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WORD FOR TODAY “are the people of the USA just like Israel?”: Eze 3:7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.

WISDOM FOR TODAY: Pro 17:10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.

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Have you been told that you don’t have the things you need to represent your Creator? Maybe you think you need a Bible degree or some other kind of education. Exodus 4:10. “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.” Moses tried to argue that he didn’t have what was needed to represent the Almighty either but He gave Moses the words to speak and to write down. If you are willing, you may be chosen, no degree necessary.

"So let perish all thine enemies, Yahweh; and let them that love him be as goeth forth the sun in his might"

Jdg 5

PART 3

MINISTRY OF YOCHANAN BEGINS

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate was governor of Yehudah; Antipas, son of Herod, was tetrarch of the Galil; and his brother Philip, was tetrarch of other parts of Yisrael which included Syria. Also, Chanan and Chaiyafa stood in the place of the Kohen Gadol. {They received the honour through intrigue and not rightfully. This happened because all the sons of Tzadok, who were rightful Kohanim, had been exiled from Yerushalayim by Antipas, son of Herod. Some of the rightful Kohanim went to Damascus of Syria; others went into the Yehudah desert and the Qumran area of the Dead Sea. Antipas continued to hold considerable influence among the leaders of Yehudah, so he kept the place of his father's throne in Yehudah. Therefore, there was enmity between the exiled rightful Kohanim, who were sons of Tzadok and the house of Herod and his collaborators, the unlawful chief Kohanim.} At that time the Word of Elohim came to Yochanan as he was exiled and living in the desert close to Beit-Ani, where the ferry crossed the Yarden River. {He was the son of Zacharyah, a rightful Kohen and son of Tzadok to which Gabriel, the messenger of Elohim, had appeared. Though exiled and unable to enter Yerushalayim, Yochanan was a true Kohen ordained by Elohim.} So he travelled around the area close to the Yarden River, preaching the mikveh [bath/immersion] of repentance for the removal of sins. {For the mikveh is the right of the Kohen to officiate for cleansing according to the Torah of YHVH.} He was a man sent from Elohim to bear witness of the Light, that all men through the Light might trust Elohim. Yochanan was not that Light, but he was sent to bear witness of the true Light, who gives light to every man that, comes into the world. Yochanan was preaching, "You must do t'shuvah, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." His clothes were made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist and his food was locust, berries and wild honey. Then people from Yerushalayim and the region of Yehudah and all the country round about the Yarden went out to hear Yochanan. Many of them had the mikveh officiated by him in the Yarden River, confessing their sins. {In these days there were two sects of Judaism that controlled most of religious life in Yisrael. The Tzaddikim [Sadducees], meaning righteous ones, were mostly the chief Kohanim who officiated the sacrificial system; and the P'rushim [Pharisees] meaning withdrawing ones, who were commentators on Halakhah, the way of living according to Jewish ordinances. These were learned and pious Jews who interpreted the Torah to the people. The P'rushim were made up of two houses, that of Shimmei and that of Hillel. These opposed each other continually. In addition, the Torah was interpreted differently by the Yehudim [leaders in Judah] and the Jews of the Galil. Yochanan and Yeshua were not opposed by all the P'rushim.} Then Yochanan addressed the multitude of people and {he targeted certain corrupt ones of} the P'rushim and Tzaddikim, who had come out to have mikveh from him. He said, "Oh offspring of serpents, who has warned you to flee from the wrath which is coming? Bring forth the kind of fruit that testifies to your repentance and do not to think to yourselves, 'We have Avraham as our father.' For I remind you, Elohim is able to raise up children of Avraham from the stones. Also, the axe is already laying at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and tossed into the fire." They asked him, "Then what should we do?" He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to the one who has no coat and he who has food, let him do the same." Also the tax gatherers came to have mikveh and they asked Yochanan, "Rabbi, what should we do?" He said to them, "Exact no more tax than the amount you are appointed to receive." The soldiers also inquired, "And what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not violate anyone, neither accuse anyone falsely and be content with your regular wages." {Do not extort money from your subjects.} Yochanan also publicly reproved Herod the tetrarch, for taking Herodiah, the wife of his brother Philip and for all the other evils which Herod had done. Since the people {were in expectation of the Mashiach, and} wondered to themselves whether Yochanan was the Mashiach or not, Yochanan confessed, "I am not the Mashiach." Then they asked him, "Who then? Are you Eliyahu?" He said, "I am not." "Are you that prophet Moshe wrote about?" they asked. {Because they thought that the prophet who Moshe wrote about (the prophet like him) was someone different than the Mashiach.} And he answered, "No." They implored him, "Who are you then? So we can answer those who have sent us. Who do you say you are?" Then Yochanan said, "I am the voice of one crying in the desert, 'Clear the way for YHVH.' For it is written in the book the Prophet Yesha'yahu, 'the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, Prepare the way of YHVH, clear His paths. Every valley shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be levelled and the crooked paths shall be straightened and the rough roads shall become smooth. For all flesh shall see the Yeshua [Salvation] of Elohim.' " They asked him even more, "Why do you officiate this mikveh then, if you are not Mashiach or Eliyahu or that prophet Moshe wrote about?" Yochanan answered, "I indeed {have authority as a Kohen to} officiate the mikveh for you with water, but one more powerful than myself is coming, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to untie. He even now lives among you and you do not know Him. He shall officiate a mikveh for you, one that is with Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH and with unquenchable fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand. He will use it to thoroughly separate {the flour on} His floor, and He will gather the wheat into His storehouse, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."

ORDINATION OF YESHUA

When Yeshua was about thirty years of age, He came from the Galil to the Yarden to receive the mikveh officiated by Yochanan. The next day Yochanan sees Yeshua coming to him for mikveh and he cries out, "Look here! This is El-Ha'Seh, Elohim's very own Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the One of whom I said, after me comes a man who is preferred over me, for He was before me. And I did not know who He was, until He was to be made manifest to Yisrael. I have come with only a mikveh of water. This is the One of whom I spoke." Then Yochanan attempted to stop Yeshua from coming, saying, ‘I am the one who needs to receive a mikveh officiated by You! So, why do You come to me?’” “Allow it to be so for now, Yochanan, because it is necessary for me to perform all righteous deeds," answered Yeshua. Then Yochanan permitted Him. When Yeshua had received the mikveh He came up out of the water and the heavens were opened. Then Yochanan saw the Ruach of Elohim descending in the form of a dove upon Yeshua. Also, a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Yochanan exclaimed, "I did not know who He was, but the One who sent me to mikveh with water, He also said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Ruach of Elohim descending and remaining on Him, He is the One who gives the mikveh of Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH.' I saw Him and I give this witness, that this One is the Son of Elohim." The next day Yochanan stood with two of his followers and seeing Yeshua again walking by, Yochanan exclaimed, "Look there! It is the Lamb of Elohim!" {As he pointed in the direction of Yeshua}. When the two disciples heard it they followed Him. Then Yeshua turned and saw them following and asked them, "What do you seek?" They asked in turn, "Rabbi, where do you live?" He answered, "Come and see." So, they went with Him and saw where He was living. And because it was about four o'clock in the afternoon, they stayed with Him the rest of the day.

TEMPTATION OF YESHUA

Yeshua was now full of Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH. He was driven by the Ruach of Elohim away from the Yarden and further into a desolate place where there were wild animals. For forty days He was tempted by the Deceiver, also called ha'satan [the Adversary] and in those days He ate nothing. When His fast was to end He became hungry. So, the deceiver said to Him, "If you are really the Son of Elohim, command this stone to become bread." Yeshua answered, "It is written, 'A person cannot live by physical bread alone, but he can live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim,' " Then the Deceiver took Him up into a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “All this power I will give to you and the glory of these kingdoms, for they are under my control and I give them to whoever I want. Therefore, if you will bow down to me, I will give it all to you," offered the deceiver. Yeshua commanded him, "Get away from me, adversary, for it is written, 'You shall worship YHVH your Elohim, and Him only shall you serve.' " So the Deceiver brought Yeshua to Yerushalayim and set Him on a high portion of the Mikdash, and he taunted Him, "If you are actually the Son of Elohim, throw yourself down from here. For it is also written: He shall give His messengers responsibility over you, to guard you. They will hold you in their hands, in case at any time you might strike your foot against a stone."
Then Yeshua countered by saying, "It is also said, 'you shall not test YHVH, your Elohim.' " Then the Deceiver ended all the temptation and departed from Yeshua for a season and messengers from Heaven came and ministered to Him.

