Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, July 14, 2022
Shalom,
Was Yeshua Successful? Part 9 of ???
Was Yeshua successful? Here we sit, 2,000 years later, with questions. There is one ultimate question that demands an answer. Is Yeshua the Son of God?
Many Jewish people, in attempting to answer these questions about Yeshua themselves, want to agree with some of His teachings, offering that He was a great rabbi of His day. Some even go so far as to agree with the salvation message and receive Him as Savior. However, and sadly; many fall short of recognizing Him as Lord. His divinity is essential to His identity. He is Savior and Lord.
Here is some of what Yeshua said about Himself. I’m restating this here to eliminate the middle ground some Jewish people seek. He is either Who He says He is, or He is a much to be pitied failure. There is no middle ground.
Yesterday, I quoted John 10:30 when Yeshua made Himself “Echad” (One) with God the Father. The response by His hearers was to pick up stones. Before that, in John 8, at the end of the chapter, the same response to this… John 8:58 Yeshua answered, “Amen, amen I tell you, before Abraham was, I am!” 59a Then they picked up stones to throw at Him.
When Yeshua said, “I am,” He was saying that He is the great “I AM,” a title that is only used for God, Himself. This is not the simple “Ani” we say every day about ourselves (I am…); this is the great “Anochi” that is the first word of the 10 Commandments (see Exodus 20:2). “Doubting” Thomas, the Jewish disciple (they were all Jewish) made this declaration upon seeing Yeshua in the resurrection. John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Yeshua had offered the traditional Jewish greeting “Shalom Alechem,” meaning “peace be unto you.” Yeshua’s invitation is to believe. Then He blesses those who do. John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe!”… 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!” Let’s all agree with Yeshua’s blessing.
4. Most importantly, He came to set some things in motion that would lead to His eventual victorious return. He taught His disciples what became to be known as “The Way.”
When God does something, His power is such that it keep on being done. God created the world, and it is still functioning as He created it.
Rabbi Trail: Notwithstanding the “Chicken Little” (remember, “the sky is falling?”) syndrome of the climate change crowd. The climate does change (used to be called “global warming,” but then it started cooling so they had to change their title). Remember the ice age? The glaciers are shrinking. They have been shrinking for 20,000 years (long before fossil fuel). And about my “carbon footprint,” excuse me for breathing. The point is, God’s creation functions and continues to function. End RT.
When Yeshua came to earth (born of a woman), He was both fully man and fully divine. His purpose was to show (teach by demonstration) mankind how to have faith, hope and love in the kingdom of God on earth. Have you noticed (I have) that things are becoming more difficult in the world? Circumstances are such that people will have no other place to turn other than Yeshua. May the world be filled with men like Jarius.
Luke 8:41 And here came a man named Jairus, a leader in the synagogue. Falling at Yeshua’s feet, he begged Him to come to his house, 42a because his only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying.
Yeshua set faith in motion 2,000 years ago. That faith is still growing in the world, and while His eternal purposes are being fulfilled worldwide, faith is still valuable on an individual level. Trust God, believe the good news, and be saved. May His purpose be fulfilled in you.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 14-Jul-2022 15th of Tamuz, 5782
Nu 23:13-26 Eze 14-15 Ne 2 (Lk 11:29-54) Eph 6
Week 29
Memory Verse: Nehemiah 6:9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, thinking, “Their hands will become weak from the work and it will not be done.” So now, strengthen my hands!
141 7/11 Monday: Nehemiah 7-8
142 7/12 Tuesday: Nehemiah 9
143 7/13 Wednesday: Nehemiah 10
144 7/14 Thursday: Nehemiah 11
145 7/15 Friday: Nehemiah 12