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.