FIRST FOLLOWERS

One of the two disciples who had heard Yochanan point out Yeshua and followed Him was Andrew. He went and found his brother Shimon and said to him, "We have found the Mashiach." Andrew brought Shimon to Yeshua and when Yeshua saw him, He said, "You are Shimon the son of Yonah, but you shall be called Kefa," which means, a stone of modest size. Yeshua went into the Galil and found a man called Philip from Beit-Tzaida, the town that Andrew and Kefa were from. He said to Philip, "Follow me." Then Philip found Natan-El and told him, "We have found Him whom Moshe in the Torah and also the prophets wrote about. He is Yeshua of Natzeret, the son of Yosef." "Can any good thing come from Natzeret?" Natan-El mocked. "Come and find out," Philip answered. When Yeshua saw Natan-El coming to Him, he announced, "Look! There for sure is a Yisraeli who has no deception in him!" Natan-El asked Yeshua, "From where do you know me?" Yeshua answered, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Then Natan-El exclaimed, "Rabbi, you are the Son of Elohim! You are the King of Yisrael!" "You trust me simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree?" asked Yeshua. "You will see greater things than that. Amen, amen! I tell you, later on you will see Heaven opened and the messengers of Elohim will be ascending and descending around the Son of man."

WATER INTO WINE

And the next day there was a marriage in Kana of the Galil and the mother of Yeshua was there. Yeshua and His disciples were called to the marriage. When those celebrating wanted wine, the mother of Yeshua whispered to Him, "They have no wine." Yeshua said to her, "Why are you telling me this, ema [woman]? Now is not the right time." His mother told the servants, "If and when He commands you, do it." Six stone water pots were standing there, which were usually used for purification according to Torah. Eventually, Yeshua said to the servants, "Fill the water pots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. Then He said, "Pour some out now and take it to the leader of the wedding feast." Then they served it. When the leader of the banquet tasted what he thought was water, he found it to be wine! He did not know where it came from, but the servants who poured the water knew. So, the leader of the banquet called the bridegroom and said to him, "every man at the beginning of the banquet provides good wine, then after men have been drinking for awhile the inferior wine is served, but you have kept the good wine until now." This miracle in Kana of the Galil was the first of many miracles which Yeshua performed and demonstrated His power and because of it His disciples trusted Him to be the Mashiach. After this, Yeshua, his mother, his brothers and his disciples, travelled to K'far-Nachum and they continued there for a few days.

