,The Sparrow’s tale is recorded in Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7.
“29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father: 30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”[1] “6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”[2] The Sparrow’s tale from the above passages has special meaning and significance for me personally in 1991, as it was through these passages that the Holy Spirit communicated and touch me, comforting me, bringing peace and wholeness into my life and for me to share with all who loved Christopher, my sister’s son, after he had passed on, while less than a year old. When asked by the Spirit what was the worth of the last sparrow to be included among the five in Luke 12:6, sold for two pennies, when two were being sold for one penny in Matthew 10:29, I realised that though sparrows were usually sold for food[3] and/or in pairs for sacrificial[4] purposes, the last sparrow of the five in Luke, can actually be said to be of no value and was being given free in consideration of the value that the first four would have had, if they were only sold in pairs. The Hebrew word צִפּוֹר tsip-pore', is generally accepted as a word that can be applied to any little hopping bird or fowl or sparrow.[5] I was then drawn to the words “without your Father”[6]. Any additional words[7] like “consent, knowing, permission or will” is not in the Greek texts. What “without your Father” means is that Father is with the sparrow, not apart from the sparrow, even as it falls[8] onto the ground (and dies(implied)). Even in the death of the sparrow, Father is there in death with the sparrow, for where can ‘there’ be where Father God is not? An understanding formed in my mind, that as God has given the sparrow life and brought it into being from nonbeing, what Jesus is saying is that even as the sparrow falls or dies, God is with that sparrow, never apart from the sparrow even as it falls and dies. In Luke’s version, Jesus is recorded as having said, “not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God”. I believe that what Jesus was trying to convey to his hearers is that all creatures, represented by the sparrows, even insignificant ones to us, are remembered and have an inextricable link in relationship and value to God. In both narratives, Jesus continued by saying, “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered[9]. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” The Greek words “ἠριθμημέναι” in Matthew 10:30 and “ἠριθμημέναι” in Luke 12:7, translated as numbered or counted in both instances, combined, paints a picture that all the hair on our head during our lives or at any point in time throughout our lives are already, always or continuingly accounted for and within the knowledge of God. After saying this, Jesus is then recorded as saying: “you[10] are of more value than many sparrows.” What Jesus was emphasising was the unique, special and chosen relationship that God had willed for humankind even before the foundation of the cosmos. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians wrote: “Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ, 4 just as [in His love] He chose[11] us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before[12] the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will— 6 to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].[13] In 1Peter 1:18-21, it is recorded “18 You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah. 20 He was chosen before[14] the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through Him you are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.” These passages provide glimpses into the writers understanding concerning a “Lamb that was slain before[15] the foundation of the world”, the blueprint before and for creation, foreordained in the Eternal Counsel of Triune Father, Son and Spirit Union and Communion. This special and unique relationship that humanity as a whole and human beings as individuals, in the fullness of time, was actualised in the person of the Son of God becoming a human being, in our realm of contingent existence and living. In, through, with and as Christ Jesus the man, more than just having Father with us, we can now become partakers of the divine nature[16] and glory[17]. This is unique and chosen to and for us, being human, made in the image of God, willed and desired by Triune Counsel before creation, and actualised in our space, time and history, in the Eternal Son, Who became flesh, a human being – born out of woman[18], born under the Law( born a Jew)[19], living, dying[20], buried[21], resurrected[22] by the power of God, ascending into heaven[23], at the right hand of the Father seated[24] as King of Kings and Lord of Lords[25].[26] This is why each and every one of us is worth more, have so much more value than many sparrows. This is why I believe that Paul could write: “38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[27] For the purposes of this post, I would like to address what I think “neither death” “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” means vis a vis each of us being worth more than many sparrows. What happens when one dies? In Jesus’ case, he committed his spirit to the Father[28] before crying “It is finished”, and bowing his head gave up his spirit.[29] Paul wrote of him having “also descended into the lower parts of the earth”[30]. In 1 Peter 3:18-20 it is recorded of Jesus as “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.”