decisions are commonplace. Invariably this leads to elements of discontent, even division. When God is in control there will always be unanimity!! I respectfully counsel that it is better to wait until there is unanimity, rather than to proceed with major issues on split opinion!!

Ten days after Yeshua ascended into heaven brought them to one of God’s ‘appointed times’. Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, Pentecost. It is one of three ‘pilgrimage’ festivals, when all Jewish males were required to go up to Jerusalem (the other two being Passover and Tabernacles). Shavuot is always on ‘the first day of the week’, Sunday to gentiles (see Leviticus 23:16). Judaism traditionally considers this to be the exact date when God met Moses on the mountain to give him His Torah. (Exodus 19). It is certainly the time when God provided His disciples with the promised “power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”. Since this was a pilgrimage festival, God’s timing was, as always impeccable. The city was filled with Jews from all over the diaspora (see list in verses 9-11). Now we should take note of some interesting parallels between the two ‘gifts’ which God visited upon these Jewish men.

In Exodus, God gave the people His Torah. His ‘instructions about living together in righteousness’. About living in a manner which was quite different to the nations around them when they would enter the land of promise several years later. In Acts 2, we see the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out, all the nationalities hearing the words of salvation in their own language. So powerful was the message Peter preached, that 3000 were added to their number in one day. And many more followed in days ahead. That is amazing. But we should take care not to diminish the message. It was not one of promised prosperity, of enhanced circumstances, of reduced hardship, of better living conditions. It was a message of the sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection of Yeshua. They spoke confidently because they had spent time with Him after that resurrection. They had, just ten days earlier, watched as He ascended into heaven. It was a bold message. It was a message of REPENTANCE. It was a message of baptism. It was a message of living righteously with each other. It was a message of living differently to how they had become accustomed. And it showed.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship”.  Less than 150 years ago, a new document (Didache .. means teaching) was discovered. Its full title is “The teachings of the twelve Jewish Apostles to the Gentiles”. It dates from the first century C.E. I commend it to you as an ancient resource. It is an expansion of the Acts 15 letter to the gentiles. But be warned, it may provide quite a challenge for a ‘traditional’ Christian believer today!                

Shabbat Shalom 

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections      40

Torah portion                      Deuteronomy 3 : 23  – 7 : 11

Haftarah portion               Isaiah  40 : 1 – 26

Brit Hadashah                    John 20 : 1  - 21 : 25

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

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“On the first day of the week …. while it was still dark.” In our understanding of days and dates that was very early on Sunday morning. The grave was empty (except for the two angels who spoke to Mary Magdalene). My personal belief is that Yeshua vacated that grave immediately after Shabbat, some hours earlier, but still at the very commencement of “the first day of the week”. That is consistent with His being in the grave for “three nights and three days” (which precludes a Good Friday crucifixion date!) as was the sign of the Prophet Jonah which He had told the Pharisees in Matthew 16:4.

To understand the significance of verses 9 and 10, we should understand that this Gospel account by John was written several years after the event. So he uses the phrase “For as yet”. We know that Psalm 16:10, for example, makes reference to Messiah not seeing corruption in Sheol (a resurrection promise) but evidently the disciples were not familiar with that being such. It would not be long before they understood everything.

Within a very short space of time, the same day in fact, Yeshua began to make Himself known to the other disciples. They were still in a state of shock, closed in a room, fearing for their lives, trying to make sense of everything, when suddenly Yeshau appeared before them. Must have been pretty scary eh? Over the course of the next 40 days, Yeshua appeared to over 500 people, some more than once. Thus He ensured that there were plenty of eyewitnesses to the fact that the recently dead Yeshua, was again very much alive. He still is!!

The third occasion that Yeshua met with His disciples after His resurrection was in their home territory of the Galilee. They had returned to their “day job”. Fishing. They were returning to their base, empty-handed, after a long night on the Lake. Yeshua, standing on the shore called out enquiring about their catch. “Absolutely nothing” they replied. “Put your net on the other side of the boat and you will catch some fish” Yeshua said.   The net was suddenly filled with 153 fish. Amazing. Immediately Peter recognized the sign. It was the Lord. We have an account in Luke 5 of an earlier occasion when Yeshua began to call these fishermen to follow Him. It was an amazing catch of fish, after a night when they had caught nothing, that got their first attention. There is an interesting note regarding the exact number of fish that were caught that morning. It verifies the fact that John was an eyewitness to this event. In addition, the fact that they ate some fish for breakfast verifies that Yeshua was there in bodily form. This was not a mirage. The disciples were given absolute verification of the bodily resurrection of Yeshua, a matter for which they would ultimately risk, and even lose, their own lives in the telling.

