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Yahshua Christ | Yahshua Christ, also known in more recent times as '''Jesus''', is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament and a physical embodiment of Yahweh God on Earth. During his ministry in Judea, He taught many followers, selected twelve core students, and performed miracles for the remant Israelites in Palestine. His actions and teachings brought Him into conflict with the ruling class of Judea, particularly the Pharisees, many of whom were of Edomite descent by the time of His ministry. This tension came to a head when Judas Iscariot, an Idumean, betrayed Yahshua to the Pharisees, who subsequently put Him on trial and orchestrated His crucifixion. | ||
The crucifixion of Christ was explicitly foretold in the Old Testament, and as Christ repeated several times it was a neccesary event for the [[Prophecy|fulfillment]] of scripture. Being Yahweh God incarnate on Earth as a man, the death of Christ on the cross released the wife ([[Israel]]) from the law of the Husband (Yahweh), allowing for a fruitful and eternal remarriage in fulfillment of several prophecies. | The crucifixion of Christ was explicitly foretold in the Old Testament, and as Christ repeated several times it was a neccesary event for the [[Prophecy|fulfillment]] of scripture. Being Yahweh God incarnate on Earth as a man, the death of Christ on the cross released the wife ([[Israel]]) from the law of the Husband (Yahweh), allowing for a fruitful and eternal remarriage in fulfillment of several prophecies. Additionally, Yahshua's resurrection three days after His burial serves as a testimony that all Adamic men and women will also one day be resurrected and join Him in a glorified state. This time will come following the prophesied Fall of Babylon, when Christ returns to slay His enemies and usher in a Kingdom on Earth which He Himself will rule as King. | ||
The length of Yahshua Christ's ministry can be measured through counting the passovers described in the [[Gospel of John]], which amounting up to three and a half years coincides with the description given in Daniel's 70 Weeks. The feats and accomplishments of Yahshua's ministry are described in the four canonical Gospels: [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] and John. | The length of Yahshua Christ's ministry can be measured through counting the passovers described in the [[Gospel of John]], which amounting up to three and a half years coincides with the description given in Daniel's 70 Weeks. The feats and accomplishments of Yahshua's ministry are described in the four canonical Gospels: [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] and John. | ||
== Etymology of Name == | |||
Of the successor to Moses, [[Joshua]] of the Biblical book by that name, Yahweh says at [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 23:21<blockquote>“Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.” </blockquote>The name Ἰησοῦς being in the Greek [[Septuagint]] that same name which was translated from the Hebrew into English as Joshua, therefore the name of Christ is Yahshua – which means Yahweh Saves. | |||
It is possible to see the Greek Ἰησοῦς derived from Hebrew words meaning simply “He Saves”, however this could only be a play on words. | |||
=== Emmanuel === | |||
''See [[Divinity of Christ]]''<blockquote>Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb and she shall bear a son, and they shall call Him ‘Emmanouel’!” which is interpreted “God is with us”.</blockquote> | |||
God is with us – Yahshua Christ is certainly Yahweh Himself come in the flesh, as so many other Scriptures attest! This is where Leviticus 26 is fulfilled, where it says:<blockquote>“12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” Also, Ezekiel 37, speaking of His second advent, “27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen [or properly nations] shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” </blockquote>His tabernacle is the physical body of the Christ. | |||
== Life and Biography == | == Life and Biography == | ||
== Teachings and Parables == | === Divinity === | ||
=== Nativity === | |||
''See the article [[Race of Christ]]'' | |||
During the time of Christ, many Israelites who were awaiting a Messiah were aware that his arrival was imminent due to the clear timeline outlined in the prophecy of Daniel's 70 weeks. This expectation is evident in the Gospels, as many believed John the Baptist to be the Messiah and the Samaritan woman also recognized that the Messiah "comes". | |||
==== Star of Bethlehem ==== | |||
''See [[Star of Bethlehem]]'' | |||
Whichever scripture which referred to the star has not apparently survived. | |||
=== Visitation of Magi === | |||
''See [[Magi]]'' | |||
==== Geneaology ==== | |||
''See the article [[Geneaology of Christ]]'' | |||
The geneaology of Christ is provided for in the accounts of Matthew and Luke which demonstrate His unadulterated and pure descent from David, Abraham, and Adam. The geneaologies which were available to the ambassadors were incomplete, largely because of the burning of the geneaological records by Herod. There are many diverse theories concerning the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke's geneaologies, with the most logical being that Matthew incorporated kinsman redemption in an officlal line to the throne of David, while Luke gave a more literal line of physical descent. | |||
=== Early Life === | |||
Very little is known of Yahshua's early life besides His being found by His mother and father in the temple at the age of twelve. | |||
=== Ministry === | |||
Luke's account provides information that Yahshua started His ministry at the age of thirty, which was the minimum age requirement for a man to begin teaching the children of Israel. | |||
==== Baptism ==== | |||
''See [[Baptism (immersion)]]'' | |||
Remember the words of Yahweh in '''Malachi chapter 3''', “and he shall purify the sons of Levi”:John the Baptist was also a [[Levi (Tribe)|Levite]], so he could fulfill the priestly role of cleansing which Moses the Levite had done first, long before him. It is apparent, that Yahshua coming to be the final ritual sacrifice for the children of Israel, the prophecy and baptism of John – for the sons of Levi – was also symbolic of the Old Testament law. That is why John was sent to baptize the sons of Levi – so that Christ could be properly sacrificed. Now Israel has been cleansed of all their sins by Christ Himself, as foretold by the prophets, and they have no need of any further cleansing.<blockquote> | |||
'''Matthew 3:13''' Then Yahshua arrives from Galilaia by the Jordan to Iohannes for which to be immersed by him. 14 But Iohannes prevented Him, saying: “I have need to be immersed by You, and You should come to me?” 15 Then responding Yahshua said to him: “Allow it for now, for thusly it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. </blockquote>The sacrifice was washed clean beforehand, as well as the priest. See Leviticus chapter 1:<blockquote>KJV '''Leviticus 1:1-13''' 1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: 8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.</blockquote> | |||
==== Witness ==== | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 3:16''' And being immersed Yahshua went up immediately from the water, and behold! The heavens opened, and He saw the Spirit of Yahweh descending as a dove and coming upon Him. 17 And behold! A voice from out of the heavens saying: “He is My beloved Son, in whom I am satisfied!” </blockquote>The declaration refers to Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee”, and also to Isaiah 42:1: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Nations.” Yet Yahweh and Yahshua are still one and the same. The voice was for the benefit of the people, not for Yahshua. [[Yahweh]] is omnipresent. Yahshua is the [[Divinity of Christ|fulness of the Divinity]] in body. | |||
==== Early Students ==== | |||
==== Nathaniel and the Fig Tree ==== | |||
==== Wedding Feast at Cana ==== | |||
==== Temptation in Wilderness ==== | |||
''See [[Temptation in the Wilderness]]'' | |||
In the wilderness, Yahshua was tempted by an adversary to make loaves into wheat-bread and responding Christ quoted [[Deuteronomy]] 8:1-3 that men live not by bread alone but from every word proceeding out of the mouth of Yahweh. The adversary then tempted Christ concerning his status as a son and quoted Psalm 91:11-12, to which Christ responded explicitly referencing the law of [[Deuteronomy]] 6:16 to not tempt Yahweh your God. The adversary being a descendant of Cain (and thus having temporary inheritance) then "offered" Christ the kingdoms of the society if he would worship him. Christ responded by quoting "‘''Yahweh your God shall you worship, and you shall serve Him only''", which is written in a couple of places in Deuteronomy. [ The adversary cannot be the “your” of that scripture, for it is meant to refer to the Israelite receiving the law, and therefore Christ Himself is the subject in this instance.] | |||
The adversary at this time then departed and following messengers arrived and served Christ. The “messengers” could refer to [[Messengers (angels)|angels]], or to people of Israel who found Him where the accuser left Him | |||
==== Rejection in Nazareth ==== | |||
==== Withdrawal into Kaphernaum ==== | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 4:12''' ''And having heard that Iohannes had been handed over [arrested] He withdrew into Galilaia. 13 And leaving Nazareth, having come He settled in [[Capernaum (Kapharnaoum)|Kapharnaoum]] by the sea in the regions of Zaboulon and Nephthalim,''</blockquote>The arrest of [[John the Baptist]] happened quite early in the ministry of Christ, and is mentioned also at Mark 1:14, Luke 3:20 and the Gospel of John at 3:24. | |||
