Who is the Messiah? - Part 7

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Who is the Messiah? Part 7

Reviewing Who is the Messiah?

In the first 6 episodes of Who is the Messiah we learnt the following:

Messiah is Yahweh’s salvation, our Yahshua. “…you are to give him the name Yahshua, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)” He is ‘Our salvation that we’ve cried out for.’ The multitudes cried “Hoshanna!” which is yasha (“deliver, save”) and anna (we “beg, beseech”). 

He is the Offshoot Branch that has risen from the stump of Jesse, our hope that has emerged from the thinned out linage of David. (Isaiah 11:1)

He is the embodiment of the Torah, the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)

He was the hidden one, growing up in relative secrecy, initially being taken into hiding in Egypt. “…take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13b) 

He is the Anointed One, the Messiah, Moshiach ben Yoseph (the suffering servant), who will soon be Moshiach ben David (the warrior king of Israel). “The Ruach of Yahweh is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim the basar בָּשַׂר (the full message that brings the ultimate joy) to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Luke 4:18 quoting Isaiah 61:1)” 

He is our High Priest. He took over from Yochannan, the rightful High Priest exiled in the wilderness. Yahshua’s suffering was critical to this role as it says, “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to Elohim, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)”

Is He the Adam Kadmon, the express image of the invisible Elohim that sits at the right hand of the Father on High? “The Son is the radiance of Elohim's glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3a)”

He and the Father are Echad. We saw how this is especially evident in the sharing of language when Yahweh refers to both Messiah and the Children of Israel as being the son called out of Egypt. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (Hosea 11:1)” “(Yahshua and his parents) stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what Yahweh had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’ (Matthew 2:15)”

He is the Father’s right hand. “Elohim exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. (Acts 5:31)”

He is the son of man (Hebrews 2:6). He was fully human, knowing our hardships and suffering. The son of man in Hebrew as בן–אדם, ben-'adam. This expression appear 107 in the TaNaK and it’s mostly used in reference to Ezekiel.  

(Slide) He is the Rock of our Salvation. “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:6)”He is our banner. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:32)”

He is the Rose of Sharon. “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (Solomon 2:1)”

He is our deliverer. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Ya’akov. (Romans 11:26 quoting Isiah 59:20)”

He is El Shaddai. Messiah is El Shaddai אל שׁדי (Mighty One over all Spirits). “‘I am the Aleph and the Tauv,’ says the Sovereign Elohim, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the El Shaddai (also translated as ‘One who holds sway over all things’). (Revelation 1:8)’”

He came to fulfil the great Messianic expectations, which are:

1. Coming from the Tribe of Judah
2. Being the anointed King of Israel.
3. Returning Israel back to the Promised Land
4. He will restore the Temple in Jerusalem (on the heels of an imposter).
5. He will bring peace to the world and end all war.
6. And he will bring knowledge of Elohim to the whole world.

Thus he came to fulfil what the prophets foretold, not cancel them or contradict them. He came to “fill” as opposed to “empty out.”

So that’s sixteen faces of who Messiah is. How many of you could have rattled of more than four if asked on the spot by someone, who the Messiah is? Most people struggle after two. 

(Slide) Those that have been following this series, this is what we know so far of who Messiah is. Most people, if asked who Messiah is will simply say he is my saviour or deliverer or redeemer and that’s about where it ends. This isn’t wrong, but it’s strange. Why is this strange? Well, imagine you had a father who you loved very much, you grew up with him as your mentor, teacher, playmate, and protector. One evening after a movie finished particularly late in the city, you and a friend are followed along a quiet dimly lit street by a gang of youths. They draw nearer and nearer looking as they’re going to definitely mug you both or worse. Out of nowhere and in the nick of time your father appears in his 57 Chevy and opens the door, yelling get in, and you are saved.  Imagine being ask about your father and referring to this event as the only thing you can say about him. Weird. 

(Slide) The big question is, why focus on the different names of Messiah, when the subject is about who he is, not what his names are? A name denotes a person’s character. By finding out a person’s name, you find out who they are. A name is a memorial that outlasts a person’s earthly body and stands throughout the generations as a testimony to the mission that exceeds individual lifetimes. 

“Elohim said to Moshe, "Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, the Elohim of your fathers--the Elohim of Avraham, the Elohim of Yitzhak and the Elohim of Ya’akov --has sent me to you.' "This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:15)”

Messiah has one name, but there are many faces to that name, we would otherwise call titles. This is because his mission is multifaceted. He’s always been more than a Messiah who came once as a suffering servant, died and resurrected and promised to return as a conquered king with a mighty host.  

A name is description of a purpose, a mission. Each malakim (angelic messenger) is named according to its mission. Usually this is one name, such as רָפָאֵל, Rāfāʾēl, “It is El who heals,” גַּבְרִיאֵל, Gaḇrîʼēl ‘EL is my strength’ or מִיכָאֵל‎  Micha'el, “Who is Like El.”

Messiah Name is Messiah’s Mission

(Slide) Messiah’s name is his mission: Yahshua ‘to rescue.’ What was his mission specification? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)” and in Luke 19:10; “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Note, that the text rendered in Luke is ‘to save what was lost,’ rather than carrying the general reference, ‘to save the lost.’

What’s acutely interesting about Yahshua’s declaration is that his ministry was a rescue mission to a lost people, a particular people, rather than an aimless meander through the countryside doing miracles and reforming an old religion. “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (Matthew 10:6)” Yahshua is telling his talmidim, if there’s no lost sheep of Israel in a particular Gentile or Samaritan city, don’t even go there.

(Slide) Even Sha’ul went to Netzarim synagogues and places that would generally accept him when he went to preach to the Gentiles as we see in the following array of verses: 

“At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Yahshua is the Son of Elohim.” (Acts 9:20) 

“When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of Elohim in the Jewish synagogues” (Acts 13:5a) 

“From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.” (Acts 13:14) “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” (Acts 18:4) 

“At Iconium Sha’ul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.” (Acts 14:1) 

“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the Elohim-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17:17) 

Even when a town had no synagogue, he went to the next most obvious location to find Netzarim, a river. Why because Nazarene women would be found there attending family purity laws. “From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.” (Acts 16:12)

(Slide) The world would have us believe by the cleaver twisting of certain passages that Moshiach came to bring peace and good will ‘to all men,’ which is a wrongly espoused view based on Luke 2:14; “Glory to Elohim in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Note here, the clear stipulation, “among those with whom he is pleased!”

The scattering of Israel can be likened to a flock of sheep that split into two different groups. The shepherd departs and one flock leaves the territory, while the other flock remain, still going through the daily routine as if the Shepherd was still there. The Shepherd returns and most of the remaining flock don’t recognise him. While he’s not completely rejected with some hating him and many simply not knowing how to take him, there is a small minority who accept him, albeit in secret given the current status-quo. The Shepherd then goes to search out the flock that had departed. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:16)”

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the World to Come. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the World to Come. (Matthew 5:17-19)”

(Slide) Messiah came to support what the prophets had said by coming in the manner, acting in the manner and exiting in the manner of their verbal forecasts, which were written down. ‘Fulful’ is to fill something up, whereas to cancel is to empty out or abort something’s use. 