Then, after breakfast, we have the account of Yeshua’s questioning of Peter. If you are inquisitive, like me, you will be wondering why Yeshua persisted three times to ask Peter the same question! Well, our English translations do not do this encounter justice, because there are two different words used in the Greek for the English word “love”. In the first two questions, Yeshua used the word “agapeo” (unconditional love). This is the same love which Yeshua Himself exhibited when He voluntarily submitted Himself to that painful degrading death at Calvary. On each of these first two occasions Peter responded with the word “phileo” (love as between friends). On the third question, both Yeshua and Peter use “phileo”.  It seemed that Yeshua was seeking the response which Peter had exhibited at the time before Yeshua was arrested. The time when Yeshua told him that before the ‘cock crowed’ Peter would have denied Yeshua three times. And he did. Verse 18 indicates the type of death which Peter would eventually suffer for his discipleship.

Then finally, Yeshua again, as on the first time they had met, said “Follow Me”. The Apostle John immediately followed Yeshua. Seeing this, Peter, following the disclosure in verse 18,  was curious to know what was to become of John. Yeshua’s answer is one of which we should all take note. “What is that to you?” In other words, “You do as I tell you, it is not your concern what I tell others!” Nothing has changed has it?

We are called to discipleship as individuals. Each one of us is required to make a personal choice as to whether we “Follow Him” or not. That decision cannot be made by proxy. So the message given to Peter applies equally to us when we hear that call. Just be obedient to your own calling. Do that which God reveals to you. Be diligent in searching out God’s will for your life. The rest will fall into place.

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections      39  

Torah portion                 Deuteronomy 1 : 1  – 3 : 22

Haftarah portion          Isaiah  1 : 1 – 27

Brit Hadashah               John 18 : 1  - 19 : 42

 Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

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So we enter the last day of Yeshua’s earthly mission, the restoration of “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” to be a light to the nations. So the final chapter began to unfold. He went, with His disciples, to the Garden of Gethsemane in the Kidron Valley between the Temple and the Mount of Olives. Every Christian who has ever visited modern day Israel will have spent time there, pondering, praying and remembering.

It was dark, the very early hours of the morning, lanterns and torches, with weapons drawn, a detachment of soldiers, led by Judas Iscariot, came to the place where Yeshua was. Following them were officers from the office of the Chief Priest and the Pharisees, Quite a crowd. But they were expected. So Yeshua stepped forward. “Whom are you seeking?”  They said they were looking for Yeshua of Nazareth. He declared “I am He”. Thus establishing His identity as the Son of God, consistent with His earlier statements about Himself, (see John 14:6 and other places) and probably for the Pharisees benefit.  They were astonished, even fearful, as they retreated and fell to the ground. Then He asked again, “Whom are you seeking?”  The main reason for this second question was to clearly establish that they were looking ONLY for Him, and that His disciples were not in trouble and would not be taken. This was consistent with His prayer in John 17:12, that none of those the Father had given to Him would be lost.

The impetuous Peter, seeking to defend His Master, cut off the ear of Malchus, one of the servants of the high priest, which, Luke tells us, Yeshua immediately restored. Then Yeshua, again emphasizing the voluntary nature of His death on a Roman cross which would shortly follow, reminded His disciples that there were legions available for His defence if that were considered necessary. So Yeshua was arrested, bound, and eventually taken to the high priest, the instigator of the false charges of which He was accused.

What followed His arrest, was a series of “trials”. Examinations of sorts, designed to establish His guilt. It was during these “trials” that Peter denied His association with Yeshua. I often wonder how I might have behaved in Peter’s position, faced, as he was, with the real prospect of losing his own life because of that association!! How about you? It is worth pondering the thought. One which could even be a real faith strengthener. We should all consider the possibility that we might have to face that very situation one day. Many Christians today (like the Coptic Christians in Egypt) are called upon to make such a declaration. It is not hypothetical, it is very real.

The ‘examinations’, before Annas, Caiaphas and eventually Pilate, who pronounced that he could find NO fault in Him. Without blemish. Just like the Passover Lamb was to be! And which He voluntarily became for our sakes.

John chapter 19, contains the harrowing account of Yeshua’s last hours. It is horrible. I have a friend who was asked to read this chapter one Friday morning in the church of which I was then a member. He was unable to read beyond verse 3, breaking down in uncontrollable sobbing. That such wanton cruelty and injustice could be perpetrated on an innocent man was too much to contemplate. And to think that it was voluntarily accepted by Him for my sake! .. and yours!!

