THE
MESSIAH, TORAH, AND ME
PART
III
By Matthew
Armstrong
Continuing
on we come to another very controversial scripture that must be tackled, however
painful it might be.
10
Now therefore why tempt ye Yahweh, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples,
which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that
through the grace of the Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah we shall be saved, even
as they.
Now
to say that the yoke that Peter was talking of was the torah sounds very harsh
and almost blasphemous to those who have been taught that we are to keep and
uphold torah in it’s covenant sense. I understand, as I once felt the same
way. So instead of making torah out to be this big bad oppressor, let me first
say this:
Torah
was a gift from Elohim with the pure intent of “giving life.” Torah in and
of itself is “holy, just, and good.” Man tends to be corrupt, and fleshly,
stiffnecked and disobedient. Even though Israel was set apart as Yahweh’s
people, they were still of “Man,” of Adam (“adam” is Hebrew for
“man”). So with the giving of the holy, just, and good torah, which was
designed to “give life,” Adam (man) was given another chance to obey
YHWH’s commands and live. However, just as there was a curse for breaking
YHWH’S commands that were given through Moses, as Adam disobeyed in the
garden, resulting in a curse, so Adamic Israel disobeyed the torah, resulting in
a curse. This is the story of Israel and her relationship to torah. That which
was ordained to give life, instead brought curse, exile, and death (Rom. 7:10).
In fact, most Jews during the 1st Century believed they were
presently under the curse of torah (Lev. 26:17), as they were still in
theological exile (4 Ezra, Qumran tests) even though they had returned to the
land from the Babylonian exile. Due to the fact of the Gentiles ruling over
them, many felt that the exile was not over, and rightfully so.
The Hebrews, as a whole, recognized their many historical woes as resulting from
their failure to “keep” torah. Many texts
from the second temple period reveal this underlying theological understanding
(you must spend time to research this yourself, don’t just take my word for
it). This inadequacy of “adamic man” to fully keep torah has found it’s
self-destructive tendencies most at home in the curse of Deut. 27:26. This is
the verse that Paul quotes when he says in Galatians, “For as many as are of
the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one
that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do
them.” Torah was given so that Israel could be an example unto the nations,
Yahweh’s true humanity. It was given so that, by doing Torah, man could live
(Lev. 18:5, Ez. 20:11-13). This did not happen. Israel never performed the role
that Yah intended. Torah was never fully kept and has never given life. Is it
because of torah? No. It is because of Adamic Man. And Yah knew in His
Sovereignty that this would be the result. Torah was necessary for His great
plan of salvation, “What torah could not do (give life), being powerless in
the flesh, Yahweh has done through His Son.” Praise Him!
Gal. 3:21-22, “Is the law
then against the promises of Yahweh? Yahweh forbid: for if there had been a law
given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the
law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith
of Y’shua the Messiah might be given to them that believe.
The
reality is, while many modern day believers look earnestly towards the
zealousness to be found in “keeping” torah, the implications of all its
curses are not taken as seriously, if taken at all. It is from this angle that
we are blinded from seeing how someone as Hebrew as Peter, someone who had seen
first hand the (negative/good) effects of torah on man, could actually speak of
necessary torah observance as being “a yoke” while also maintaining that
torah is essentially holy, just, and good.
With
that said, I believe that the best way to find out what Peter is talking about
when he mentions “a yoke” is to look at the text itself. What clues does he
leave us with? What relationship does the question of circumcision and torah
have to do yoke? What makes the best sense with what Peter has already said?
Peter
does not come right out and say what the yoke he is referring to is. However, if
we look closely to what he says in verse 10, I believe there are a couple of
clues that speak quite clearly as to what he may mean.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye
Yahweh, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers
nor we were able to bear?
We
see that the yoke in verse 10 is surrounded by two clues: 1. Why tempt ye
Yahweh… 2. Neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
At
the beginning of the verse he says, “…why tempt ye Yahweh.” First, we must
realize who he is talking to when he says “ye.” It is clear that his
testimony is opposing the party that caused the dispute. Now, in what way could
these men be tempting Yahweh?
Let’s
back up a little….
