YAHSHUA at Thirty Years Old

Monumental for YAHSHUA was the age of thirty, because it was when the reason and reality of His coming into this world started to take shape in the eyes of the people. He was revealed to John the Baptist as the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world, when he came to him to be baptized. John testified by saying, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world; this is He of Whom I said, after me comes a Man Who has priority over me, because He was before me and existed before me; and I did not know Him and did not recognize Him; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel, that I came baptizing in water; He gave further evidence saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven and it dwelt on Him. He Who sent me to baptize in water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit; I have seen and my testimony is that this is the Son of God! (John 1:29-35).

John’s testimony leaves no doubt in our minds Who YAHSHUA was. Obscure to many, the truth was clearly revealed to the world, and in particular to Israel: “The Son of God, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” Powerful words that shone the light for all to see and receive YAHSHUA as the Messiah- the Savior, the Redeemer. He was then thirty years old, entering the time that would change the hearts of many, when seeing the evidences of Whom He was by miracles performed before all to see. He was until then, the Son of Mary- His human connection. She allowed God to use her for the purpose to bring His Son into the world, and for a time, she would shine as an important part in His life. But the time came when He had to disconnect Himself from the human connection and follow His heavenly Father’s purpose, for which He had come into the world.  At the wedding at Cana of Galilee, when they lacked wine, and His mother told Him about it, His response was one that sealed His position between them. Not in a disrespected term did He addressed her as “woman, what is that to you and to Me”? [What have we in common? Leave it to me.] My time has not yet come. In response, His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it (John 2:4-5). By saying that, Mary surrenders her position of earthly authority of a mother. She realizes that aspect of her role, had come to an end. He enters into a new phase to perform that which He came to do, and under the authority of His heavenly Father. No longer was He identified as her Son, but the Son of God. An agreement happened that day between the two of them, that Mary’s role of a mother in every sense of the world had been finished. To prove that, one day when He was very busy, healing all who had come to Him, with no time to eat, His mother and brother concerned for Him, came looking for Him. Hearing that, He said, Who is My mother and who is My brothers? And stretching out His hand toward [not only the twelve disciples but all] His adherents, He said, Here are My mother and My brothers; for whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother! (Luke 12:47-50)

For I Know Whom I Have Believed

This phrase confirms the credibility of the pronoun Whom. It is essentially good for one to know the source in whom he puts his trust and reliance.  Faith in money or positions seemly stable, faith in politicians representing government is to be up for big surprises. Putting faith in anything pertaining to what the world offers is without a doubt, foolish and disappointing. History frequently shows us humanity’s failure in delivering the promise. In the political world, they come with promises and they leave without fulfilling them. Job positions are relevant only upon success one has achieved. It is all circumstantial and transitory, together with what we as humans are. Friends often betray each other’s confidence and the bridge of relationship destroyed. Even the closest to us, as in family, has failed many times causing family to break up. Where then can one go to find the assurance and the certainty he is looking for? The Apostle Paul gives us the sure answer that will never frustrates, neither fails us. In His words, “For I know Whom I have believed,” with these words, he establishes a firm foundation and pillars that will not collapse our faith and belief in time of trials. Amidst Paul’s suffering persecution for the Gospel, he never gave up, because he knew Whom he had believed. I know He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed until that day (II Tim. 1: 12). Faith is not blind; it does not walk with a stick for guidance; it is not ignorant. Instead, Faith is knowing, although not seeing, it is sure, although not touching. Faith is hope, it is proof of things we do not see, it is the assurance of their reality; faith perceives as real of things not yet revealed. Believing in God it is for knowing Him; it for having a relationship with Him. It is to disregard everyone else and everything else in order to embrace His words of promises, especially in our most trying times. “Be still and know that I am God!” The stillness of the soul rests on Him Who can calm the storm and rage of the sea. He rushes the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still (Ps. 107: 29). That’s our only true God. In Him we can put our trust in confidence. “I believed; therefore, I have spoken.” Words from the Psalmist, who after great time of suffering anguish and grief, said, Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as a Live; the cords and sorrows of death were around me, and the terrors of Sheol had laid hold of me; I suffered anguish and grief; then I called upon the name of the Lord, O Lord, I beseech You, save my life and deliver me! I believed, and therefore Have I spoken (Ps. 116:3-4.10).

But Thomas Did Not Believe

Just before His trials and afterward His death, YASHUA spent time alone with His disciples comforting and instructing them, preparing them for what was coming. He spent His last hours with them alone to say good-bye in a sense. Disregarding what was ahead of Him, when He had to go through much suffering, His focus was now on the needs of the disciples. His three-year ministry had come to an end; the time had come when He was going to experience death and resurrection to accomplish the will of the Father, for which He had come. Subsequently, His exit from the earth was approaching. But these were news the disciples couldn’t digest for not being able to understand the meaning of it all. It seemed that they stayed in the dark of their understanding, until the Lord’s resurrection, when the He revealed plainly the meaning to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus: YAHSHUA said to them, O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe everything that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary and essentially fitting that the Christ should suffer all these things before entering into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself (Luke 24:25-27).