PART 2

BIRTH OF YESHUA

When Miryam returned to Natzeret, {before she and Yosef were married, it became known that she was pregnant}. Yosef, a righteous man, was not willing to make her a public example, so he thought it best to privately annul the engagement. But while he was burdened with this problem the messenger of YHVH appeared unto him in a dream and spoke to him, "Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam to be your wife, because the one who has been conceived in her is of Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH, therefore she will have a son and you are to call His name Yeshua [YHVH who is Salvation], for He shall save His people from their sins." Then Yosef awoke and did exactly according to the instruction of the messenger of YHVH. Miryam and he kept the engagement, but he did not have intercourse with her until after she had given birth to Yeshua. {When it was close to the time for Miryam to give birth, six months had passed since last Pesach and Yochanan's birth. So then, it was time for Succot, the holy Feast of Tabernacles. This is the time each year when Yisrael is commanded to give a portion of their autumn harvest to YHVH and live in temporary dwellings for seven days.} At that very time there also was published an executive command from the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, that everyone in the empire was to be taxed. Every person was forced to pay his taxes in his own town, from where he originally came. So, Yosef also had to leave the Galil and Natzeret to go south into the region of Yehudah, into the town of David, which is called Beit-Lechem [House of Bread], a southern suburb of Yerushalayim. Because he was a direct descendent of David, Yosef travelled to Beit-Lechem to pay taxes along with Miryam his espoused wife, who was now close to giving birth. When they arrived in Beit-Lechem, the inn was full of festival goers and taxpayers and there was no room for them. {However, because it was Succot,} they were content to stay in a temporary shelter {that had been made especially for Succot, as the scripture commands. On the first day of Succot, which is a Shabbat rest,} the time came for Miryam to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She then wrapped him in work towels and laid him in a food storage bin that was placed there for temporary provisions. That night, in the region close to Beit-Lechem, some shepherds were lounging in the field while watching over their flocks. Suddenly, the messenger of YHVH came upon them, and the glory of YHVH shone brightly all around them. They became very frightened. The messenger said, "Do not be afraid, but listen to me, for I bring you a joyful report; a cause for great celebration to all people. Today, in the town belonging to David, a child has been born for you. He is the Salvation [Yeshua], who is YHVH, the Moshiach. Here is the sign you need to go and look for: you will find the baby wrapped in work towels and lying in a food storage bin." Suddenly, there was with the messenger a multitude of Heaven's armies praising Elohim, saying, "Glory to Elohim Ha'Elyon and on Earth shalom. His good will is toward mankind." Then the messengers departed from them into Heaven. And the shepherds said to each other, "Let us go to Beit-Lechem now and see this event which Elohim has disclosed to us." The shepherds hurriedly came and found Miryam and Yosef with the baby. He was lying in a food storage bin. After they saw this they proclaimed all around the message which they were told by the messenger and Heaven's armies concerning this child. And all that heard their report were in awe at those things which the shepherds told them. But Miryam remembered all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned to their fields, glorifying and praising Elohim for all the things that they had heard and seen, exactly as it was told to them.

CIRCUMCISION OF YESHUA

When the days of Miryam's purification were finished, according to the Holy Torah of Elohim which Moshe wrote down, they brought Him to Yerushalayim, to present Him to YHVH as first fruits of the womb. As it is written in the Torah of YHVH, "Every male that is first from the womb shall be called holy to YHVH." They also offered a sacrifice according to the commandment in the Torah of YHVH: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. {On the last day of Succot,} when the eight days were accomplished for the B'rit Milah [Covenant of Circumcision] the baby was circumcised and given the name, Yeshua [YHVH who is Salvation], which was the name instructed by the messenger of YHVH before the baby was conceived in the womb. Here is the genealogy {through the lineage of Miryam who provided the body} of Yeshua HaMoshiach, the son of David, the son of Avraham, the son of Adahm, the son of Elohim {It was Elohim who provided Ruach HaKodesh to create the Holy One in the womb of Miryam.}: {YHVH} Elohim, {the Creator}, was the Father of Adahm, who was the father of Shet; who was the father of Enosh, who was the father of Ke'inan; who was the father of Mahalal'el; who was the father of Yered; who was the father of Chanoch; who was the father of Metushelach; who was the father of Lemekh; who was the father of Noach; who was the father of Shem; who was the father of Arpachshad; who was the father of Ke'inan; who was the father of Shelah; who was the father of Ev'er; who was the father of Peleg; who was the father of Re'u; who was the father of Serug; who was the father of Nachor; who was the father of Terach; who was the father of Avraham; Avraham was the father of Yitzchak; who was the father of Ya'akov; who was the father of Yehudah and his brothers; who was the father of Peretz and Zerach, (whose mother was Tamar); Peretz was the father of Chetzron; who was the father of Ram; who was the father of Amminadav; who was the father of Nachshon; who was the father of Salmon; who was the father of Bo'az, (whose mother was Rachav); Boaz was the father of Oved; (whose mother was Rut); Oved was the father of Yishai; who was the father of King David; who was the father of Shlomo, {who built the first Mikdash} (whose mother was Bat'sheva who had been Uriyah's wife); Shlomo was the father of Rechav'am; who was the father of Aviyah; who was the father of Asa; who was the father of Yehoshaphat; who was the father of Yoram; who was the father of Uziyahu; who was the father of Yotam; who was the father of Achaz; who was the father of Chizkiyahu; who was the father of M'nasheh; who was the father of Amon; who was the father of Yoshiyahu; who was the father of Yekhanyahu and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Yekhanyahu was the father of She'alti-el; who was the father of Ze'rubavel, {who built the second Mikdash} who was the father of Av'ichud; who was the father of Eli'yakim; who was the father of Azur; who was the father of Tzadok; who was the father of Yakhin; who was the father of El'ichud; who was the father of Eliezer; who was the father of Mattan; who was the father of Ya'akov; who was the father {in law} of Yosef, as being the husband of Miryam, of whom was born Yeshua, who is called the Moshiach. There was a man in Yerushalayim, whose name was Shimon. He was righteous and faithful as he waited for the Shalom of Yisrael and Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH was upon him. Therefore, it had been revealed to him by Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH that he would not die before he had seen the Moshiach of YHVH. On this day Shimon was directed into the Mikdash by Ruach HaKodesh. When the parents brought in the child Yeshua, to perform for Him the necessary obedience to the Torah, Shimon took Yeshua up in his arms and blessed Elohim, prophesying, "Adonai, now allow Your servant to depart this life in Shalom, according to Your word. For my eyes have now seen Your Yeshua [Salvation], which You have prepared before the face of all people as the Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Your people Yisrael." Yosef and Miryam were amazed at those things which were spoken about Yeshua. Then Shimon blessed them and said to Miryam, His mother, "Watch carefully! This child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Yisrael and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." In that same instant Chanah came, who was an aged prophetess of the tribe of Asher and a widow of about eighty-four years. She did not depart from the courtyard of the Holy Temple, but served Elohim with fasting and prayers night and day. When she saw Yeshua she also gave thanks to YHVH, and spoke about the child to all those who looked for redemption in Yerushalayim.

