Rabbi’s Reflections – Friday, December 17, 2021
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri 17-Dec-2021 13th of Tevet, 5782
Ge 49:27-50:20 2 Sa 1 Ps 70 Lk 2:22-52 (2 Co 11)
Week 51
Memory Verse: 1 John 4:10 This is love—not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atonement for our sins. 11 Loved ones, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
251 12/16 Monday: 1 Peter 3-4
252 12/17 Tuesday: 1 Peter 5; 1 John 1
253 12/18 Wednesday: 1 John 2-3
254 12/19 Thursday: 1 John 4-5
255 12/20 Friday: Revelation 1
Part of the message on this Shabbat will focus on this…
1 John 5:7 For there are three that testify— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are one.
I want to break this down. Isn’t it interesting that it has been 2,000 years since we had people with first hand personal experiences with Yeshua?
BTW – I recommend “The Chosen” online dramatic series. It can be viewed by downloading the app (or something or just click) here… https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
This series of episodes (now in its third season with a total of 7 seasons planned) does a good job of developing the characters and personalities of those who walked with Yeshua. Those who walked with Yeshua in the flesh, and personally saw Him in the resurrection, were the last people to have a real (flesh and blood) witness. The rest of us have a spiritual witness. We testify according to the testimony provided by the Holy Spirit.
My point is that the testimony has not grown weaker over the centuries (as would be the case in the physical world). The testimony of Spirit, Water and Blood has grown stronger instead. Verse 8 informs us why this is true. “These three are one.”
When we have a spiritual experience with Yeshua, the “water” testimony of baptism is a real experience of identification with Yeshua’s burial and resurrection. Colossians 2:12 You were buried along with Him in immersion, through which you also were raised with Him by trusting in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Then we have a spiritual experience with Yeshua in blood. This is communion, with which we at Shomair are so very familiar. Jeremiah 31:32 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people. Yeshua did this by His shed blood on the cross. Matthew 26:27 And He took a cup; and after giving thanks, He gave to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the removal of sins.
Today we have the Spirit bearing (continuing to provide) witness. So we have the living King in a real kingdom. 1 John 5:10a The one who trusts in Ben-Elohim has the testimony in himself… 11 And the testimony is this—that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The testimony is by the Spirit, the Baptism by water, and the passion of Yeshua’s obedience on cross. His sacrifice is life giving and life saving. Receive it and be refreshed.