==== Centurion's Servant ==== | |||
''See [[Healing of the Centurion's Servant]]''<blockquote>'''''Matthew 8:5''''' ''And upon His coming into Kapharnaoum, a centurion came forth to Him summoning Him 6 and saying: “Prince, my servant is a paralytic, stricken in the house, being tormented terribly!”'' </blockquote>This account is also told at Luke chapter 7, where it is somewhat more complete. The centurion is definitely not a Judaean, however it is not certain that he is a [[Romans (Zerah-Judah)|Roman]] or a Greek either. The [[Roman military|Roman army]] was constructed from men all over the empire, and the Romans purposely used men from areas other than where they were stationed, to decrease the likelihood of insurrection. The centurion may have been from one of any number of the White Adamic nations. | |||
[[Paralysis]] is actually a Greek word, spelled the same way except for one letter. The text still means today exactly what it inferred then, that there was a loss of motor skills in the person affected. For example, [[Aeneas]] (Acts 9:33) was a paralytic bedridden for eight years. | |||
==== Allow the Dead to Bury the Dead ==== | |||
<blockquote>'''''Matthew 8:18 Then Yahshua seeing a crowd around Him had commanded to depart for the other side. 19 And one scribe coming forth said to Him: “Teacher, I shall follow You wherever You should depart!” 20 And Yahshua says to him: “The foxes have dens and the birds of heaven nests, but the Son of Man has not where He may lay the head.” 21 Then another of the students said to Him “Prince, allow me first to depart and to bury my father!” 22 But Yahshua says to him “Follow Me and allow the dead to bury the dead for themselves!”'''''</blockquote>This is an example, that those of us who desire to follow Christ, really have no part with those of us who do not. Furthermore, those of us who do not wish to follow Him, may as well be dead. Without Him there is no [[life]] for any of us, so we should all desire to [[Following Christ|follow]] Him! | |||
==== Calming the Storm ==== | |||
''See [[Calming of the Storm]]''<blockquote>Matthew 8:23 And with His boarding into a vessel His students followed Him. 24 And behold, a great commotion happened on the sea, so for the vessel to be covered by the waves, but He slept. 25 And coming forth they roused Him saying “Prince, save us! We are being destroyed!” 26 And He says to them: “What, are you cowards, you of little faith?” Then arising He censured the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm. 27 Then the men marveled, saying “From whence is this man, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”</blockquote> | |||
==== Casting out of the legion ==== | |||
''See [[Casting out of the legion]]'' | |||
==== Healing of paralytic upon a cot ==== | |||
<blockquote>'''''Matthew 9:1 And having boarded into a vessel He crossed over and had come to His own city. 2 And behold! They brought to Him a paralytic placed upon a cot. And Yahshua, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic “Have courage, son, your errors are forgiven!”'''''</blockquote>In Luke's account, when He returns there are multitudes of people anxiously awaiting Him. Here Yahshua does not necessarily assert that He is God, having the authority to forgive this man of his sins, but the way His statement is worded reveals only so much as His having knowledge of the fact that this man's sins are forgiven. The scribes took it the first way, that He was asserting to be God – although of course [[Divinity of Christ|Christians should know that is also true]]. | |||
==== Calling of Matthew ==== | |||
After Christ called Matthew, it seems that it was at this time that Matthew held a reception for him at his house, as he records it in chapter 9 of his Gospel. It was here that Christ was challenged by the Pharisees, and even questioned by the students of John the Baptist (likely imprisoned at this time) concerning fasting. It is at this time that Christ gave the Parable of the Wineskins and of the cloth, and referring to Himself as the bridegroom, this was an early reference Christ made in regards to Himself which showed His divinity. John the Baptist's death is recorded in Mark chapter 6, and so it is evident that Mark's gospel is quite incomplete because Mark chapter 5 contains the story of the Gadarenes which is seen in Matthew chapter 8. | |||
==== Jairus' Daughter ==== | |||
See [[Jairus]] and [[Resurrection of Jairus' daughter]] | |||
Luke describes the man as Jairus, the leader of a synagogue, at Luke 8:41. In Matthew the narrative is broken by the story of the [[Healing of the bleeding woman|woman who grabbed his garment]], which is briefer in Matthew than in Luke's gospel where it appears in Chapter 8. | |||
==== Healing of the bleeding woman ==== | |||
See [[Healing of the bleeding woman]] | |||
Calling the woman “daughter”, whom He did not know in person, Yahshua discretely asserts Himself [[Divinity of Christ|to be Yahweh our Father.]] | |||
==== Early Mission of the Apostles ==== | |||
Christ had selected the twelve apostles and had sent them on an early mission, giving them specific instructions and making no mention of bringing weapons for defense. Furthermore, He had instructed them only to go to Israelites in the immediate region and not to the surrounding nations. This is because Christ was not yet crucified, and therefore He was not yet [[Reconciliation|reconciled]] to a “divorced” Israel, so the message of the [[Gospel]] was not yet prepared for them. Secondly, Yahshua is talking to the apostles on terms that they would understand, and at this time they understood “Israel” to include the circumcision only. The proof of that lies in Acts Chapter 10 and [[Petros (Peter)|Peter's]] need for the vision which he later received from God. The apostles, being unlearned in literature, were not aware of the identity of the long-ago-dispersed Israelites, which was the entire reason for the later ministry of [[Paul of Tarsus]]. chapter 5 and elsewhere. | |||
These early instructions were for the apostles during the ministry of Christ. They did not apply afterwards, of their later missions, where at Luke 22:35-36 it is recorded that “35 He said to them: ''When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you have want of anything?' And they said 'Nothing.' 36 Then He said to them: 'But now he having a purse must take it, and likewise a wallet, and he not having a sword must sell his garment and buy one''.” | |||
=== Passion === | |||
=== Ressurection === | |||
==== Ressurection ==== | |||
==== Appearances ==== | |||
==== Ascension ==== | |||
==== Appearances to Paul ==== | |||
=== Revelation === | |||
==== Appearance to John on Patmos ==== | |||
==== Message to the Seven Assemblies ==== | |||
=== Coming Kingship === | |||
==== Judgement ==== | |||
John the Baptist's usage of the phrase “the winnowing fan is in His hand” means that judgement belongs to Christ, however that was not the purpose of His first advent. | |||
== Ministry and Objectives == | |||
The purpose of Christ's ministry is recorded in Luke chapter 4, where He Himself quotes from the later chapters of Isaiah:<blockquote>Luke 4: “16 And he came to [[Nazareth]], where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the [[Isaiah (prophet)|prophet Esaias]]. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives ['''the Israelites, who were described as prisoners and captives by Isaiah'''], and recovering of sight to the blind ['''we should know that we are Israel!'''], to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”</blockquote>Note that He stopped before proclaiming the [[Day of Vengeance]], which has to do only with His [[Second Advent|second advent]], and not His [[First Advent|first]]. | |||
There are clear connections between Christ's word in the New Testament, and the promises to Israel recorded by [[Isaiah]] in the Old Testament. Christ had come for those who sit in [[Blindness (Punishment of Disobedience)|darkness]], for the [[Prisoners (prophecy)|prisoners]], for the [[Dispersions of Israel|captives]], for those very people of the children of Israel [[Divorce of Israel|divorced]] from their God centuries beforehand, in the very days of Isaiah! So it is evident that an honest study of scripture reveals precisely what Jeremiah prophesied to be: that the New Covenant was made by God with those very same people with whom He made the Old Covenant: the literal, physical, children of Israel.<blockquote>''Matthew 8:29 And behold, they cried out saying “What is with us and with You, O Son of Yahweh? Have You come already, to torment us prematurely?”''</blockquote>The demons recognized who [[Yahshua Christ|He]] was, and knew that He was their enemy – obviously we learn from this that even the demons know that it is not the intention of God to [[Universalism|convert His enemies]]. | |||
=== Sacrifice === | |||
<blockquote>Matthew 3:11 "Indeed I immerse you in water for repentance, but He coming after me is more powerful than me, of whom I am not worthy to carry the sandals. He shall immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire! 12 Of whom the winnowing fan is in His hand, and He shall purge His threshing-floor and He shall gather His grain into His storehouse, but the chaff He shall burn with unquenchable fire!”</blockquote>John says that he immerses in water, but that is not the mission of the Christ. This is also expressed in Acts chapter 1, verse 4 where it says “Iohannes immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit ”. This last statement is parallel to the [[Parable of the Wheat and the Tares]] found in Matthew chapter 13. The phrase “the winnowing fan is in His hand” means that judgement belongs to Christ, however that was not the purpose of His first advent. | |||