MYSTICS FROM THE EAST

After this, stargazers from the east arrived in Yerushalayim asking, "Where is he who is born to be the King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to pay our respects to him." When Herod heard these things, he was troubled. So he gathered all the chief Kohanim and Torah teachers of the people together. Then he demanded to know where the Moshiach was supposed to be born. They said, "In Beit-Lechem of Yehudah, for that is what is written by the Prophet Mikah: 'and you Beit-Lechem, in the land of Yehudah, are you not the least among the principalities of Yehudah, yet out of you will come He who will rule My people Yisrael.' "Then Herod, secretly met with the stargazers and pressured them to tell him what time the star had appeared. He sent them to Beit-Lechem and instructed, "Go and search diligently for the young child and when you have found him bring me your report so I can go and pay my respects to him also." When the stargazers finished with Herod they departed and the star which they had seen in the east led them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they celebrated with very much gladness. Then when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Miryam his mother and bowed down and worshiped Him. They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Later, being warned by Elohim in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

HEROD MURDERS CHILDREN

After they departed, a messenger of YHVH appeared to Yosef again in a dream, saying, "Arise, take your family and hurry into Egypt and remain there until I bring further instruction, because Herod will seek the young child in order to destroy Him." When he awoke, he took the young child and His mother by night and departed into Egypt. When Herod learned he had been rebuffed by the stargazers he was extremely angry. So, he sent Roman soldiers under his command and murdered all the children of Yehudah that were in Beit-Lechem and in all the area around it, from two years old and under, which age he had figured from the time of birth he obtained from the stargazers. The horrified cries of mothers {watching their children slaughtered} could be heard throughout the countryside. It was like what Yirmi'yahu the prophet said, "A voice was heard in the heights, groaning and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children and will not accept any comfort, because they are gone." When Herod was dead, a messenger of YHVH appeared once more in a dream to Yosef while in Egypt, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and His mother and go into the land of Yisrael, because the ones are dead who sought to kill the young child." Then Yosef took his family and journeyed back to the land of Yisrael. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Yehudah in the throne of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there and being warned of Elohim again in a dream, Yosef turned aside into the region of the Galil, to raise Yeshua in Natzeret, just as the prophets foretold, "He shall be called a Notzri [Watchman-Branch]." There Yeshua grew and became spiritually strong, filled with wisdom and the enablement of Elohim.