Today, more people have fascinating fixation over what HaSatan is doing, rather than what Yahshua is doing.  You’ve often heard the expression, “the devil goes by man names” and most people are aware of a few, the Dragon, the Adversary, the anti-Messiah, the Beast, the Deceiver, the Accuser, the False Prophet, the Evil One, King of Babylon, the Man of Sin, little Horn, and Beelzebub to name a few.  These describe all facets of his character and mission. 

How well we know somebody is weighed against how well we know the variety of roles and purposes a person has. Messiah knows who he is, what his mission is, and who we are and he loves us more than we could ever fathom. 

So what about Yahshua? Here is a concluding list of the major names, thus roles of Messiah:

(Slide) Messiah is the 2nd Adam: “So it is written [in Genesis 2:7]: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Avenger of Adam’s Seed: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)”

(Slide) Messiah is our Advocate: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Messiah YahShua, the Tzaddik (Righteous One). (1 John 2:1)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Amein: “These are the words of the Amien, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of Yahweh's creation. (Revelation 3:14)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Ancient of Days: "As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. (Daniel 7:9)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Angel of Yahweh’s Presence: “In all their distress He too was distressed, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Apostle and High Priest of our Faith: “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on YahShua, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. (Hebrews 3:1)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Author of Eternal Salvation: “He became the Author (or source) of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9).”

(Slide) Messiah is the Bread of Life: “Then Rebbe Yahshua declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)”

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)"

"Another explanation (Ruth 2:14): -- He is speaking of king Messiah; `Come hither,' draw near to the throne; `and eat of the bread,' that is, the bread of the kingdom; `and dip thy morsel in the vinegar,' this refers to his chastisements, as it is said, `But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities'" (Midrash Ruth Rabbah)

(Slide) Messiah is the Bright and Morning Star: "I, YahShua, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the congregations. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. (Revelation 22:16)"

(Slide) Messiah is the Rosh Pinnah (the Head of the Corner) Stone of our Altar: “Yahshua is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. (Acts 4:11)’” “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; Yahweh has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:22,23)”

(Slide) Messiah is our Counsellor: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty Elohim, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Dayspring or the Rising Sun: “… Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our Elohim, by which the Dayspring (rising sun) will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. (Luke 1:67-79)"

(Slide) Messiah is the Door: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)”

(Slide) Messiah is Emmanuel: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, El with us. (Matthew 1:23)”

(Slide) Messiah is Faithful and True: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Faithful Witness: “…Messiah YahShua, who is the Faithful Witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto Yahweh, his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amein (Revelation 1:5,6).”

(Slide) Messiah is the First Begotten or First Born: “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, ‘Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?’ And again, when he brings in the First Begotten into the world, he saith, ‘And let all the angels of Yahweh worship him.’ (Hebrews 1:5,6)”

(Slide) Messiah is the First Fruits – the Bikkerim: “…Messiah has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Messiah, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the Kingdom to Yahweh the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet. (Psalm 8:6)" Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include Yahweh himself, who put everything under Messiah. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that Yahweh may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)”

(Slide) Messiah is the First and the Last – the End All: “I am the Aleph and the Tauv, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Glorious manifestation of Yahweh: “…there the glorious Yahweh will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. (Isaiah 33:21)” “The Son is the radiance of Elohim's glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3a)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Great High Priest: “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Messiah the Son of Yahweh, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Head of the Assembly – the Body: “…He is the head of the body, the Assembly: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence. (Colossians 1:18)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Judge of Israel: “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. (Micah 5:1)”

(Slide) Messiah is King: “Then I remembered what the King had said: ‘Rav Yochannan immersed with water, but you will be immersed with the Holy Spirit.' So if Yahweh gave them the same gift as He gave us, who believed in King Messiah YahShua, who was I to think that I could oppose Yahweh?" When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised Yahweh, saying, "So then, Yahweh has granted even the nations repentance unto life." (Acts 11:16-18)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Lamb: “The next day Rav Yochannan saw Rebbe YahShua coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of Yahweh, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)”

“Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of Yahweh sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. (Revelation 5:5-7)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Light of the World: “When Rebbe YahShua spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)”

(Slide) Messiah was a Man of Sorrows: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. (Isaiah 53:3)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Mighty One of Jacob: “You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)”

(Slide) Messiah is the personification of Passover: “Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7)”

(Slide) Messiah is a Sure Foundation: “Therefore thus says the Yahweh Elohim, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. (Isaiah 28:16)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Truth, the Life, and the Way: “Rebbe YahShua answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. (John 14:6,7)’”

(Slide) Messiah is the Good Shepherd "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11) The most fitting imagery imaginable that depicts Messiah and his followers is that of a shepherd tending his flocks. 

(Slide) Messiah is our Comforter. “Praise be to the Elohim and Father of our Yahshua HaMoshiach, the Father of compassion and the Elohim of all comfort (Menachem). (2 Corinthians 1:3)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Unchanging One. “Yahshua HaMoshiach is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)”

(Slide) Messiah is the great Physician. “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)”

(Slide) Messiah is the Purifier: “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto Yahweh an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)”

(Slide) Messiah is called the Most Holy: "Seventy 'sevens'  are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)”

(Slide) Messiah is changed to Yahweh Tzaddiknu: “In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh Tzaddiknu (Yahweh Our Righteousness). (Jeremiah 23:6)”

So next time someone asks you, ‘Who do you think Messiah is?’ hit ‘em. ‘He’s the Alef and the Tov, the Rose of Sharon, our Deliverer, our High Priest, the Anointed One, the Good Shepherd, the Branch, Our Passover Lamb, he’s our Emmanuel…’  ‘Okay, okay, buddy fine. You sure know you’re Messiah!’ And you say ‘Sure do brother!’ 

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Who is the Messiah? - The demon at my Shul - Part 6

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Who is the Messiah? Part 5

The Demon in My Shul

(Slide) The next recorded miracle of Yahshua takes place in a small village on the north side of the Sea of Galilee.  By now, Yahshua is accepted by many in the region as an exceptional Torah teacher, but a cloud surrounds his ministry. Some of his language seems to suggest that he is the Messiah as foretold of by the prophets and he has been accruing a growing list of miraculous feats, which quite frankly are giving weight to some of his more provocative statements. Chiefly among his growing list of followers, are poor and middle-class individuals, which make up a large demographic. Those most emphatically convinced of his more controversial allusions are those who have directly witnessed, or been direct recipients of, his miraculous signs.    

(Slide) Yahshua is invited up to speak at a synagogue in Capernaum and during a particularly stirring shiur (lesson), he is interrupted by a fearful outburst. 