[31] So it would seem that after death in the flesh, one’s spirit continues to be alive. Paul likens this death as a sleep in Christ. In sleep in Christ we will be awakened. In death in Christ we will be resurrected. The point that I wish to make is that Christ is always with us in our living, sleeping, and death.[32]. The death mentioned in 1 Peter 3:18, seems to suggest a cessation or nonbeing of body, soul and spirit, before being “made alive[33] in the spirit”. There is definitely the cessation and nonbeing of life in “death in the flesh”. The verb “made alive”, in application to his spirit suggest that there seems to also be a cessation and nonbeing of life “in his human spirit”. I submit that with the cessation and nonbeing of life in body(matter) and spirit (that which is your life), there would also be a cessation and nonbeing of his human soul. For only when God blew[34] the breath of life upon the form of man fashioned out of dust from the ground, then did man became a contingent living soul(personality) comprising of a contingent dynamic body(form and emptiness – dynamic essence and character of contingent reality - essential for growth and expansion), contingent dynamic spirit(a distinct, particular and dynamic breath of life) and contingent dynamic soul(a dynamic personality that is unique, particular and enabled to express in likeness, characteristics of the Divine as that of a contingent image. With the cessation and nonbeing of spirit, which is what is the particular and distinct breath of life in a human being, and cessation and nonbeing of life in the body, there necessarily must also be the cessation and nonbeing of soul(personality - that which makes an individual human being unique and distinctive one from another. There is then this idea and possibility of total cessation and nonbeing of body, soul and spirit at the moment of death of the physical body. Then and only after that does the human spirit become alive again with a human soul. And because Jesus was made like us in all ways, I believe that he too would have gone through this moment of total cessation and nonbeing as all humans have gone before and will continue to do so, before being resurrected as a full and complete human being in body, soul and spirit. I believe that even in this moment of death, total cessation and nonbeing of body, soul and spirit, we continue to be joined to him and he with us, even as he has gone through this in his dying. This is what Christ in us, the hope of glory,[35] and we being in Christ[36] means, that Christ makes possible to be with and in us in that moment of cessation and nonbeing of human existence - our death.[37] There is no moment, including this death moment of cessation and nonbeing of our human existence where the Personhood of Christ, in whom the fullness if Deity dwells bodily, and in whom then fullness of Deity resides, is not with us. Even as when he died[38], and all humans died with him, as we die he is also in our death with us.[39] Hence like Paul wrote, we are now able to shout :“Death is swallowed up in victory[40]. “I will redeem them from the power of the grave: I will deliver them from death: O death, I will be thy death: O grave, I will be thy destruction.”[41] In also believe that in the passages of 1Peter 3:18-20, Ephesians 4:9, the parable told by Jesus concerning Lazarus and the rich man,[42] but more particularly, Jesus’ comments of God declaration that “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”,[43] as being the God of the living and not of the dead, suggest that the spirit of man with a soul is made alive and continues to have a new form of contingent existence but identifiable, on or in a contingent dimension or plane, after our death. A marked difference of existence between the two planes or dimensions seems to be the absence of a dynamic physical body similar to that of a person in the plane or dimension of existence after that person’s death. As such this identifiable spirit and soul after a human dies, would not and cannot be considered to still be fully human, for it has no identifiable physical body that humans have while they are alive. A full and complete human must possess a body, soul and spirit in the moment. Hence, like Paul, I concur that the resurrection of Jesus, as a man(full human being) is one of the foundational pillars of the Christian faith or our faith would be futile and we should be pitied above all other humans. Paul wrote: “12 Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”[44] Though there are other scriptural references of people being raised from the dead with their contingent body, soul and spirit still identifiable, in the case of Jesus, it is totally unique and not the same. For, He is the only One, who after his resurrection, as a complete human being of body, soul and Spirit, ascended to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father God. I believe this is unique and possible because in the one person of Christ Jesus, “the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man”[45]. The Creed of Chalcedon(451 AD) also attests to this understanding, with elaboration: “This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son [of God] must be confessed to be in two natures, unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, inseparably [united], and that without the distinction of natures being taken away by such union, but rather the peculiar property of each nature being preserved and being united in one Person and subsistence, not separated or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten, God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ.”