Aug 5, 2007
Posted on Aug 5, 2007 in Apostolic Writings, Yeshua | 0 comments
This little phrase from the Haftarah of Va’etchanan (Isaiah 40:1) has become the focus of my attention this last week and a half. It has drawn me into a world of understanding the work of Messiah for which I have only seen glimpses. At this point, being able to express my research has turned into several pages and I hope to publish my finished examination in the next week or so entitled, “Mashiach – Restoring the Crowns to Israel.” This will by no means be a “complete” examination of the work of Messiah. However, at least for me, it has seriously broken new ground in understanding more about his purpose while among his people, as well as his eternal work—especially in relationship to some of the difficult sayings of Paul.
Here’s a teaser, and part of the premise of my research:
In a midrashic interpretation of Shemot 33:4-6 (the removal of adornments from the people prior to judgement), the spiritual crowns given to Israel on the mountain of G-d were taken from them. They were forfeited at the sin of the Egel Maseikhah (Golden Calf). Thus Israel was stripped of the Crowns of Freedom—freedom from death and freedom from exile. With this hope being foregone, the second comfort is Israel’s only hope in regaining these two lost crowns. They can now only be attained through the righteousness of Mashiach.
Your prayers are always appreciated.
Jul 22, 2007
Posted on Jul 22, 2007 in Apostolic Midrash, Apostolic Writings, FFOZ, Heresy, Judaism, Paul, Yeshua | 0 comments
Better late than never… Here are my notes from the “To Whom Shall We Go?” seminar last month. I hope they come in handy for someone. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about trying to decipher them.
Right-click (pc) or Control-click (mac!) to download:
Jul 15, 2007
Posted on Jul 15, 2007 in Apostolic Writings | 0 comments
For anyone interested, I just posted the text to the Didache on the site. I had heard about, and even knew a little about the Didache from previous studies, but had never actually read or studied the text myself. Recently, when Aaron Eby mentioned adding the first century Grace After Meals from the believing community to the Siddur, I was in amazement. I didn’t realize such a thing existed. It did, and it was to be found in this ancient document known as the Didache (Greek – “The Teaching”). This made me want to know more about this intriguing document, and gave me a desire to study it for myself. Having it on-hand in a format that I appreciate makes it easier to study. You can read the entire text of the Didache online here. To find out more about the Didache, check out the information on Wikipedia.
If you would like to download a copy for yourself, I have made a PDF available as well.
Jul 13, 2007
Posted on Jul 13, 2007 in Paul, Talmud | 0 comments
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
1 Corinthians 7:14 (NIV)
While reading my Daily Dose yesterday I came a cross an interesting argument which may help us to understand Paul’s statements here in his epistle to the ekklesia at Corinth.
There is an argument in the Talmud in regard to the transference of terumah from an open cask of wine to a loaf of bread, which has been set on top of it (in regard to Mishnah Terumos 10:3). The conclusion is that since the bread (a hot loaf, verses a cold, hard loaf) is permeated by the aroma of the wine, it therefore contains enough of the essence of the consecrated wine for it to be considered terumah as well. It is the scientific process of diffusion which allows the minute particles of wine to infuse the bread in order to pass on some of the flavor of the wine. How much more so can it be said of an unbeliever living in the same family with a believer. If we are truly living our lives out loud, our sanctity should be “splashing” all over those around us.
Jul 4, 2007
Posted on Jul 4, 2007 in Yeshua, Yom Kippur | 3 comments
I have recently come across a strikingly messianic text within an orthodox machzor for Yom Kippur from the first part of the last century.
A friend of mine and fellow Messianic brother, Brian Reed, brought this to my attention a few months ago and I’ve been wanting to write on it since. However, I wanted to have the actual hard-copy of the text in my hands, before posting something I could not empirically document. This weekend, Mr. Reed graciously gave me a copy of the machzor he had purchased online. It’s all there in black and white from 1931. I think you’ll find it as fascinating as I did. This text is contained within the Musaf Amidah: (more…)
