Bearing Witness - Jeshuaists

25 Jan

25Jan

The Nazarene rebbe Jeshua gave solemn edut and was bearing Divrei haNevu'ah. He asked to search the Kitvei Hakodesh so that people could come to tevunah or understanding and chochmot or wisdom and could find guidance for their life.

Today it might perhaps not be easy to place yourself in the religious and non-religious world. You can find lots of religious groups of which many claim they are the only one right church. Through the forest one can hardly see the trees anymore. There appears to be an excess of supply. But people should know that not all of those churches please the Eternal Most High Elohim. We can find a lot of religious groups where people worship more than one god and celebrate pagan festivals.

The navi Jeshua taught from the Kitvei HaKodesh or Holy Scriptures and wanted others also to know them very well. The Roman citizen by birth, coming from a devout Jewish family in the city of Tarsus, therefore also called Saul of Tarsus, wanted to see his Jewish brethren to have an immaculate faith. He looked with disgust to the Jewish sect members of the Way, whom according many Jews where going to far astray of the Torah and masoros of the Jehudi or mishna (or Judaic or Hebrew oral tradition). As a Roman citizen, he also bore the Latin name of "Paul" and became known as a fighter against the followers of Jeshua, furiously enraged at them. He had received his education at the school of Gamaliel. He persecuted "beyond measure" the Jewish sect The Way prior to his conversion which happened after he had a serious experience on his way to Damascus. He reported having experienced a vision of the resurrected Jesus. The account says that he fell to the earth, and heard a voice questioning him why he persecuted Jeshua.

Acts 9:1-5 OJB Now Sha'ul, still breathing a threat even of retzach (murder) keneged (against) the talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu, having approached the Kohen Gadol, (2) Requested from him iggrot of reshus (authorization) to the shuls of Damascus, that if someone he should find being mishtatef (involved) in HaDerech [Hashem], both anashim and nashim, he may lead them bound to Yerushalayim. [Isa 17:1; Jer 49:23] (3) Now as he goes, it came about that he comes near Damascus, and suddenly shone around him an Ohr (Light) from Shomayim; (4) And he fell on the ground, and heard a kol (voice), saying to him, "Sha'ul, Sha'ul, why are you persecuting me?" [YESHAYAH 6:8] (5) And he said, "Who are you, Adoni?" And he said, "I am Yehoshua/Yeshua upon whom you bring redifah.

Having come to understanding what is all about following Jeshua or being a Jeshuaist he came to see again. Wanting to do the Will of Jehovah he understood that the Elohim had provided the long-promised Messiah or Anointed One as a matter of worldwide importance. He realised that it deserved to be made known to the whole world of mankind, even to the most distant part of the earth.

When God vindicated his word of promise by raising up His Messiah or Anointed One, it would be necessary for Him to identify His Messiah by bearing witness to him in a supernatural way. All mankind could repeat the request once made to him to prove to be a true and faithful witness.

Jeremiah 42:5 OJB Then they said to Yirmeyah, Hashem be an ed emes v'ne'eman (true and faithful witness) against us, if we do not act even according to all things for the which Hashem Eloheicha shall send thee to us.

Though not only the elohim is an ed emes v'ne'eman or a true and faithful witness, those who love the elohim should also be. Saul came to understand he had to bear witness like the Jewish witness of Jehovah Yochanan, or John the Baptist, could bear witness of Jeshua, that this man of flesh and blood is the Messiah, the Ben HaElohim or Son of God.

Matthew 3:13-17 OJB Then Yehoshua comes from the Galil to the Yarden to Yochanan, to submit to Yochanan’s tevilah. (14) But Yochanan would have deterred him, saying, I have need to submit to your tevilah [T.N. i.e., Moshiach’s tevilah], and yet you come to me? (15) But answering him, Yehoshua said, Permit it now, for thus it is proper to fulfill all Tzidkat Hashem [Dan 9:24]. (16) And having received the tevilah in the Yarden’s mikveh mayim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach immediately came up. And, hinei! The Shomayim were opened to him, and he saw the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem descending like a yonah (dove) and coming upon him. (17) And, hinei, a bat kol (a voice from heaven) came out of Shomayim, saying, ZEH BNI AHUVI ASHER BO CHAFATZTI (This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased).