[46] As such, He is qualified to be the One Mediator between God and men and as a man, enable us, through, with and in him, through with and in the Spirit, to enjoy and become partakers of the divine nature. This is a treasure and relationship with and in God, which in the narratives of the sparrows, the sparrows never had. We are truly worth much much more than many sparrows, for to Jesus and Triune God, an individual human soul is worth much more than the cosmos, Jesus himself has been recorded to say: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”[47] But exceedingly more than that, in the words of Jesus as recorded in John 17, to those who will believe into[48] him, these ones will also grow in and into their partaking of the glory that Father has given to the Son and through the union and communion with Father and Son and one another, through and in the Spirit, the experiential awakening and knowing that Father loves them as much as Father loves Son[49]. We see then that it is not about having an intrinsic value as a contingent human being per se, but rather because of Who Christ Jesus is, in relation to us ,and who we are, in relation to Him, chosen with, for and in Him, for Him to be in us and for us to be in Him, even before the foundation of cosmos, before creation, that determines why we are worth more than many sparrows. May we ever be mindful of this and lovingly respond accordingly. [1] Matthew 10:29-31 ASV [2] Luke 12:6-7 ASV [3] With the exception of the raven tribe, there is no prohibition in the Levitical law against any passerine birds being used for food; while the wanton destruction or extirpation of any species was guarded against by the humane provision in De 22:6. Small birds were therefore probably as ordinary an article of consumption among the Israelites as they still are in the markets both of the Continent and of the East. The inquiry of our Lord, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings?" (Lu 12:6), "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? (Mt 10:29), points to their ordinary exposure for sale in his time. At the present day the markets of Jerusalem and Jaffa are attended by many "fowlers" who offer for sale long strings of little birds of various species, chiefly sparrows, wagtails, and larks. These are also frequently sold ready plucked, trussed in rows of about a dozen on slender wooden skewers, and are cooked and eaten like kabobs. See Hackett, Illus. of Script. p. 86. Biblicacyclopedia.com/S/sparrow.html [4] Leviticus 14:4-7, 49-53 [5]The ancient writers do not appear to share the modern preoccupation with identifying precise species (and sub-species!). Both the Hebrew צִפּוֹר (tsippor) and the Greek στρουθίον (strouthion) are generic terms that can refer to any small songbird. https://bibleresearchtoday.com/2019/06/16/sparrow-day-16-of-30-days-biblically-wild/ Strong’s H6833 צִפּוֹר tsippôwr, tsip-pore'; or צִפֹּר tsippôr; from H6852; a little bird (as hopping):—bird, fowl, sparrow [6] Greek “ἄνευ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν” – literally “without your Father” Some translate as “apart from your Father” eg NASB, ESV [7] Both the Greek and the Aramaic clearly say that one sparrow will not fall without your Father. It does not say, without your Father’s notice. If any translation adds the word notice they are merely paraphrasing the passage. Actually, the passage does not even say if a sparrow dies, it just says fall. The word in Greek for fall is peseitai which is a word meaning to fall down or fall prostrate, it is does not mean to die. The passage in Luke 12:6 says that not one of them is forgotten by God. That does not suggest that the sparrow dies. ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – A SPARROW’S FALL – TSAPARA NEPHALA – צפרא נפלא Chaim Bentorah Aramaic language, Semitic language of the Northern Central, or Northwestern, group that was originally spoken by the ancient Middle Eastern people known as Aramaeans. It was most closely related to Hebrew, Syriac, and Phoenician and was written in a script derived from the Phoenician alphabet. …Aramaic had replaced Hebrew as the language of the Jews as early as the 6th century BCE. Certain portions of the Bible—i.e., the books of Daniel and Ezra—are written in Aramaic, as are the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds. Among the Jews, Aramaic was used by the common people, while Hebrew remained the language of religion and government and of the upper class. Jesus and the Apostles are believed to have spoken Aramaic, and Aramaic-language translations (Targums) of the Old Testament circulated. Aramaic continued in wide use until about 650 CE, when it was supplanted by Arabic. Britannica ARAMAIC LANGUAGE [8] The word used for fall in the Aramaic is nephal which comes from a Semitic root word used by the Akkadians, a warlike people, to describe a soldier that is killed in battle because he has become so terrified that he fails to use his skills and proper common sense. We all know how fearful people tend to do foolish things. That is the idea behind the Semitic root NF which is rendered in English as fall. ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – A SPARROW’S FALL – TSAPARA NEPHALA – צפרא נפלא Chaim Bentorah See Strong’s H5307 [9] In Matthew 10:30 ἠριθμημέναι (inflected) Verb - Perfect Passive Participle - Nominative Plural Feminine from Strong’s G705 ἀριθμέω arithmeō In Luke 12:7 ἠριθμημέναι (inflected)Verb - Perfect Passive Indicative - 3rd Person Plural from Strong’s G705 ἀριθμέω arithmeō [10] Greek Strong’s 5310 ὑμεῖς ὑμεῖς hymeis Personal / Possessive Pronoun - 2nd Person Nominative Plural - meaning each and every one of you [11] “chosen” Greek word ἐξελέξατο from ἐκλέγομαι eklegomai Strong’s G1586 – to pick out, choose [12] Ephesians 1:4 “before” Greek ἀπό apó, apo'; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):—(X here-)after, ago, at, because of…from, signifying now separation, now origin. [13] Ephesians 1:3-6 AMP [14] 1 Peter 1:20 “before” Greek πρὸ πρό pro Strong’s G 5253 – before, infromt of ,prior [15] Revelation 13:8 word “before” Greek ἀπό apó, apo'; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):—(X here-)after, ago, at, because of…from, signifying now separation, now origin. Strong’s G575 Same as Ephesians 1:4referenced in 1 Peter 1:20 [16] 2 Peter 1:4 [17] John 17:22 [18] Galatians 4:4, [19] Galatians 4:4 meaning – born a Jew [20] Matthew 27:50, Luke 23:46, Mark 15:37,38, John 19:29 [21] John 19:42, Matthew 27:59-60, Luke 23:53-54, Mark 15:46 [22] Matthew 28:5-6, Acts 2:24 [23] Luke 24:51, Ephesians 4:6-8, John 20:17 [24] Mark 16:19, Hebrews 1:1-3, 12:12, Colossians 3:1, 1Peter 3:22 [25] 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelations 17:14, 19:16 Philippians 2:9-11 [26] Refer to Nicene Creed of 325 AD, - the only creed affirmed by Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and most Protestant churches. Churches throughout the centuries have recited it as a confession of faith during baptism and the Eucharist. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/where-did-the-nicene-creed-come-from.html Original version from 325 A.D. translated into English: “We believe in one God, the father almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, Light of light, Very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven, He shall come to judge both the quick and the dead; And in the Holy Spirit.” [27] Romans 8:38-39 RSV [28] Luke 23:46 [29] John 19:30 [30] Ephesians 4:9 RSV [31] RSV [32] Also in our resurrection and life thereafter [33] Strong’s G2227 ζῳοποιηθεὶς from ζῳοποιέω – zōopoieō Verb - Aorist Passive Participle - Nominative Singular Masculine - make alive, give life, quicken. [34] Strong’s H5301 וַיִּפַּח from נָפַח - nāp̄aḥ - a primitive root; to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem):—blow, breath,.. Most Englislh Translations translate it as “breathed”. [35] Colossians 1:27 [36] 2 Corinthians 5:17 [37] Romans 8:38:39 [38] 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [39] Romans 8:38-39 [40] 1 Corinthians 15:54, See Isaiah 25:8 –“ 8 He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken.”RSV [41] Hosea 13:14 – Masoretic Text “ מִיַּד שְׁאוֹל אֶפְדֵּם מִמָּוֶת אֶגְאָלֵם אֱהִי דְבָרֶיךָ מָוֶת אֱהִי קָֽטָבְךָ שְׁאוֹל נֹחַם יִסָּתֵר מֵעֵינָֽי׃ – “I will redeem them from the power of the grave: I will deliver them from death: O death, I will be thy death: O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance is hid from mine eyes.”GNV [42] Luke 116:19-31 [43] Matthew 22:32 [44] 1 Corinthians 12-23 RSV [45] Salvation Army Doctrine 4 [46] earlychurchtext.com Chalcedonian Definition of Faith [47] Mark 8:36 NKJV refer also to Matthew 16:26, Luke 9:25 [48] Greek εἰς eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); Strong’s G1512 John 17:20 - willing to enter into a loving relationship with Jesus [49] John 17:22-24
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The Jews[1] are the descendants of Jacob (renamed Israel[2]), son of Isaac[3], son of Abraham[4].
Jacob’s blessing for Judah, his fourth son from Leah, is found in Genesis 49:8-12: “8 “Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[c] until he to whom it belongs[d] shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.[e]”[5] With regards to this post, the relevant verses are 8 and 10 which establishes the blessing that the tribe or descendants of Judah will have pre-eminence over all the other descendants of Jacob(Israel)v.8 and that this kingly right will continue until “he[6] to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience[7] of the nations shall be his.” v.10 Genealogically, from the gospel record of Matthew and Luke, Jesus[8], was acknowledged as son of Joseph[9] and Mary[10]. Both gave a record of genealogy tracing his ancestry to David and Judah. An attempt seemed to have been made by Matthew to present Jesus as a qualifying person to whom this Messianic reference may be applicable. If so, Matthew’s attempt, for many and especially Jews seems a failure as Joseph is recorded as having been descended from Jeconiah (Mat. 1:11). As such, Joseph would have fallen under the curse of that king that none of his descendants could ever sit as king upon the throne of David (Jeremiah 22:30; 36:30). Luke’s attempt in tracing the lineage and genealogy through Nathan, son of David, is not without objections from a Jewish perspective[11]. However, if one were to accept the authenticity and veracity of the angel’s announcement as recorded in Luke 1:30-33 “30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end”[12], coupled with the affirmation of Jesus to John as recorded in Revelations 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star”[13], it would seem that what essentially and fundamentally mattered to and was willed by God to fulfil the blessing of Jacob to Judah and His promise to David, was only for there to be a human genealogical human link to these persons. It is not unreasonable that being the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD, Pontius Pilate had and could have easy access to Jesus’ genealogical link through either Joseph or Mary, to David and Jacob from the census for purposes of taxation when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.