Words of Messiah Ministries – December Newsletter
2013
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Happy Hanukkah
Messiah Has All Authority
We tend to be suspicious of authority, as
the very idea seems to require that one give up independence and autonomy so as
to be exploited by others. But lack of authority has also led to an
increasingly fractured world. Perhaps the relevant question then is: Who
actually deserves authority? And what is the relationship between unity and
authority? Genesis 49:10 reveals that the secret to unity and community is
found in obedience to God revealed in His Messiah.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him
shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49:10)
In this text, Jacob was prophesying
regarding what would befall his sons be’aharit hayamim, “in the last days”
(Genesis 49:1). The Targum, or ancient Jewish translation, adds “for he was
revealing to them all that was going to occur at the time of the Messiah.” Jacob
bestows sovereignty on Judah, prophesying his future greatness and leadership
over the tribes.
Another Targum expands on Genesis 49:10:
“The transmission of dominion shall not cease from the house of Judah, nor the
scribe from his children’s children, forever, until the Messiah comes, to whom
the Kingdom belongs, and whom nations shall obey” (Sanhedrin 98b, Genesis
Rabbah 97-99, Lamentations Rabbah 1:51). In other words, the tribe of Judah
would become the leader officially through David, and ultimately in David’s
greater son, Messiah.
Why was Judah given authority, and not
any of Jacob’s three elder sons mentioned in the verses before? The narrative
shows the reason. Judah had suggested that Joseph be sold into slavery instead
of being killed (Genesis 37:26). But later Judah took the initiative in
repenting of this sin, and by contrast he then was willing to sacrifice his own
freedom for his younger brother Benjamin (Genesis 44:33).
God through Jacob’s prophecy honors Judah
with leadership, for repenting and being willing to sacrifice himself as a
substitute for his family (1 Chronicles 5:2). Judah himself foreshadows
Messiah’s sacrifice for us, even as Messiah’s rule is only a blessing for the
truly repentant. Biblically, authority is never to be used for selfish
purposes, but is for the building up of others.
This leadership is described in Genesis
49:10 by the word shevet, a rod, or scepter, signifying capital and executive
authority, and chakak, meaning lawgiver, signifying judicial and legislative
authority. Within the people of Israel, this authority was Judah’s, even after
the Babylonian captivity. Throughout the Scriptures, God put prophets, priests
and kings in charge to guide and rule until Messiah, for He is the perfect
prophet, priest and king. All Jewish authority culminates in Messiah.
The timing indicated by the word until
needs to be seen in a historical context. The Talmud relates, “Forty years
before the destruction of the Temple the Sanhedrin did not judge in capital
cases” (Shabbat 15a). In John 18:31, the Judeans said, “We’re not permitted to
put anyone to death.” Today, the tribe of Judah has for millennia been
completely assimilated with the other tribes, and since the Dispersion, we no
longer have records for determining this tribal affiliation. Hence, if the
Messiah described in Genesis 49:10 did not already arrive, the verse can no
longer be fulfilled, and the scepter would have departed. Yet on the contrary,
Messiah—the Lion of Judah—lives and reigns! The timing prophesied here reveals
Yeshua for who He is.
Shiloh was rendered as a personal name in
the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b). There are many names for Messiah in Scripture, such
as Immanuel, or “God with us” and Adonai Tzidkenu, or “the Lord our
Righteousness.” Each name represents another aspect of His character or
ministry. Shiloh describes His authority, as testified by the ancient versions
which translate the Hebrew “to whom it belongs.” Judah held the leadership
prophetically awaiting Messiah.
Moreover, all authority, whether
ecclesiastic or rabbinic, is illegitimate unless it genuinely exalts Messiah’s
authority. Yeshua has all authority in heaven and earth.
At His return, everything will be
surrendered to Him, and all human authorities will have to give an account.
Even the nations reverently yield to the Jewish Messiah: the obedience of the
peoples (yeqqehat amim). This continues and clarifies the promise of the Seed
through Abraham in whom all the nations and families of the earth would be
blessed (Genesis 12:3; 22:18).
The involvement of the Gentiles (nations)
does not undermine but confirms the truth of Messiah’s Jewish credentials.
Thus, this prophecy illustrates how diverse peoples find unity in their
obedience to Messiah. It is not through losing our distinctiveness and
diversity, but through trusting in His leadership that brings victory. Respond
by faith to Messiah and follow His word, for to Him is “the obedience of the
peoples.”
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A Dedicated Flock
Some find it surprising that the only
place in the Bible where we find the festival of Hanukkah is in the New
Covenant (John 10:22-30). Here, in the context of this eight-day celebration,
Yeshua taught that faith in Him is the victory.
