* Bold type denotes the Words of Y'shua ha Mashiach ( Jesus Christ)
In the B'rit ha Chadasha (New Testament) we see that the Messiah of Israel, Y'shua referred to Himself as Son of Man, in fact in the Gospel accounts this phrase, 'Son of Man', is mentioned by the Savior a minimum of 78 times! So what does this phrase, ' Son of Man' mean? There are different aspects of this phrase, different meanings. With the Word of G-D there is always more than one level of understanding. But the main emphasis of this phrase is that Messiah Y'shua came to this world to Serve. Son of Man means servant. He came into this world to serve His Heavenly Father, but also to serve Mankind. This is a truly amazing statement! The Creator of all creation came to serve Mankind. Amazing! He served His Heavenly Father in obedience to Torah (Instructions), so that He could be the Lamb of G-D that takes away the sin of the world ( John 1:29 ), He had to serve, be obedient, to be without blemish, without sin. He also served Mankind, for without His obedient life, there would be no hope for mankind. He is the perfect righteous life that was required to make atonement for the sins of the world. Yours and mine. He also came to serve to be an example to us. For if we believe in Him, believing in His Name, than we are commanded to follow Him. (Mar_8:34 Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross/Tree, and follow me.),( Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)
So how do we as believers follow Him? How do we serve Him? For this is a critical question, this is a must! Believing in Him is not just confession of the mouth. But it is following Him as sheep would follow its Shepherd. If a sheep does not hear and follow the shepherd, he will get lost and stray, apart from the flock. Then the ravenous wolves will come and devour this sheep.
Y'shua also said, Mat_10:38 "And he that taketh not his cross/stake, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. "
The main meaning of cross is ' a stake or post, i.e. cross. But another meaning for this greek word is 'self denial'.
G4716 - stauros - stow-ros'
a stake or post (as set upright), that is, (specifically) a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively exposure to death, that is, self denial; by implication the atonement of Christ: - cross.
This is also related to circumcision. When we are talking about circumcision the main idea behind this word, or the understanding. When G-D made a covenant with Abraham, circumcision was a sign, a requirement. Why? Because circumsion is a sign of self denial, saying no to the flesh, the works of the flesh. Saying no to the present world and the things of this world. When circumcision is performed, the one that is circumcised dies, figuratively to self. Enters into New life, not His life, His new life committed to G-D for HIS service. Only then could Abraham enter into a covenant with G-D. Very important to grasp this understanding.
The same concept is applied with the circumcision of the heart. Self denial, denying the lusts of the flesh, the ways of this world. To take up your cross! When you enter into the Renewed Covenant with G-D in which Messiah Y'shua ratified with His Flesh and Blood, this requires saying no to the flesh, no to the lusts of the flesh, no to the ways of this world. Y'shua said ' take up your cross and follow me'.
Okay, so how do we do this? Having a servitude attitude. Y'shua said He came to serve, and we are to follow Him, serving Him in obedience with a circumcised heart, a renewed heart. One that has been filled with the Ruach ha Chodesh (Holy Spirit). One can only fulfill obedience if one has been immersed with the Ruach ha Chodesh. G-D supplies the power to walk in obedience. HIS perfect Halachah.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Y'shua (Jesus) knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Joh 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
Joh 13:3 Y'shua knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from G-D, and went to G-D;
Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel where with he was girded.
Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Shim 'on Kepha (Simon Peter): and Kepha saith unto him, Master, dost thou wash my feet?
Joh 13:7 Y'shua answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Joh 13:8 Kepha saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Y'shua answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Joh 13:9 Shimʽon Kĕpha (Simon Peter) saith unto him, Master, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Joh 13:10 Y'shua saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Joh 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Teacher and Master: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Amein, Amein, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Master; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Joh 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
Joh 13:20 Amein, Amein, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
The 12 disciples did not understand what Y'shua was teaching them on how to serve, but later, after His Resurrection and Ascension to the Heavens, the disciples would learn the great price that would be required of them for serving G-D. They would indeed follow their Master, eventually giving their lives in service to the Master Y'shua, to G-D. This they understood and in obedience could follow their Master, after Shavuot (Pentecost), when they received power from above, the Ruach ha Chodesh (Holy Spirit).
Today is no different, the same calling for the original disciples is still the call for disciples of Y'shua (Jesus) in modern times. I like to say it this way, " He (Y'shua) layed down His life, so that I could have life (eternal), I need to lay my life down for Him(Y'shua) in service to Him. In service and in deed. He has set the example, we are to follow.