[14] In light of available information and investigations available to him, including this, I believe that Pontius Pilate, then, asked Jesus when he was brought before him for questioning: “Are you the King of the Jews?”[15] Being the Governor of Judea, Pilate may also have been aware of the event of the slaughter of the innocents under two years old by Herod thirty or so years before, following the visit of the Wise men from the East enquiring ““Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”[16] Jesus’ answer to Pilate “You say so”[17], is to me, not so much an admission but rather to let the other party, Pilate, determine and decide as to who he thinks that he, Jesus, is. Pilate would also have heard and had written reports and opinions of what others thought and said[18] of Jesus, but here Jesus is giving him the opportunity to express his own opinion. Notwithstanding that the Gospel records states that Pilate questioned the crowds” what evil has He done”[19] and thrice said to the Jews[20] “I find in him no fault”[21], he still acceded to the Jews request to crucify him. Pilate’s public washing of his hands before the multitude and declaration that he was innocent of the blood of this man can then be viewed as a sham for appearance sake. For he eventually capitulated to the crowd’s accusations and demands on the basis of, and/or determined in his judgement, that Jesus was claiming to be King of the Jews.[22] Pilate’s insistence that what he wrote and had nailed to the cross on which Jesus was crucified “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS”[23] supports this view. For this is the only open cause left to Pilate to crucify Jesus under Roman Law. Under Roman law, there is no provision whereby ran innocent man, to whom no evil has been attributed punishable by law and to whom no fault can be found, may be crucified, may be put to death. However, the fact or finding that he may pose a security risk, by being acknowledged by many as having proclaimed himself a Jewish king in Judea, at that time, thereby being a threat to the Roman empire and Pilate’s governorship, is ground and serves as reason to warrant Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Hence, the signage “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” on the cross was a proclamation as well as justification of Pilate’s reason, action and deemed acknowledgement of its deemed or proven veracity for all concerned. Maybe a prior deal was also made between Herod and Pilate on this as Luke wrote “Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other—before this they had been enemies.”[24] This Herod, Herod Antipas[25], was the son of Herod the Great[26] who ordered the massacre of the innocents below 2 years of age during the time of the visit of the wise men. Herod Antipas was also the brother of brother of Herod Archelaus,[27] whom the parents of Jesus tried to avoid and stay incognito from.[28] It would not be unreasonable to presume that Herod Antipas deemed and feared that this man would also have posed a threat to his rule and position. For this man had multitudes crying out and saying singing “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”[29], “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”[30], just a few days before. Multitudes were viewing this man as a successor to the throne of David, a king of the Jews. This definitely would have caused discomfort to and unease in Herod Antipas, who was ruler of only a quarter of what his father originally had ruled over. Could he have been also aware of what the wise men, chief priests and scribes told his father, Herod the Great, years ago and realised that Jesus was a survivor that had escaped the massacre of the innocents? Was, the threat of Jesus being truly the King of the Jews, that which made Pilate and Herod, who were enemies until the day of interrogation of Jesus by Herod, becoming friends after the interrogation? Did both find common ground in and subscribed to the ancient proverb that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”? Whatever the case may be, from the scriptural records, at the very least the Jews and Gentiles(non Jew), represented by Pilate(and through Pliate, Rome), had acknowledged and proclaimed Jesus as King of the Jews, resulting in his crucifixion and death on the cross. As such, both Jews and Gentiles can be said to be parties that were jointly and severally responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross on the proclamation, charge and justification that He, Jesus of Nazareth, was King of the Jews. Paul the apostle, wrote in Romans 1:1-3, that this Son of God[31](the Highest[32]), came into being (became) out of the seed of David according to (throughout, to the uttermost, as) the flesh.[33] Paul in Galatians 4:4 wrote “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made[34] of a woman, made[35] under the law.”[36] In Philippians 3:5-6 he wrote of his credentials as being “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”[37] As such his claims as to the lineage of Jesus should be given due and serious consideration. Paul also wrote of this Man, a human being (that the Son of God had to the uttermost become), as being the Mediator between the One[38] God and One[39] Mediator, between God and men, as the Man, Christ Jesus.