8 And Yahweh, which knoweth
the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto
us; 9 and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by
faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye Yahweh, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Remembering
that the context of the controversy is found in verse 5 is crucial in
understanding what Peter is considering as “a yoke.” It is after Peter
proclaims that Yahweh, giving gentiles the Holy Spirit, ‘put no difference
between us and them..,” that he then asks the question, “Now therefore why
tempt ye Yahweh…”
Were
these Pharisees putting difference between themselves and the gentiles because
they, the gentiles, were not circumcised and keeping torah? Look again at what
these believing Pharisees said in verse 5. Would this be tempting Yahweh, if, as
Peter declares in the verse before, Yahweh has purified them, putting no
difference between Jew or Gentile? “What
Yahweh hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
“Yahweh
hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Acts 10:15,
28.
So
we can quite easily see that the question of “why tempt ye Yahweh?” would
very logically fit with the previous statement found directly before about
Yahweh putting no difference between Jew and Gentile, v. 9. In what way were
Peter’s opponents putting a difference?
Now
looking at the last part of verse 10 we find, “..which neither our fathers nor
we were able to bear?” With regards to the yoke, what was it that they nor
their father were able to bear? Well, it could be a lot of things if we take the
question out of its context. But within what Peter has being arguing, within the
question of the “apostolic council,” and within the context of the 1st
century; what was it that “neither our fathers nor we” were able to bear? As
I have already outlined above, I believe it is none other than “necessary
covenantal torah observance.”
A
greater and more in-depth look is certainly needed to confirm my suggestion with
full weight. However, I believe that the text of Acts 15 thus far speaks for
itself. What brought the apostles together? What is it that the apostles might
not be totally sure about as the text in verse 7 says “After much
disputing?” Could they be disputing about a “requirement for salvation” in
its traditional sense, as some would like us to believe? I don’t think so.
Being that the rest of Acts seems to demonstrate that the apostles were quite
sure about salvation (in the traditional sense of the word), “…only one
name…whereby we must be saved.” I think it is much more logical to see the
dispute being about whether gentiles needed to “keep” torah in the fuller
sense, i.e. necessary torah observance. This would make sense against the back
drop of the 1st
century Judaism.
The
significance of the newly developing “new covenant” and its meaning, with
the preaching of the kingdom of Elohim, the resurrection of the Messiah, the
forgiveness of sins, outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach ha’Kodesh) on both
Jew and uncircumcised Gentile, was just beginning to be understood and realized.
This was a new thing happening in Israel. The immediate implications of which
caused the apostles to re-evaluate many of their theological underpinnings as
the reality at hand was very different than what was expected. Just one example:
The Messiah has come, but Israel is still under Roman rule. (Isa. 2:2-4, Isa.
54:3, Micah 5:8-15) The Kingdom of Elohim is preached as presently taking place,
yet Israel is still oppressed by pagans. Indeed, the reality of the Messiah and
the “re”newed covenant was far different than what any pious Jew expected or
hoped for. (Isa. 45:13, 60:5-16, Micah 4:13, Zeph. 2:9; Isa. 49:23; 45:14, 23
Micah 7:17; Isa. 54:3; Micah 5:10-15; Zeph. 2:11)
Amongst
those that believe in “keeping” the law, there are generally three answers,
besides the one that I am proposing, that are most common when dealing with the
question: What is the yoke Peter is speaking of in Acts 15:10? One is that the
yoke is keeping torah and circumcision for salvation. This idea, I think, has
been shown to be flawed by the false separation between “necessary torah
observance” and torah observance “for salvation,” especially within the
context of 1st century Judaism. Jews of
the 1st
century did not believe in works of salvation, i.e. torah observance for
salvation. They did however, believe that torah observance was necessary as a
response to being saved (entering covenant). Jews never believed that torah was
their source of salvation. The argument and question of Acts 15 must be seen in
this light. This is how both ideas are not mutually exclusive. Torah observance
“for salvation,” from the hebraic perspective, is in reality the same as
“necessary torah observance.” Does that make sense? I hope I made that clear
enough.
The
remaining two ideas about what the yoke that “neither our fathers nor we were
able to bear” are both groundless. The first being adult circumcision, the
second being the oral torah. Though adult circumcision would be hard to bear it
makes no sense within the context of Acts 15. Not only that, circumcising grown
men was totally scriptural as (Gen. 17) Abraham and all his company was
circumcised as well as (Josh. 5:2-7) the children of Israel that passed over the
river Jordan, both are examples of circumcision being administered to grown men.
What’s more, in Exodus 12:48 we see that if a Gentile or stranger wanted to
partake in the passover meal then he and all his house was to be circumcised,
even though he was not circumcised 8 days after birth….YIKES, that must hurt.