“(Yahshua and his talmidim) went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Yahshua went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 ‘What do you want with us, Yahshua of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim!’ 25 ‘Be quiet!’ said Yahshua sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)”

(Slide) A day or so ago, Yahshua was preaching 40 miles away in his home synagogue at Nazareth, where he was set upon by the congregation and dragged out to the brow of a cliff to be thrown off. Miraculously he escaped. 

(Slide) Now, a man is raving at him to leave them alone! What’s going on? Despite what Hollywood and most religions teach us, the demonic world works best when it is left alone, quietly wearing down the conscience of its victims. There’s no benefit in putting on a special effects show. “The repetition of convulsions occur only in the course of the (spirit’s) entering or leaving the body” says the book Dybbuk, by Gershon Winkler. 

Most people refer to this incident as a case of demonic possession. There is no equivalent word in any ancient Near East languages, including Hebrew, for the English term “demon.” The concept of a spirit that chiefly concerns itself, whether individually or en masse, with causing individual human suffering are on the bottom rung of the food chain in the spiritual realm and are simply accorded the reference “unclean” or “impure spirits,” called in Hebrew, ruach tum’ah רוח טומאה. The term Shedim is a Hebrew word often translated as demons, which appears only twice (always plural) in the TaNaK in Psalm 106:37 and Deuteronomy 32:17.  The word is related to Akkadian word šêdu, which means a protective of benevolent spirit. 

Yahshua’s words provoked an outburst from a ruach tum’ah, an unclean spirit that had fastened itself to member of the commonwealth of Israel, a Jew. This took the occupants of the room by surprise. Luke’s account is as follows: 

(Slide) 31 “Then (Yahshua) went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man echō (holding onto) ä-kä'-thär-tos daimonion (an uncleansed divine power). He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Yahshua HaNazet? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim!” 35 ‘Be quiet!’ Yahshua said sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, ‘What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!’ 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. (Luke 4:31-37)”

Note the Greek word echō, which means “to hold” and ä-kä'-thär-tos daimonion, meaning a power an “unauthorised divine power.” For a person to become overridden by an unsanctioned spirit, they have to be convinced that they need it. This is why no-one in Scripture asks to have an impure spirit removed from them. This is why they are sometimes called familiar spirits, because they feel like family.

(Slide) “What do you want with us, Yahshua HaNazet? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of Elohim! (Luke 4:34)” Ironically, the only individual in the room who is completely sold on Yahshua’s true identity is an impure spirit. Ya’akov HaTzadik (James the Just) said, “You believe that there is one Elohim. Good! Even the unclean divine powers believe that--and tremble. (James 2:19)” 

Dybbukim (Yiddish word for ‘attachments’) feared Yahshua. In fact, they were petrified of him. Why? Primarily because he was without sin. They could bring no valid accusations against him. There’s an old story of a group of rabbi’s who turned up to do an exorcism. After they arrived to begin the exorcism, the demon began calling them out, saying you can’t remove me, you steal, and you can’t remove me, you spoke Lashon Hara, and you can’t remove me, you’re immoral and so on. One-by-one the rabbi’s left the scene.  

When we sin, we allow our divine light to be swallowed up by a shell, a klipa in Hebrew. Prior to sin we are too bright and painful for an unclean spirit to even look upon, let alone harass.  After each sin, we block off more light and become targets of the dark forces. 

The serpent in Gad Eden is the blue print of the dark force’s method of attack. It approaches quietly at first and then increases the pressure of its proposition. By entering into conversation with the serpent, Hava exposed herself to harm. Error escalates. All witchcraft is, is plain old rebellion. Yahweh therefore forbad general conversation with the enemy.   

Wilful commune with these lowest of entities was outlawed in the nation of Israel.

(Slide) “You shall not tolerate a sorceress" (Ex. 22:17(18) “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to Yahweh; because of these same detestable practices Yahweh your Elohim will drive out those nations before you. (Deuteronomy 18:10–12)” King Saul had driven out the practitioners of necromancy out of the Land (I Samuel 28:3).

(Slide) Yahweh uses both angels and evil spirits as His agents. The Scriptures specifically state that all spirits are under His control. Take for example one recorded audience HaSatan has with the Almighty. HaSatan says he’s been walking to and fro upon the earth. His implication, by Elohim’s reply is that he’s looking for kinks in the armour of Tzaddikim (Righteous Ones). Yahweh then says to him, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears Elohim and shuns evil. (Job 1:18)" HaSatan is then permitted to harm him, even escalating the level of attacks only under the direction of Elohim.  

In another example, an affliction, which troubles King Saul is actually “an evil spirit (sent) from Yahweh (I Samuel 16:14)” 

In fact the Almighty goes onto say that calamities and illnesses are not from the dark forces, but from Him. "Shall there be evil in a city, and Yahweh has not done it? (Amos 3:6)” Any claim that HaSatan has brought about an evil by his own will, in exclusion to Yahweh, is an attack on the benevolence of Yahweh’s sovereignty. It’s like HaSatan is doing something Yahweh has to scramble to clean up. 

We think that if it’s Yahweh’s will, that we should experience calamity, then it must be His will that we die. Not at all! If Yahweh wills that something bad happens to you, Yahweh wants you to get better. Yah still brought about Job and Saul’s affliction, but He also wanted both of them to find rest from it. What does Yahweh say? "See now that I myself am he! There is no Elohim besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand (Deuteronomy 32:39)” You might say, ‘Well, if Yahweh said it, I believe it and that settles it.’ But this is not true. If Yahweh said it, whether you believe it or not, and that settles it.  

(Slide) So if we are in Yahweh’s will, we also accordingly have control over evil spirits. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)” This is why the people respond to Yahshua by saying, “He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” But actually, these astonished onlookers have been granted the “…authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; (and Yahweh promises that nothing) will harm (them or) you. (Luke 10:19)”  “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)” 

Your level of astonishment in Yahshua’s miracles is directly proportionate to your lack of trust in His Word which says, we have that power too!

(Slide) Many people see Yahshua’s casting out of demons as being a new thing. It wasn’t. What was new, was the ease by which he did it, with authority. “A new teaching—and with authority! (Mark 1:27)”

Even early Christian scholar Origen credits Jews with a special talent for exorcising demons (Against Celsus, book 4). 

Josephus recounts incidents of possession and exorcism in his Antiquities of the Jews (2, 5, 8, 45-48). In his description, exorcism involved burning herbs and immersing the possessed person in water.

One incident Josephus (Ant. 2, 5) recounts reads: "I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal, in the presence of Vespasian and his sons and his captains and the whole multitude of his soldiers. The manner of the cure was this: He put a ring that had a root of one of those sorts mentioned by Solomon to the nostrils of the demoniac, after which he drew out the demon through his nostrils; and when the man fell down, immediately he abjured him to return into him no more, still making mention of Solomon, and reciting the incantations which he composed. And when Eleazar would persuade and demonstrate to the spectators that he had such a power, he set a little way off a cup or basin full of water, and commanded the demon, as he went out of the man, to overturn it, and thereby let the spectators know that he had left the man; and when this was done the skill and wisdom of Solomon were shown very manifestly."