[40] - This Jew, the Beloved Son[41] and Chosen of God[42], the final, true and everlasting King of the Jews[43], the Messiah[44] or Chosen One.[45] Peter the Apostle in 1 Peter 2:4 wrote concerning Jesus Christ as “the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him.[46]”. Peter continues by stating “5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah. 6 This is why the Tanakh[47] says, “Look! I am laying in Tziyon[48] a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and whoever rests his trust on it will certainly not be humiliated.”[49] Deuteronomy 7:6 states “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen[50] you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession[51].” As God’s Chosen One, Messiah, King of the Jews of the chosen people, He epitomises the real, authentic, true and final expression of what God’s New Covenant with the Jews was, is and ever will be. In, with and through Him was, is and will continue to be the fullest and complete realisation and expression of the Final and Intended Covenantal relationship between God and the Jews, for he is the Beloved Son in whom Father is well pleased, the Chosen One, a Jew, Messiah, the Root and seed of David, King of the Jews. The First Covenantal Relationship established between God and the Jews at Sinai[52], seemed to only be a prototype awaiting another and final Covenantal relationship that was to come. This, I believe, was why God’s communicated to the Jews, through their prophet Jeremiah, as recorded in the Tanakh[53] “30 (31) “Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah. 31 (32) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them,” says Adonai. 32 (33) “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days,” says Adonai: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 33 (34) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know Adonai’; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.”[54] Prima facie, the writer to the Hebrews was of this view when he wrote: “7 Indeed, if the first covenant had not given ground for faultfinding, there would have been no need for a second one. 8 For God does find fault with the people when he says, “‘See! The days are coming,’ says Adonai, ‘when I will establish over the house of Isra’el and over the house of Y’hudah a new covenant. 9 “‘It will not be like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by their hand and led them forth out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, did not remain faithful to my covenant; so I, for my part, stopped concerning myself with them,’ says Adonai. 10 “‘For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days,’ says Adonai: ‘I will put my Torah in their minds and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 “‘None of them will teach his fellow-citizen or his brother, saying, “Know Adonai!” For all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest, 12 because I will be merciful toward their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.’”[a] 13 By using the term, “new,” he has made the first covenant “old”; and something being made old, something in the process of aging, is on its way to vanishing altogether.”[55] The first Covenant (the prototype) made between God and the Jews, to me, was and is essentially a vehicle and tool to show the special relationship between God and humankind through the Jews as a people, and through this relationship the character and nature of God and humankind. In, with and through this covenantal relationship with the Jews, we can also glimpse the commitment and faithfulness of God to be with humankind, for better or for worse, in all events and all circumstances. No wonder David wrote for the Psalmist to sing: “4 (3) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place -- 5 (4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them; humans, that you watch over them with such care? 6 (5) You made him but little lower than the angels, you crowned him with glory and honor, 7 (6) you had him rule what your hands made, you put everything under his feet -- 8 (7) sheep and oxen, all of them, also the animals in the wilds, 9 (8) the birds in the air, the fish in the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 10 (9) Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious is your name throughout the earth!”[56] God’s commitment and faithfulness to Jews, and hence to humankind, includes being with them even when they feel forsaken of Him in their sufferring, as penned by David, to be sung, in the first two verses of Psalm 22: “1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.”[57]……… Yet, notwithstanding how he felt, David was still willing to trust in this, that the the Lord will continue to keep faith with him as he has done for the Jewish people since the (prototype)Covenant came into being, for David continued to plead in the Psalm: “9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.…………………….. 19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.” And thereafter committed his life to the Lord and affirmed … “22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him—may your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. 31 They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn; He has done it! These, to me, are but echoes of the feelings and trust that Yeshua, his genetic descendant (even as He MORE than fulfilled the Prototype Covenant, as and by being the embodiment of the New Covenant that God sealed with the Jews, and through Him and them, to humankind as a whole) on the cross, as the last and final “The King of the Jews” on whom the only crown placed on his head was a crown of thorns: Crying out with a loud voice at about three in the afternoon “Eli! Eli! L’mah sh’vaktani? (My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?)”[58] And “while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.”[59] And crying again as recorded in Luke 24:46. “Crying out with a loud voice, Yeshua said, “Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit.” With these words he gave up his spirit.”[60] As such, the prototype (Old Covenant) of the Jews being the chosen people to showcase the right relationships of God to man, man to God, man to man and God to God finds its final and complete expression in the New Covenant that God had made with them, by His Son becoming the embodiment of the New Covenant, for ‘in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily”[61]. In agreement with similar conclusions arrived at by the writer to the Hebrews, I can say that the New Covenant, being the embodiment of the fullness of Deity in a creature of contingent existence and reality, a human, a Jew, the last and final King of the Jews, is superior to and has replaced the previous Covenant, made and sealed at Sinai, between God and the Jews. This may be seen and gleaned from the writer to the Hebrews when he penned: “7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the Lord. 10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach every one his fellow or every one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”[62] What should also be noted is that under the God’s prototype(Old) Covenant with the Jews, there is Rabbinic literature commenting on how Jews should relate to non Jews and whether there is such a thing as conversion for a person to become a Jew or that non Jews can only embrace Jewish practices and lifestyle. As such, there seem to be ingrained deep in the Jewish psyche this sense of exclusive distinctive singularity arising from the pact with God that made them the Chosen Covenantal People. Unfortunately, this tended to consciously or unconsciously set them apart from non Jews or even Jews in order to fulfill the requirements found in the Covenantal pact. For the Jew Messiah Yeshua, this was not so. In his life and interactions as recorded in the gospels, I find that his uniqueness, rather, engendered an inclusivity of others and their sensitivities.[63] He interacted freely with non Jews, the outcasts, touched lepers, healed on the Sabbath, kept company with sinners and so forth. His life seemed to be more inclusive of others rather than being exclusive in setting himself apart from others. He welcomed and interacted with all, regardless of race, language, religion, status or profession. For him, I believe, that this inclusiveness was but an expression towards his fulfillment of the blessing in Genesis 49:10 “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering[64] of the people[65] be.”[66] For at the end of his life I find in him, Jesus the Christ, the New Covenant Person, the fulfillment and final expression of this blessing, where and when, all Jews and all peoples, are gathered (in obedience) into Him, as part of his reconciliation of all things to God.[67] For He was recorded as stating “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to Myself.”[68] According to John’s gospel, “Now He said this to signify what death He would die.”[69] Messiah Yeshua, Jesus the Christ, a man, Jew, of the lineage of David and Judah, died with the inscription over his head at the cross on Calvary[70] “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS”[71] and I submit, it was at this moment that all were drawn to and into him in reconciliation to God. Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.[72] Behold the Man, the One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.[73] Behold The King of the Jews, though, with, in and into Whom both Jews and non Jews, all peoples and all nations have gathered in obedience and been reconciled to God that “whosoever will” may partake of the Divine Nature, in glory with the Father, through Incarnate Son, in union and communion, in and with Holy Spirit, God Almighty.[74] [1] See Strong’s H3064 יְהוּדִי Yᵉhûwdîy, yeh-hoo-dee'; patronymically from H3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):—Jew. Strong’s H3063 Judah יְהוּדָה Yᵉhûwdâh, yeh-hoo-daw' From יָדָה (H3034) Genesis 29:35. Refer also to Genesis 35:23 and 49:10 [2] Genesis 32:28 [3] Genesis 25:21-28 [4] Genesis 17:19, 21:3 [5] NIV [b] Genesis 49:8 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise. [c] Genesis 49:10 Or from his descendants [d] Genesis 49:10 Or to whom tribute belongs; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. [e] Genesis 49:12 Or will be dull from wine, / his teeth white from milk [6] See Strong’s H7886 שִׁילֹה Shîylôh, shee-lo'; from H7951; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah:—Shiloh. [7] Or ‘gathering’. See Strong’s 3349 יִקָּהָה yiqqâhâh, yik-kaw-haw'; from the same as H3348; obedience:—gathering, to obey. [8] Matthew 1:21,25 [9] John 6:2, Matthew 1:1-21, Luke 3:23 Luke 1;35,2:4-5 [10] Luke 2:34 Matthew 1:18,20,2:11,13:35 [11] II Sam. 7:14; I Chronicles. 