The
last fairly popular answer to the yoke is that it is the “oral torah.” While
much can be said to make this option sound
good, the clear interpretation of Acts 15:5 is that the issue at hand is
circumcision and the torah of Moses. I can not see any other way to read what
the text clearly says. By specifically saying, “the law of Moses,” the
interpretation is hammered down pretty tight. If these believing Pharisees would
have just said, “the law” then I could see reason to question what exactly
they meant by “law.” Also, note the fact that the “oral torah” is
referred to else where as the “tradition of the elders.”
It
must be remembered that the “yoke” spoken of by Peter must be in line with
the context. Peter is obviously opposing the view offered by the Pharisees. What
was the view that the Pharisees offered, 15:5? What was the controversy about? I
believe that the yoke can be seen as Peter’s response to those who wanted to
stay “under torah” despite the covenantal ramifications.
The
curse has its life in torah, though torah itself is Holy. Sin has its strength
in Torah, though the law is just in showing us our sins (..the sting of death is
SIN, and the strength of sin is the Law). The current oppression the Jews felt
was due to torah, and their inability to keep it. It was the just judgments of
the torah that brought wrath rather than blessing.
Romans
4:15 “because the torah worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression.” No transgression even though there was still sin.
Transgression is specific to breaking law. This, I believe, is the yoke,
necessary torah observance in the covenant sense. That which was ordained to
life brings wrath, curse, exile, and death.
Acts
10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that
Yahweh is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Dan.
9:10-14, “To Yahweh our Elohim belong mercies and forgivenesses,
though we have rebelled against him;
10
Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Yahweh our Elohim, to walk in his laws,
which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
11
Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us,
and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of Elohim, because
we have sinned against him.
12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our
judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole
heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
13
As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we
not our prayer before Yahweh our Elohim, that we might turn from our iniquities,
and understand thy truth.
14
Therefore hath Yahweh watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for
Yahweh our Elohim is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed
not his voice.”
Deut
29:25-27, “Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of
Yahweh Elohim of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them
forth out of the land of Egypt:
26
For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew
not, and whom he had not given unto them:
27
And the anger of Yahweh was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the
curses that are written in this book:”
2
Kings 22:11-13, “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of
the law, that he rent his clothes.
12
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and
Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the
king's, saying,
13
Go ye, enquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah,
concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us,
because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book,
to do according unto all that
ELOHIM
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF MAN
In
this study we will explore a reason for Yahshua's sojourn on this earth that has
been mainly overlooked but is crucial to our full understanding of our Messiah
and His great act of agape love on our behalf. To begin we will cover some
scriptures that are very familiar to most of us but necessary to lead us to this
understanding.
By
Elder Dave Ganton
Genesis
1:26-27 Tells us that we are made in the image of our creator. All bible
students know this scripture but most don't understand it fully. This is because
they believe the fallacy of the term g-d. This denotes “one.” Elohim denotes
plurality. Without this plurality we cannot get the true picture of who our
creator is. (There is a singular of the word Elohim. It is Eloah. Yahweh did not
inspire Moses to use this word. He inspired the plural, Elohim.) There is a good
reason for this.
Our true creator is identified in the evangel of John which cannot be
properly grasped as it appears in our modern translations with the singular term
G-D. We will turn there and read it, as it would appear with the original Hebrew
terms that John would have used. John
1:1-3 In the beginning was the Dabar, and the Dabar was with Elohim, and
the Dabar was Elohim. 2 He was in the beginning with Elohim; 3 all
things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was
made.
(Dabar is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek,
Logos. Both translate to English as “Word”. They are both nouns and
can also be understood as “Spokesman”)
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and
the world knew him not. Hebrews
1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he
appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (RSV)
Micah 5:2 “ But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be
among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be
ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days”. All of these
scriptures tell us that our great Messiah pre-existed with the Father and was
the agent of creation. Understanding this concept of the pre-existence of
Yahshua is crucial. He was a glorified, all-powerful being subject only to the
Father. John
17:5 These few brief scriptures will set the stage for this study.
MAIN PURPOSE OF YAHSHUA COMING TO EARTH
It is generally understood that Yahshua came to this earth as a human
being to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Most will agree
that He also came to reveal the Father, whom mankind had never seen or known. Luke
10:22
“All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the
Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to
whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” John
6:46
Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from Elohim; he has seen
the Father. John
1:18
No one has ever seen Elohim; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he
has made him known. John
5:37
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have
never heard, his form you have never seen;
ELOHIM
MADE
IN MAN’S IMAGE
There is another reason that He came to this earth that is not generally
recognized but it is crucial to the complete understanding of our Messiah, and
the great sacrifice He made on our behalf. As an aside here I will relate a
story about a gentleman who was converted to this way of life some years ago.
