RR Yeshua Grew By David Harwood
Yeshua is the perfect pattern for understanding the process of growing in God’s favor. For those who see grace primarily as undeserved favor, Yeshua growing in charis may be a difficult concept. However, grace means favor, and one receives favor from someone who is pleased with the recipient of that favor. A benefactor gives favor (chen/charis/grace) to those who please him.
In John 1 we find the Apostle wrote that Yeshua is God’s lamb. Twice, the exhortation came, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples and watched Yeshua walking by. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35–36)
John the Immerser said to unidentified hearers, “Behold the Lamb.” Later in the same chapter we find him speaking to two of his disciples, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
More than merely human eyes focused on Yeshua. Father beheld Him too and, when He did, Yeshua found favor in His Father’s eyes. When Father beheld His Son, He was pleased, He loved who He saw. Yeshua received charis.
There are two witnesses is Matthew’s Good News that testify of Father being pleased with His Son.
After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16–17)
Why was He pleased?
At Yeshua’s immersion we see the culmination of Yeshua’s normal life and the beginning of His ministry. Up until that time, Messiah had resisted every temptation and stayed loyal to the One He loved with His whole being. In humility, Yeshua had submitted to His parents and brought obedience to the Torah to a zenith. Also, He fulfilled righteousness by cooperating with the prophetic move of God as Father’s purposes were revealed through the Immerser. One more thing, at the Jordan, Yeshua offered Himself up to God as the suffering servant who would be slain for the sins of the world. He was the Lamb of God.
These things pleased God.
Next. Let’s briefly look at the Transfiguration.
... suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice from out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
At the Mount of Transfiguration, the Messiah was still in the all-consuming intensity of ministry to Israel. Yet, He kept His eyes fixed on His ultimate mission. The spiritual realm was revealed, and He spoke to Moses and Elijah of what He was to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). He was still dedicated to offering Himself up as a sacrifice for our sins.
This pleased God.
What is the result of God being pleased with someone, anyone? Favor. When someone is pleasing to God, they receive favor (charis/grace) from the God who is pleased.
Consider Yeshua. He grew in favor. He grew in obedience, too. He learned obedience.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)
As His obedience increased, so did His experience of Father’s favor. He always, always, pleased God.
So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:28–29)
There is a connection between pleasing God and experiencing favor.
Once again, let me remind us that the Good News reveals that we all exist with a baseline of divine charis. At the same time, recall that just as we can grow relationally in pleasing God, we can grow experientially in receiving favor from our Father.
Yeshua did. He’ll help us to do the same.
Day 8 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun12-Apr-2026 25th of Nisan, 5786 Le 12:1-13:23Isa 43Job 1Jas 3 (Mt 3)
In John 1 we find the Apostle wrote that Yeshua is God’s lamb. Twice, the exhortation came, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
The next day, John sees Yeshua coming to him and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples and watched Yeshua walking by. He said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:35–36)
John the Immerser said to unidentified hearers, “Behold the Lamb.” Later in the same chapter we find him speaking to two of his disciples, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.”
More than merely human eyes focused on Yeshua. Father beheld Him too and, when He did, Yeshua found favor in His Father’s eyes. When Father beheld His Son, He was pleased, He loved who He saw. Yeshua received charis.
There are two witnesses is Matthew’s Good News that testify of Father being pleased with His Son.
After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16–17)
Why was He pleased?
At Yeshua’s immersion we see the culmination of Yeshua’s normal life and the beginning of His ministry. Up until that time, Messiah had resisted every temptation and stayed loyal to the One He loved with His whole being. In humility, Yeshua had submitted to His parents and brought obedience to the Torah to a zenith. Also, He fulfilled righteousness by cooperating with the prophetic move of God as Father’s purposes were revealed through the Immerser. One more thing, at the Jordan, Yeshua offered Himself up to God as the suffering servant who would be slain for the sins of the world. He was the Lamb of God.
These things pleased God.
Next. Let’s briefly look at the Transfiguration.
... suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice from out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
At the Mount of Transfiguration, the Messiah was still in the all-consuming intensity of ministry to Israel. Yet, He kept His eyes fixed on His ultimate mission. The spiritual realm was revealed, and He spoke to Moses and Elijah of what He was to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). He was still dedicated to offering Himself up as a sacrifice for our sins.
This pleased God.
What is the result of God being pleased with someone, anyone? Favor. When someone is pleasing to God, they receive favor (charis/grace) from the God who is pleased.
Consider Yeshua. He grew in favor. He grew in obedience, too. He learned obedience.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)
As His obedience increased, so did His experience of Father’s favor. He always, always, pleased God.
So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:28–29)
There is a connection between pleasing God and experiencing favor.
Once again, let me remind us that the Good News reveals that we all exist with a baseline of divine charis. At the same time, recall that just as we can grow relationally in pleasing God, we can grow experientially in receiving favor from our Father.
Yeshua did. He’ll help us to do the same.
Day 8 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun12-Apr-2026 25th of Nisan, 5786 Le 12:1-13:23Isa 43Job 1Jas 3 (Mt 3)
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
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2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 1RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 2RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 3RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 4RR Gratitude for Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 47:6(5) Part 5RR Psalm 47:7(6) Part 6RR Psalm 47:9(8) Part 8RR Psalm 47:10(9) Part 9RR Psalm 48:1-3 Part 1RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 3” by Jerry MillerRR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David HarwoodRR Psalm 1:1 Part 1 (rerun)
March
RR Psalm 48:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 5RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 4RR Psalm 48:5-7 Part 3RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 6RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 7RR Some Favorite Verses (2) Generosity and Enabling Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 48:13-15 Part 8RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 2RR Psalm 49:6(5) – Part 3RR Some Favorite Verses (3) Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:7-9(6-8) Part 4RR Psalm 49:10,11(9,10) Part 5RR Psalm 49:12(11), 13(12) – Part 6RR Psalm 49:14(13) Part 7RR Manifestations of Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 9RR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 8RR Psalm 49:19-21(18-20) Part 11RR Psalm 49:17,18(16,17) Part 10RR Psalm 50:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 50:3 Part 2RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 5” by Jerry MillerRR Yeshua’s Enriched Speech and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 50:5 Part 4RR Psalm 50:4 Part 3RR Psalm 50:6 Part 5RR Psalm 50:6 Part 6RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 7
April
RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 8RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 9RR Yeshua Provides a Pattern By David HarwoodRR Pasach 3 Torah Lesson – Exodus 33-12-34:26 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Let's Celebrate Yom HaBikurimRR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 11RR Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Psalm 50:22,23 Part 13RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 12RR Yeshua Grew By David Harwood