YESHUA AT TWELVE

Yosef and his family went to Yerushalayim every year at Pesach. When Yeshua was twelve years old, they went up to Yerushalayim for the holy Feast, as the Torah commands. And when the days of the feast were finished, they began to return home, but the child Yeshua stayed behind in Yerushalayim. Yosef and Miryam did not realize it, for they supposed that He was in the company of others who were also returning to the Galil. So, they went a day's journey and then began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. When they could not find Him, they turned back to Yerushalayim, to look for Him there. Then, after three days of searching, they finally found him in the Mikdash sitting in the midst of the Torah teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all that heard Yeshua were astonished at his understanding and answers. When Yosef and Miryam found Him they were perplexed and His mother said, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been worried about you, because we did not know where you were." "Why was it difficult for you to find me?" Yeshua answered. "Didn't you realize that I would be involved in Avi's business?" But they did not understand the meaning of what He said. Afterward Yeshua went back to Natzeret with them and submitted Himself to them, while His mother continued to remember and keep in her heart all the things He said. Yeshua continued to increase in wisdom and stature, experiencing the favour of Elohim and the people, {as surely a true heir to King David would}.

In Honour and Remembrance of Yeshua

Part One

BACKGROUND

{It was about 160 years after Yisrael overthrew Greek rule through the Maccabean revolt. Since the Maccabean rule, Rome had conquered most of the western world and removed the Hasmonean dynasty in Yisrael. Emperor Pompeii had conquered Yerushalayim and entered the Mikdash [Holy Temple], but he left it intact. Yisrael was divided into three main regions, Yehudah [Judah/Judea], the Galil [Galeel/Galilee] and Shomron [Samaria]. Yehudah, the southern region, was closest to the Dead Sea. Here the holy city of Yerushalayim is located. The city was the centre of Jewish worship, but it was also the headquarters for the disputing parties that comprised the several sects of Judaism. In the north was the Galil, around Lake Kinneret [Sea of Galilee], where many Yisraelis lived a simpler and less rigorous religious life. Yet, they respected the Mikdash in Yerushalayim and travelled there for the appointed holy Feasts. Between these two regions was Shomron, where a people dwelt that were of uncertain Yisraeli origin. These people were outcasts from Judaism, because Shomron citizens considered themselves descendants of Avraham, yet they would not respect the ordained worship at the Mikdash in Yerushalayim. It was the time just after the region of Yehudah was officially annexed by the Roman Empire. Herod, an Edomite, called the "great," was in his fourth decade as the Roman appointed king of
Yehudah. His grand renovation of the Mikdash in Yerushalayim was nearly completed and it was not long before his death. Many Yehudim [Jewish people] were poor and because they could not pay taxes some were carried off to Rome as slaves. During times of resistance the main roads to Yerushalayim were lined with Jews who were being executed on stakes. Despite Herod's great architectural achievements, most of the Yehudim despised his rule, because he conspired to persecute many patriots who resisted Roman oppression. The people knew that his "improvements" were paid for with the high price of Jewish blood. Under the Roman yoke, the humble people of Yisrael mourned for the Moshiach, promised in the holy Scriptures of YHVH [the Ever-Existing One / the I AM / ADONAI], to come and deliver them. There were many theories about the nature of this Moshiach. Many looked for a great and powerful prince who would overthrow Rome's occupation of their land. A few, who fasted and prayed with sincere devotion, understood that the real problem was the sinfulness of mankind in general. Until this problem was dealt with there would always be the threat of oppression. The Yehudim also knew that, according to the prophets of Yisrael, whatever help the world was to get from Heaven would come to them first.