(Slide) If asked where the first incident of exorcism takes place in the Bible, most people would say with Yahshua in Capernaum. This is wrong! The first incident was when David drove off the evil spirit from Saul with his harp. Sure, it was temporary, and sure it wasn’t a full, blown possession, but he is recorded as driving off the first evil spirit causing affliction to the then King of Israel. 

(Slide) Now, what caused the evil spirit to depart? You might say the playing of the harp. But it was the music from the harp or lyre that soothed Saul’s darkened mood. “Whenever the spirit from Elohim came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (1 Samuel 16:23)” The notes plucked from the strings of a kosher instrument by a tsaddik saturate the spiritual realm. Thoughts, scents, sounds, smells, and smoke are things that inhabit both physical and spiritual reality and can be used to ward off or encourage evil. Many have heard the expression, “music sooths the savage beast.”  The actual quote is, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” – The Mourning Bride by William Congreve (1697) Will words speak to the mind, music speaks to the soul. When a poor fool is happy he sings, but when a wise man is happy he does not recite words, he also sings. A song has the power to restore a troubled heart. In recent times, studies have shown that exposing patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia to music, causes the diseases to abate. One study noted, “When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements.” – Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)

Let’s be honest, a Christian mind’s frame of reference for possession and exorcism is Jes-s casting out demons and Hollywood and not necessarily in that order. 

(Slide) In the year of 1970 an American novelist and script writer retired to the secluded locality of a rental chalet in woodland off Lake Tahoe to write a novel called The Exorcist. This book went on to become a New York Times bestseller, staying on the bestseller list for fifty-seven straight weeks with seventeen of those weeks remaining at the number one spot.  

This author was William Peter Blatty. In 1971 this novel was adapted into one of the most famous and controversial mainstream horror movies of all time. It set the standard for possession based horror films that has not been surpassed since, enjoying a strong following with the movie going public and genre fans alike. 

While it may have achieved its original intent as a horror flick, The Exorcist falls grossly short of being any assistance as an instructional video for driving out demons. The Catholic Church has unquestioningly cornered the market, if you will, with being the dominant religious template used by Hollywood for the so-called Biblical execution of exorcism.

(Slide) Although in recent times, The 2008 film, The Unborn, does explore a Jewish perspective, but unfortunately uses a reformed rabbi who teams up with a Christian minister. The result is a woeful mishmash of rabbinic and Judaeo-Christian rites that is just plain wrong even for the novice viewer. (Click) In 2012 Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, creators of the original Evil Dead film, produced a slightly more centred film called Possession. It starred ex-Chabad reggae artist Matisyahu playing surprise, surprise, an orthodox Jew, who gets entangled with a disembodied spirit that’s emerged from an antique wooden box. Though this one doesn’t attempt to merge religions it ultimately falls flat due to minimal detail, choosing rather to focus on tension and scares rather than attempt to shed any light on tackling demons from a Jewish perspective.

(Slide) Apparently based off a true story, it simply borrows the source of a much publicised ‘Jinx Box’ that was placed up for sale on eBay and dubbed the “haunted Jewish wine cabinet box” by the seller who ran it with a fictitious possession story. However, the eventual purchaser, Jason Haxton, a medical museum curator, did some research and traced the box back to the holocaust, leading him to publish a book on his findings called The Dibbuk Box.

There’s little argument that Michael Cuneo’s 2002 book, “American Exorcism: Expelling Demons in the Land of Plenty,” is correct in crediting Blatty’s The Exorcist as being the chief catalyst in igniting the modern-day interest in exorcism. Cuneo does characterise Blatty’s work as a massive structure of fantasy resting on a flimsy foundation.

In Blatty’s film the Jewish Messiah is represented in his ever-popular Greco-Roman persona in the form of two Catholic priests, one young, but weak in the faith and the other, strong but physically ill, as they stumble through a ritual based exorcism that seems to rely on fancy words and artefacts rather than the true power of the Almighty. This attempt to drive out an unclean spirit stands in stark contrast to the simple and effective way King Messiah Yahshua handled the same situation. 

In one respect it might seem a bit excessive to level any great weight of criticism as even Yahshua’s very own talmidim encountered their share of difficulties.

(Slide) “Then the talmidim came to Yahshua in private and asked, ‘Why couldn't we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” (Matthew 17:19-21)

But perhaps we shouldn’t fixate on their one recorded failure. After all they were given the authority to do these works, so they weren’t operating beyond their jurisdiction by any means.  “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.” (Mark 3:14-15) 

And furthermore, Mark 6:12-13 records that they did have some success. “And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

It’s not the success or failure of the exorcism in the movie that should be questioned, but rather the context of it being Gentile centric, the given that the religion brought in to handle the phenomenon is the true one and that the template for the procedure is somehow scripturally sound.

(Slide) After David’s soothing sonnet for King Saul, the next case of an exorcism is found in the Apocryphal Book of Tobit. This account is a particularly nasty story with a nasty shad (demon). A girl named Sarah is possessed by a demon named Asmodeus and that demon causes the death of 7 of her husbands before it is driven away by burning a fish’s heart and liver. In one part of this story, Sarah seeks to kill herself, but ultimately does not. In this instance the spirit is not a low level messenger or accuser, but a powerful pre-flood disembodied spirit. This is noted by Michael binding him in chains. 

We see that even by examining Yahshua’s methods of doing the same miracle, there is no two instances that are exactly the same. 

This book, along with the rest of the Apocryphal writings was originally considered part of the Christian Cannon. The Jews for many centuries distanced themselves from these works because no Hebrew originals remained in existence. For a long time, the only copies were ones translated and interpreted by the Church. However, Hebrew originals of the deuterocanonical books were discovered amongst the works of the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

(Slide) The Dead Sea Scrolls include several exorcism incantations and formulae, mostly directed against disease-causing demons. The DSS Psalms collection in particular (11Q5) has “four songs for the charming of demons with music.” People who fell under the influence of false prophets and mediums were thought to also require the exorcism of possessing evil spirits (the false prophets and mediums themselves were subject to death, a sure cure for most possessions; see Zechariah 13.  

(Slide) Rabbinic literature does contain accounts of rabbis removing dybbukim (spiritual attachments). One approach for removing a dybbuk involves a minian (10 men) who represent the 10 Kabbalistic sephirot (10 attributes of Yahweh). They encircle the individual and recite Psalms 91 three times. At the conclusion of this a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown. The sound of the shofar is said to cause confusion in the dark forces and prompt them to flee an area. The rabbi leading the ritual will usually enter into dialogue with the dybbuk, usually limiting the exchange to asking its identity and convincing it to leave the host. 