So who is this One that we are called to follow? G-D chose to reveal Himself through His Son, by means of Israel. G-D called Israel out of Egypt to be His Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a light to the nations. He chose this nation to reveal Himself to the world. Y'shua, the Son of G-D, Messiah of Israel, was revealed to this world, growing up in a Jewish culture. He was circumcised on the 8th day, had His Bar Mitzvah at the age of 12, went on to study and become a Rabbi, for this is what a First Born Son would do! He followed Torah, in fact He kept Torah perfectly. The Letter of Torah, The Spirit of Torah. Fulfilling prophecy. He was without blemish, without sin. It is this Y'shua, our Great Rabbi, our Great Redeemer, our King, Master, that we are to follow.
He calls out to everyone: Mat_9:13 But go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (T'Shuvah)= meaning turn 180 degrees back to G-D.
Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
So how do we follow HIM? There once was a popular bracelet that people wore on their wrists, WWJD was inscribed on these bracelets. What Would Jesus Do? This was the question that this acronym was referring to . Well I know What Y'shua / Jesus Would Do, for He has already done it. He would be obedient to our Heavenly Father, HIS Father, this HE did. HE would serve HIS Father in Heaven, and serve Mankind, this HE did. HE would keep the Torah(Heavenly Instructions on how to live), not only the Letter of Torah, but most important, the Spirit of Torah!
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Torah), or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (to keep and teach fully) 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah), till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
When asked what the Greatest Commandment was, Y'shua responded in a very, very Jewish way. He spoke the Shema!
Mar 12:29 Yeshua answered, “The first is, ‘Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Hear, O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. 30 And you shall love Adonai your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Deu 6:4 “Hear O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one . 5 Love Adonai your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Mat 7:12 So in all things, do to others what you would want them to do to you—for this is the Torah and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Always seek the Root of the matter, seek the Root of your faith. For where the Root is there you will find Truth. In the Beginning...
Mar_10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Mat_18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Repent, Receive, and Follow/Obey the giver of life, Y'shua the Nazarene, the Messiah of Israel, Son of Joseph, Son of David, Son of Adam.
The One an Only Son of G-D. Unto eternal life!
Shalom and Much Blessings
In the B'rit ha Chadasha (New Testament) we see that the Messiah of Israel, Y'shua referred to Himself as Son of Man, in fact in the Gospel accounts this phrase, 'Son of Man', is mentioned by the Savior a minimum of 78 times! So what does this phrase, ' Son of Man' mean? There are different aspects of this phrase, different meanings. With the Word of G-D there is always more than one level of understanding. But the main emphasis of this phrase is that Messiah Y'shua came to this world to Serve. Son of Man means servant. He came into this world to serve His Heavenly Father, but also to serve Mankind. This is a truly amazing statement! The Creator of all creation came to serve Mankind. Amazing! He served His Heavenly Father in obedience to Torah (Instructions), so that He could be the Lamb of G-D that takes away the sin of the world ( John 1:29 ), He had to serve, be obedient, to be without blemish, without sin. He also served Mankind, for without His obedient life, there would be no hope for mankind. He is the perfect righteous life that was required to make atonement for the sins of the world. Yours and mine. He also came to serve to be an example to us. For if we believe in Him, believing in His Name, than we are commanded to follow Him. (Mar_8:34 Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross/Tree, and follow me.),( Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.)
So how do we as believers follow Him? How do we serve Him? For this is a critical question, this is a must! Believing in Him is not just confession of the mouth. But it is following Him as sheep would follow its Shepherd. If a sheep does not hear and follow the shepherd, he will get lost and stray, apart from the flock. Then the ravenous wolves will come and devour this sheep.
Y'shua also said, Mat_10:38 "And he that taketh not his cross/stake, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. "
The main meaning of cross is ' a stake or post, i.e. cross. But another meaning for this greek word is 'self denial'.
G4716 - stauros - stow-ros'
a stake or post (as set upright), that is, (specifically) a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively exposure to death, that is, self denial; by implication the atonement of Christ: - cross.
This is also related to circumcision. When we are talking about circumcision the main idea behind this word, or the understanding. When G-D made a covenant with Abraham, circumcision was a sign, a requirement. Why? Because circumsion is a sign of self denial, saying no to the flesh, the works of the flesh. Saying no to the present world and the things of this world. When circumcision is performed, the one that is circumcised dies, figuratively to self. Enters into New life, not His life, His new life committed to G-D for HIS service. Only then could Abraham enter into a covenant with G-D. Very important to grasp this understanding.
