Hebraic Musing – Who Was Jesus? Who is Jesus?
This is a
critically important question, as demonstrated by this recent FaceBook
meme. Our culture deals with a variety
of mis-understandings of who Jesus is; and there’s a “Hollywood-ization” of who
Jesus is/was. Meanwhile we have worldly
and cultish teachings permeating doctrines!
Does the public understand who Jesus really is?
Did the Jews whom
Paul encountered in his travels understand who Jesus was? Paul was invited to speak at Antioch in the
synagogue service in Acts 13:13-14. He
begins by explaining how God's work in history culminated in Jesus. He is speaking to both Jews and interested
Gentiles. Paul starts with a succinct recap of a thread through their
Torah & Prophetic writings which we can read in Acts 13:16-23 – this historical
recap contains a series of familiar Covenant promises which the Jews would
readily understand! “Men of
Israel, and you who fear God, listen: The God of this people Israel chose
our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of
Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time
of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And
when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, …. After that He
gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the
prophet. And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul …. And
when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to
whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a
man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ From this man's
seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—” NKJV
In
this purposeful recap of God’s Covenant promises to His people from Israel's
history, Paul notes a series of important, covenantal events which the Jews
would readily understand.
·
Adamic Covenant in Gen.3:14-24 – Sin
is committed and God begins to define the need for a redeemer.
·
Noahic Covenant in Gen.9:1-18 is
unconditional, God’s promise to never again to destroy all mankind.
·
Abrahamic Covenant in Gen.12:1-3 – To
Abram: “… I will make you a great nation; … I will
bless those who bless you, … And in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed.”
·
Mosaic Covenant is in the commandments,
ordinances and judgments which condemned man, but expired on the cross when
Jesus died for the sins of men, which started the "New Covenant."
·
Davidic Covenant was an unconditional
promise of an eternal dynasty with three everlasting components: a Throne,
a King; and a Kingdom.
David's lineage was traceable to Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.
After
reminding his audience of these well know Covenants, Paul then declared that
Jesus was that Promised Messiah. “But
God raised Him from the dead. He was
seen for many days by those … who are His witnesses to the
people. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise
which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in
that He has raised up Jesus.” Acts 13:30-33
Paul
then clarified three known but ignored statements in the TaNaK that had always
puzzled the Jews:
- “You are My Son, Today I have begotten
You.” Psalm 2:7 God’s
Son has now been revealed!
- “I will give you the sure mercies
of David.” Isaiah 55:3 As
David received mercy, so can we!
- “You will not allow Your Holy One
to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10 Jesus is that sinless Son!
Did
everyone accept Paul’s message? Gen. 13:42-44 tells us “…the Gentiles
begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.” “…many of the Jews and devout
proselytes followed Paul… to continue in the grace of God.” “next Sabbath almost the whole city
came together to hear the word of God.”
BUT in vs.45 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken
by Paul.” Doubters and nay-sayers
will always be with us.
Are
people today like the 1st century Jews with cultural and societal concepts of gods
whom they recognize and/or worship, instead of understanding and accepting
Jesus for who He really is?
Points to ponder
Can these
Scripture references help people understand Who Jesus Really Is?
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name
Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 NKJV
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
December 28, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly
“Hebraic Musings” insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment