Believe

Today’s reading includes a passage that is disputed among Christians and I’d like to give you my condensed take on it so you can consider it while you ponder the meaning for yourself.

I’m referring to what’s commonly known as the shortest verse in the Bible: John 11:35, “Yahusha wept.” The dispute I write about surrounding this verse is not about the length, but about the feeling being communicated in it. Mourners and empaths choose to read it as Yahusha being compassionate and weeping with those who mourn. While this view isn’t necessarily wrong (it does show Yahusha’s humanity), it does detract from His deity which is part of what they need to believe to be saved AND why He handled the sisters’ request the way He did. I say, the context clearly reveals that it’s showing Yahusha was troubled by their lack of belief in Who He is and what He can do.

In the email that subscribers received yesterday containing today’s reading, I bolded the words that support this belief and I’ll lay things out in more detail here. As I told subscribers in the email dated September 26, 2019, John’s gospel portrays Yahusha as Elohim. John also wrote his gospel with the stated intention, “so that you may believe.”

John states in verse 19:35 that “…he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.” In this verse, John is the “he” he’s referring to in “he who has seen” and “he knows that he is telling the truth.” I believe that John was the only one of the four gospel writers to have witnessed this miracle because he doesn’t mention the presence of Matthew, Mark, or Luke and because none of them wrote about this miracle. It’s indicated in verse 11:16 that Thomas is the only one who may have been with Him.

In the dispensation of the Kingdom Proclaimed, their method of salvation was “Faith + Works” and part of what they had to believe was that Yahusha is (the Son of) Elohim.

Now, I’ll put the words I bolded in the email in John chapter 11 into a little story.

Yahusha said (v. 4), but for the glory of Elohim, that Elohim’s Son may be glorified by it.” Then when (v. 6) …[Yahusha] heard that [Lazarus] was sick, He stayed two days in the place where He was.” Yahusha tells His disciples (v. 11) “…Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.” Then (v. 14), “…Lazarus is dead.” And (v. 15), so that you may believe. Then He tells Martha (v. 23), “Your brother will rise again”, and (v. 25), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha answered (v. 27), “I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, Elohim’s Son.” Yahusha sees Mary weeping and He (v. 33) “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” Then (v. 35) “Yahusha wept.” [Note: the original Greek indicates that He silently shed a tear; groaned inwardly; didn’t wail like those who mourned.] Finally (v. 38), “again groaning in Himself” (v. 40), “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see Elohim’s glory?” [This last verse is referring to what He said in verse 25.]

If you’re able to read the above as a short, choppy story, I think you’ll be able to see that the “Yahusha wept” is the second of three times that we read about Yahusha groaning inwardly in the context of their disbelief. I would love to know what you think of this take on that verse. Do you agree or disagree?

Kingdom of Heaven, Part 2

In today’s reading (Luke 16:1-18:14), you’ll see a little more about the Kingdom of Elohim (Heaven) being proclaimed (preached) to the nation of Israel, specifically, verses 16:16 and 17:20-21. (Subscribers, you may have noticed three passages in your email this morning that I bolded. I bring them to your attention here.) Now, remember me saying that the New Testament isn’t really a “new” testament? That it’s actually a continuation of the Old Testament because the Messiah came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it? If He had done away with the Law, it would have been a “New Testament”, but He didn’t do away with it, did He?

Now, the first verse (16:16) reminds us that, “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of Elohim has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.” [Emphasis mine.] And the other passage (17:20-21), informs us that the kingdom of Elohim was, at that time, among them, but they couldn’t see it because of their blindness. He was standing among them, but they couldn’t see their Melek [King]! Unfortunately, it’s no different today; in this Age of Grace, there are many who cannot see Him or what He has done. I think this is what Yahusha is referring to when He says in 16:31, “…If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” I believe the “one rise from the dead” is Yahusha and because people didn’t believe Moses and the prophets when they were on earth speaking Elohim’s words, they weren’t going to believe Him either, even after His resurrection. And, of course, He’s right – even today!

Kingdom of Heaven, Part 1

In our daily readings, Yahusha is about to start His earthly ministry and, with that, will proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven (a.k.a. the Kingdom of Elohim [in English translations he is always referred to only by His titles–God, LORD, and the Lord–rather than any of His names, which to me is sacrilegious]). Old Testament prophecy is being fulfilled with Yahusha’s birth and His proclamation of the Kingdom “at hand.” This is why “New Testament” is a misnomer. Yahusha is fulfilling OT prophecy and is, therefore, continuing the OT covenant (or testament), so no “new testaments” have started. I think it’s critical to see this continuation because it’ll make what happens in the book of Acts so much clearer for you. Does it make sense to you that the gospels are a continuation of the Old Testament rather than a “New” Testament?

If you have any questions about this, please comment below.