Whenever we got together he would make it a point to tell us that he had given
up a hundred thousand dollar a year job to keep the Sabbath and live this way of
life. It was a point of pride with him that he had given up so much for Yahweh.
He never came to realize that he gave up nothing compared to what Yahshua gave
up for us. He never stopped counting the cost to himself. Within a short time he
decided that the cost was too high and has since returned to his hundred
thousand dollar a year job and the way of life he lived before.
The purpose of this study is to show that we have given up nothing in
comparison to what Yahshua gave up for us. Any price we may be required to pay
for the pearl of great price is minuscule compared to the price that Yahshua
paid on our behalf.
Remember
Genesis
1: 26-27
man was made in the image of Elohim. In four BCE in the beautiful fall season, Elohim
was made in the image of man. Some
believe that Yahshua had only the form of a man but was completely divine with
all of the eternal attributes of Elohim. They picture Him as a very handsome,
tall Grecian looking man with perfect features.
Scripture
tells us that this is not true. Isaiah
53:2
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground;
he
had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we
should desire him.
Yahshua was a Hebrew from the tribe of Judah. He looked like any other Jew of
His day. There was nothing physically outstanding about Him as He could easily
disappear in a crowd of His fellow Hebrews. Luke
4: 29
And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the
hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. 30
But passing through the midst of them he went away.
John
10:39
Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
If
He was truly divine He was not really human as we are at all but only appeared
that way. If this is true, He cannot accurately represent us to the Father and
He doesn't truly comprehend the things that we as humans go through. His sojourn
on this earth was only special effects and not real. They also believe that He
could not have failed in His mission. We will come back to this.
Have
you ever wondered why the final judgement of eternal death for sinning mankind
was never carried out? Sure, people have been dying since the time of Adam but
the final judgement was never carried out. The answer is the subject of this
study. Yahweh is fair, honest, and just. It is because of these qualities that
He could not carry out the final judgement. This will become clear as we go
through this study.
NO
NEED TO COME TO THIS EARTH
To see our reactions during temptation, stress,
fear, anger, and all the other things that we as temporal flesh and blood human
beings experience, Elohim did not have to come to this earth at all. He could
see all of that from Heaven. However, in order to understand the reactions to
all of these things, one must experience them. Otherwise, one can only try to
imagine what it is like to feel them. If Yahshua was actually divine and not a
one hundred percent, temporal, perishable human being just as we are, then His
sacrifice was not really a sacrifice at all but was only special effects and
window dressing. This would make Yahweh and His Son deceptive. If this is true
we have no Savior because He never truly died, (Divine Spirit cannot die) and
there is no assurance of a resurrection, so eat and drink for tomorrow we die. 1
Corinthians 15:32
What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the
dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
However, we are told that He was the firstborn from the dead.
Revelation
1:5
and from Yahshua Messiah the faithful witness, the first-born of the
dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from
our sins by his blood.
YAHSHUA
THE JUDGE
Yahshua has been given the task of being the judge of all humanity. John
5:22 The
Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. Have you ever
reflected on why the Father, who is the supreme ruler of the universe, is not
the judge of mankind but has given over all judgement into the hands of His Son
Yahshua? Without diminishing the Father's power of perception, His
righteousness, and all of His attributes of perfection and holiness, there is a
very good reason why He did not qualify to judge until the Son came to this
earth. Consider this; Could a being
that is all powerful, eternal, who has never been tempted, never been afraid,
never been hungry, tired, ill, stressed, that death cannot touch, fully
understand those that are subject to all of these things? It is not blasphemy
(as I have been accused of) to say that the eternal, all-powerful Elohim did not
understand us fully, it is actually understanding more deeply the great love and
compassion and justice of our awesome Heavenly Father.
YAHSHUA
TRULY TEMPORAL
This is why we must fully realize why Yahshua, while he was on earth, was
temporal flesh and blood, subject to the very same things that we are. Not
divine spirit in human form only but completely flesh and blood man. The
following scripture has deep meaning when properly understood. John
5: 26 For
as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life
in himself, 27
and has given him authority to execute judgment, because
he is the Son of man.
Yahshua, returned now to His pre-existent state, (John
17:5)
having been granted once again, eternal life in Himself is now qualified to
judge mankind since He was
a
true son of man while He was on this earth. He can now understand us completely.