Most people who believe they are experiencing an evil spirit are simply going through a psychological episode and simply wish to externalise their problem to a foreign entity. There is a story that dates back to the eighteenth century where a woman took her daughter to a local rabbi after suspecting she was being influenced by a dybbuk. The rabbi found that she exhibited no real signs of a dybbuk, but noted that the girl and her mother were so convinced that he instructed them to take home an alarm clock and at 4:30pm the dybbuk will leave the girl. Hours after they arrived home the alarm clock rang and the mother and daughter were completely convinced that it had gone by the mere shock of hearing the bell of the alarm clock go off precisely at the time the rabbi predicted.

(Slide) Evil spirits appeared after the flood. Even a belief in ghosts emerged after the flood (I’ll explain why shortly). Even Yahshua’s own talmidim mistaken him for one as is evident in Matthew 14:26 & Luke 24:36-37). 

The first mention of evil spirits occurs in the Book of Leviticus when Israel is warned not to associate with those who have tried to cultivate a livelihood out of contact with evil spirits. Leviticus 19:31; “Regard not those who are mediums, neither seek after spiritists, to be defiled by them: I am Yahweh your Elohim.” The actual appearance of the first evil spirit is mentioned as being sent out by Yahweh in Judges 9:23; “Then Elohim sent an evil ruach between Avimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously against Avimelech…” 

(Slide) The Book of Enoch, a text deliberately withheld from accepted Scripture until the last days, explains in detail the origin of familiar spirits. 1 Enoch 15; “But now the giants who are born from the (union of) the spirits and the flesh shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, because their dwelling shall be upon the earth and inside the earth. Evil spirits have come out of their bodies. Because from the day that they were created from the holy ones they became the Watchers; their first origin is the spiritual foundation. They will become evil upon the earth and shall be called evil spirits. The dwelling of the spiritual beings of heaven is heaven; but the dwelling of the spirits of the earth, which are born upon the earth, is in the earth. The spirits of the giants oppress each other, they will corrupt, fall, be excited, and fall upon the earth, and cause sorrow. They eat no food, nor become thirsty, nor find obstacles. And these spirits shall rise up against the children of the people and against the women, because they have proceeded forth (from them).”

(Slide) Josephus elaborates further in his work Legends of the Jews: “...And the spirits of the giants will devour, oppress, destroy, attack, and do battle and cause destruction on the earth and work affliction. They will be invisible, and these spirits shall raise up against the children of men and against women, because they have proceeded from them, thus they will destroy until the day when the consummation of the great world will be consumed.”

(Slide) Yahshua was not the first person to ever cast out an unclean spirit, but he certainly was the first to do so with such authority, by silencing them and literally waving them out with his hand. The Netzarim Writings (A.K.A. The New Testament) carries hints as to this practice’s prior history inside normative ancient Judaism. Note the existence of Pharisees who specialised in exorcism in this passage from Acts 19: “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Adonai Yahshua over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Yahshua whom Sha’ul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Yahshua I know, and Sha’ul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16)

Note, that these verses are talking about Pharisees who starting using the name of Yahshua within their existing formula and then there was also the seven sons of the High Priest Sceva. No success or failure in this practice is recorded in the first description, but there were also some religious charlatans in Ephesus who pretended to have special, miracle-working powers. Sceva, who is identified as “a Jewish chief priest” in Acts 19:14, had seven sons “who went around driving out evil spirits” (verse 13). Seeing the success that Sha’ul had in exorcising demons, the seven sons of Sceva began using the name, but stupidly added, “…the one whom Sha’ul preaches” which ended with disastrous results.  

(Slide) Demonic possession is the rarest and severest affliction that can befall a person. My hope is that no-one here becomes afflicted by a dybbuk or has to remove one. Removing one is extremely dangerous if one isn’t suitably prepared. An exorcist should interview the individual at length and only do so if asked by them or a relative. The fixing of a mezuzah in the home, regular blowing of a shofar, immersion, and regular reading of psalms is sufficient to make a person undesirable for an unclean spirit. 

It is believed within Judaism that demonic possession is lessoned in our age by to chief reasons. One, is that the onset of materialism in the world has caused people to be less inclined to be concerned about the spiritual realm, so the affliction accordingly become rare and two, a very powerful rabbi hundreds of years, banished them from civilized areas and they are thus confined to ruins and deserted places. This is why abandoned houses, tunnels and forests are undesirable to venture off into alone to someone who is attuned to spiritual things. The general rule is that if someone goes into deeply remote area, three people are safe, two are acceptable and one is not advised. 

“Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. (1 Corinthians 14:20)”

(Slide) King Messiah Yahshua exercised authority over evil spirits, but he never went out hunting them, he simply moved from place to place, sifting lost Israel, and they presented themselves. He came to set the captives free, to deliver his children from bondage. Even those who had descended to the most filthiest of states found deliverance and were saved. Who is the Messiah? 

He is our Deliverer: “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. (Romans 11:26)”

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahweh shall call. (Joel 2:32)”

Messiah is El Shaddai אל שׁדי (Mighty One over all Spirits). “‘I am the Aleph and the Tauv,’ says the Sovereign Elohim, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the El Shaddai (also translated as ‘One who holds sway over all things’). (Revelation 1:8)’”

 In the Midrash, Shaddai is also an acronym for “Guardian of the Doors of Israel” שׁוֹמֶר דְלָתוֹת יִשְׂרָאֶל. Yahshua is our doorpost, our mezuzah!

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Who is the Messiah? - The Miracles Continue - Part 5

Who is the Messiah? - Part 5 -  
The Miracles Continue

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Video Teaching

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Study Notes and Slides

Who is the Messiah? – Part 5

The Miracles Continue

Revision: Messiah is our Rock: “And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of Yahweh Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Messiah. (1 Corinthians 10:4)”

The Value of Suffering

Before we continue to delve further into the subject of Yahshua’s miracles, it’s important to understand something about the environment that causes our need for them. 

(Slide) Many of us want out of our suffering before we’ll allow suffering do its work. Before we can be healed we need to respect the value that suffering brings. Everything’s always about healing! There’s a wrong thinking that’s so prevalent today and it’s the thought that a brother who suffers is somehow a lesser entity, someone who can’t get their walk quite right enough. Dare I say, a thinking that a sick person in the faith is less loved then one who is healthy. This is wrong. 

(Slide) Everyone in Scripture suffered. Shlomo HaMelek (King Solomon), the wisest man who ever lived, fell dramatically and suffered the eventual loss of his whole Kingdom. As incomprehensible as it seems he plummeted through more worlds than you have hot dinners. As splendorous as the Ark of the Covenant is, with all its external and internal gold and finery, its core was wood. Wood represents foolishness. (Click) Shlomo had chochma (wisdom). And what is wisdom? Wisdom is something that allows you to anticipate the Yetza Hara (the Evil Inclination) before it shows up. Sefer Mishlei (Proverbs) teaches the prevention of the Yetzar Hara, but Tehillim (Psalms) teaches how to send it into retreat after it wins a battle. 

Sure, if we follow Yahweh’s Torah and live righteously no harm will befall us, but who follows his Torah and lives righteously continually? No-one. Every man is in a constant state of refinement. 

