Rabbi’s Reflections – Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Shalom *|FNAME|*,
One short announcement: This Shabbat I will be bringing a message from Philippians 3 and 4. Also, this Shabbat we will be receiving a special offering for our summer camp. For the past 2 years we have had a summer camp for our youth called Shomrim Tze’irim (Young Watchmen). The seeds that were planted are continuing (and will continue) to bring forth much fruit in young lives. This year we will again provide a Messianic camp experience of our young people. Please pray about how the Lord would have you to sow into it. End announcement.
Recently, in a previous RR, I referenced an article on the ynetnews.com website (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5619487,00.html) about Kurt Schneider. In the article, the question is asked, “So, who is this star of a movement that repels so many in Judaism?” They’re asking this about Kurt Schneider, but I want to ask it about the true “STAR,” Yeshua HaMashiach. (Revelation 22:16)
“Mi Zeh?” Hebrew for “Who is this?” Yeshua says of Himself to doubting Thomas… John 14:6 Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The Unitarians teach there are many paths to truth. Yeshua disagrees.
He is the way. Peter is preaching to the Sanhedrin when he says… Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved!” He is the truth, which is the Word of God. He is the life. In His death we find life. (Everything in the kingdom of God is a bit counter-intuitive.)
It’s also counter-intuitive that the one place Jewish people are forbidden by their rabbis to look for the answers to life’s problems is the one place where these answers are found. It’s like looking for the afikomen at the Seder; the afikomen that will become communion. When it is found, the child who finds it hold it up and says in Hebrew, “Matzati!” (Meaning, “I found him!,” because there is no “it” in Hebrew.)
So let me ask the not-yet-believing Jewish people reading this, “Are you going to let a bunch of long time dead rabbis make such an important decision for you, or are you willing to be bold enough to ask God, ‘Is Yeshua Your Son?’” Go ahead, ask Him right now. You will be like that child who exclaims “I found Him!”
Week 48
Memory Verse: Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great Kohen Gadol who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua Ben-Elohim, let us hold firmly to our confessed allegiance. 15 For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways—yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need.
236 11/25 Monday: Philippians 1-2
237 11/26 Tuesday: Philippians 3-4
* 238 11/27 Wednesday: Hebrews 1-2
239 11/28 Thursday: Hebrews 3-4
240 11/29 Friday: Hebrews 5-6
Question of the day: We will be in the book of Hebrews for the rest of this week and all of next week. The question of the day comes to us from Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father”? (Psalm 2:7) And again, “I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son”? (Both 2 Samuel 7:14 and 1 Chronicles 17:13)
Answer: I love it when the Bible itself gets to ask the “question of the day.” We don’t know (at least most scholars agree “we don’t know”) who the author of the book of Hebrews is. We do know from his writing that he is a Messianic Jew with an excellent understanding of the fulfillment of Scripture that Yeshua provides to us. And that he is explaining all of this to Jewish people.
So, let’s get this straight. The unknown (Messianic Jewish) writer of the book of Hebrews is writing to Jewish people about Jewish things (like the Jewish Messiah). So then, this is a Jewish family discussion about Jewish family matters? Right again.
There is a lot of error that comes out of a different interpretation of the purpose of these writings. So let’s break down how we got to verse 5. Hebrews 1:1 “At many times and in many ways, God spoke long ago to the(Jewish) fathers through the (Jewish) prophets.” Yes, God spoke to His Jewish people. Again, this has a very “family” orientation.
Hebrews 1:2 “In these last days He has spoken to us through a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He created the universe.” Families have sons. That should not seem odd or strange. What “last days?” It’s been 2,000 years since God spoke through a Son. The Greek word for “last” is “Eschatos” from which we get the word Eschatology meaning knowledge of end times.
And He has appointed His Son as “heir of all things.” Is anything left out there? Anything not included in “all?” Would that include “all authority?” Even in His resurrection,… Matthew 28:18 And Yeshua came up to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
There is much in the Bible that describes the Son (and it’s all good). Isaiah 9:5 For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God My Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will come forth out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit out of His roots. 2 The Ruach of Adonai will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and insight, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Adonai.
(Notice that both previous Scripture quotes are from Isaiah, arguably the greatest Jewish prophet of them all.)
So, was Yeshua the Son of God or the Son of man? He is called both in Scripture and in reality, He is both. Colossians 2:9 “For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him,” There you have it, deity (God) lives in the body (humanity).
What’s so hard to believe? Doubting Thomas struggled with unbelief. Then Yeshua said to him… John 20:29 Yeshua said to Him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed? Blessed are the ones who have not seen and yet have believed!” Would you like to be blessed? Believe in the One Whom you have not seen.