Question 208: Why is Moshiach described as a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek?

Answer:

The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, whether Paul or some other person, was showing the superiority of Christianity to Judaism. It too had its priest and sacrifice. The Jew might answer that Moshiach could not be a high priest as he did not come of the tribe of Levi, to which the priesthood was confined. The answer is that there was another order of priesthood - that of Melchizedek, which Abraham recognized (Genesis 14:20) by paying him tithes. Moshiach belonged to that order as the Psalmist had predicted (Psalm 110:4) and Levi through his ancestor, had thus indicated his superiority. It is an argument that would have weight with a Jew. It is a curious fact, that among the recently discovered Tel el-Amarna tablets, are letters from one Ebed-tob, King of Uru-Salim (Jerusalem), who describes himself as not having received the crown by inheritance from father or mother, but from the mighty YHVH. We know nothing of Melchizedek beyond the scanty references in Genesis, but this tablet appears to intimate that the ancient Kings of Jerusalem claimed this divine right.

Question 207: How old was Yeshua when He began to understand the nature of His mission?

Answer:

Although one cannot trace with any degree of precision the various stages of development of the consciousness of his mission, it is evident from the Gospel record that it must have begun early and gradually increased to complete appreciation as manhood approached. We are told that even in childhood he "grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom" and the "grace of YHVH was upon him." (Luke 2:40.) In youth we find him questioning and expounding to the rabbis in the temple and "increasing in stature and in wisdom and in favour with YHVH and man." His wonderful knowledge, his amazing questions and his discerning answers to the elders must have become more and more accentuated during the passage of these early years and we may gather that Mary had already premonitions of the future career of her Divine Son, since she pondered over and "hid all these things in her heart." There are indications that seem to warrant the conclusion that long before the opening of his public ministry, Yeshua was absorbed by the thought of the mission to which he was destined. He knew his Father's business and did it and he frequented his Father's house. His life and surroundings in Nazareth brought him in contact with a simple, earnest people and with sorrow and suffering. These were years of character-building and development. They bore fruit when the time was ripe for his public ministry and prepared him for the baptism at John's hands. This was the last act of his private life and the first that marked the beginning of his public mission, when the heavenly voice proclaimed him as the "Beloved Son" and the Baptist bare record that he was the Son of YHVH.

Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 206: How could Yeshua being already perfect, increase in wisdom?

Answer:

The statement in Luke 2:52 are explicit and there is no reason for doubting it. Yeshua was subject to human conditions and limitations so far as the divine nature could be subjected. We read of His being weary, of his being hungry and thirsty and we are assured that He was tempted in all points like as we are, which all show that in His physical nature He was human. Doubtless He would be educated like other boys and probably His consciousness of divinity would be gradual and possibly not complete until the forty days in the desert. His questioning the doctors in the Temple (Luke 2:46) is supposed by some authorities to have been not catechizing them but to obtain information.

Question 205: Did the parents of our Saviour take Him after His birth to Jerusalem or to Egypt?

Answer:

According to some, the accounts in Matthew and in Luke do not agree. But there is really no discrepancy. After the birth of Yeshua, the parents remained at Bethlehem until the time arrived for presenting the Baby in the Temple, being the end of the days of purification. After the presentation, Joseph and Mary with the child went to Nazareth, adjusted their affairs and returned to Bethlehem, where they were dwelling - no longer in a stable but in "a house" - when the incident of the Magis' visit occurred. These wise men had first gone to Jerusalem, whence they were directed to Bethlehem. After their visit Joseph was warned by an angelic messenger and the flight into Egypt followed. To get a clear idea of the order of events, the records of the four evangelists must be taken as a whole, as one records incidents which another omits. Thus, Mark and John contain nothing relative to the childhood of Yeshua, while Matthew and Luke taken together, give a clear outline of these events, though Luke omits all reference to the return to Bethlehem and the journey into Egypt, the latter of which Matthew relates with considerable detail. In no sense did any one of the four evangelists intend to present a complete chronological record of the Saviour’s earthly life, but each designed rather to supplement what the others had written.

Question 204: Is there a rational explanation of the star of Bethlehem?

Answer:

There was a remarkable conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn about that time, which must have been a very brilliant spectacle and which would be very impressive to astrologers. It might lead them to the belief that some mighty potentate was born and probably to make inquiry as to such birth. The fact that would doubtless be known to all Orientals, that the Jews expected a Messiah, may have led the Magi to Palestine. Their inquiry for "the King of the Jews" seems to imply that it was there they expected to find such a being as the conjunction portended. The difficulty however is to explain the star going before them (Matthew 2:9). As they travelled westward, it might have had that appearance, but not as definitely as the account implies. Another explanation is that it was possibly a meteor divinely directed.

Question 203: Who were the brothers of Yeshua?

