The Real Life Messiah and the Feasts of Israel
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Bread of Life
The Feast of Passover was approaching. Messiah had just performed the miracle of multiplying five barley loaves and two small fish into enough to feed a crowd of 5,000. The next day the people searched for Him; and after finding Him, engaged in conversation. What He shared was astounding! Parts of His conversation included these statements:
“I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty. 36 I told you that you have seen but still don’t trust. 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of the One who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the One who sent me: that I should not lose any of all those he has given me but should raise them up on the Last Day. 40 Yes, this is the will of my Father: that all who see the Son and trust in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise them up on the Last Day.” (John 6:35-40 JNT)
“Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life — that is, I will raise him up on the Last Day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father, so also whoever eats me will live through me.” (John 6:53-57 JNT)
As He continued to share about the kingdom of God, many came to understanding and believed in Him. Yet there were also many who could not comprehend. It became apparent that some could see with spiritual eyes, and therefore, trust—believe; while those who could not see through eyes of faith were bewildered and frustrated. What was He really communicating? Isaiah had spoken something important about God’s covenant that helps us understand!
As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore." (Isaiah 59:21NKJV)
God’s Word breathed by His Spirit bears LIFE. It is the LIFE of His covenant—and LIFE of Messiah. As we receive Messiah’s words with open hearts by faith, God’s Spirit breaths LIFE within us, watering the seeds of truth that His words bear. In such a way, His Words and Spirit IN US manifest God’s presence in us, causing us to live IN HIM—in UNION with Him. In John 17, Messiah prayed this would become reality!
“I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word, 21 that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are united with me and I with you, I pray that they may be united with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one —23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23 JNT)
In Messiah, we truly see El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient God who is the strength of our sustenance—and true bread of life.
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Light of the World
Messiah was teaching in the temple. A group of religious leaders brought to Him a woman caught in adultery, a sin worthy of death. They tested Him by asking what He thought. He replied to her accusers, “The one of you who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7 JNT) Her accusers, convicted by their own conscience, left. He said He did not condemn her, and that she should sin no more. He then shared something that brought peace and strength to her as well as others hearing.
“I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light which gives life.”
The light of Messiah reveals truth. Receiving His Words breathed by His Spirit bears the life of God’s truth. For, His words cut through the darkness of lies that condemn. His words and Spirit bear truth that sets people free. Messiah revealed this later in His conversation.
“If you obey what I say, then you are really my talmidim, (disciples)32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Light, separating truth from lies, in essence is what the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about. Why does Torah prescribe removing leaven from the home? Leaven is a fermenting substance; a turbulent form of bacterium that is permeating and pervasive in nature. It spreads like a cancer or virus, contaminating, polluting and corrupting what it touches. It is what sin and bad influences do to our life.
As we actively receive and embrace Messiah and the light of God’s truth by His Word, His Spirit sanctifies us. This is what the apostle Paul related as, “sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV)
In Messiah, we have a living revelation of El Emet—The God of Truth. (Psalm 31:5)
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Door of the Sheep
The prophet, Joel, was speaking of Messiah when he proclaimed, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 3:5 MT; v. 2:32 others)
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ came proclaiming that He was the way to eternal salvation, the gateway—or door—of heaven.
“Yes, indeed! I tell you that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate; if someone enters through me, he will be safe and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure.” (John 10:7-10 JNT)
This word was truly fulfilled at the moment His fleshly life expired, as the veil to the Holy Place in the Temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51) The very entrance to the place representing the throne room of God, where access had been restricted, became open.
Paul expanded on what this truly meant for those placing their faith in Messiah by explaining, “through him and on the ground of our trust, we have gained access to this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2 JNT)
This grace is the fullness of Messiah’s salvation—eternal life with eternal access to God’s presence in heaven—and open access to God, “in earth as it is in heaven” while still on earth, through the presence of the Holy Spirit! Paul further explained how believers in Messiah follow after Him as true children of God bound for eternal life, in proclaiming that, “the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died.” (1 Corinthians 15:20 JNT)
Messiah came as a man to be the first fruit to ascend unto eternal life after substituting His sacrificial blood for the remission of sins. No longer would animal sacrifices be acceptable to God. He opened the door to eternal life! He lives eternally in heaven, as do those who have put their faith in Messiah, and follow Him.
In Messiah, we truly see El Hashamayim—The God of the Heavens. (Psalm 136:26)
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Good Shepherd
Messiah came to bear revelation of God’s covenant and truth—His Word and Spirit. He came fulfilling all Shavuot represents.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning… 14 The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah (glory), the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth… 32 Then Yochanan (John) gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ (Holy Spirit) 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:1-34 JNT)
The prophet, Ezekiel, expressed God’s displeasure with the leaders who were self-indulgent, neglecting God’s people.
The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost…So they were scattered because there was no shepherd… (Ezekiel 34:4-6 NKJV)
God, therefore, proclaimed that a day was coming when He would Himself search for His sheep.
For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered…I will feed them in good pasture…I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick… (Ezekiel 34:11-16 NKJV)
Messiah is not only the way to heaven; He is the Good Shepherd of God’s flock. He came fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep….14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me — 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father — and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep. 16 Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to bring them, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:11-18 JNT)
Messiah truly manifested El Rachum—The God of Compassion (Deuteronomy 4:31), in the fullness of measure.