The
following scripture assures us that we will surely be judged with fairness by
our eternal Messiah who was a temporal human just as we are. Acts
17:30-31
“The times of ignorance Elohim overlooked, but now he commands all men
everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the
world in righteousness by a man
whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising
him from the dead." Yes, Elohim, in the form of Yahshua can truly be a
righteous and fair judge. (There is an old saying that goes something like this;
don’t judge me until you have walked a mile in my shoes. Yahshua truly walked
in our shoes so is qualified to judge.)
Yahweh does not inspire lies. The following scripture tells us that
Yahshua was not divine but was completely man, temporal and subject to death. It
also tells us something else about our loving creator. The Word, Dabar, who was
at the very throne of Yahweh, having eternal life, gave this up to become as we
are. He
gave up His eternal life for us!!
Don't be shocked. Don’t stop reading; there is awesomely joyous news to
be revealed in the rest of this study. Read the following from Yahweh's own
word. Philippians
2:5
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in our Master Yahshua, 6
who, though he was in the form of Elohim, did not count equality with Elohim a
thing to be grasped, (Held onto at all cost) 7
but
emptied
himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness (or image) of
men. 8
And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even death on a stake.
A divine being such as Elohim is not subject to death. If Yahshua did not
die a complete, real death then He was a con artist. It was only window dressing
if He did not share in the very same death that is appointed to all mankind, a
complete cessation of life. Hebrews
9:27 And
just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28
so Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a
second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for
him. Romans
5:6
While we were still weak, at the right time Messiah died for the unrighteous. Romans
5:8 But
Elohim shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Messiah died for
us.
Notice that He emptied Himself of all that He was. He gave up His eternal glory.
We can get the full picture from His prayer to the Father in;
John 17:5
“ and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I
had with thee before the world was made.” He left this glory He had with the
Father from eternity to become exactly as we are. In order for this all powerful
being to fully understand us, this was absolutely necessary.
Think of this; From the time that Yahweh calls us John
6:44, John 6:65, and
we accept the terms of the covenant He has made with us and confirm our
commitment to Him by immersion into the name of Yahshua, Acts
2:38,
we must battle the pulls of this world, our human nature, and the power of Satan
as he tries to draw us away from Yahweh. Yahweh has planted the seed of eternal
life in us through the Holy Spirit but we are still temporal flesh and blood and
it is a daily war with the things mentioned above. Ephesians
6:12
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the
principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present
darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Yahshua, as a human on this earth, knew the reality of this terrible
struggle we face and the consequences of failure. Luke
13:24
"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to
enter and will not be able.” As a complete flesh and blood human being He
could understand our trials. As an all powerful, eternal Spirit, He could only
imagine what it would be like. That is why He had to become like us in every
way. Hebrews
2:14
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise
partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the
power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of
death were subject to lifelong bondage.
Hebrews 2:18 For
because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who
are tempted. Hebrews
4:15 For
we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
We will go on to see that Yahshua was affected by all the same things
that affect us as flesh and blood, temporal human beings subject to death, and
attack by our arch enemy, Satan the deceiver.
HUNGER
Matthew 4:2
And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. He was
so weak with hunger that the angels had to come and minister to Him Verse
11.
Matthew 21:17
And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. 18 In the
morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. A divine being, only
human in appearance, would not require food. He would not become weak without it
as Yahshua did.
WEARINESS
John
4:6
Jacob’s well was there, and so Yahshua, wearied as he was with his
journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Unless He was totally human He would have felt neither of these things.
As we do, He needed food and rest to rejuvenate Him. The evangels tell of all
the things that He felt as a human.
YAHSHUA FELT FEAR
Mark
14:33 And
he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed
and troubled. Luke
22:42
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And
there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44
And being in an agony
he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
Hebrews 5:7
In the days of his flesh, Yahshua offered up prayers and supplications,
with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he
was heard for his righteous fear. Imagine yourself in Yahshua’s position,
facing arrest and an agonizing death on the notorious torture stake. You have
just imagined it, you have not experienced it in reality so you can’t identify
one hundred percent with what Yahshua experienced. This was the case with
Yahshua in His pre-existent, glorified form. He could not in this state, fully
understand what we go through.