At '''Luke 12:50''' Christ exclaims “Now I have an immersion to be immersed in, and how am I constrained until when it should be completed!”<blockquote>He could not have been talking about the baptism of John, which had already transpired long before. Rather, He was talking about the baptism of His death. At Mark 10:38-40 we see this discourse between Christ and the apostles: “38 So Yahshua said to them: 'You do not know what you ask! Are you able to drink the cup which I shall drink or to be baptized in the baptism which I am baptized?' 39 Then they said to Him 'We are able!' So Yahshua said to them: 'The cup which I drink you shall drink and the baptism which I am baptized in you shall be baptized, 40 but to sit at My right or left land is not Mine to give, but for those whom it has been prepared.'”</blockquote>Paul clarifies this, at '''Romans 6:3''' where he asks “Or are you ignorant that as long as we are baptized in Christ Yahshua, into His death we are baptized?” | |||
At '''Ephesians 4:5''' Paul states that we have “One Lord, one faith, [and] one baptism”. | |||
That baptism is in the death of Christ: in His Word and what He did for the children of Israel. Only the children of Israel are baptized – cleansed – in His death. It is the Gospel that cleanses, and therefore do not let any man pretend to baptize you in water. It took even the apostles some time to understand this. The Book of Acts describes a transition from the Old Covenant rituals to the New Covenant faith. Therefore Luke records this statement of Christ at the beginning: of the book of Acts: “Iohannes baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit ” | |||
=== Saving us from our Enemies === | |||
As we see in Luke, at 1:71, part of the purpose of Christ was to bring us “preservation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us”, just as we see it professed in Psalm 107. In Psalm 112 we read: “10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.” We need to be bought back from the enemy, because it is clearly evident that in our sin, they rule over us! It is they who shall be gnashing their teeth upon the [[Second Advent]]. | |||
== Teachings == | |||
The clear connections between the Old Testament and the New demonstrate they truly are but one book containing the same teachings, for the same children of Israel. We especially saw that [[Yahshua Christ]] in His Sermon on the Mount was teaching many of those same precepts found in the ancient Hebrew literature, for the most part in the [[Psalms]] and in the [[Sirach|Wisdom of Sirach]]. Yet this does not lessen the importance of the mission of Christ one iota. Rather, it magnifies it all the more, once one understands that this is the same God, talking to the same people that He had once spoken to through the Old Testament prophets and the Law of Moses. We saw that the Sermon on the Mount was meant for [[Israel|Israelites]] only. The word neighbor in in the phrase in Leviticus 19:18 which says ''love thy [[neighbor]]'' in Hebrew is ultimately derived from a verb which means ''to graze'' together, and therefore can only refer to the sheep. The Greek word for neighbor does not mean to refer to geographical proximity, for there are other more specific words for that. Rather it simply denotes ''one who is near to'' a person. With all of the other injunctions found in the law, it too can only refer to one of the [[sheep]], and not to a [[Wolves (Biblical symbol)|wolf]] who has moved in nearby. This meaning is magnified where Yahshua tells His followers [[Holy and Separate People|not to share their pearls]] or that which is holy with [[Dogs (Biblical symbol)|dogs]] and swine. | |||
That this entire message is therefore exclusive – in the racial sense, there should be no doubt. | |||
=== Pharisees for Fear of the Judeans === | |||
<blockquote>'''''Matthew 7:28 And when it came that Yahshua had completed these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. For He was teaching them as if having authority, and not as their scribes.'''''</blockquote>Their [[Pharisees|scribes]], afraid of offending the dragon and the beast which had gotten its power from the dragon, were afraid to speak the truth even if they could, and therefore they were double-minded, their words not having any authority. At John 11:48 they are recorded as having said “If we should leave Him thusly, they shall all believe in Him, and the Romans shall come and they shall take both our place and our nation!” They knew He spoke the truth, and yet they loved the [[Society|world]] more. | |||
=== Beatitudes === | |||
=== Sermon on the Mount === | |||
=== Search the Scriptures === | |||
Christ always challenged the people of His time, to “search the Scriptures”. | |||
=== Mercy Over Sacrifice === | |||
Christ is recorded as having quoted Hosea 6:6 on more than one occasion, often towards the Pharisees who were unforgiving religiously and who thought themselves pious through pomp. Yahweh's desire for Israel to do righteously rather than use sacrifice and ritual as a crutch is desired often throughout the Old Testament, and even in a translation of the [[Septuagint]] of the [[Proverbs]] we read:<blockquote>“The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. 8 He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.” - Proverbs 16:7-8 (LXX)</blockquote> | |||
== Miracles == | |||
<blockquote>'''''Matthew 8:16 Then upon its getting late they brought to Him many who were possessed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all those having maladies, 17 that the word would be fulfilled which through the prophet Isaiah says: “He has taken our weaknesses and bears our diseases.”'''''</blockquote>The quote from Isaiah is found at 53:4. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is a [[messianic prophecy]] in its entirety. | |||
The [[apostles]] were all led by the [[Spirit]] to follow Him, and they all did so happily. Yet they still did not initially understand exactly who He was, and so even they [[Calming of the Storm|marveled at His power]]. | |||
=== Casting out of Spirits === | |||
''See [[Demons]]'' | |||
=== Healing of Lepers === | |||
''See [[Lepers]]'' | |||
While it is disputed that modern leprosy is the same disease as that which we see in the Old Testament, in ancient times those people who were [[lepers]] were cast out of the camp, town or village and left on their own, usually to die a miserable death. In the Old Testament at Numbers chapter 12 we see that [[Miriam]] had spoken against [[Moses]], and was struck with a plague of leprosy. She was relieved of her plague after seven days, according to the Word of Yahweh, but she spent those seven days as an unclean person outside of the camp. In 2 Kings chapter 7 there were four leprous men stuck outside of the gates of [[Samaria]], who were portrayed as having expected death. | |||
Christ tells the disciples of [[John the Baptist|John]] that His mission is true in these signs, at Matthew 11:5, that: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” | |||
We have prophecies concerning the [[Blindness (Punishment of Disobedience)|blind]] and the deaf in Isaiah, however there is evidently nothing in these prophecies about lepers. At Isaiah 29:18 we read: “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.” And at Isaiah 35:5: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” | |||
It is an opinion, that while the healing of lepers is not specifically prophesied of the ministry of Christ, and since contracting the disease in the ancient world was so horrible a sentence of death, that Yahshua's having cleansed lepers was symbolic of His [[Reconciliation|mercy]] upon the children of [[Israel]]: that no matter how horrible the [[Adultery|sentence of death]], His promise uttered through the prophets was to cleanse them of all of their sins, and as Isaiah 45:25 says, He promises to justify [[All of Israel is Saved|all of the offspring of Israel]], without exception and no matter how grievously they have sinned. | |||
== Reactions == | |||
=== Pharisees for Fear of the Judeans === | |||
<blockquote>'''''Matthew 7:28''' And when it came that Yahshua had completed these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. For He was teaching them as if having authority, and not as their scribes.''</blockquote>Their [[Pharisees|scribes]], afraid of offending the dragon and the beast which had gotten its power from the dragon, were afraid to speak the truth even if they could, and therefore they were double-minded, their words not having any authority. At John 11:48 they are recorded as having said “If we should leave Him thusly, they shall all believe in Him, and the Romans shall come and they shall take both our place and our nation!” They knew He spoke the truth, and yet they loved the [[Society|world]] more. | |||
=== Slanders === | |||
The Pharisees were quick to slander Christ, such as in Matthew 9:32 where after casting a demon out from a mute man they accuse Christ of performing the miracle through demons. The Pharisees were obviously envious of His ability, and quick to turn His good into evil. In John 10:21 we read an instance where some of Christ's sheep defended Him where John records that "''Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?''" | |||