The same concept is applied with the circumcision of the heart. Self denial, denying the lusts of the flesh, the ways of this world. To take up your cross! When you enter into the Renewed Covenant with G-D in which Messiah Y'shua ratified with His Flesh and Blood, this requires saying no to the flesh, no to the lusts of the flesh, no to the ways of this world. Y'shua said ' take up your cross and follow me'.
Okay, so how do we do this? Having a servitude attitude. Y'shua said He came to serve, and we are to follow Him, serving Him in obedience with a circumcised heart, a renewed heart. One that has been filled with the Ruach ha Chodesh (Holy Spirit). One can only fulfill obedience if one has been immersed with the Ruach ha Chodesh. G-D supplies the power to walk in obedience. HIS perfect Halachah.
Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Y'shua (Jesus) knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Joh 13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
Joh 13:3 Y'shua knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from G-D, and went to G-D;
Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel where with he was girded.
Joh 13:6 Then cometh he to Shim 'on Kepha (Simon Peter): and Kepha saith unto him, Master, dost thou wash my feet?
Joh 13:7 Y'shua answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Joh 13:8 Kepha saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Y'shua answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Joh 13:9 Shimʽon Kĕpha (Simon Peter) saith unto him, Master, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Joh 13:10 Y'shua saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Joh 13:11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
Joh 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Teacher and Master: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Amein, Amein, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Master; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Joh 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
Joh 13:20 Amein, Amein, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
The 12 disciples did not understand what Y'shua was teaching them on how to serve, but later, after His Resurrection and Ascension to the Heavens, the disciples would learn the great price that would be required of them for serving G-D. They would indeed follow their Master, eventually giving their lives in service to the Master Y'shua, to G-D. This they understood and in obedience could follow their Master, after Shavuot (Pentecost), when they received power from above, the Ruach ha Chodesh (Holy Spirit).
Today is no different, the same calling for the original disciples is still the call for disciples of Y'shua (Jesus) in modern times. I like to say it this way, " He (Y'shua) layed down His life, so that I could have life (eternal), I need to lay my life down for Him(Y'shua) in service to Him. In service and in deed. He has set the example, we are to follow.
So who is this One that we are called to follow? G-D chose to reveal Himself through His Son, by means of Israel. G-D called Israel out of Egypt to be His Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a light to the nations. He chose this nation to reveal Himself to the world. Y'shua, the Son of G-D, Messiah of Israel, was revealed to this world, growing up in a Jewish culture. He was circumcised on the 8th day, had His Bar Mitzvah at the age of 12, went on to study and become a Rabbi, for this is what a First Born Son would do! He followed Torah, in fact He kept Torah perfectly. The Letter of Torah, The Spirit of Torah. Fulfilling prophecy. He was without blemish, without sin. It is this Y'shua, our Great Rabbi, our Great Redeemer, our King, Master, that we are to follow.
He calls out to everyone: Mat_9:13 But go ye and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (T'Shuvah)= meaning turn 180 degrees back to G-D.
Mat_11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
So how do we follow HIM? There once was a popular bracelet that people wore on their wrists, WWJD was inscribed on these bracelets. What Would Jesus Do? This was the question that this acronym was referring to . Well I know What Y'shua / Jesus Would Do, for He has already done it. He would be obedient to our Heavenly Father, HIS Father, this HE did. HE would serve HIS Father in Heaven, and serve Mankind, this HE did. HE would keep the Torah(Heavenly Instructions on how to live), not only the Letter of Torah, but most important, the Spirit of Torah!
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Torah), or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (to keep and teach fully) 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah), till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
When asked what the Greatest Commandment was, Y'shua responded in a very, very Jewish way. He spoke the Shema!
Mar 12:29 Yeshua answered, “The first is, ‘Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Hear, O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One. 30 And you shall love Adonai your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Deu 6:4 “Hear O Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one . 5 Love Adonai your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Mat 7:12 So in all things, do to others what you would want them to do to you—for this is the Torah and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Always seek the Root of the matter, seek the Root of your faith. For where the Root is there you will find Truth. In the Beginning...
Mar_10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Mat_18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Repent, Receive, and Follow/Obey the giver of life, Y'shua the Nazarene, the Messiah of Israel, Son of Joseph, Son of David, Son of Adam.
The One an Only Son of G-D. Unto eternal life!
Shalom and Much Blessings