June 2018
Balak
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
Chukat
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
Korach
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
Shelach
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
Beha’alotcha
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