== Parables == | |||
''See [[Parables of Christ]]'' | |||
== Divinity == | == Divinity == | ||
In Matthew 9:15, Yahshua Christ, calling Himself the bride-groom, asserts that he is Yahweh who would remarry Israel, just as it is promised in Hosea 2:19-20. In John 3:29 [[John the Baptist]] is said to have professed that “''He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled''.” Therefore Yahshua being the bridegroom, He must be Yahweh in the flesh! | |||
Several times Christ called the apostles His children, and while scoffers may compare this to affectionate terms used by Paul, there are other instances such as the [[Healing of the bleeding woman|woman with the issue of blood]], where calling woman “daughter”, whom He did not know in person, Yahshua discretely asserted Himself [[Divinity of Christ|to be Yahweh our Father.]] | |||
While men bemoan death and can even see it as an ultimate end, Christ is fully aware that all the seed of Israel will be saved and is through His hand that this is accomplished. Therefore, there are instances in Scripture where Yahweh slays men in order to uphold the society, and while shortsighted individuals may interpret these acts as cruel, the fact is that in the eyes of God these men are not really dead. As Yahshua had said that Yahweh is the God of the Living, and for instance with the [[resurrection of Jairus' daughter]], Yahshua did not display any empathy for the crowd. Most people today would consider this to be rude, but the mind of God is quite different from the mind of man. | |||
== Prophetic Significance == | == Prophetic Significance == | ||
=== Root of David === | |||
==== Divinity ==== | |||
=== Branch of David === | |||
==== Descent from David ==== | |||
<blockquote>Matthew 9:27 And with Yahshua passing from there two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying: “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” </blockquote>The blind men already knew that Yahshua was an heir to [[David]]. | |||
==== Zechariah ==== | |||
==== Nazorians ==== | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 2:22''' And hearing that [[Herod Archelaus|Archelaos]] reigns over Judaea in place of his father Herodas, he feared to depart for there. But being warned in a dream he withdrew into the parts of Galilaia, 23 and coming he settled in a city called Nazaret, that that which had been spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled, that He shall be called a Nazoraian.</blockquote>There are two different Greek words which are both said by Strong to mean “of Nazareth”: Ναζαρηνός (3479), always “Nazarene” here, and Ναζωραῖος (3480), always “Nazoraian” here. The A. V. often translates either word “of Nazareth”, and Ναζαρηνός is the more proper of the two forms for that. Thayer does not put “of Nazareth” in his definition for Ναζωραῖος. According to Moulton - Geden, which some mss. may vary from, Ναζαρηνός is found at Mark 1:24, 10:47, 14:67, 16:6; Luke 4:34 and 24:19, and Ναζωραῖος is found at Matt. 2:23 and 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5 and 7, and 19:19; Acts 2:22, 3:6, 4:10, 6:14, 22:8, 24:5, and 26:9. | |||
It is evident that the sect of Christians was called “Nazoraians”, and Josephus writes of the sect about this same time, which Whiston translated “Nazirites”, at Antiquities 19.6.1 (19:294), which can only be referring to Christians. For “Nazirite” in the Old Testament see Numbers chapter 6; Judges. 13:5 and 7, 16:17; Lam. 4:7; and Amos 2:11-12, where in the LXX Greek the word was translated from Hebrew as “consecrated ones”. | |||
Before the Judaean followers of Christ were called “Christians” after Yahshua Christ, they were called “[[Nazoraians]]” after Yahshua the Nazoraian, evident at Acts 24:5. Initially the jews would not refer to the followers of Christ as “Christians”, nor would they call Jesus the Christ, because the very use of the name admitted the truth! This is why Paul is called in Acts Chapter 25 “a leader of the sect of the Nazoraians”. | |||
That Christ was to be called a Nazarene, is a literal interpretation of the Hebrew word for branch, which is netzar, Strong's number 5342, which is translated branch at Isaiah 11:1. This word also apparently gave the town of [[Nazareth]] its name. | |||
=== Light === | |||
''See [[The Light]]'' | |||
From John 1:4-7 and 8:12 and elsewhere we learn that Yahshua is the [[The Light|Light]] come into the society. In His absence, those who carry His Word become that light also (Mat 5:14). This is the light of Isaiah, the light of Isaiah 9:1 and 42:8, by which the [[nations]] of [[Dispersions of Israel|Israel]] were to be illuminated. | |||
=== Living Waters === | |||
''See [[Living Waters]]''<blockquote>Isaiah 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. ['''The [[Prisoners (prophecy)|prisoners]] are the Israelites of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities'''.] They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.</blockquote>[[Yahshua Christ|He who is]] the fountain of Living Waters says at Revelation 7:16: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” | |||
== Shepherd of the Sheep == | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 9:35''' And Yahshua went around all the cities and villages teaching in their assembly halls and proclaiming the good message of the kingdom and healing every disease and every weakness. 36 But seeing the crowds He had been deeply moved on account of them, because they were troubled and downcast, just as sheep not having a shepherd.</blockquote>First century Judaea was much like America is [[Mystery Babylon|now become]]: a nation of lost people, because their independence was stolen by a tyranny which seemed to be headed by a cabal led by the international [[Jews|jew]]. Wherever they turned, either to the government or to the religious authorities, who were working hand-in-hand, there was no mercy and no justice, but only oppression. How could [[Romans (Zerah-Judah)|Rome]] be just, having given over the kingship in Judaea to a corrupt tyrant such as [[Herod Antipas|Herod]]? | |||
== Son of Yahweh == | |||
See also [[The Son of God]] and [[Sons of God]] | |||
Christ is often called a Son of Yahweh (or Son of God) and various misinformed sects over the centuries have taken this to mean that Christ was the "only" begotten son of God - despite the common phrase being more adequately rendered as "most-beloved". It is a scriptural truth that Adam was a son of God, and that the children of Israel are referred to as sons and daughters several times throughout scripture. | |||
Even an adversary ostensibly recognized this, though it is also very possible that Matthew had just made a clear amendation while recording his account.<blockquote>Matthew 4:6 ''and says to Him: “If You are '''a''' Son of Yahweh, throw Yourself down, for it is written that ‘He commanded His messengers concerning You, and by their hands they shall bear You, lest at any time You may strike Your foot against a stone.’”''</blockquote>[A son, not THE son, of Yahweh. For this very same reason it is written, in the opening verses of the gospel of John, that “''But as many who received Him, He gave to them the authority which the '''children of Yahweh''' are to attain, to those believing in His Name''”. We do not know the power we would have, if we would only obey Yahweh our Father – all the things which Christ was able to do, He tells us that we too should be able to do.] | |||
When Christ is referred to as '''the''' son of God, it is in reference to the Messianic psalm which refers to the Messiah's kingship and inheritance of the Melchizedek priesthood. | |||
== Kingship == | |||
=== Warrior Messiah === | |||
It is written that the Messiah will trample over His enemies during the Second Advent in the day of Yahweh's Vengeance. During the [[Temptation in the Wilderness|temptation in the wilderness]], an adversary attempted to tempt Christ by quoting Psalm 91:11-12 where it says "''He commanded His messengers concerning You, and by their hands they shall bear You, lest at any time You may strike Your foot against a stone.''" | |||
Ironically enough, this adversary failed to quote the proceeding verse which says "“''Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the [[The Dragon|dragon]] shalt thou trample under feet.''” | |||
The lion is only an allegory for a strong man, and at Luke chapter 10 verses 18 and 19 Yahshua said "''I beheld the Adversary falling as lightning from heaven! 19 Behold! I have given to you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, and no one shall by any means do you injustice.'' “ So we see this same idea conveyed in the Psalm, and the very διάβολος speaking to Christ during the temptation in the wilderness was ironically the subject of that same thing, he himself being a dragon and a [[Scorpions (prophecy)|scorpion]]. | |||
=== Judgement === | |||
Job chapter 34 discusses the righteous judgement of God, and verse 30 expresses the hope: “That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.” In the old kingdom, the role of the [[King of Israel|king]] was as the ultimate judge of the people, and we see as much in the prayer of Solomon upon his becoming king, at 1 Kings 3:9 where he said: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” It says at 1 Kings 7:7: “Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.” | |||
When our people rejected [[Yahweh]] as King, we invited hypocritical human judgement upon ourselves, and have been naturally punished by it ever since. One of the promises of Christianity is that [[Yahshua Christ|Christ]] be our judge, and then we shall all be judged fairly, before God who knows all, and not before man whose judgement is clouded and partial and whose knowledge is incomplete. | |||
