Musing – Which of the Lord’s prayers is really His prayer?

 Hebraic Musing – Which of the Lord’s prayers is really His prayer?

Jesus taught his disciples how they should pray in what we’ve been mistakenly calling the “Lord’s Prayer”; because it is actually the prayer that we should be praying.  ”Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come…..” Matthew 6:9 NKJV

Instead, I think John 17 should be studied and recognized as the prayer of the Lord (in red letters) when He was facing the expectation of His crucifixion.   Here are the opening 5 verses of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.  “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”  John 17:1-5 NKJV   Jesus was praying and pleading with His Father to recognize that He had finished the work He was to do in His time here on earth.  Jesus is claiming “Mission Accomplished!”

What was Jesus praying for in the rest of chapter 17?  Jesus was praying for His Disciples in verses 6-19.  He thanked His Father for us, His disciples, in v.6a.  “They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” 

Jesus was also praying for perfect unity amongst us, His disciples.  “Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” John 17:11b   There is a whole lot more in John 17:6-19 to read and digest!  Jesus knows what we, His disciples, will be facing in the future.

In John:17:20-26 He is praying for all believers.  Is this also Jesus’ prayer for us believers today?   Let’s listen to those seven verses that Jesus prayed to the Father for us believers.   20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Did verse 20 refer to those of us who became believers 2,000 years later?

Jesus wanted all of us believers to be as one in verses 21-22.  How much divisiveness is there in the Christian Community between churches and denominations?

Where is Jesus in verse 24 and where does He want us to be?

How much love does Jesus expect from us in verse 26?

Points to Ponder

Are you and I disciples?  Did vs.6-19 apply to us?

Jesus prayed for our unity; so how does He feel when us Saints disrespect one another?

Does John chapter 17 need to be read slowly and carefully?

Which one is really the “Lord’s Prayer”?   Matthew 6:9-13 or John 17:1-26

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             April 30, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – What are the “Signs of the End of the Age”?

 Hebraic Musing – What are the “Signs of the End of the Age”?

All four Gospel writers devoted a significant portion of their messages to sharing Jesus’ warnings about what to expect in the “End Times”.  Here are some thoughts and/or applications that came to mind as I read those sections of their Gospels.  Jesus’ words are in red italics and selected from Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 (NIV).  My thoughts and reflections are in black.  Starting in Matthew:

“…his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things? … “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Mt.24:1-2   And a flaming arrow lit the curtain!  And it happened 70 years later, just as Jesus predicted it would!

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:6-8   Have you read the news recently?  Are these forebodings starting to sound familiar?!?!

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.  At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,” vs.9-10  Persecution of the faithful has already begun and it’s getting more blatant and obvious.  The “Church” and the number of real “Christians” in the Western world is shrinking.  “Hate” is the new attitude being promoted in our society.  We are no longer being told to “Love” and respect each other!  Are we all created equal?  Then, what is EquityDiversityInclusion about???  And vs.11-12 warns us “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”   Is wickedness or lawlessness increasing?  How many false religions and teachings are prospering now-a-days?  Mark warned us.  “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,' and will deceive many.  When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Mark 13:5-8   Have you read the news recently?

Jesus encourages us to “stand firm”.  “…but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Mark 13:9   When are we to stand firm?  “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.” v.9   Are you ready to witness to the world when it may result in your persecution?

Jesus tells us how to handle the challenge in v.11 and even provides an advocate!  “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”   Whose words are they?

How are we to handle the prevailing “Hate” attitudes in today’s society?  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child.  Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” v12-13   Doesn’t that sound like today’s messages based on “Hate” instead focus on “Love”.  Notice the important “but” instruction!  Stand firm.

In Matthew 23:42 Jesus raises the question of the Day and Hour; and He starts His warnings.  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”  And then Jesus tell us what to do in v.44. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”  What are we to do in the meantime – Be a “faithful and wise servant.”  Jesus answers in v.46.  “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”

Points to Ponder

What will He find you doing when He returns?

Is the “world” teaching us to “Hate” others?  But the Bible tells us to “love one another”!?!?

What does the world need us to be doing in the meantime?

♫  Are you ready? Are you ready?  Are you ready for the judgment day?  ♫

Stand firm.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             April 23, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Did Ezekiel Prophesy about our Current World Events?

 Hebraic Musing – Did Ezekiel Prophesy about our Current World Events?

Ezekiel chapters 33-39 prophesies many things sounding like current news events and trends.  Chapter 33 starts with the Watchman’s duty to blow the trumpet to warn the people; and if he does not, then the Watchman will be accountable for the blood.  Are you and I today’s watchmen?  Are we supposed to take Ezek.33:7 as both an assignment and a warning to each of us?  “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.” NIV

The LORD spoke to Ezekiel in 34:2 about the shepherds who do not do their job.  “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?’”  Could He be speaking about Pastors and leaders in the church?  Or is the LORD also speaking to you and I?  Jesus said something very similar? “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matt.23:13 NIV   Are the leaders more interested in the “Church” or in the people?