(Slide) There are literally millions of books and teachings out there devoted to the subject of sickness and healing in the Bible. Much of it is baloney. The truth is that nothing will eliminate the struggles and challenges that buffet man throughout his life. What’s that I hear you thinking, you’ve come here wanting an end to your troubles and I’ve just told you they can’t be eliminated. 

(Slide) We’ve been called to the fellowship of sharing in Messiah’s sufferings. “I want to know Messiah and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10, 11)”

(Click) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with Yahweh through our King Messiah YahShua, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of Yahweh. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because Yahweh has poured out His love into our hearts by the Ruach HaKodesh, whom He has given us. (Romans 5:1-5)”

(Click) “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Messiah, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)”

(Click) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)” I’d be real concerned if a covenant believer was happy with the world. I’d be real concerned if a covenant believer didn’t want this abominable age to pass. This is a wicked generation. This is why miracles are so sought after! (Click) “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! (Matthew 12:29)” 

“Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. (Matthew 12:38)’”

“As the crowds increased, Yahshua said, ‘This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. (Luke 11:29)’”

Correct Attitude Toward Miracles

Most religions breed miracle junkies. I wish people regarded illness and suffering with the same awe as they do miracles. Everyone flocks to a wedding, but no-one wants to go to a funeral, when a funeral causes one to think about things that really matter. 

I ask you, what good is reviving a dying drug addict, if you have no intention to see that after he has revived, he gets the necessary help to not turn to drugs again? Reviving him is the miracle and the necessary help is the Torah. Because we live in an environment where people like miracles more than the Torah, we are living in an environment where we need miracles. 

(Slide) The Talmud Shabbat 53b discusses a story of a man whose wife dies, leaving behind a newborn baby. He is so poor he cannot afford a wetnurse to nurse his child. Lo, a miracle happens and he grows breasts! Now he can feed his baby.

Shabbat 53b:

מעשה באחד שמתה אשתו והניחה בן לינק, ולא היה לו שכר מניקה ליתן, ונעשה לו נס ונפתחו לו דדין כשני דדי אשה והניק את בנו. אמר רב יוסף: בא וראה כמה גדול אדם זה, שנעשה לו נס כזה! אמר לו אביי: אדרבה, כמה גרוע אדם זה שנשתנו לו סדרי בראשית

Most people would react to this story in the positive. What a wonderful miracle, how great is our G-d! But in actuality, the rabbis pose that this person must not have been such a great individual since the miracle done for him required a change in the natural order. If he had been truly great then the miracle would have appeared from within the natural order, such as a wetnurse volunteering out of charity to help, or milk and an apparatus becoming available so the father could bottle feed the infant. 

(Slide) Pause for one moment and ask yourself the question. What was Yahshua’s attitude toward miracles? Think about it. How did he truly view them? Did he wield them, showcase them, did he promote them, did he always do them, or did he just come to the earth to do miracles? 

REV. ALBERT THOMAS STEELE writes in his book, JES-S' ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS MIRACLES:

“The very thing which Jes-s was apparently anxious to avoid, that of being known as a wonder-worker, appealed to his disciples as most opportune. This immediate popularity intoxicated them, but Jes-s had a deeper spiritual insight and a more profound knowledge of his mission. He strenuously sought to escape the fame of a wonder-worker. Gould in his commentary on the Second Gospel considers the position of Mark 1:35-39 of first-rate importance. This passage serves a double purpose: while doing works of benevolence it also shows how unwilling Jes-s was to resort to supernaturalism, which lent itself to false outward conceptions of himself and his work.” 

(Slide) If he wanted to, he could have called down legions of angels and taken the Kingdom but force. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 26:53)” He could have healed not only everyone he came into contact with, but everybody wherever they were. We see that. He heals people miles away. Sometimes with a single sentence, “your son lives.” And at that same moment the son’s fever immediately lifts. No background information, no prayer, no rain dance, it’s done immediately. 

Yahshua never stuck to a single formula for healing. On almost every occasion, he did something different. 

(Slide) Have you ever wondered if there was a time when instead of stepping aside with a brother in prayer about a bad situation, that he might be much better served with some dietary advise? Picture the scene, an obese man asks for prayer about returning to a healthy weight. He gets a lovely prayer and there is no real constructive word about looking at changing his diet. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:14-16)” 

Not all sickness comes from demons. Most sickness have a biological or a physiological origin and are a result of bad lifestyle choices. Overeating, eating too little, lack of exercise, lack of essential vitamins, not enough sunlight, too much sunlight, poor hygiene, lack of food, promiscuous lifestyle, exposure to hazardous substances, chemicals, radiation, electromagnetic waves, an unhealthy or extreme diet, injury or trauma are the source of 95% of people’s woes.  The same can be said for one’s car or job. If you don’t change the oil in a car it can ruin the engine and the car breaks down. If you perform poorly at a job, you’ll lose it. Right now billions of people are attributing demonic influence to things that are happening that are really due to laziness, carelessness or plain old irresponsibility. It’s time to come out of fairy land and call things for what they are, plain old sin.  

No Preacher, Teacher, Rabbi, Pastor or Elder has ever been called by Yahweh Elohim to minister to a demon. The devil never made you do it anymore than the serpent in the Garden of Eden forced Hava to eat the forbidden fruit. The most destructive force that you will ever face is the image staring across from you when you look into the mirror. The only thing HaSatan, that defrocked fallen Cheruv (Guardian One) and all of his band of defeated minions can do his little more than make a poor suggestion. 

Yahweh controls the world, but He lets man have free will to choose what he might do. How do I know this? Because He asks us to choose! “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19).”

Spiritual Illness

(Slide & Click Through) On the flip-side, there things that happen that are the work of evil spirits or demons. There is a spirit of jealousy(Numbers 5:14),  a familiar spirit (I Samuel 28:7), a spirit (Job 4:15),  a spirit of deep sleep (Isaiah 29:10), a spirit of whoredoms(Hosea 4:12), an unclean spirit (Luke 8:29), a spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11), a spirit of divination (Acts 16:16), a spirit of bondage (Romans 8:15), a enticing spirit (2 Chronicles 18:20), a spirit of devils (Revelation 16:14), spirits of false the prophets (I John 4:1), seducing spirits (I Timothy 4:1), evil spirits (Acts 19:13), spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), spirit of error (I John 4:6), foul spirit (Revelation 18:2), another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:4), spirit of the world (I Corinthians 2:12), unclean devil (Luke 4:33),  dumb spirit (Mark 9:17), spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3), perverse spirit (Isaiah 19:14), spirit of travail and vexation (Ecclesiastes 4:6), a haughty spirit (Proverbs 16:18), hasty spirit (Proverbs 14:29), and a lying spirit (2 Chronicles 18:22).

It’s all about discernment! Everybody thinks that they’re the most discerning person in the world! I’ve never a met a person who doesn’t think they are good at discerning. Even if they say they aren’t, usually their inwardly going, ‘I know what’s what when it comes down to the crunch.’