PAIN AND ANGUISH
Matthew
27:46
And about the ninth hour Yahshua cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani?" that is, "My Elohim, my Elohim, why hast thou
forsaken me?" Psalm
22:1
My Elohim, my Elohim, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from
helping me, from the words of my groaning? Mark
15:37
And Yahshua uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. Isaiah
52:14
As many were astonished at him—his appearance was so marred, beyond
human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men. Isaiah
53:3
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has
borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten
by Elohim, and afflicted. 5 But he
was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement
that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. Psalms
22: 14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax, it is melted within my breast; 15
my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my
jaws; thou dost lay me in the dust of death. 16
Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they
have pierced my hands and feet—17 I
can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; 18
they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.
We can only imagine what Yahshua was feeling in the scriptures above
since we have never experienced it. Thanks be to Yahweh, Yahshua suffered the
death and anguish in our place on that stake. Praise and honour to Yahshua
throughout eternity. HalleluYah!!
FAILURE POSSIBLE
Yahshua was completely human, with all of the human emotions that we are
subject to. He did not just breeze through this human life without all of the
things mentioned above. At
this time I must bring to your attention that Yahshua could have failed.
Yes He could have failed to achieve what He came to this earth for. Consider
this; we are all faced with the possibility that we could fail in this way of
life leading to the kingdom. Those believing the “once saved always saved”
doctrine of the religions of this world will disagree with the above. Paul, was
struck down and called personally by Yahshua Acts
9:1-16
yet he knew there was a possibility that he could fail.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
(Note especially verse 27 but I
pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be
disqualified.)
If we do not persevere to the end, either of our lives or to the return
of Yahshua, we have failed. This possibility is continuously confronting us. If
this same thing did not face Yahshua, He does not know how we feel every day of
our lives. He cannot correctly represent us to the Father because He does not
fully understand what it is like to be us. Make no mistake, Yahshua faced
exactly what we face every day.
Being fully human as He assuredly was, did He have some kind of advantage
that we don't have that enabled Him to live in perfect accordance to Yahweh's
word? Before we answer this let us look at some scriptures to see how He was
able to remain perfect for all of His sojourn on this earth. John the Baptist
was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb.
Luke 1:15
for he will be great before Yahweh, and he shall drink no wine nor strong
drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s
womb. Scripture tells us that
Yahshua had the Holy Spirit without measure. We can be sure that this Spirit
without measure was in Yahshua from conception. John
3:34
For he whom Elohim has sent (Yahshua) utters the words of Elohim, for it
is not by measure that he gives the Spirit;
NO
SPECIAL ADVANTAGE
We can be sure that Yahshua had the Holy Spirit without measure for all
of His time in the womb and until his death on the stake. Could this be an
unfair advantage that we don't have? No!!! This was no unfair advantage. Think
of this; The salvation of the whole of mankind depended on Him and Him alone.
Satan would attack him relentlessly from every angle. We are told that not many
should desire to be teachers as we are judged much more strictly. James
3: 1
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we
who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.
This is because what teachers say and do affect so many people. However
we teachers in our lifetime reach only a miniscule amount of people in this
world that numbers in the billions. Imagine how stringently Yahshua, upon whom
the whole world, all of the billions, depended for instruction and example,
would be judged. He would need the full measure of the Holy Spirit of Yahweh
just to persevere. He had no advantage that He did not need as the Savior of the
world. If you think about it, because of Yahshua we have a very real advantage
that he did not. As a temporal human being Yahshua
had to defeat satan face to face personally. He did this by the power of
His Father’s Spirit within Him. We will never have to defeat satan in this
way. Yahshua will, if we stay grounded in Him, defeat satan for us and send him
away. Meditate on this scripture. James
4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to Elohim. Resist the devil and he will flee
from you. Remember, Yahshua is Elohim too. How does this resistance come?
Through that same powerful Spirit that Yahshua had plus the mind of Yahshua in
us as well to guide our every thought and action. Note the following scriptures;
Romans
8:11
If the Spirit of him who raised Yahshua from the dead dwells in you, he
who raised Messiah Yahshua from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies
also through his Spirit which dwells in you. 1
Corinthians 2:16
"For who has known the mind of the master so as to instruct
him?" But we have the mind of Messiah.
Satan tried at the time of Esther to destroy the line of Judah that He
would come from. Esther
3:6
He tried this kind of preventative measure many times in the history of
Judah. Immediately after the birth of Yahshua he tried to destroy Him. Matthew
2:3-18 When
Yahshua was in the wilderness fasting for forty days, satan came to him at his
weakest point physically. Matthew
4:1-11
What he did not understand was that as Yahshua was weakened in the flesh, He was
being strengthened in the Spirit and was at His strongest point spiritually when
satan came to Him. He used Yahweh's strength and His word to defeat satan. He
did not rely on himself. Yahshua understood a principle that Paul mentioned but
satan did not understand. 2
Corinthians 12:10
For the sake of Messiah, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when
I am weak, then I am strong.