And it was at Jerusalem, the Feast of the
Dedication [Hanukkah], and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in
Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, “How
long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly (John 10:22-24).
At that time Yeshua was teaching in
Jerusalem at the Temple by Solomon’s Colonnade (Acts 3:11; 5:12). According to
Josephus, the eastern part of the colonnade walkway surrounded the outer court
of Herod’s Temple, and served as a shelter from the heat of the sun in summer
and from the cold rain in winter. Since there were always people present for
worship at the temple, Yeshua used this as a center for informal teaching and
preaching. The yearly celebration of this victory forms the backdrop of Yeshua’s
Hanukkah Message.
The Savior from God
At every Hanukkah, our people desired
Messiah to come and free them from yet another enemy, in this case the Romans.
Notice the question the people raise: “Why do you keep us in suspense? Are you
the Messiah?” (John 10:24). This would be a timely question for this holiday,
as people would be wondering “Where is the Messiah, the greater Maccabee?”
Yeshua answered them, “I told you, and
you believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of
Me. But you believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you”
(John 10:25-26).
Why didn’t Yeshua just say ‘Sure, I’m the
Messiah’? This is how familiarity with Hanukkah helps us understand Yeshua. The
people were expecting a political warrior to throw out the Romans, just as the
Maccabees threw out the Syrians. With a mere “yes,” He would have been
accommodating Himself to their narrow expectation heightened at the time, only
part of the biblical picture to come later. Had He said “no,” it would not have
been true. So Yeshua wisely responds, “I’ve already told you.” In both words
and deeds, He had already answered their question (John 8:58; 10:25).
God provides the eternal salvation that
we need, not merely the temporary solutions that we desire. Is your faith in
God’s Word, or your own expectations and experience? Like Job, true faith sees
beyond the immediate and trusts God’s wisdom and care: “Though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15).
With the Maccabees, short-term faith was
required. They pointed to a desecrated temple by an oppressive Syrian regime
and said, “Let us defeat them and rededicate the temple.” However, Yeshua
points to us and says that we are ‘the desecrated temple,’ and we need to be
cleansed and rededicated in order to walk with God. The problem, O Israel, is
not outside of you, but within you. Our need is not for a quick fix of
short-term problems, but for an eternal relationship with God.
The Shepherd to God
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.(John 10:27-28)
His sheep have faith in Him: “My sheep
hear My voice.” His sheep are His followers: “They follow Me.” There is mutual
recognition and a reciprocal action. The shepherd knows and directs His sheep;
and the sheep respond in obedience. Messiah guarantees life eternal to His followers.
People do not always understand what eternal life is. Some think that their
eternal rest is in their coffin! Passing a cemetery one day, an Irishman paused
at a startling inscription on a tombstone. He read the words: “I still live.”
Puzzled, the Irishman scratched his head for a moment, then exclaimed:
“Goodness, if I were dead I’d be honest enough to admit it!”
Eternal life comes from God by faith in
Yeshua, who alone can relate us rightly to the eternal God. Furthermore,
eternal life is a new kind of existence for believers. It is God’s own life.
Through Yeshua the fullness of God dwells within us—and His life will never
end! God is immortal; those who believe in Yeshua will live on with Him.
Messiah then teaches that we must have faith in Him as the Son of God:
My Father, which gave them Me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My
Father are one (10:29-30).
Yeshua’s assertion that He is one with
the Father is meant to give assurance to His followers: “No one will snatch
them from My hand” anymore than from the “Father’s hand.” Defeat is measuring
your life by your problem, rather than by your God. Victory is measuring life’s
challenges by the size of your God! God has provided salvation in Messiah, His
Eternal Son. By dying for sins, He conquered death.
Despite temporary trials there is
ultimate victory in Messiah. Yes, Messiah demands a greater loyalty than the
Maccabees, because He provides greater security. Trust in Him as the Savior,
Shepherd, and Son. Yeshua is the Victor, and following Him brings the victory!
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Hanukkah Story
Have you ever felt that God is silent? Or
perhaps it seems like He is not listening to your prayers, nor is He concerned
about your particular situation? Since Malachi, God had not spoken through His
prophets to the Jewish people for about 400 years. Some historians call this
era the silent period—but is God ever truly silent? Let’s take a look at what
transpired during these so-called silent years, where the Feast of Dedication
or Hanukkah has its origin.
How It All Started
It all began when a brilliant army
commander named Alexander was conquering the entire known world including
Europe and Egypt in 332 BCE. At the age of 30 he sought to unify all his
conquered lands through the cohesive force of Greek culture known as Hellenism.