FORERUNNER ANNOUNCED

In these days there was a Kohen [Priest] named Zachariah [Remembrance of YHVH], of the
Order of Aviyah, of the sons of Tzadok, of the sons of Aharon, and his wife was one of the many daughters descended from Aharon {the first Kohen Gadol [High Priest]}. Her name was Elisheva. They were both righteous in the sight of Elohim [Almighty / High One / YHVH], because they walked without reproach in all the commandments and ordinances of YHVH. They had no children; because Elisheva was barren and they both were now well along in years. {Elisheva was full of sorrow because she could not conceive a child, for it meant there would be no one of their descendants who would continue to serve in the Mikdash of YHVH.} {The time came for Zachariah to execute the Kohen's office before the face of Elohim during the Order of Aviyah, which according to the Chronicles of Yisrael was appointed to be the eighth week of the Hebrew year. This is about the time of the holy Feast called Shavuot. It was also called in the Greek, Pentecost, meaning fifty days, for that is how many days there is from the First Fruits Feast of the barley harvest to Shavuot, which is the First Fruits Feast of the wheat harvest.} According to his appointed role as a Kohen, Zachariah was to burn the special incense inside the Mikdash of YHVH in the room called the Holy Place. Whenever this service of the incense was performed a great many of the people gathered and prayed outside in the courtyard of the Mikdash. As Zachariah proceeded, a messenger of YHVH suddenly appeared standing on the right side of the Golden Altar of Incense where the incense was burned. When Zachariah saw the messenger, he was astonished and became afraid. Then the messenger said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elisheva shall bear a son to you, and you shall call his name Yochanan [YHVH enables]. You shall rejoice and be glad, for many shall celebrate at the time of his birth. He will be great in the sight of YHVH, and will not drink wine or other alcohol drinks, rather he will be filled with Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH in his mother's womb. For he will cause many of the children of Yisrael to do teshuva [turn/repent] to YHVH their Elohim. For Yochanan will come ahead of YHVH Elohim in the spirit and power of the Prophet Eliyahu, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people who are ready for YHVH." {This also signified that the Moshiach would be YHVH Himself.} Then Zachariah said to the messenger, "I cannot accept this. For I am an old man and my wife is well up in years." The messenger answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of Elohim and I have been sent to speak to you, to give you this joyful report. So, listen carefully. Because you did not trust my words, you will not be able to speak until the day these things happen in their scripturally appointed season." The multitude outside waited for Zachariah to come out of the Mikdash, and they wondered why he stayed so long inside. When he came out, he could not speak to them. So, he signalled to them with his hands and remained speechless, therefore they surmised that he had seen a vision in the Mikdash. {When the week of} Zachariah's order was finished {it was the end of Shavuot}, he departed to his own house and his wife Elisheva, immediately conceived. {After a month, when she knew she was pregnant,} she hid herself five months, saying, "YHVH has commanded me to do this in these days {in thanksgiving to Him}, for He has looked on me, to take away my shame among mankind.

MOSHIACH ANNOUNCED

As the sixth month of Elisheva's pregnancy was ending {it was time for Chanukah, the Feast of
Dedication, and} the messenger, Gabriel, was sent again from Elohim. This time Gabriel was sent to the town of Natzeret [Watchman's Place], in the northern Galil region of Yisrael, to a virgin named Miryam who was engaged to marry a man called Yosef. They were both direct descendants of King David. Gabriel came to Miryam and said, "Greetings, you who are gifted with great favour. YHVH is with you. You are blessed among women." When she saw him, she was shaken and being perplexed by his words she prostrated herself. The messenger continued, "Do not be afraid Miryam, for you have received Elohim's acceptance. So, listen carefully to me, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son and will name Him Yeshua [Salvation/YHVH-who-is-Salvation]. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of Ha'Elyon [the Most-High] and YHVH Elohim will give Him the throne of His father, David. It shall be He who will reign over the house of Ya'akov forever and there will be no end to His Kingdom." Miryam was amazed and responded, "I am not with any man, so how will this be performed?" "Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH will come upon you, and the power of Ha'Elyon will sweep over you. For this reason, the Holy One which will be born from you shall be called the Son of Elohim. For even your cousin Elisheva has also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month of pregnancy for the one who was once called barren," answered the messenger. "With Elohim nothing is impossible." Then Miryam submitted, "Look {kindly on me}. I am the maid-servant of YHVH. Amen, may it be according to your word to me." Then the messenger departed from her. So Miryam arose and hurriedly rushed into the hill country, into a town of Yehudah. There she entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elisheva. When Elisheva heard the greeting of Miryam, the baby leaped in her womb and Elisheva was filled with Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH. Elisheva spoke with a loud voice, "You are blessed among women and blessed is the Fruit of your womb. How has this happened to me? Why should the mother of Adonai {YHVH} come to me? As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting the baby leaped for joy in my womb. So, blessed is she who trusted, for those things will be accomplished which were told her from YHVH." Then Miryam spoke, "My soul magnifies YHVH and my spirit rejoices in Elohim my Saviour. For He has regarded the low estate of His maid-servant and from now on all generations shall know I am blessed. For Ha'Gibor has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. His mercy is toward those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has bared His mighty arm. He has scattered those who imagine themselves to be great. He has pulled down the lofty from their seats and exalted those of low estate. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed. He has helped His servant Yisrael by His merciful remembrance toward us, as He promised to our fathers, to Avraham, and to his offspring forever." {This all signified that Miryam conceived Yeshua in the sixth month of Elisheva's pregnancy.}