Do not let your hearts be troubled, He starts, you believe on God, believe also on Me (John 14:1). The days ahead were going to be days of uncertainties for all the disciples, with the absence of their Messiah from among them. Believe on God; believe also on Me, because the future holds the promise of deliverance and hope. I will not leave you orphans; I will come [back] to you (vs. 18) … And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also; and where I am going, you know the way (vs.3,4). Thomas then asked a leading question in the middle of the Lord’s words of hope. He said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”  which opened the door for YAHSHUA to declare Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:5,6). He is the Way to heaven, and to the heavenly Father; He is the Truth that sets the sinners free, He is the Life eternal. The definite article, the implies that He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.

The First Multiplication

(Mt. 14:15-23)

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, this is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves. Jesus said they do not need to go away; you give them something to eat. They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish. He said, Bring them here to Me. Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about 5,000 men, not including women and children. Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds. And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.

“Send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves,” said the disciples. Jesus however had another plan. He answered them; you give them something to eat. How? was the question in their minds. Five loaves and two fish was all that were available to feed thousands. But YAHSHUA only needed to have them to be given to Him for a miracle to happen. A need, much greater than the resource, cannot be met by the human standard, but in the hands of the Master, no resource is too small for Him to perform a miracle. Although the disciples puzzled over YAHSHUA’S command, “You give them some to eat” they brought Him the resources of five loaves and two fish. Something was happening at that time besides the physical need of the thousands of people. In God’s calendar He was expressing symbolism in these two numbers: five and two. What were these numbers speaking of at that point of time? They were expressing their meaning in prophecy. YAHSHUA said, For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for whosoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16. That crowd represented by several nations, was the focus of the message hidden behind all that was happening: God loves the world. The two fish and the five loaves of bread did not happen by accident. No, through them God was lighting His love not only to the Jews, but to all the world. The message in the two fish is that the space of two thousand years He was going to give to the Gentile nations for their salvation under His grace which is symbolic by the number five in the five loaves of bread.

YAHSHUA as a Lion and a Lamb

(Revelation 5)

These two contrasted animals both have one thing in common:  the Lord YAHSHUA, metaphorically speaking, is both of them at different times, work and circumstances. While the lion is strong and ferocious, the lamb is weak and gentle, dependent and vulnerable to danger. The lion has a strong body, weighting from 330 to 550 pounds. None escapes his strength. Proverbs describe the lion as the mightiest among beasts and turns not back before any (30:30). Ezekiel compares the conspiracy of Israel’s prophets as a roaring lion tearing the prey (22:25). The lion’s roar causes fear in all the forest animals; a warning that they heed and flee from his sight. YAHSHUA is both lion and lamb in the fulfillment of prophecy in time past and in future time. In time past He came to be the Lamb of God for the purpose of taking the sins of the world; in future time, as a Lion, He will roar in judgment; He will be King of all the earth.

How do we see Him as a lamb?  Many years ago, lambs were used for sacrifice to atone the sins of the nation of Israel once per year. This practice first happened when Adam and Eve sinned against God. It continued throughout the Old Testament. And when He called Israel out of the land of Egypt, He made it official for the people to observe the Passover, based on the day of their freedom from slavery. They were told to sacrifice a lamb or a kid  without blemish, a male of the first year; they were to be kept until the fourteenth day of the same month; the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel was [each]  to kill [his] lamb in the evening; they were to take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel on the houses in which they were to eat [the Passover lamb]; the blood was to be for a token or sign  upon [the doorposts of] the houses where they were [that] when I see the blood, I will pass over you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt (Exodus 12: 5,7,13). The Passover lamb foreshadowed the crucifixion of the Messiah YAHSHUA. The precursor of YAHSHUA, John the Baptist, introduced Him to the nation of Israel as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And as he looked at YAHSHUA, he said again, Look! There is the Lamb of God! (vs. 36). He was introduced metaphorically as a Lamb, so the people, familiar with the practice of sacrificing a lamb to atone for their sin, could understand John’s declaration of Whom YAHSHUA was and the purpose for what He had come.

Will You Also Leave Me?

(John 6)

A question that leads to a crossroad one must face. Life is filled with crossroads; sometimes undecided we choose the wrong one; the difference does not appear visible in times of decisions. What will be on the other side, waiting in the waves of circumstances that will either help or destroy our future? Sometimes, the seemly to be is not that which we are looking for. As it is said, “Don’t judge the book by its cover,” So it is with life’s crossroads. YAHSHUA, after a long day of ministering to the multitude, including the feeding of thousands, for which act the people wanted to crown Him King, withdrew to the hillside to be alone, once again, as it was His habit to do. Meanwhile, when evening came, the disciples took their boat and headed to Capernaum. It was dark and YAHSHUA had not yet joined them, when suddenly a storm of great violence came their way. After having rowed three to four miles YAHSHUA came to them walking on water. Not recognizing Him, they became afraid. But YAHSHUA assured them by saying, It is I; be not afraid! (vs. 19-21).  A beautiful prophetic event related to the Jewish nation at the end time. The storm symbolizing the nations coming against Israel in the end time, YAHSHUA’S deliverance of the nation and their repentance and acceptance of Him as their Messiah.