We’ve got to imitate Messiah at every turn and exercise caution. (Slide) “…examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)” If someone discerns that a person is possessed, he must be sure that the person is committed to maintaining his new found freedom. This takes an ability to see into the person’s heart through Divine understanding or it takes good old fashioned relationship. (Click) "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)”

Remember the man with the thirty-eight year infirmity that Yahshua healed? Well, (Click) “Later (when Yahshua) found him at the temple (he) said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. (John 5:14)’”

Some infirmities come about for Divine prophecy, so as to show the glory of Yah. (Click) “As (Yahshua) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His talmidim asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Yahshua, ‘but this happened so that the works of Elohim might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)” 

Sha’ul’s Condition

We tend to approach miracles like a ladder in the game of Snakes and Ladders and afflictions like a snake we slide down that takes us further away from victory. Miracles are like short-cuts. Normal life is like regular movement and an affliction becomes a set-back. But an affliction can be that thing that assures that you’ll even get to finish, because many don’t. 

(Slide) The Sent-One to the Nations, Sha’ul HaShliach, who the world calls Paul was a very driven man. He’s personality was alpha male, as was BenNavi (Barnabas), that’s why they part ways at one point over “…a sharp contention…” (Acts 15:39).  

Sha’ul’s level of influence was increasing so rapidly that even a man of the strongest character might have let it go to his head, but Yahweh gave him a gift. The oddest gift you’ll ever hear of in Scripture. “Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of HaSatan (the Accuser of the Brethren), to torment me. Three times I pleaded with Adonai to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Messiah’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Messiah’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:6-10)”

Thorn in the Flesh

(Slide) Sha’ul refers to his thorn again in Galatians 4:13; “You know that how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the full message to you at first.” Then he goes onto say, “And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of Elohim, even as Yahshua HaMoshiach. (Galatians 4:14)” Then he concluded that the Netzarim of Galatia would have given him their own eyes to help him had it been possible (Galatians 4:15). Many have speculated that he had an eye problem, citing that he didn’t recognise the High Priest when he was speaking with him (Acts 23:4–5). (Click) How shallow, accusing believers of that time for not accepting his message because he had a poor eye sight. 20/20 was a not a pre-requisite to be a Shliach (Sent-One). So let’s gather the evidence. We have a Satan Hashliach (an Accusing Sent-One), temptation, which was ongoing, which people who received him overlooked, the eye, and flesh. You do the math!

(Slide) “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Yahshua HaMoshiach came into the world to save sinners’--and I am the worst of them all. (1 Timothy 1:15)” (Click) Sha’ul was a Benoni, an intermediate one. There are three types of people in this walk. 

1. Tzaddik—“the righteous person.”

2. Benoni—“the intermediate.”

3. Rasha—“the wicked person.”

How can a wicked person be in our walk? It’s when we vacillate between the two, a Tzaddik and a Rasha, that we are considered a Benoni. 

(Click) So what’s the righteousness that we’re meant to have? An accreditation of righteousness, through faith. “Avraham believed (or had faith) and it was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)” “The righteous, live by emunah (faith). (Romans 1:17)”

Now when the Rabbi’s come up with a principle, they always try and see if can be pulled apart. The simple approach to three types of believers is problematic. What are the terms of self-appraisal? True, the heavenly court is able to see individual circumstance, human nature, and individual challenges, but considering the very complicated nature of the human psyche, compounded with each generation’s difficulties and specific geographical location, etc., how is any person to be truthful with themselves and completely delineate where they truly are on this scale? Furthermore, what of the failures of character? How are we to cope with the seemingly never ending cycle of decision to change and subsequent failure? Are we Tzaddikim (pl. Tzaddik) at the time of triumph and Reshaim (pl. Rasha) at the time of debacle?

(Slide) Sha’ul said, “There is no one righteous, not even one. (Romans 3:10, quoting Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3 & Ecclesiastes 7:20)” If Messiah Yahshua wouldn’t accept someone call him good, how can Sha’ul accept you calling him righteous? “‘Why do you call me good?’ Yahshua answered. "No one is good--except Elohim alone. (Mark 10:18)” 

What was so faulty about Sha’ul and Yahshua, one a Benoni and one a Tzaddik? They were both in bodies, doomed to wear out and die, awakened to the nature of good as well as evil since the fall. 

(Click) Flesh is weak: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)”

(Click) Flesh dies: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—(Romans 5:12)”

In Judaism a thorn represents the prickly nature of sin. Sin wounds the soul, but this wounding can bring about t’shuvah. The rose is symbolic of the pious, but the thorn represents the penitent. It is not only the upright and righteous who have a place in Elohim’s world; sinners and penitents do too. Sins are prickly, and they wound the soul, but sin also opens the doors to regret, resolve and reconciliation — the harshest, but also the highest form of beauty. The rose inspires; the thorn resolves. The rose offers love; the thorn, strength. Viewed through the proper prism, the rose and the thorn fit hand in glove. Yahshua wore a crown of thorns, representing the origin point of sin, the mind. When a person sins and he is regretful, his brain becomes pierced by a multitude of the thorns around the head. 

(Slide) The Hebrew word for thorn is קוֹץ Qots. Here’s how it appears in context elsewhere in Scripture: “But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those that you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land in which you dwell. that you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land in which you dwell. (Numbers 33:55)” 

The qots was there to buffet him. (Click) The Greek word is κολαφίζω kolaphizo, which means “a blow from the fist” – properly, to strike with the fist (literally "knuckles"); to hit hard “with the knuckles, to make the blow sting and crush . . . in 2 Corinthians 12:7 the idea is striking with something sharp and painful, sticking deeply in the flesh so it remains there"

Sha’ul bore something that did not make him have complete shalom, but it was Yahweh’s will that it remain, buffeting him so as to keep him from becoming conceited. Many people today would not recognise a person in a position of authority within the body whom had a perpetual spiritual defect. People who rightly perceived that he had a problem would try and heal him all the time, but to no avail.  

A miracle is the removal of a thorn! No thorn, no miracle. 

(Slide) We find Yahshua being selective with where he travels, when he travels, how long he stays in a place, who he chooses to heal and what miracles he performs. Yahshua submitted himself to the authority of the day, going out the real High priest Yochannan HaMatbil (John the Immerser). Even at the age twelve he made himself known to the Torah Masters of his day. He coordinated the building of his ministry with Yochannan, choosing Kepha, and Andraeus (Andrew) after Andraeus had observed his teachings for over six months. The truth that came from Yahshua’s mouth astounded his peers and the laity.  In fact, if he had not been the Messiah and had so much attention drawn to him by his miracles, he would have been an outstanding Pharisee, easily accepted with the upper ranks of the Sanhedrin.   