John 1:29-34 OJB On the next day, Yochanan sees Yehoshua coming to him, and Yochanan says, Hinei! The Seh HaElohim (Gn 22:8; Ex 12:5-13; Isa 53:7), the one carrying away the avonot HaOlam Hazeh (sins of this world i.e., as the sa’ir l’Azazel kapporah, Isa 53:6 7,12; Lv 16:22). (30) This is he about whom I said, After me comes an ISH (ZECHARYAH 6:12) who is really before me in priority, because, before I came to be, he was (Yochanan 8:58). (31) And I did not recognize him, but that he might be manifested to Klal Yisroel, I came, therefore, administering the mikveh mayim's tevilah. (32) And Yochanan gave solemn edut, I have seen the Ruach Hakodesh descending like a yonah out of Shomayim and remaining upon him. (YESHAYAH 11:2) (33) And I did not recognize him, but the One who sent me to give the mikveh mayim's tevilah said to me, Upon whomever you see the Ruach Hakodesh descending and remaining, this is the One giving the tevilah in the Ruach Hakodesh. [YOEL 3:1 (2:28)] (34) And I have seen and I have given solemn edut (testimony) that this One is the Ben HaElohim. [2Sm 7:14; Ps 2:7; 1Ch 17:10-14; Prov 8:30; 30:4]

Jeshua had not only to be manifested to Israel, but to the whole world and now Saul also did know what his task and the task of the other followers of Jeshua had to be.

All through the public career of rebbe jeshua on earth Jehovah bore witness to the fact that that one was the foretold Messiah by giving him the good news of the kingdom of God to preach and by bestowing upon him miraculous powers. Hence, when the apostle Kepha (Peter) was bearing witness to the first Gentile converts to Christianity, he could speak about Jehovah’s Messiah thus:

Acts 10:38-42 OJB "You know Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua from Natzeret, how Hashem anointed him with the Ruach Hakodesh and with ko'ach (power), and how he went about doing mitzvot and giving refu'ah shlemah to all the ones being oppressed by Samael (the devil) because Hashem was with him. [YESHAYAH 61:1] (39) "We are edim (witnesses) of all things which he did both in the countryside of Yehudah and in Yerushalayim. And they also put him to death, having hanged nivlato al haEtz (his body on the Tree, DEVARIM 21:23). (40) "This one Hashem made to stand up alive again on the Yom HaShelishi and granted to him to be visible, (41) "Not to Klal Yisroel, but to edim which had been chosen beforehand by Hashem, that is, to us who ate and drank together with him at Tish after the Techiyas HaMoshiach. (42) "Moshiach gave mitzvah to us to preach to the people and to bear solemn edut that this one is the one having been appointed by Hashem as Shofet HaChayyim v’HaMesim.

Once the members of the group the way had received Saul as one of their brothers, the by Jeshua chosen one (or apostle) started preaching about Jeshua and bringing people together to have a study time for the scrolls and talks about their way of life. The local Jews “came in greater numbers” to Saul’s lodging place, where he explained matters to them by bearing thorough witness concerning the Kingdom of God and by using persuasion with them concerning Jeshua from both the law of Moshe and the Prophets.