The crowd remained waiting for YAHSHUA, but He was found on the other side of the Lake. When they found Him, they anxiously asked Him, “Rabbi! When did You come here?” Innocent enough was their question, but YAHSHUA knew the hearts of men. Not answering their question, He went straight to the matter of their hearts. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, YAHSHUA said, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied. Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes, but strive and work and produce rather for the food which endure unto life eternal… (vs.24-27). The dialog continued between YAHSHUA and the multitude, when they asked, What are we to do, that we may be working the works of God? YAHSHUA replied, that you believe in the One Whom He has sent. They then replied, What sign will You perform them, so that we may see it and believe on You? (vs.26-30).

Forgiveness

Unshackles and sets free

Sinners like you and me

Love, the tongue it speaks

A flower among thorns

Mending a heart being torn

A beautiful fragrance is born


The eraser of hate from man’s heart

Bitterness, not a chance

Lifting man to God

In a sound of a prayer

Forgive them Father

For them I died.


God, mankind embracing

In His awesome grace

Through YAHSHUA, His Son

Scourged and broken bones

Disfigured and rejected

Men to God He united


God Stands Alone as the True God

He, alone is the Creator of all living things. Paul askes the question, For who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood His thoughts, or who has [ever] been His counselor?  Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back or that he could claim a recompense? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever! Amen (Rom. 11:34-36).

There should be never an argument of Whom God is, about His attributes, His power, His sovereignty. There should be never any other name that will take the name GOD, a tittle belonging only to Him. In the Old Testament we read the many times God called Israel’s attention to the fact that He, and only He was and is God. Israel, in her stubbornness, has caused judgment upon her, for abandoning her true God for the Egyptian gods, the Babylonian gods, etc.  At Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the false god Baal and it failed miserably, when The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob demonstrated His power through the fire coming from heaven, consuming the burnt sacrifice, the wood and the stones, licking the water that was in the trench, after Elijah prayed. A forever Living God, with no beginning and no end, He is out of men’s reach of understanding of Who He is.

Elisha, The Prophet With Double Portion

Those were days of unprecedented happenings, when God dealt with the nation of Israel through His prophets and their performed miracles. We see this in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Like no others, these were both actively involved in the lives of people. However, Elijah was a prophet of judgment; he shut the heaven and stopped the rain for three and a half years; he brought down fire and on Ahab’s soldiers. He is more like John the Baptist, a loner; Elisha, a prophet of mercy. A prophet that mingled with the people. His ministry parallels that of our Savior, YAHSHUA. Elisha’s name means God’s salvation; YAHSHUA’s name YAHWEH will save. Elisha’s ministry started in the Jordan River, after Elijah is translated to heaven. He takes his mantle and parts the Jordan’s water; YAHSHUA started His ministry after being baptized in the Jordan River. They both raised a woman’s son from the dead; both fed the multitude with small resource, with food leftover. Elisha’s bones brought life to a dead man, after his body touched his bones. YAHSHUA resurrection brought many to life, when the earth shook, the rocks were split, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised to life (Matt. 27:51-52).

Elisha was a disciple of Elijah and his successor, as Joshua was to Moses and succeeded him after Moses’ death, to continue leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Following his master to the place where he was to be translated, Elisha asked him for a double portion of his anointing, to which Elijah said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you (II Kings 2:9-10). Elisha saw Elijah’s departure to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, as he went up by a whirlwind into heaven. He threw his mantle to Elisha, confirming the double portion of his anointing.  Elisha, then took the mantle and parted the waters of the Jordan River. Elisha, when called to the ministry, left everything behind, including his career to follow Elijah. A young man from a well to do family, never looked back. To start with, he severed the links of his life style by slaughtering the oxen he was ploughing with at the time of the call, the wood he used as fire wood to cook the oxen for his friends and family, perhaps to say goodbye. Off he went to pursue his new career as a prophet. YAHSHUA said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9: 62). Elisha mastered on this one. Still very young when called, he persisted to the end looking ahead, never backward. He was a hero of the faith in every sense of the word. “A man of whom the world was not worthy.”

In the Year King Uzziah Died

The Prophet Isaiah registers a beautiful experience he had with God after King Uzziah died. King Uzziah was a very successful king in the early years of his career as king. The secret laid on the fact that he sought the Lord. It was his desire to seek God (2 Chron. 26: 5). God blessed him and he became very successful in all he did. He was a distinguished and successful politician. He went against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, of Jabneh, and of Ashdod, and built cities near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines, and God helped him against the Philistines and the Arabs who dwelt in Gur-ball and the Meunim. That Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread abroad even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong (II Chron. 26: 6-8).

But King Uzziah’s successes turned him into a prideful king. The Bible says, but when [King Uzziah] was strong, he became proud to his destruction; he trespassed against the Lord his God, for he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense (vs. 16). Burning incense by other than the sons of Aaron was a terrible breach of the Levitical Law. He well knew about it, but for whatever reason, he was driven to commit this evil against the word of the Lord. His pride arouse when the priest Azariah confronted him. He was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord. King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper, he dwelt in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Lord’s house (II chron. 16:18-21).