17:11-14, 22:9-10, 28:4-6 referencing Luke 3:31 The Jewish Concept of Messiah and the Jewish Response to Christian Claims JEWS FOR JUDAISM [12] NIV [13] NIV. See also Matthew 22:42-45 [14] Luke 2:1-7 [15] Luke 23:23, John 18:33 [16] Matthew 2:2 NIV [17] Matthew 27:11NET – In Greek “αὐτῷ Σὺ λέγεις” has been translated as “It is as you say”, “You have said it”, “You have said so” in many translations. [18] Matthew 27:13 Mark 15:2 [19] Matthew 27:23 NASB, Mark 15:14 [20] John 18:38, 19:7 [21] John 18:38, 19:4,6 KJV [22] John 19:12,15 [23] John 19:19 [24] Luke 23:12 AMP [25] Herod Antipas was a 1st-century ruler of Galilee and Perea. He bore the title of tetrarch and is referred to as both "Herod the Tetrarch" and "King Herod" in the New Testament, although he never held the title of king. [26] Herod the Great ordered the massacre of the innocents below two years in Matthew 2:13-18 He died around 4BC. Taking into consideration that innocents were all under 2 years old when they were massacred, and the flight of Joseph, Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15), and their return after Herod’s death, that would put the date of the birth of Jesus at between 7BC-4BC. Could the massacre of the innocents being below two years imply that the ‘star’ had appeared over Bethlehem of Judea at least 12-18 months before. Why Two years and not 6 or12 months, if at the time of the wise men’s visit Jesus was a new born? [27] Matthew 2:22 Herod Archelaus was the older brother of Herod Antipas, and both were sons born to King Herod and Malthace, a Samaritan woman who was one of his ten wives. Four days before his death in 4 BC, King Herod changed his will to make Archelaus his heir instead of Antipas. After he died, Archelaus, Antipas and their half-brother Philip went to Rome and argued over their dead father’s will before Caesar Augustus, who divided Herod’s kingdom among them and gave Archelaus about half of it, comprised of Samaria, Judea and Idumea, which is the non-Jewish region just south of Judea (Antipas received Galilee and Perea, which runs along the Jordan River on its east side from about half way between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea to about half way down the Dead Sea, and Philip received Iturea and Trachonitis, both of which lie northeast of Galilee). Augustus withheld the title “king” from Archelaus and instead named him “ethnarch,” which means “ruler of an ethnic group”; promotion to “king” would follow if Archelaus, then just 18 years old, proved himself an able ruler. Archelaus didn’t, so Augustus removed him from power in 6 AD, turned his territory into the Roman province of Judea to be under direct Roman rule, and banished Archelaus to Gaul (France today), where he died in 18 AD. [28] Matthew 2:19-23 [29] Matthew 21:9 RSV [30] Mark 11:10 WEB [31] Romans 1:1-3 [32] Luke 1:32 [33] γενομένου ἐκ σπέρματος Δαβὶδ κατὰ σάρκα Textus Receptus Morphological GNT Romans 1:3 [34] Greek γενόμενον ἐκ Verb - Aorist Middle Participle - Accusative Singular Masculine literally –‘becoming - γενόμενον” “ἐκ – “out of “ [35] Greek γενόμενον Verb - Aorist Middle Participle - Accusative Singular Masculine [36] Galatians 4:4 [37] Philippoians 3:5-6 NIV [38] εἷς - relational one, not μονο(one and only) [39] εἷς - relational one, not μονο(one and only) [40] 1 Timothy 2:5 [41] Matthew 3:17,17:5 [42] ἐκλελεγμένος Luke 9:35 (Morphological GNT) ἐκλεκτός – eklektos Luke 23:35 Χριστὸς - Christos is translated a “messiah’ here [43] Genesis 49:10 read with Luke 1;33 [44] מָשִׁיחַ mâshîyach, [45] Luke 23:35 see footnote [42] above [46] 1 Peter 2:4 Complete Jewish Bible CJB [47] Greek γραφῇ - graphē translated as Scriptures in English [48] Greek Σιὼν – siōn translated aa Zion in English [49] 1Peter 5-6 CJB Complete Jewish Bible [50] בָּחַר - bāḥar Strong’s H977 [51] סְגֻלָּה - sᵊḡullâ see footnote45 above [52] See Exodus 19 especially 5-7 and Exodus 24:8 [53] Tanakh is an acronym, made from the first Hebrew letter of each of the Masoretic Text's three traditional divisions: Torah (literally 'Instruction' or 'Law'),[11] Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings)—hence TaNaKh. The three-part division reflected in the acronym Tanakh is well attested in the rabbinic literature.[12] During that period, however, Tanakh was not used. Instead, the proper title was Mikra (or Miqra, מקרא, meaning reading or that which is read) because the biblical texts were read publicly. The acronym 'Tanakh' is first recorded in the medieval era.[13] Mikra continues to be used in Hebrew to this day, alongside Tanakh, to refer to the Hebrew scriptures. In modern spoken Hebrew, they are interchangeable.[14] Wikipedia: “The name “TANAKH”” [54] Jeremiah 31:31-34 in the Christian Bible Numberings in Italics ,as referenced in the Complete Jewish Bible are numberings as found in the Tanakh [55] Hebrews 8:7-13 Complete Jewish Bible Footnotes [a] Hebrews 8:12 Jeremiah 31:30–33(31–34) [56] Psalm 8:4-10 Complete Jewish Bible, Highlighing Mine, Numbers in Italics are numberings found in the Tanakh [57] Psalm 22:1-2 NIV [58] Matthew 27:46 CJB AMP and most English translations: “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Refer also to Mark 15:34 [59] Luke 23:45 NRSVA [60] Luke 23:46 CJB [61] Colossians 2:9 RSV and Philippians 2:5-11 [62] Hebrews 8:7-12 [63] Read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. [64] and or obedience – gathering in obediance [65]Strong’s H5971 עַם עַמִּֽים in text (inflectd) Hebrew Noun: Common Masculine Plural Absolute [66] Genesis 49:10 KJV [67] 2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1:20 [68] John 12:32 RGT [69] John 12:33 RGT [70] Luke 23:33 [71] John 19:19 [72] John 1:29 [73]1 Timothy 2:5 [74] John 17:22-26 read with John 14:16,17, Romans 8:15-17, 1 Corinthians 6:17, 12:13, Ephesians 2:18, 4:4 it. |
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