Acts 28:26-31 OJB "Saying, ‘Go to this people and say, In hearing SHIMU SHAMO'A V'AL TAVINU UR'U RA'O V'AL TEDA'U ("You will hear and yet by no means understand and seeing you will see and yet by no means perceive.") (27) HASHMEN LEV HAAM HAZEH V'AZNAV HAKHBED V'ENAV HASHA PEN YIREH V'EINAV UV’AZNAV YISHMA ULEVAVO YAVIN VASHA V’RAFA LO ("For the heart of this people has become dull and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes, and with their ears may hear and with their heart they may have binah and they may turn and I will heal them. [TEHILLIM 119:70; YESHAYAH 6:9,10; also YESHAYAH 53:5] (28) "Therefore, let it be known to you that to the GOYIM (TEHILLIM 67:2) this Yeshu'at Eloheinu of Hashem was sent, and they will listen." (29) And when he had said these things, the Yehudim departed, and argued greatly among themselves. (30) And he remained an entire two years in his own rented bais, and was welcoming all the ones coming to him, (31) Preaching the Malchut Hashem and saying shiurim concerning the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua with all openness and without hindrance.

As in the early years of the Jewish sect the Way, followers of Jeshua have to try to convince others of the importance to come to accept Jeshua as the saviour. All over the world people should come to perceive with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart; and should repent, so that they can become partakers of the Body of Christ and look forward to the return of Jeshua and the possibility to enter the Kingdom of God.

When we look at the witnessing of the apostles we can see that they focused on God’s Kingdom. We also come to learn that Saul tried to appeal to his listeners “by using persuasion.” When witnessing they , like Jeshua also reasoned from the Kitvei Hakodesh or Scriptures. As a result of their continuous work from sunrise to sunset some began to believe, but we also notice that others would not come to believe. Dissension ensued, and the people “began to depart,” reports Luke.

Acts 28:24-25a OJB And some Yehudim were being persuaded by the things being said, but others had no emunah (faith). (25) And so they disagreed with one another.

Not every one is ready to accept Jeshua or the "newness" of grace. But those who followed Jeshua came to see and understand that under the old covenant, only one person, the Kohen Gadol (or High Priest) could enter into the intimate presence of God, the Holy of Holies. Furthermore, this was only allowed one day a year. Such limited access would certainly "get old" in the hearts of all who hungered after the living God.
Now, under the new covenant of grace, every believer in Jeshua knew that having him as their great High Priest and mediator by God, we should not be limited to such one yearly event. Each believer can confidently approach the Elohim personally any moment of every day.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) gave some early insight into this kind of fresh and vital relationship with the Adonai, Elohim Hashem Jehovah God.

Lamentations 3:22-25 OJB (22) Because of the chasdei Hashem we are not consumed, for His rachamim fail not. (23) They are chadashim every boker; great is Thy faithfulness. (24) Hashem is my chelek, saith my nefesh; therefore in hope will I wait for Him. (25) Hashem is tov unto them that wait for Him, to the nefesh that seeketh Him.

It is of Jehovah's lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. By Jeshua his korban ransom is paid. Having Jehovah as our hope in Christ we as Jeshuaists are pleased to work for the heavenly Father of Jeshua and to be Witnesses for Jehovah. With eagerness Jeshuaists want others to know that they can be feeling safe, because Jehovah is good unto them that wait for Him, to the nefesh (or soul) that seeks for Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote profoundly concerning such "newness" and looked at how we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 7:6 OJB But now we have become niftar (freed, deceased) from the dominating ownership of the Torah, having died to that by which we were confined, so that we might serve in the Ruach Hakodesh of hitkhadshut and newness and not in the yoshen (oldness) of chumra (legalism, strict adherence to the letter of the law) (Ro 2:29).

When giving ourselves to the Most High we may rely on it that the God of Peace shall help us to grow in our emunah and shall make it possible for us to proclaim His Works and Plan. When going out into the worl preaching for Jehovah to do His will, the Ruach HaKodesh shall be working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jeshua.

Hebrews 13:20-21 OJB Now the Elohei Hashalom, who brought up in the Techiyas HaMoshiach, HaRo'eh HaTzon HaGadol, through the Dahm Brit Olam, even Adoneinu, (21) May He equip you with every ma'aseh tov in order to do His ratzon, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, to whom be kavod l'Olemei Olamim. Omein.

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