What exactly did Paul mean? When everything is going well, good health,
lots of money, many luxuries, and physical possessions we may not be quite as
close to and dependant on Yahweh. We are pretty well self-sufficient. Take some
of these things away so that we are no longer self-sufficient and we will need
to pray more for sustenance. As we pray we come closer and closer to Yahweh and
His Son. As our physical becomes weaker we become stronger spiritually because
of our closeness to and dependency on Yahweh. This is why it’s difficult for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of Yahweh. Matthew
19:23
And Yahshua said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be
hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is because they are
self-sufficient and can buy whatever they need, food, clothes, medicine and
health care etc. They do not need to be as Yahweh dependant as a poor man would.
This could make them spiritually weak.
Yahshua did something that we need to do. He was in constant contact with
His Father in Heaven. Luke
5:16
But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. Luke
6:12
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he
continued in prayer to Elohim. Matthew
14:23
And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by
himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Mark
1:35
And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a
lonely place, and there he prayed. Mark
6:46
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Yahshua knew that as a temporal flesh and blood human, He could not
succeed on His strength alone. Just as we must do, He drew strength and courage
from continual contact with the Father through prayer. Often we feel frustration
and discouragement as this world and human nature pulls at us. It is during
these times that we must lean on Yahweh's strength and wisdom to see us through.
He will not only stand with us, but if we are too weak to stand, He will stand
for us. Yahshua felt all of these same things and turned to Yahweh as His
lifeline. This is why He did not fail.
SOME
PROPHESIES IN PAST TENSE
A statement that has been made to me trying to refute the belief that
Yahshua could have failed, is that the prophesies concerning this salvation plan
were all made in the positive. Some were made in the past tense as if already
fulfilled. We don't have space to go into all of these scriptures in this study.
But we can understand why they would be stated in this way by turning to one
scripture referring to the first fruits harvest in this age. Romans
8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 And those whom he predestined he
also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he
justified he also glorified.
This is in the past tense. It says that those He justified He also
glorified. I am not yet glorified. You are not yet glorified. Why would this be
said in this way as if it has already taken place? It is to instil a mindset. It
is the mindset that Yahshua had. It is the mindset that Yahweh has. Throughout
the scriptures Yahweh talks about faith. During His sojourn on this earth
Yahshua tried to instil in His hearers the necessity of faith in Yahweh. Yahshua
had absolute faith in the Father. In the story of the raising of Lazarus from
the dead there is a great lesson for us. Yahshua said a prayer to the Father and
it's words reveal the absolute faith of Yahshua. John
11:41
So they took away the stone. And Yahshua lifted up his eyes and said,
"Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42
I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of
the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me."
Yahshua knew that the Father always heard His prayers and would always
answer. This was because Yahshua always prayed according to Yahweh's will. Luke
22:42
"Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done." It was from this attitude of humility
that Yahshua always prayed. This mindset comes from faith. Often our prayers are
not answered because we don't have the right attitude. Yahshua told the people
that He healed that it would be done according to their faith. Matthew
9:29, Mark 10:52, Matthew 8:13,
Matthew 15:28.
James covers this topic as well. James
1: 5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask Elohim, who gives to all men
generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. 6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a
wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7
For that person must not suppose that a double minded man, unstable in
all his ways, will receive anything from Yahweh. James
4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your
passions. Yahshua had absolute faith in the Fathers word. He also knew Yahweh's
will, which is revealed to us in the scriptures, and prayed accordingly.
This is the reason that the prophesies concerning many of the things in
reference to Yahshua could be stated in the present or past tense, the faith
that the Father has in the son and the faith the son has in the Father. Yahshua
had a mindset that we must develop if we are to succeed in this way of life. I
have talked with people who would make statements such as, “If I get into the
kingdom”, or “If I qualify for the kingdom”. This is a negative mindset
and comes close to insulting our Savior. It leaves room for failure. It
is a foothold for satan.
Yahweh
invited us to the marriage supper of the Lamb, His Son Yahshua. Revelation
19:9
And the messenger said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are
invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These
are true words of Elohim." Yahshua provided the wedding garments we would
need by paying the penalty for our sins in His blood. These garments are His
righteousness within us. 1
Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the Sovereign Yahshua Messiah and in the Spirit of our
Elohim.