But when we get to John 19:30, we read those triumphant words of Yeshua. “It is finished”. We could paraphrase that into modern idiom. “Mission accomplished”. The blood of the sacrifice, acceptable to the Father, had been shed. The debt of sinful man fully paid. But still there were chapters to be written. Remember Yeshua’s prayer in John 17:20. That sacrifice was valid ONLY for those who believe. Think about that. It is available to ALL, but few there be who accept it. Tragic.

My final ‘reflection’ relates to the extremely “Hebraic” nature of this event. It was the restoration of the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” which was finished on that Roman Cross. God had promised Abram in Genesis 12 : 3 that through him “all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. ALL the early believers were Jewish. They were the ones who became the evangelists. They were the ones who kept “the Word” and preserved it in written form. They were the ones through whom we, centuries later, are privileged to have knowledge of Him who died. God entrusted His written word to the Jews. His own “special treasure”.

The Apostle Paul has an admonition for we who are Gentiles in Romans 15. Read it. And take special note of verse 27.    

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections     38    

Torah portion                Numbers 30 : 2  – 36 : 13

Haftarah portion        Jeremiah  2 : 4 – 28 and 3 : 4

Brit Hadashah             John 17 : 1  - 26

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

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The Lord’s Prayer.

In Luke 11 we have an account of the disciples of Yeshua asking Him to teach them how to pray. What followed is the most memorised passage of Scripture in the whole Bible. It used to be compulsory learning in schools and churches in every Christian country. It is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer”, but is in fact the prayer the Lord taught others to pray.

Our Scripture reading today contains the most intimate conversation of Yeshua with His Father. It is the prayer that He prayed in the hours before His crucifixion. “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” How personal is that? Yeshua had been teaching His disciples about loving one another, staying close, supporting and caring for each other. In this opening greeting, so personal and so unifying, He clearly illustrates the love and ‘Oneness’ of His relationship with His Father. The relationship He desires that we too have with the Father, through Him.

“I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” That speaks of a contentment that the task had been accomplished. It speaks of the willing and voluntary nature of the sacrificial death He was about to face. The Jews have been charged as “Christ killers” for centuries. But that charge cannot be supported in the light of the prayer we see in our passage today. God uses means to accomplish His purposes which often baffle us, and His purposes may be hindered, but are never thwarted, by man.

“For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them … and they have believed that You sent Me”

John 1:1 tells us about ‘the beginning’. Yeshua was in ‘the beginning’. The Hebrew Scriptures record “the words” given from ‘the beginning’. At the time of this prayer there were NO other words of Scripture were there? Everything written in the Apostolic Scriptures came later, many years later. So Yeshua is confirming to His Father in heaven, that He has faithfully taught those whom the Father had given Him, the words from ‘the beginning’. (It is worth noting that Yeshua said on two occasions, recorded in Matthew 10 and 15 that His mission on earth was ‘to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’)  So what I see here is that Yeshua is confirming to His Father that He had brought the pure truth of Torah, by His sinless life on earth, and His teaching, in place of the burdensome yoke of Pharasaic Judaism (the traditions of men He called them) which had blinded the people (causing them to become lost) to the truth of God’s incredible love for the people He has chosen as His special treasure! Salvation is not by works of conformity, but by the merciful grace of Almighty God in sending His only Son, as the teacher, which culminated in His selfless death on a Roman cross, to redeem sinful men.

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours”. Then later, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who WILL believe in Me through their word”. Isn’t that about the most amazing thing you could imagine? Before Yeshua was crucified on that Roman cross, He prayed for YOU and ME. He has brought our names before the Creator of the Universe, every last one of us who are believers in Him! But what was it that He prayed? That we ALL, believers in Him, should be ONE, so that “the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Dear friends, what a challenge that should be to us today. Through our unity in Yeshua, the world would recognize Him as the Son of God. When the Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 324 C.E. it had a goal of officially cutting off the gentile believers in Yeshua from their Hebrew roots. Or at least from Judaism, where those roots lie. The result has been a fragmentation of purpose and unity within the “church”. Firstly through errant teaching within the Roman Catholic Church, then subsequent to the days of Martin Luther in 1517, a proliferation of gentile denominational allegiances which are probably more divisive than unifying.

The prayer of Yeshua, the Lord’s Prayer, was that we be ONE, as He and the Father are One. It behoves us all to get on our knees in prayer, asking Almighty God to forgive us for our waywardness. To show us again the way of unity in Him. To discover again “the words” which Yeshua came to illuminate from ‘the beginning’. And to order our lives in accord with His commandments, which have never changed!    

Shabbat Shalom

RS

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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