The LORD tells Ezekiel “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.” v.11  Then ~2500 years ago God revealed His plan for His people. “I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.” v.13   In 1948 the Jews were back in their own land.

This leads to a Messianic prediction.  “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.  I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.” Ezek.34:23-24   And Prince David was in Jesus’s lineage!

Chapter 35:3-7 deals with Edom, or the West Bank, which is still a continuing challenge to the Israelites.  Then Ezekiel prophesied that the LORD would take possession of the Mountains of Israel, and the Arabs.  “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander, therefore, …: This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills,… and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you— … In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom (West Bank), for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.'  Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say … ‘I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.’”  The LORD’s answer is in v.7 – “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.” Ezek.36:3-7

Then in many ways, the LORD promises to show Himself holy before their eyes.  “For I will take you out of the nations(1); I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land (2).  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean (3); I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols (4).  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you (5); I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (6). And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (7). You will live in the land I gave your forefathers (8); you will be my people, and I will be your God (9).”  Ezek.36:24-28 NIV   How many promises did The LORD make to His People?  To us?

Ezekiel 36:35-36 describes today’s rebuilt Israel.  “They will say, ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.’  Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'”  And now we know that He has done it; Israel has been rebuilt!  And there’s more to come!

The LORD promises to bring the Dry Bones back to life in 37:14. “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.”

In Ezek.38:3 the LORD makes references Russia and Turkey when He says “I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.”  And in vs.5-6 He tells Persia, Egypt, Black Sea area and Armenia to beware. “After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety. You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.” Ezek.38:8-9.   Does that sound like WWII?   And through chapter 39 he prophesies against Cog & Tubal (Russia and Turkey).

Points to Ponder

Why did Ezekiel record the LORD saying 14 times in Chapters 33-39 “I am the LORD”?

How do the statements in these seven chapters compare with current world events?

Did you notice that these predictions by Ezekiel did not make sense for 2500 years?!?!

Do all nine promises to the Jews also apply to us Christians today?

How can we serve the LORD in the time we have remaining?

“Then they will know that I am the LORD”  Said 23x in Ezekiel!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             April 16, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Musing – Is Jesus Training us for Ordination as His Disciples?

 Hebraic Musing – Is Jesus Training us for Ordination as His Disciples?

Are the “Beatitudes” in Matthew 5 the start of the training and ordination of Jesus’ Apostles and Disciples?  “His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2 NIV   How might you and I use these “Beatitudes” for our growth as His disciple?  I’m assuming you recognize yourself as His disciple?!?!

A note in my Bible says – “Jesus was setting a high standard that can only be achieved by Faith in Jesus Christ.”  Let’s look at the opening verses of the Beatitudes with which “He began to teach them”; and some related notes accumulated in my Bible over time:

5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  That’s a ‘grabber’ line to get attention!  Does that mean the rich cannot get to heaven?!?!

5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  There is comfort in the grieving process for those who sit “Sheva” (Jewish custom – seven days of intensive mourning following the death of a relative.).

5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  The “Meek” or “Weak” are the most teachable!

5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Are we to be seeking righteousness daily?  What does it mean to “hunger and thirst” for it?  Is it a continuous need? 

5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  And Jesus references this a little later as part of the “Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:12. “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  And Luke 11:4 says it also.  “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”
Does that make forgiveness conditional?

5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  What is Jesus calling us to do?  What’s required to see God?  What does it take to have the “pure heart”?  Jesus told us the greatest commandment.  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37.

5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”  Our men’s fellowship in my California church (Calvary Lighthouse Mission) was called “Peacemakers.”  We need to learn how to deal with the world’s conflicts peacefully.  Do you want to be called a “son of God”?

5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Our Brothers and Sisters around the world are suffering for their faith far more than we’ve experienced (yet).  They have an awesome reward coming!  Jesus continued with much more to say about those being persecuted.

5:13 “You are the salt of the earth.”  And the attributes of SALT can be described in the four uses for salt:
    1 - Preservative;  2 - Flavoring;  3 - Purification/cleansing;  4 - Medium of exchange(in Biblical times)  
    Could that be the outline for a sermon about what it means for us to be the “salt of the earth”?  

BTW – The red letters of Jesus’ teachings go beyond Matthew 5, they go all the way through chapters 6 & 7.  Is Jesus enrolling us in a Masters or a Doctorate degree?  (>:    

As you listen to His teachings in these three chapters, think about applications to our lives?  How might they help each of us to grow? And to be a blessing to others?

Points to Ponder

Are we Jesus’ Disciples?  Do we still need more training?

Does this make you want to reread Matthew 5 (and 6-7)?

If you are being ordained by Jesus as a Disciple, what are Disciples expected to do?
Answer – Make more Disciples!   “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17  “Fishers of men” Mt.4:19

How are Jesus’ instructions to His Disciples in opposition to today’s societal values?

And my favorite note in my Bible is…
“The light that shines the farthest, shines brightest close to home.”

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke14:27

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 9, 2024
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”