== Bridegroom == | |||
In Matthew 9:15, Yahshua Christ, calling Himself the bride-groom, asserts that he is Yahweh who would remarry Israel, just as it is promised in Hosea 2:19-20. In John 3:29 [[John the Baptist]] is said to have professed that “''He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.''” Therefore Yahshua being the bridegroom, He must be Yahweh in the flesh! | |||
== Melchizedek Priesthood == | |||
== Prescience == | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 10:17 But take heed on account of men, for they shall hand you over to councils and they shall whip you in their assembly halls 18 and you shall be brought before governors and even kings because of Me for a testimony to them and to the Nations.'''</blockquote>This was fulfilled with the [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] [[Martyrdom|martyrs]]. For 300 years Christians were [[Christian Persecution|persecuted]] at the instigation of the [[jews]]. They were indeed dragged before kings, governors, and judges. Little things like this in the [[Gospel|gospels]], which are hardly noticed or which are taken for granted by nearly all Christians, indeed prove that Christianity is true – how could Christ make such a statement, and we see that it all came true, with such bold confidence? How was He so confident that thousands would follow Him to their death, for a mere profession of their faith? Only because He knew that it was true – and only God could know such things so far ahead of time. | |||
== Mirrored Life with Israel == | |||
<blockquote>'''Matthew 2:13''' And upon their withdrawing, behold! A messenger of Yahweh appeared in a dream to Ioseph, saying: “Arising, take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt, and you must be there until when I should speak to you. For Herodas is about to seek the child and to destroy it!” 14 And arising he took the child and His mother at night and withdrew into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herodas, in order that that which had been spoken by Yahweh through the prophet should be fulfilled, saying: “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”</blockquote>The words are found at Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Matthew interpreted Hosea 11:1 as a dual prophecy, applying to Christ as well as the people of Israel. The things which Israel suffered during her national history, Christ also was to suffer. Going to Egypt to flee death was symbolic of the children of Israel who did likewise many centuries before. This further solidifies the bond between the Christ and His people Israel.<blockquote>It says in Amos 3: “1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”</blockquote>In this respect, Paul wrote at Hebrews 2:<blockquote>“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”</blockquote>The Children of Israel escaped the slaughter of the first-born and the bondage of Egypt by the blood of a lamb. Now we need to escape the judgement of this world and our present state of bondage by the blood of The Lamb. |
Latest revision as of 19:06, 27 June 2023
Yahshua Christ, also known in more recent times as Jesus, is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament and a physical embodiment of Yahweh God on Earth. During his ministry in Judea, He taught many followers, selected twelve core students, and performed miracles for the remant Israelites in Palestine. His actions and teachings brought Him into conflict with the ruling class of Judea, particularly the Pharisees, many of whom were of Edomite descent by the time of His ministry. This tension came to a head when Judas Iscariot, an Idumean, betrayed Yahshua to the Pharisees, who subsequently put Him on trial and orchestrated His crucifixion.
The crucifixion of Christ was explicitly foretold in the Old Testament, and as Christ repeated several times it was a neccesary event for the fulfillment of scripture. Being Yahweh God incarnate on Earth as a man, the death of Christ on the cross released the wife (Israel) from the law of the Husband (Yahweh), allowing for a fruitful and eternal remarriage in fulfillment of several prophecies. Additionally, Yahshua's resurrection three days after His burial serves as a testimony that all Adamic men and women will also one day be resurrected and join Him in a glorified state. This time will come following the prophesied Fall of Babylon, when Christ returns to slay His enemies and usher in a Kingdom on Earth which He Himself will rule as King.
The length of Yahshua Christ's ministry can be measured through counting the passovers described in the Gospel of John, which amounting up to three and a half years coincides with the description given in Daniel's 70 Weeks. The feats and accomplishments of Yahshua's ministry are described in the four canonical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Etymology of Name
Of the successor to Moses, Joshua of the Biblical book by that name, Yahweh says at Exodus 23:21
“Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.”
The name Ἰησοῦς being in the Greek Septuagint that same name which was translated from the Hebrew into English as Joshua, therefore the name of Christ is Yahshua – which means Yahweh Saves.
It is possible to see the Greek Ἰησοῦς derived from Hebrew words meaning simply “He Saves”, however this could only be a play on words.
Emmanuel
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb and she shall bear a son, and they shall call Him ‘Emmanouel’!” which is interpreted “God is with us”.
God is with us – Yahshua Christ is certainly Yahweh Himself come in the flesh, as so many other Scriptures attest! This is where Leviticus 26 is fulfilled, where it says:
“12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” Also, Ezekiel 37, speaking of His second advent, “27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen [or properly nations] shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”
His tabernacle is the physical body of the Christ.
Life and Biography
Divinity
Nativity
See the article Race of Christ
During the time of Christ, many Israelites who were awaiting a Messiah were aware that his arrival was imminent due to the clear timeline outlined in the prophecy of Daniel's 70 weeks. This expectation is evident in the Gospels, as many believed John the Baptist to be the Messiah and the Samaritan woman also recognized that the Messiah "comes".
Star of Bethlehem
Whichever scripture which referred to the star has not apparently survived.
Visitation of Magi
See Magi
Geneaology
See the article Geneaology of Christ
The geneaology of Christ is provided for in the accounts of Matthew and Luke which demonstrate His unadulterated and pure descent from David, Abraham, and Adam. The geneaologies which were available to the ambassadors were incomplete, largely because of the burning of the geneaological records by Herod. There are many diverse theories concerning the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke's geneaologies, with the most logical being that Matthew incorporated kinsman redemption in an officlal line to the throne of David, while Luke gave a more literal line of physical descent.
Early Life
Very little is known of Yahshua's early life besides His being found by His mother and father in the temple at the age of twelve.
Ministry
Luke's account provides information that Yahshua started His ministry at the age of thirty, which was the minimum age requirement for a man to begin teaching the children of Israel.
Baptism
Remember the words of Yahweh in Malachi chapter 3, “and he shall purify the sons of Levi”:John the Baptist was also a Levite, so he could fulfill the priestly role of cleansing which Moses the Levite had done first, long before him. It is apparent, that Yahshua coming to be the final ritual sacrifice for the children of Israel, the prophecy and baptism of John – for the sons of Levi – was also symbolic of the Old Testament law. That is why John was sent to baptize the sons of Levi – so that Christ could be properly sacrificed. Now Israel has been cleansed of all their sins by Christ Himself, as foretold by the prophets, and they have no need of any further cleansing.
Matthew 3:13 Then Yahshua arrives from Galilaia by the Jordan to Iohannes for which to be immersed by him. 14 But Iohannes prevented Him, saying: “I have need to be immersed by You, and You should come to me?” 15 Then responding Yahshua said to him: “Allow it for now, for thusly it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
The sacrifice was washed clean beforehand, as well as the priest. See Leviticus chapter 1:
KJV Leviticus 1:1-13 1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: 8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. 10 And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Witness
Matthew 3:16 And being immersed Yahshua went up immediately from the water, and behold! The heavens opened, and He saw the Spirit of Yahweh descending as a dove and coming upon Him. 17 And behold! A voice from out of the heavens saying: “He is My beloved Son, in whom I am satisfied!”
The declaration refers to Psalm 2:7, “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee”, and also to Isaiah 42:1: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Nations.” Yet Yahweh and Yahshua are still one and the same. The voice was for the benefit of the people, not for Yahshua. Yahweh is omnipresent. Yahshua is the fulness of the Divinity in body.