I think Alexander would have definitely been on several People Magazine covers
as the world’s youngest conqueror. But alas, Alexander the Great died at 33
years of age, leaving his empire divided between four generals.
One of these generals, Antiochus received
a part of Alexander’s kingdom including Israel. But why would Antiochus be
interested in Israel? Because this small country was strategically located as
the land bridge between the continents of Asia and Africa leading to Europe.
Therefore the one who controlled Israel controlled the entire region.
The goal of Antiochus Epiphanies was to
conquer Israel and Hellenize all the Jews. This idea of Hellenization has to do
with assimilation, forsaking the Jewish lifestyle and embracing a pagan
lifestyle. Antiochus wanted the entire nation of Israel to forsake the God of
Israel and to worship the Greek gods with all the paganism that this would
entail. During this dark time Israel felt like God was silent, and did not
intervene to deliver them.
Faithful Unto Death
Antiochus, with his well-trained Syrian
army, the best in the world, entered Jerusalem. They took over the Holy Temple,
defiled it by erecting an idol of Zeus, the supreme deity of the Greek temple
in the courtyard of the Holy Temple, and worst of all, offered a pig as a
sacrifice on the holy altar. But they did not stop there. These powerful, cruel
Syrian soldiers went from town to town forcing the local leaders to defile
their altars with swine’s blood and flesh. If people refused to obey their
orders they would face a slow and torturous death. However, God broke the
silence through His faithful remnant. These faithful servants never gave up
their faith in the God of Israel. In fact those martyrs, during this period of
history who were tortured for their faith became an inspiration to the first
century believers as they gave up their lives for Yeshua.
The Silence Is Broken
God’s silence was finally broken through
one priestly family. When the Syrian soldiers came to a small town of Modiim, a
few miles northwest of Jerusalem, they demanded that the elderly priest
Mattathis Maccabee and his five sons sacrifice a pig, but they refused. Instead
they chose to stand firm in their faith. This act of zealousness and courage
was the beginning of a three-year battle. Of course, the Israelis were not only
outnumbered, but also lacked weapons. But little did the enemy know that the
Jewish people possessed a secret weapon and a defense that had no equal. The
Lord Himself is Israel’s protection and an everlasting refuge. And miracle of
miracles after three years of struggle, on the 25th of Kislev (December) the
Jewish people were given a victory. The Temple was recaptured, cleansed, and
rededicated. And that’s how Hanukkah began exactly three years from the day of
the Temple’s defilement by the enemy. From that time forward Hanukkah or the
Feast of Dedication became a yearly remembrance of the victory that God gave
Israel.
We all can identify with Israel. None of
us are immune from the attacks and oppression of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8). Often
it may seem like God is silent and even distant from our heartaches, however we
need to remember that God is faithful to His promises and to His people. His
faithfulness is tried and proven throughout history. Scripture reiterates that
our God is near to the broken hearted and His ear is open to their cries (Psalm
34:15-18). We need to trust Him continually.
Messiah Celebrates Hanukkah
When Yeshua went up to the Temple to
celebrate Hanukkah, He used this occasion as a teaching opportunity. John
10:22-23 informs us, “At that time the Feast of the Dedication [Hanukkah] took
place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the
portico of Solomon.” The Jewish people were looking for another deliverer who
could give them victory, this time over the oppressive Roman regime. I imagine
that many felt that God was silent, nevertheless the messianic hope burning
within their hearts was not extinguished, and this is why they peppered Yeshua
with questions about who He was.
The Jews therefore gathered around Him,
and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the
Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not
believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me.
“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.” My sheep hear My
voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them,
and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand”(John
10:22-30). Instead of giving them a yes or no answer Messiah tells them that if
they will listen to His voice then they will have eternal life and His eternal
deliverance. He alone has the authority to not only save, but also to keep
them.
God Still Speaks
In retrospect, when the people of Israel
were merely looking for temporary and physical deliverance, He accomplished far
beyond their expectations. Messiah, though His atonement, provided freedom from
the bondage of sin and life everlasting. Likewise today when we heed His voice,
and answer His call to follow Him, He will do the same for us.
God is never silent. He still speaks. But
do we hear His voice? Just as at that first Hanukkah, God answered their
prayers, and delivered Israel from the Syrian tyranny, so today God hears our
prayers and provides protection from the enemy of our souls. We need to trust
in His faithfulness and remain faithful to Him. Let us rededicate our personal
“temples” and bring Him a sacrifice of praise for what Messiah accomplished on
our behalf. My heart’s desire and prayer to God is that our ears will be opened
to hear His voice, even the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
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