Yahweh accepted the atoning sacrifice of Yahshua as payment for the sins
(filthy garments) that would keep us out and qualified us to be there Colossians
1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of
the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and
transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins.
He has invited us to share the kingdom with Him and His Son. John
6:44.
Now it is up to us to be there at all cost. If we share the mindset of Yahshua,
and we do have His mind, if we allow it to work within us, (1
Corinthians 2:16)
we will be there. Don't give satan a foothold. Plan to be in the kingdom, follow
through till the end and be there. Yahweh and Yahshua are expecting you and
everything is prepared.
To give another example of a negative mindset; I have heard converted
people say many times, “we will never be perfect in this age.” This is a
copout. If one thinks in this way they are setting their goal on imperfection.
Our goal should be perfection. Matthew
5:48
“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This
has to be our goal. Perfection. If we set our goal on imperfection, that is just
what we will achieve. If we do as Yahshua said and strive for the perfection of
our heavenly Father we will, at the return of Messiah Yahshua, achieve exactly
that. Perfection. This striving for perfection comes through the power of Yahweh
given us in the Holy Spirit. This must be our mindset.
Yahshua had this mindset and that is why He did not fail. He was totally
dependant on Yahweh for His strength. Now in a position in which all power has
been given to Him, Matthew
28:18
And Yahshua came and spake unto them, saying, “All power is given unto me in
Heaven and in earth”. Yahshua is our strength through this same Spirit. If we
rely on this all-powerful being and not on ourselves, we will achieve our goal
as He did. The following is excellent advice given by the one who is expecting
you to share eternity with Him and His Father. Let’s not disappoint them.
John 15:4
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless
it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5
I
am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing”. This is
something that must be indelibly imprinted in our minds. It is through our
connection to Yahshua that will gain us entry to the kingdom. Paul also knew
this concept. 2
Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our
competence is from Elohim.
This is why Yahshua succeeded.
Isaiah 41:10
fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your Elohim; I will
strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right
hand. He knew that it was His heavenly Father's strength that would see Him
through to the finish. It is that strength that will see us through as well.
Since Yahshua has faced all of the things that we will face as we follow
this way of life He can fully understand us and is qualified to be the judge. Hebrews
4:15
For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. John
5: 22 The
Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may
honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does
not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears
my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into
judgment, but has passed from death to life. That is also why He can accurately
represent us to the Heavenly Father. He knows what is like to be a temporal
human being. Philippians
2: 9
Therefore Elohim has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is
above every name, (With these things in mind we must willingly do the
following,) 10 that at the name of Yahshua every knee should bow, in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Yahshua Messiah
is Sovereign, to the glory of Yahweh the Father. When we go to the Father in
prayer let us not forget our awesomely loving Savior sitting at His right hand. Mark
16:19
So then the Sovereign Yahshua, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven, and sat down at the right hand of Elohim.
Be assured, Yahshua was truly temporal flesh and blood for thirty-three
and a half years. His death was true cessation of life for three days and three
nights. Death, not just window dressing. Yahshua lived His life in true human
form and assuredly died in the same human
fashion. He was resurrected with the same resurrection that we will experience
at His coming. Romans
6:5
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be
united with him in a resurrection like his. Colossians
1:18 He
is the head of the body, the assembly; he is the beginning, the first born from
the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. Revelation
1:5 and
from Yahshua Our Master the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and
the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by his blood. Romans
8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of
his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brethren. Colossians
1:15
He is the image of the invisible Elohim, the first born of all creation;
Have no doubt, Yahshua gave up all that He was to become exactly as we
are. John
17:5
He lived a perfect human life to give us hope. Romans
5:2
Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we
rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of Elohim.
He died a terrible human death to give us courage. Luke
12:32
"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.
He
was resurrected an immortal Spirit being to give us faith. 1
Corinthians 15:45
Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the
last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
He ascended to the Father in Heaven where He was glorified and coronated
King of Kings to give us assurance of the hope within us. 1
Timothy 6: 14
I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach
until the appearing of our Sovereign Yahshua
Messiah; 15 and this will be
made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of
kings and Sovereign of sovereigns.
All He has done from the time of creation was for us. As He did not fail,
we can be assured that we will not fail either if we have this mindset, as
Yahshua did. Philippians
4:13
I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Ephesians
6:10
Finally, be strong in Yahweh and in the strength of his might. HalleluYah, may
Yahweh bless your studies.