Early Students
Nathaniel and the Fig Tree
Wedding Feast at Cana
Temptation in Wilderness
See Temptation in the Wilderness
In the wilderness, Yahshua was tempted by an adversary to make loaves into wheat-bread and responding Christ quoted Deuteronomy 8:1-3 that men live not by bread alone but from every word proceeding out of the mouth of Yahweh. The adversary then tempted Christ concerning his status as a son and quoted Psalm 91:11-12, to which Christ responded explicitly referencing the law of Deuteronomy 6:16 to not tempt Yahweh your God. The adversary being a descendant of Cain (and thus having temporary inheritance) then "offered" Christ the kingdoms of the society if he would worship him. Christ responded by quoting "‘Yahweh your God shall you worship, and you shall serve Him only", which is written in a couple of places in Deuteronomy. [ The adversary cannot be the “your” of that scripture, for it is meant to refer to the Israelite receiving the law, and therefore Christ Himself is the subject in this instance.]
The adversary at this time then departed and following messengers arrived and served Christ. The “messengers” could refer to angels, or to people of Israel who found Him where the accuser left Him
Rejection in Nazareth
Withdrawal into Kaphernaum
Matthew 4:12 And having heard that Iohannes had been handed over [arrested] He withdrew into Galilaia. 13 And leaving Nazareth, having come He settled in Kapharnaoum by the sea in the regions of Zaboulon and Nephthalim,
The arrest of John the Baptist happened quite early in the ministry of Christ, and is mentioned also at Mark 1:14, Luke 3:20 and the Gospel of John at 3:24.
Centurion's Servant
See Healing of the Centurion's Servant
Matthew 8:5 And upon His coming into Kapharnaoum, a centurion came forth to Him summoning Him 6 and saying: “Prince, my servant is a paralytic, stricken in the house, being tormented terribly!”
This account is also told at Luke chapter 7, where it is somewhat more complete. The centurion is definitely not a Judaean, however it is not certain that he is a Roman or a Greek either. The Roman army was constructed from men all over the empire, and the Romans purposely used men from areas other than where they were stationed, to decrease the likelihood of insurrection. The centurion may have been from one of any number of the White Adamic nations.
Paralysis is actually a Greek word, spelled the same way except for one letter. The text still means today exactly what it inferred then, that there was a loss of motor skills in the person affected. For example, Aeneas (Acts 9:33) was a paralytic bedridden for eight years.
Allow the Dead to Bury the Dead
Matthew 8:18 Then Yahshua seeing a crowd around Him had commanded to depart for the other side. 19 And one scribe coming forth said to Him: “Teacher, I shall follow You wherever You should depart!” 20 And Yahshua says to him: “The foxes have dens and the birds of heaven nests, but the Son of Man has not where He may lay the head.” 21 Then another of the students said to Him “Prince, allow me first to depart and to bury my father!” 22 But Yahshua says to him “Follow Me and allow the dead to bury the dead for themselves!”
This is an example, that those of us who desire to follow Christ, really have no part with those of us who do not. Furthermore, those of us who do not wish to follow Him, may as well be dead. Without Him there is no life for any of us, so we should all desire to follow Him!
Calming the Storm
Matthew 8:23 And with His boarding into a vessel His students followed Him. 24 And behold, a great commotion happened on the sea, so for the vessel to be covered by the waves, but He slept. 25 And coming forth they roused Him saying “Prince, save us! We are being destroyed!” 26 And He says to them: “What, are you cowards, you of little faith?” Then arising He censured the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm. 27 Then the men marveled, saying “From whence is this man, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Casting out of the legion
Healing of paralytic upon a cot
Matthew 9:1 And having boarded into a vessel He crossed over and had come to His own city. 2 And behold! They brought to Him a paralytic placed upon a cot. And Yahshua, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic “Have courage, son, your errors are forgiven!”
In Luke's account, when He returns there are multitudes of people anxiously awaiting Him. Here Yahshua does not necessarily assert that He is God, having the authority to forgive this man of his sins, but the way His statement is worded reveals only so much as His having knowledge of the fact that this man's sins are forgiven. The scribes took it the first way, that He was asserting to be God – although of course Christians should know that is also true.
Calling of Matthew
After Christ called Matthew, it seems that it was at this time that Matthew held a reception for him at his house, as he records it in chapter 9 of his Gospel. It was here that Christ was challenged by the Pharisees, and even questioned by the students of John the Baptist (likely imprisoned at this time) concerning fasting. It is at this time that Christ gave the Parable of the Wineskins and of the cloth, and referring to Himself as the bridegroom, this was an early reference Christ made in regards to Himself which showed His divinity. John the Baptist's death is recorded in Mark chapter 6, and so it is evident that Mark's gospel is quite incomplete because Mark chapter 5 contains the story of the Gadarenes which is seen in Matthew chapter 8.
Jairus' Daughter
See Jairus and Resurrection of Jairus' daughter
Luke describes the man as Jairus, the leader of a synagogue, at Luke 8:41. In Matthew the narrative is broken by the story of the woman who grabbed his garment, which is briefer in Matthew than in Luke's gospel where it appears in Chapter 8.
Healing of the bleeding woman
See Healing of the bleeding woman
Calling the woman “daughter”, whom He did not know in person, Yahshua discretely asserts Himself to be Yahweh our Father.
Early Mission of the Apostles
Christ had selected the twelve apostles and had sent them on an early mission, giving them specific instructions and making no mention of bringing weapons for defense. Furthermore, He had instructed them only to go to Israelites in the immediate region and not to the surrounding nations. This is because Christ was not yet crucified, and therefore He was not yet reconciled to a “divorced” Israel, so the message of the Gospel was not yet prepared for them. Secondly, Yahshua is talking to the apostles on terms that they would understand, and at this time they understood “Israel” to include the circumcision only. The proof of that lies in Acts Chapter 10 and Peter's need for the vision which he later received from God. The apostles, being unlearned in literature, were not aware of the identity of the long-ago-dispersed Israelites, which was the entire reason for the later ministry of Paul of Tarsus. chapter 5 and elsewhere.
These early instructions were for the apostles during the ministry of Christ. They did not apply afterwards, of their later missions, where at Luke 22:35-36 it is recorded that “35 He said to them: When I sent you without purse and wallet and sandals, did you have want of anything?' And they said 'Nothing.' 36 Then He said to them: 'But now he having a purse must take it, and likewise a wallet, and he not having a sword must sell his garment and buy one.”
Passion
Ressurection
Ressurection
Appearances
Ascension
Appearances to Paul
Revelation
Appearance to John on Patmos
Message to the Seven Assemblies
Coming Kingship
Judgement
John the Baptist's usage of the phrase “the winnowing fan is in His hand” means that judgement belongs to Christ, however that was not the purpose of His first advent.
Ministry and Objectives
The purpose of Christ's ministry is recorded in Luke chapter 4, where He Himself quotes from the later chapters of Isaiah:
Luke 4: “16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives [the Israelites, who were described as prisoners and captives by Isaiah], and recovering of sight to the blind [we should know that we are Israel!], to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Note that He stopped before proclaiming the Day of Vengeance, which has to do only with His second advent, and not His first. There are clear connections between Christ's word in the New Testament, and the promises to Israel recorded by Isaiah in the Old Testament. Christ had come for those who sit in darkness, for the prisoners, for the captives, for those very people of the children of Israel divorced from their God centuries beforehand, in the very days of Isaiah! So it is evident that an honest study of scripture reveals precisely what Jeremiah prophesied to be: that the New Covenant was made by God with those very same people with whom He made the Old Covenant: the literal, physical, children of Israel.
Matthew 8:29 And behold, they cried out saying “What is with us and with You, O Son of Yahweh? Have You come already, to torment us prematurely?”
The demons recognized who He was, and knew that He was their enemy – obviously we learn from this that even the demons know that it is not the intention of God to convert His enemies.
Sacrifice
Matthew 3:11 "Indeed I immerse you in water for repentance, but He coming after me is more powerful than me, of whom I am not worthy to carry the sandals. He shall immerse you in the Holy Spirit, and in fire! 12 Of whom the winnowing fan is in His hand, and He shall purge His threshing-floor and He shall gather His grain into His storehouse, but the chaff He shall burn with unquenchable fire!”