Answer:

The brethren of Yeshua are named in the New Testament as James, Joses, Simon and Judas. In Matthew 12:46; Matthew 13:55; John 2:12 and Acts 1:14 they are generally understood to be proper brothers, all being named together conjointly with the mother of Yeshua and the same is inferred from John 7:5. Some of the early church writers however, held that they were merely relatives or cousins (sons of Mary the sister of Yeshua' mother), it being a common custom to call all immediate relatives, nephews, cousins and half-brothers, by the general designation of "brothers" or "brethren." Further, the early fathers of the church held that Mary, the mother of Yeshua, had no other children. The question still remains open whether they were not the sons of Joseph by a former marriage and therefore half-brothers to Yeshua. On the other hand, Matthew 1:25 and Luke 2:7 favours the view that they were brothers and that Yeshua was the "first-born." Sisters of Yeshua are also mentioned in Matthew 13:56 and Mark 6:3, but their names are not given. Much has been written on the subject without positive determination, although most modern commentators hold to the opinion that the "brethren" in question were the sons of Joseph and Mary and that Mary's mother's sister had two sons, named James and Joses.

Question 202: Is there a real conflict in the evangelists’ genealogies of Moshiach?

Answer:

The purpose of publishing the Saviour’s genealogy was to show that he had descended from David. If the genealogy of Mary had been given, it would have carried no weight with the Jews, as they would not admit the divine conception and regarded Joseph as the head of the family. It was necessary, on their account, to show that Joseph had descended from David. It really however includes the others, as the descendants of David were so proud of their distinction and of the Messianic promise involved, that no man of that family would take a wife of any other family. Mary undoubtedly therefore was descended from David. The theory has been propounded and supported by Weiss and other scholars that the genealogy of Luke is that of Mary. Luke says (3:23) that Joseph was the son of Heli, whereas Matthew says (1:16) that he was the son of Jacob. It is suggested that Luke's statement should read, "who was the son-in-law of Heli," that is, married the daughter of Heli. Luke traces the descent through David's son Nathan, while Matthew traces it through Solomon. Even that explanation however, has its incongruities, of which there is no clear explanation. The fact that Mary before her marriage went to Bethlehem to be taxed or registered (Luke 2:5), would indicate that she was of David's house. It is noteworthy too that Moshiach's claims to Messiah-ship were never challenged on that ground. If there had been any haw in his pedigree, the Jews would have seized upon it without a doubt, because the prophecies clearly stated that Messiah would be descended from David.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 201: Was Moshiach born in the year 1 or in 5 B.C?

Answer:

As we are told in the Gospels that Herod was living and slaughtered the children after Yeshua was born (see Matthew 2:16) and as it is claimed by chronologists to be a matter of record that he died in 750 U.C., which corresponds to B.C. 4, it is obvious that Yeshua was born before that date. Then on the other hand, he was born after the decree for the census (Luke 2:1) was issued. From Tertullian we learn that the decree was issued in 748 and the enrolment began in 749 U. C., which corresponds to B. C. 5. Thus, the birth is fixed by those two occurrences.

I had a good time fellowshipping with my Torah friends at their house. We even celebrated a friend's 80th birthday and had a really good time. We sang contemporary Messianic songs together. We also had pot-blessing (pot-luck) lunch together as well.

We are hoping to have regular fellowship once a month. I wish we could have it more often, but keep in mind that this is a family's home and not an incorporated organization.

One of my friends who showed up is a guy who married a Buddhist and sees nothing wrong with it. He is in his mid 60s and his wife is in her mid 40s. He explained why he thinks this way. His reasoning is that sin is limited to the laws in the written Torah. He believes that if there is no specific Torah law forbidding marriages to non-believers, that he isn't sinning or violating Torah. Any instructions to the Israelites to not marry foreign women were made for that specific time and place and are not eternal commandments. They have no plans to have any children. Let me know what you think?

Shalom Chaverim,

Pesach begins in less than 3 months!

"There was suddenly a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together bone to bone.” (Ezek. 37:7)

? HALLELUYAH ?!!

Abba willing, Camp Ephraim will gather in the Youth Village from April 11-21, 2025.

Booking is only possible for the whole time.




Costs

10 nights (in silver troy ounces)
Why Silver? Find more DETAILS on the website:

Family with 2 or more children
- 17 ounces for 10 nights

18+y - 5 ounces for 10 nights
5-18y - 3.5 ounces for 10 nights
0-4y - free

orphans up to the age of 18 and widows and those in full time ministry can reach out to us for sponsorships



Once you got your silver -

You can register by sending an email to this address: register@Camp Ephraim.org


(If you are between the ages 18-20 and need help with financing
your flight, you can write an email to the same address as above.
Currently partial sponsorships for three young people between the ages 18-20 are available.)



Shalom,?

The Camp Ephraim Team

PS:
The next New Moon online meeting is on
January 30th, 17:45 Israel time
? Here is your Meeting Link:
https://dateful.com/eventlink/2753910087

_______________________________
Camp Ephraim
www.campephraim.org