BIRTH OF YOCHANAN

Miryam continued with Elisheva for three months, {until the holy Feast of Pesach, which is Passover, when Elisheva gave birth to a son.} Then Miryam returned to her own house {three months pregnant with Yeshua}. {Now all Yisrael looked for the Prophet Eliyahu to arrive at Pesach.} And when Elisheva's son was born, her neighbours and her cousins heard how YHVH had showed great mercy upon her, so they celebrated with her {all through the holy Feast days of Unleavened Bread. It happened as Gabriel foretold, saying, "For many shall celebrate at the time of his birth"}. Then {on the eighth day after his birth, which was the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,} they came to circumcise the child and they wanted to call him Zachariah, after the name of his father. But Elisheva interrupted them and said, "That is not correct! He shall be called Yochanan." Puzzled, they said to her, "There is no one related to you who is called by that name." So, they signalled to his father, wanting to know what he would name him. Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is Yochanan," and everyone was amazed. Immediately, Zachariah opened his mouth and spoke, and as he gave praise to Elohim, he was filled with Ruach HaKodesh of YHVH and began to prophesy. {First, he spoke of the Moshiach.} "Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu [Blessed be YHVH, our Exalted One], for He has visited and redeemed His people and He has raised up the Horn of Yeshua [Salvation] for us in the house of His servant David as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to perform the mercy He promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Avraham; that He would grant unto us deliverance from the hand of our enemies so we can serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life." {Then he spoke of his son, Yochanan.} "And you, child, shall be called the Prophet of Ha'Elyon. For you shall go ahead of YHVH to prepare His ways; to give the knowledge of Yeshua [Salvation] unto His people for the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our Elohim, through whom the Morning Star from on high has visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the path of shalom." {Once again this signifies that Moshiach would be YHVH in the flesh.} A sense of awe came on all who lived in their vicinity and all these events were broadcast throughout all the hill country of Yehudah. Those who heard about them stored the memory in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this one be? For the hand of YHVH is with him." The child called Yochanan grew and became spiritually strong as a rightful Kohen of Yisrael and descendant of Aharon should be.

The thought of Paul possibly being a mega church preacher came up on Shabbat and a message I received from a Jehovah's Witness yesterday just make it more pronounced.

The attached message beautifully summarizes what I was taught in my own "revival" church and how modern-Christians interprets his teachings.

i haven't replied to the message and and would like your input on what I should say in response.

#paul #jw #jehovahswitness

Thought for Today: Tuesday March 18

The key to understand tragedy, is to understand its source… When Adam and Eve sinned, it was a blatant, open act of rebellion – in thought, in word and in deed – against YHVH, their Creator Who supplied their every need. Every graveyard, hospital, prison and courtroom are witnesses to the terrible legacy of that rebellion. No, I don’t think anyone will fully understand why YHVH allows evil to happen. But evil happens because we live in a fallen evil world. Thus, never underestimate the devastating effects of sin. We as believers can overcome this sin because our Moshiach has paved the way for us on Golgotha to be victorious.