John says that he immerses in water, but that is not the mission of the Christ. This is also expressed in Acts chapter 1, verse 4 where it says “Iohannes immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit ”. This last statement is parallel to the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares found in Matthew chapter 13. The phrase “the winnowing fan is in His hand” means that judgement belongs to Christ, however that was not the purpose of His first advent. At Luke 12:50 Christ exclaims “Now I have an immersion to be immersed in, and how am I constrained until when it should be completed!”
He could not have been talking about the baptism of John, which had already transpired long before. Rather, He was talking about the baptism of His death. At Mark 10:38-40 we see this discourse between Christ and the apostles: “38 So Yahshua said to them: 'You do not know what you ask! Are you able to drink the cup which I shall drink or to be baptized in the baptism which I am baptized?' 39 Then they said to Him 'We are able!' So Yahshua said to them: 'The cup which I drink you shall drink and the baptism which I am baptized in you shall be baptized, 40 but to sit at My right or left land is not Mine to give, but for those whom it has been prepared.'”
Paul clarifies this, at Romans 6:3 where he asks “Or are you ignorant that as long as we are baptized in Christ Yahshua, into His death we are baptized?”
At Ephesians 4:5 Paul states that we have “One Lord, one faith, [and] one baptism”.
That baptism is in the death of Christ: in His Word and what He did for the children of Israel. Only the children of Israel are baptized – cleansed – in His death. It is the Gospel that cleanses, and therefore do not let any man pretend to baptize you in water. It took even the apostles some time to understand this. The Book of Acts describes a transition from the Old Covenant rituals to the New Covenant faith. Therefore Luke records this statement of Christ at the beginning: of the book of Acts: “Iohannes baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit ”
Saving us from our Enemies
As we see in Luke, at 1:71, part of the purpose of Christ was to bring us “preservation from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us”, just as we see it professed in Psalm 107. In Psalm 112 we read: “10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.” We need to be bought back from the enemy, because it is clearly evident that in our sin, they rule over us! It is they who shall be gnashing their teeth upon the Second Advent.
Teachings
The clear connections between the Old Testament and the New demonstrate they truly are but one book containing the same teachings, for the same children of Israel. We especially saw that Yahshua Christ in His Sermon on the Mount was teaching many of those same precepts found in the ancient Hebrew literature, for the most part in the Psalms and in the Wisdom of Sirach. Yet this does not lessen the importance of the mission of Christ one iota. Rather, it magnifies it all the more, once one understands that this is the same God, talking to the same people that He had once spoken to through the Old Testament prophets and the Law of Moses. We saw that the Sermon on the Mount was meant for Israelites only. The word neighbor in in the phrase in Leviticus 19:18 which says love thy neighbor in Hebrew is ultimately derived from a verb which means to graze together, and therefore can only refer to the sheep. The Greek word for neighbor does not mean to refer to geographical proximity, for there are other more specific words for that. Rather it simply denotes one who is near to a person. With all of the other injunctions found in the law, it too can only refer to one of the sheep, and not to a wolf who has moved in nearby. This meaning is magnified where Yahshua tells His followers not to share their pearls or that which is holy with dogs and swine.
That this entire message is therefore exclusive – in the racial sense, there should be no doubt.
Pharisees for Fear of the Judeans
Matthew 7:28 And when it came that Yahshua had completed these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. For He was teaching them as if having authority, and not as their scribes.
Their scribes, afraid of offending the dragon and the beast which had gotten its power from the dragon, were afraid to speak the truth even if they could, and therefore they were double-minded, their words not having any authority. At John 11:48 they are recorded as having said “If we should leave Him thusly, they shall all believe in Him, and the Romans shall come and they shall take both our place and our nation!” They knew He spoke the truth, and yet they loved the world more.
Beatitudes
Sermon on the Mount
Search the Scriptures
Christ always challenged the people of His time, to “search the Scriptures”.
Mercy Over Sacrifice
Christ is recorded as having quoted Hosea 6:6 on more than one occasion, often towards the Pharisees who were unforgiving religiously and who thought themselves pious through pomp. Yahweh's desire for Israel to do righteously rather than use sacrifice and ritual as a crutch is desired often throughout the Old Testament, and even in a translation of the Septuagint of the Proverbs we read:
“The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. 8 He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace.” - Proverbs 16:7-8 (LXX)
Miracles
Matthew 8:16 Then upon its getting late they brought to Him many who were possessed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all those having maladies, 17 that the word would be fulfilled which through the prophet Isaiah says: “He has taken our weaknesses and bears our diseases.”
The quote from Isaiah is found at 53:4. Chapter 53 of Isaiah is a messianic prophecy in its entirety.
The apostles were all led by the Spirit to follow Him, and they all did so happily. Yet they still did not initially understand exactly who He was, and so even they marveled at His power.
Casting out of Spirits
See Demons
Healing of Lepers
See Lepers
While it is disputed that modern leprosy is the same disease as that which we see in the Old Testament, in ancient times those people who were lepers were cast out of the camp, town or village and left on their own, usually to die a miserable death. In the Old Testament at Numbers chapter 12 we see that Miriam had spoken against Moses, and was struck with a plague of leprosy. She was relieved of her plague after seven days, according to the Word of Yahweh, but she spent those seven days as an unclean person outside of the camp. In 2 Kings chapter 7 there were four leprous men stuck outside of the gates of Samaria, who were portrayed as having expected death.
Christ tells the disciples of John that His mission is true in these signs, at Matthew 11:5, that: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
We have prophecies concerning the blind and the deaf in Isaiah, however there is evidently nothing in these prophecies about lepers. At Isaiah 29:18 we read: “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.” And at Isaiah 35:5: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”
It is an opinion, that while the healing of lepers is not specifically prophesied of the ministry of Christ, and since contracting the disease in the ancient world was so horrible a sentence of death, that Yahshua's having cleansed lepers was symbolic of His mercy upon the children of Israel: that no matter how horrible the sentence of death, His promise uttered through the prophets was to cleanse them of all of their sins, and as Isaiah 45:25 says, He promises to justify all of the offspring of Israel, without exception and no matter how grievously they have sinned.
Reactions
Pharisees for Fear of the Judeans
Matthew 7:28 And when it came that Yahshua had completed these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. For He was teaching them as if having authority, and not as their scribes.
Their scribes, afraid of offending the dragon and the beast which had gotten its power from the dragon, were afraid to speak the truth even if they could, and therefore they were double-minded, their words not having any authority. At John 11:48 they are recorded as having said “If we should leave Him thusly, they shall all believe in Him, and the Romans shall come and they shall take both our place and our nation!” They knew He spoke the truth, and yet they loved the world more.
Slanders
The Pharisees were quick to slander Christ, such as in Matthew 9:32 where after casting a demon out from a mute man they accuse Christ of performing the miracle through demons. The Pharisees were obviously envious of His ability, and quick to turn His good into evil. In John 10:21 we read an instance where some of Christ's sheep defended Him where John records that "Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"
Parables
Divinity
In Matthew 9:15, Yahshua Christ, calling Himself the bride-groom, asserts that he is Yahweh who would remarry Israel, just as it is promised in Hosea 2:19-20. In John 3:29 John the Baptist is said to have professed that “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” Therefore Yahshua being the bridegroom, He must be Yahweh in the flesh!
Several times Christ called the apostles His children, and while scoffers may compare this to affectionate terms used by Paul, there are other instances such as the woman with the issue of blood, where calling woman “daughter”, whom He did not know in person, Yahshua discretely asserted Himself to be Yahweh our Father.
While men bemoan death and can even see it as an ultimate end, Christ is fully aware that all the seed of Israel will be saved and is through His hand that this is accomplished. Therefore, there are instances in Scripture where Yahweh slays men in order to uphold the society, and while shortsighted individuals may interpret these acts as cruel, the fact is that in the eyes of God these men are not really dead. As Yahshua had said that Yahweh is the God of the Living, and for instance with the resurrection of Jairus' daughter, Yahshua did not display any empathy for the crowd. Most people today would consider this to be rude, but the mind of God is quite different from the mind of man.