He came with a heart to seek and save the lost. He healed all types of sicknesses and diseases, bound the broken-hearted, opened the eyes of those of faith, and freed people captive to all sorts of bondages. He truly manifested Adonai Rohi—The LORD Our Shepherd, who leads us to His peaceful places, and fills us with the substance of His life!
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Resurrection and the Life
The primary purpose of the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah; Head of the Year) is to call us to prepare our hearts for the coming solemn Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It begins a period of reconciliation with God; specifically, “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe” which culminate in Yom Kippur.
The trumpet (ram’s horn, or shofar) was also used to alarm the people and prepare them for battle. It is therefore a day to arise in spiritual awakening.
In addition, trumpets were used to proclaim the entry of a king. Therefore, on this high-holiday, we also proclaim God King of the Universe, and honor His kingship and authority over all creation.
Messiah came as KING to BE the final sacrifice for sin. Those placing faith in Him are reconciled with God. He has accomplished more through His sacrificial blood than a single day of confession could ever possibly do! He defeated the enemy of our soul and won the battle over the power of sin and death. By the power and authority of His resurrection, all those who put their faith in Him are justified before God and delivered from His judgment into eternal life.
To illustrate this point, Messiah raised a man, Lazarus, who had been in a tomb for four days. He did this, “for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may receive glory through it.” (John 11:4 JNT) He, therefore, declared:
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Whoever puts his trust in me will live, even if he dies; and everyone living and trusting in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26 JNT)
Placing our trust in Messiah, we become united with Him by faith, and our soul is justified before God to live for eternity.
Truly, He has prepared a way and a place for those who place their faith in Messiah. In Messiah, we see El Chaiyai—The God of my life (Psalm 42:8) and El Yeshuati—The God of my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Towards the end of His earthly ministry, Messiah was sharing a Passover meal with His closest disciples. He shared many key truths about the kingdom of God, and demonstrated the kind of way his disciples would share His love and serve one another by washing their feet. If that didn’t startle them, Messiah said something that startled them even more.
“I AM the Way — and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6 JNT)
Messiah revealed that He not only is the true way or path to eternal life, but IS eternal life—and the true atonement fir sin, opening the way of eternal life. What did He really mean? The apostle, Paul, shed light on the meaning of this.
4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution-stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin. 8 Now since we died with the Messiah, we trust that we will also live with him. 9 We know that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, never to die again; death has no authority over him. 10 For his death was a unique event that need not be repeated; but his life, he keeps on living for God. 11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God, by your union with the Messiah Yeshua. 12 Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; 13 and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness. On the contrary, offer yourselves to God as people alive from the dead, and your various parts to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace. (Romans 6:4-414 JNT)
As we allow our carnal sinful tendencies (lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and pride of life) to die, put our faith in Messiah, and trust in the Holy Spirit to enable us to rule over those tendencies, we become united with Messiah in His resurrection, and live IN HIM—the power of His resurrection—HIS WAY, HIS TRUTH and HIS LIFE.
Truly, no single day of atonement or collection of mitzvot—works of righteousness or commandments—nor confession can satisfy God’s wrath and fulfill God’s requirement of a blood sacrifice for the remission of sins. There is no way to reconcile our sins with a righteous, perfect God and make amends for transgressing His law; except coming before Almighty God with brokenness of heart and humility, receiving the sacrificial blood atonement of Messiah.
In Messiah, we truly know El Gibbor—The Mighty God, who has gone before us in triumph over death, and gives us strength through His Spirit; not only for today, but for eternity. Truly, He is El Olam—God Everlasting.
 Real Life in Messiah: I AM the True Vine
After sharing that He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” Messiah continued teaching, adding HOW to live IN THE WAY—permanently a temple—or tabernacle—for the Ruach HaKodesh—Holy Spirit.
“If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you.….25 “I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 “What I am leaving with you is shalom — I am giving you my shalom (peace). I don’t give the way the world gives. Don’t let yourselves be upset or frightened. 28 You heard me tell you, ‘I am leaving, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have been glad that I am going to the Father; because the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:15-28 JNT)
He then headed with them towards the Garden of Gethsemane. There He challenged them to tarry with Him and pray. There, He prayed His greatest prayer, as recorded in John 17. Before doing so, however, He shared a great truth about how to live THE WAY OF THE KINGDOM—individually and together as a community of faith.
“I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned. 4 Stay united with me, as I will with you — for just as the branch can’t put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can’t bear fruit apart from me.
5 “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can’t do a thing. 6 Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, where they are burned up.
7 “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. 8 This is how my Father is glorified — in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim (disciples). (John 15:1-8 JNT)
The Feast of Sukkot, or Tabernacles, is in essence a celebration of our relationship—or fellowship—with God. It is a time we remember His faithfulness, and are grateful that He chose us to enter into intimate communion and fellowship with Him. That relationship finds itself and is expressed in its fullness through relationships amongst a community of believers worshiping and living in Messiah’s WAY—in SPIRIT and TRUTH—the WAY of HIS LOVE and FAITHFULNESS. In such a way, we bear His identity and character, and live a part of HIS VINE.
In living in His vine, and experiencing the flow of His sap—His Holy Spirit—we experience His presence! Truly, then He is revealed as Immanu EL—God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)
Enjoy His vineyard! Know His presence! Relate and engage with Him in intimate union and fellowship! Enter into His life—His love, His peace, and His joy—that yours be full!
"The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."'
"So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them."
(Numbers 6:24-27 NKJV)
|
