Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, October 17, 2020
Shabbat Shalom,
Today we’ll briefly examine the topics of the fullness of God and the fullness of Yeshua’s life.
Fullness of God
I find it to be amazing that being filled with the fullness of God is not something that can be achieved. We can’t run fast enough, serve enough, pray enough, confess enough, believe enough, etc., to achieve being filled with the fullness of God.
Fullness is received through knowing Yeshua’s love.
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19-20 TLV)
We want this. We want to be filled with the fullness of God. This goal may sound somewhat nebulous. What does fullness look like?
When speaking about the fullness of the Creator, one is talking about something that is immeasurable. How might we see what this fullness looks like? We get hints through the incarnation. The fullness of God is most clearly seen in Yeshua.
For all the fullness of Deity lives bodily in Him (Colossians 2:9 TLV)
The Father delighted in having all the fullness of God dwell in the man, Yeshua. The incarnate Creator was filled by the Father with what Paul called, “fullness.” If we want to see what the fullness of God looks like in interaction with humanity we look at the Messiah.
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross— (Colossians 1:19-20a TLV)
When we look, what do we see? We see relational holy maturity, integrity, power over nature and the adversary, loving people…, one could go on and on describing how wonderful Yeshua is. That’s what the fullness of God looks like.
We long to see this fullness through the Community of Believers. At this time we don’t. Yet, fullness is promised. What do I mean? Let’s look at just two promises in John’s Gospel.
Here’s the section of Scripture
Amen, amen I tell you, he who puts his trust in Me, the works that I do he will do; and greater than these he will do, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14 TLV)
I want us to look at the promise we have Messiah Yeshua’s word that He, Himself, will answer prayers.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 TLV)
Now look at the preceding promise: the Lord said that those who believe in Him will do the same works that He did (14a).
Amen, amen I tell you, he who puts his trust in Me, the works that I do he will do; and greater than these he will do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12 TLV)
Note, I ignored the second part of this prophetic promise that believers will do even greater works (14b). The same works Yeshua did would be sufficient to demonstrate the fullness of the promised Kingdom of God.
I’m not going to get into other manifestations of fullness that are either not seen, or only sporadically seen, in the Community of Believers. That would take up too much time. Let it be established that God’s fullness looks like Yeshua, and His Community is to resemble its Lord. The Body is connected to the Head. The Head expresses itself through its Body.
Again, let me pose this question: What can be done so that the believing community is “filled up to all the fullness of God”? Remember, various remedies have been offered by earnest guides, but Paul said that the key to experiencing this is to know the Messiah’s love.
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19 TLV)
It seems too good to be true. Paul recognized that it is “unbelievable” and sought to bring his disciples’ vision beyond what they believed was possible.
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. 20Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:19-20 TLV)
What a wonderful doxology!
The Messiah’s emissary wrote that our God is able to do above and beyond all we are able to ask or think. Note the context of Paul’s praise. He is celebrating this: Through knowing God’s love the believing community will be filled with all the fullness of God.
Let us say, “amen.”
Fullness of Yeshua’s life
The Community of Believers fulfills the roles of Yeshua’s manifest presence and dynamic activity in the world.
God placed all things under Messiah’s feet and appointed Him as head over all things for His community— 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23 TLV)
Strategically, our Father has determined to pursue His goal of filling the cosmos with His goodness through giving the Messiah to be head over all things to His Community of Believers.
There is a difference between omnipresence and manifest presence. This flies in the face of those who are intellectual and mystical. Here’s something from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem, Aurora Leigh, that illustrates this confusion:
Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.
Paul thought that he had vision Then he had an open-eye vision and was blinded. His knowledge of God, up to that point, was primarily intellectual. After he received his sight he knew God’s manifest presence.
So Ananias left and entered into the house. Laying hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Yeshua, the One who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming—has sent me, so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh.” (Acts 9:17 TLV)
Like Paul, those who know the manifest presence of God honor God’s omnipresence.
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 TLV)
However, those who are familiar with the Biblical narrative know there was only one bush amongst many that was ablaze with God’s presence.
Then the angel of Adonai appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. So he looked and saw the bush burning with fire, yet it was not consumed. 3Moses thought, “I will go now, and see this great sight. Why is the bush not burnt?” (Exodus 3:2-3 TLV)
The Lord’s people are to be ablaze with God. The Father has determined that the manifest presence of the Messiah would be present in the Community of Disciples. The fullness of Him who fills all in all with Himself is intended to be experienced in the believing community.
Why might this take place? Because the people of God are increasingly grasping the love of the One who fills all in all.
and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God. 20Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us, (Ephesians 3:19-20 TLV)
Let’s grasp this together: the omnipresent God – in whom we live, move, and exist – loves us. Let’s seek to consciously live, move, and exist in His love. As we do so we will be the location within creation where the Creator’s fullness resides.
Let’s agree with the Scriptures, prioritize knowing Yeshua’s love, and see what happens.
Please persistently petition that the Messiah’s love would be understood and experientially known by your leaders and those with whom you share life. Trust that God will answer your prayers. Wait, trust, see.