Prophetic Significance
Root of David
Divinity
Branch of David
Descent from David
Matthew 9:27 And with Yahshua passing from there two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying: “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
The blind men already knew that Yahshua was an heir to David.
Zechariah
Nazorians
Matthew 2:22 And hearing that Archelaos reigns over Judaea in place of his father Herodas, he feared to depart for there. But being warned in a dream he withdrew into the parts of Galilaia, 23 and coming he settled in a city called Nazaret, that that which had been spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled, that He shall be called a Nazoraian.
There are two different Greek words which are both said by Strong to mean “of Nazareth”: Ναζαρηνός (3479), always “Nazarene” here, and Ναζωραῖος (3480), always “Nazoraian” here. The A. V. often translates either word “of Nazareth”, and Ναζαρηνός is the more proper of the two forms for that. Thayer does not put “of Nazareth” in his definition for Ναζωραῖος. According to Moulton - Geden, which some mss. may vary from, Ναζαρηνός is found at Mark 1:24, 10:47, 14:67, 16:6; Luke 4:34 and 24:19, and Ναζωραῖος is found at Matt. 2:23 and 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5 and 7, and 19:19; Acts 2:22, 3:6, 4:10, 6:14, 22:8, 24:5, and 26:9.
It is evident that the sect of Christians was called “Nazoraians”, and Josephus writes of the sect about this same time, which Whiston translated “Nazirites”, at Antiquities 19.6.1 (19:294), which can only be referring to Christians. For “Nazirite” in the Old Testament see Numbers chapter 6; Judges. 13:5 and 7, 16:17; Lam. 4:7; and Amos 2:11-12, where in the LXX Greek the word was translated from Hebrew as “consecrated ones”.
Before the Judaean followers of Christ were called “Christians” after Yahshua Christ, they were called “Nazoraians” after Yahshua the Nazoraian, evident at Acts 24:5. Initially the jews would not refer to the followers of Christ as “Christians”, nor would they call Jesus the Christ, because the very use of the name admitted the truth! This is why Paul is called in Acts Chapter 25 “a leader of the sect of the Nazoraians”.
That Christ was to be called a Nazarene, is a literal interpretation of the Hebrew word for branch, which is netzar, Strong's number 5342, which is translated branch at Isaiah 11:1. This word also apparently gave the town of Nazareth its name.
Light
See The Light
From John 1:4-7 and 8:12 and elsewhere we learn that Yahshua is the Light come into the society. In His absence, those who carry His Word become that light also (Mat 5:14). This is the light of Isaiah, the light of Isaiah 9:1 and 42:8, by which the nations of Israel were to be illuminated.
Living Waters
See Living Waters
Isaiah 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. [The prisoners are the Israelites of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities.] They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
He who is the fountain of Living Waters says at Revelation 7:16: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.”
Shepherd of the Sheep
Matthew 9:35 And Yahshua went around all the cities and villages teaching in their assembly halls and proclaiming the good message of the kingdom and healing every disease and every weakness. 36 But seeing the crowds He had been deeply moved on account of them, because they were troubled and downcast, just as sheep not having a shepherd.
First century Judaea was much like America is now become: a nation of lost people, because their independence was stolen by a tyranny which seemed to be headed by a cabal led by the international jew. Wherever they turned, either to the government or to the religious authorities, who were working hand-in-hand, there was no mercy and no justice, but only oppression. How could Rome be just, having given over the kingship in Judaea to a corrupt tyrant such as Herod?
Son of Yahweh
See also The Son of God and Sons of God
Christ is often called a Son of Yahweh (or Son of God) and various misinformed sects over the centuries have taken this to mean that Christ was the "only" begotten son of God - despite the common phrase being more adequately rendered as "most-beloved". It is a scriptural truth that Adam was a son of God, and that the children of Israel are referred to as sons and daughters several times throughout scripture.
Even an adversary ostensibly recognized this, though it is also very possible that Matthew had just made a clear amendation while recording his account.
Matthew 4:6 and says to Him: “If You are a Son of Yahweh, throw Yourself down, for it is written that ‘He commanded His messengers concerning You, and by their hands they shall bear You, lest at any time You may strike Your foot against a stone.’”
[A son, not THE son, of Yahweh. For this very same reason it is written, in the opening verses of the gospel of John, that “But as many who received Him, He gave to them the authority which the children of Yahweh are to attain, to those believing in His Name”. We do not know the power we would have, if we would only obey Yahweh our Father – all the things which Christ was able to do, He tells us that we too should be able to do.]
When Christ is referred to as the son of God, it is in reference to the Messianic psalm which refers to the Messiah's kingship and inheritance of the Melchizedek priesthood.
Kingship
Warrior Messiah
It is written that the Messiah will trample over His enemies during the Second Advent in the day of Yahweh's Vengeance. During the temptation in the wilderness, an adversary attempted to tempt Christ by quoting Psalm 91:11-12 where it says "He commanded His messengers concerning You, and by their hands they shall bear You, lest at any time You may strike Your foot against a stone."
Ironically enough, this adversary failed to quote the proceeding verse which says "“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”
The lion is only an allegory for a strong man, and at Luke chapter 10 verses 18 and 19 Yahshua said "I beheld the Adversary falling as lightning from heaven! 19 Behold! I have given to you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy, and no one shall by any means do you injustice. “ So we see this same idea conveyed in the Psalm, and the very διάβολος speaking to Christ during the temptation in the wilderness was ironically the subject of that same thing, he himself being a dragon and a scorpion.
Judgement
Job chapter 34 discusses the righteous judgement of God, and verse 30 expresses the hope: “That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.” In the old kingdom, the role of the king was as the ultimate judge of the people, and we see as much in the prayer of Solomon upon his becoming king, at 1 Kings 3:9 where he said: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” It says at 1 Kings 7:7: “Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.”
When our people rejected Yahweh as King, we invited hypocritical human judgement upon ourselves, and have been naturally punished by it ever since. One of the promises of Christianity is that Christ be our judge, and then we shall all be judged fairly, before God who knows all, and not before man whose judgement is clouded and partial and whose knowledge is incomplete.
Bridegroom
In Matthew 9:15, Yahshua Christ, calling Himself the bride-groom, asserts that he is Yahweh who would remarry Israel, just as it is promised in Hosea 2:19-20. In John 3:29 John the Baptist is said to have professed that “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” Therefore Yahshua being the bridegroom, He must be Yahweh in the flesh!
Melchizedek Priesthood
Prescience
Matthew 10:17 But take heed on account of men, for they shall hand you over to councils and they shall whip you in their assembly halls 18 and you shall be brought before governors and even kings because of Me for a testimony to them and to the Nations.
This was fulfilled with the early Christian martyrs. For 300 years Christians were persecuted at the instigation of the jews. They were indeed dragged before kings, governors, and judges. Little things like this in the gospels, which are hardly noticed or which are taken for granted by nearly all Christians, indeed prove that Christianity is true – how could Christ make such a statement, and we see that it all came true, with such bold confidence? How was He so confident that thousands would follow Him to their death, for a mere profession of their faith? Only because He knew that it was true – and only God could know such things so far ahead of time.
Mirrored Life with Israel
Matthew 2:13 And upon their withdrawing, behold! A messenger of Yahweh appeared in a dream to Ioseph, saying: “Arising, take the child and His mother and flee into Egypt, and you must be there until when I should speak to you. For Herodas is about to seek the child and to destroy it!” 14 And arising he took the child and His mother at night and withdrew into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herodas, in order that that which had been spoken by Yahweh through the prophet should be fulfilled, saying: “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.”
The words are found at Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Matthew interpreted Hosea 11:1 as a dual prophecy, applying to Christ as well as the people of Israel. The things which Israel suffered during her national history, Christ also was to suffer. Going to Egypt to flee death was symbolic of the children of Israel who did likewise many centuries before. This further solidifies the bond between the Christ and His people Israel.
It says in Amos 3: “1 Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
In this respect, Paul wrote at Hebrews 2:
“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
The Children of Israel escaped the slaughter of the first-born and the bondage of Egypt by the blood of a lamb. Now we need to escape the judgement of this world and our present state of bondage by the blood of The Lamb.