When you’re not functioning within the ordered and structured army of Yahweh, when your shooting from the hip without any group of fellow believers to be accountable to, it’s like the following analogy. A group of rogue fighters move into an area occupied by the enemy who have taken a bunch prisoners. They decimate the enemy and free the prisoners and run off. A few days later a massive array of enemy reinforcements arrive and retake the position. Little did the rogue fighters know, the place they attacked and liberated was the gateway to an entire prisoner of war camp that at that time was skeleton staffed by the enemy. Now the place is maned by thousands of men, guarding hundreds more prisoners who are now about to fend of the official army who are now approaching with a force in proportion to the couple of hundred that were there before. Because the rouge force never worked within the body, they are now responsible for the death of thousands of people and cause an inability to have thousand of prisoners liberated. 

Healing the Royal Official’s Son

The next major miracle of Yahshua is recorded in John 4:43-54 in the same town as his first miracle that of changing water into wine. This miracle takes place in the same town, that of Cana. To give you an idea of the time of this miracle, it took place almost a year after he changed water into wine.  His immersion, isolation, cleansing the Temple, his meeting with Nicodemus, the contention between his own disciples, the woman at the well, had all already happened, plus several visits to Jerusalem and Capernaum. It’s important to note that though the text says that this was his second miracle, it was not, it was the second miracle since he came from Judea. 

(Slide) “After the two days he left for Galilee. (Now Yahshua himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.) When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival (See John 2:23), for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Yahshua had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Yahshua told him, ‘you will never believe.’ The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go,’ Yahshua replied, ‘your son will live.’ The man took Yahshua at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, ‘Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.’ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Yahshua had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his whole household believed. This was the second sign Yahshua performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:43-54)”

And there was a certain nobleman [literally, "king's man:" a word which Josephus uses to designate a soldier, courtier, or officer of the king. He was doubtless an officer of Herod Antipas, tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter"). of Galilee. That it was Chuzas ( Luke 8:3 ) or Manaen ( Acts 13:1 ) is mere conjecture], whose son was sick at Capernaum. [The nouns in this verse are suggestive. We have a "nobleman," yet neither riches nor office lifted him above affliction; a "son," yet approaching an untimely death before his father.

The Centurion and His Servant

What’s interesting about this encounter is the contrast of Yahshua’s attitude toward the Nobleman’s plea for his son to be healed and the Centurion’s requested for his servant to be healed.

(Slide) “Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.  When the centurion heard about Yahshua, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Yahshua, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy to have you do this for him for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Yahshua went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Adon, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Yahshua heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (Luke 7:2-10)” 

(Slide) So in Yahshua’s encounter with the Nobleman, he issues a rebuke saying, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.’ And yet in the case of a centurion, a foreigner to the nation of Israel, he praises his faith. “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” How is this so?

(Slide) The nobleman was almost certainly a Jew or at least a convert, a man of high political standing and he comes to Yahshua in person. In contrast, the Centurion sends servants. Note that in Matthew’s account it reads, “…a centurion came to him (Matthew 8:5)” suggesting an error, but in Hebrew thought, a messenger is equal to the one who sends the message, so there is no contradiction here. 

What’s interesting about the Centurion’s account, is the subsequent refrain from having Yahshua visit his house. “Adon, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you.” The Centurion’s attitude of himself was one of unworthiness, already evident in the action of sending Jewish Elders, rather than going himself. 

Yahshua was able, through the Spirit, to discern everything about a person’s character, especially if you managed one-on-one time. Many people knew this and it was a frightening prospect, to be facing off with someone that can see through to your heart, with nothing hidden.  It’s interesting to add that Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (the Ari) was said to be able to read on the forehead of every living soul their standing before the Father. A famous scholar Rabbi Moshe Galante of Tsfat (Safed) pleaded with the holy Ari: “I know you have the power to tell me what have done that requires rectification, from the day I was born until now.”

Also note that the Centurion would have been tending his sick servant himself. One who loves a dying person will rarely leave their side at such an hour of need, choosing to send for help rather than go away from them. You’ll also notice that the text says that “the servant was highly valued by him,” which is something the Nobleman’s narrative leave absent. Also, the narrative expresses that the Centurion built a synagogue and that he loved the nation of Israel. The Elders rely that he was indeed worthy. “He is worthy to have you do this for him for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 

On the other hand, the Nobleman came out to see Yahshua himself and expected him to come to his house and at no-time felt that he needed to confess his unworthiness. His son was close to death and he left his side. Surely he had someone he could have sent, a delegation who could have stated something of worth in him to do such a miracle. In fact there is nothing positive said about the Nobleman in the text at all. Now, he had a measure of faith, taking Yahshua at his word, when he said he was healed, but later he checks the time to make sure. A father who has had a son saved from death would neither care what hour it occurred, just that it happened like Yahshua said it would. 

A nobleman, a person of royal standing, a tetrarch ("ruler of a quarter") of Galilee would surely have been able to have built several synagogues, but nothing in his favour is mentioned, just his position and his awareness of Yahshua’s miracles. The Centurion on a modest wage (receiving only twice as much as a Legionary soldier) yet was responsible for 100 fighting men, built an entire synagogue. Note that it wasn’t out of diplomacy, it was out of love! He also risked what’s called in military circles ‘a conflict of interest,’ builds one and publicly declares his love for Israel. He must have known that “(Yahweh’s) house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)” 

The Centurion, whose outward appearance is of what Israel deemed as unclean, yet he loved Israel, not just with an intellectual, abstract, passing comment love, but an actual love that resulted in practical application.   “‘Surely not, Adonai!’ Kepha replied. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ The kol (voice) spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that Elohim has made clean.(Acts 10:14-15)’” This Centurion, as with the one Kepha (Peter) was being prepared by Elohim to visit, loved Israel, so that means they were Israel! Remember if you truly love Israel, you are Israel. 

Because of the absence of the Nobleman’s ethnicity, we can safely assume that he was a Jew or at least a convert, so in contrast this Jew is coming to Yahshua unconcerned with his own standing before Yahweh and more concerned with Yahshua’s ability to heal his son. Now, sure, he had faith, but there are levels of faith. Faith can increase or decrease! Faith is believing in something so strong that it’s a knowing without the object of that knowing yet seeing full fruition. Yahshua’s response to the Nobleman not only tells us a lot about him but also the general attitude of those in Galilee at the time. He responds with, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Yahshua told him, ‘you will never believe.’ Up to this point, this man had seen Yahshua only as a healer who might be able to succeed where physicians had failed. 

(Slide) The first miracle at Cana was at a wedding Feast, a time of celebration, the next was at a potential time of mourning, certainly a time of great anguish for the Nobleman. The first miracle involved wine, indicative of the Spirit, the Ruach, also representing his shed blood. And Yahshua’s second miracle with the nobleman’s son represents new life, brought about by faith with him taking Yahshua at his word. Wine is the colour of a rose, but a rose only emerges through a thorny stem, good deeds have the sweet scent of a lily, and one whose mourning is changed to joy celebrates with more vigor than a bride or a groom on their wedding day.  

(Slide) Who is Messiah? Messiah is the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon: “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. (Song of Solomon 2:1)” This verse describes the sweet scent of the truth he brings and the beauty of his miraculous actions rising up through the thorn riddled stem of a broken world. 

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