We've been studying the book of Jacob in Intro to Jewish Roots class ((Jacob being the brother of Yeshua but his name was changed to James by King James so he could have his name as one of the books of the Bible names))
Luther at one time was hopeful he could convert Jews but once he saw they weren't buying his wares, Luther then decided the book of "james" was too Jewish and didn't belong in the Bible.
When John the Immerser sent a message to Yeshua while John was in prison, his message asked Yeshua if he was the one and most people find that to mean "wow look this great man of faith even he faltered and needed reasssurance" but at that time there were spies from those in the Jewish camp that were outraged by Messiah's claims and of course the Roman guard so John coded his message. What he was really asking was "hey you gonna come and get me out of jail or what?" And Yeshua replied indeed that HE was the Messiah and makes reference to Isaiah as proof but is also telling John that no HE is not going to break him out of the roman jail cell.
Matthew 11:2-6
2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Isaiah 35:5-6
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Many versions also link us to Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
but I would think that's saying ...I'm on my way to break down the jail.
This segwayed into how faith is authenticated by obedience.
Need examples? I've got'em
Noah - faithfully or obediently built the ark even though he didn't know what rain was
Abraham -
James 2
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
How about the 4 guys tearing the roof off a room to get their lame friend to Yeshua?
Luke 5:17-26
verse 20 says when HE saw their faith ... hmmm I thought in christianity faith is unseen ... so how can Yeshua see it? tsk tsk tsk ... they showed their faith by what they did to get their friend to HIM. ((SiDeNoTe: according to Hebrews 11 faith is evidence and the hall of faith list all those who acted on their faith or proved it with a work and for the Hebrews, the words faith, believe, work and law are one in the same and that makes it very important to read the verses in context because while those who translated it did there best and prayed for wisdom they could have chose one word they thought was more fitting when maybe there's a word in Hebrew that sums them all up together that we could benefit from learning))
Shall we go on?
how about those with leprosy or issues of blood ...all of which call for them to not be around others while they are afflicted on order of death if they are seen in a crowd.
Luke 5:12-14 and Luke 8:43-47
the lady for sure wasn't suppose to be around others with her issue but she decided either the crowd kills me or this illness eventually will so might as well go for it because I've heard the reports and know/believe Yeshua can heal me just like HE has healed all the others.
What I enjoy about Luke or Doctor Luke including these healing stories is how humbling for a doctor to admit that some things only
G-D can heal.
And finally the example for the title of this post:
The man by the pool at Bethesda...you know the story he was there many years waiting and hoping he could be the first one in the pool after the angel stirred the waters and receive his healing...he was there 38 years ... of all the people at the pool that day, Yeshua singled him out because of his great faith or action of being there and giving it a try day after day for 38 years to be the first one in....even though others trampled him...how many of us would have just thrown in the towel after a few unsuccessful and painful days? ((yes I'm preaching at myself here)) Luke 5:1-8
Now let's examine another passage of scripture, shall we? Let's do.
Romans 10
3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
((perhaps this is to say we don't need our own forms of righteousness because Messiah has already given us one...Torah))
5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
((refernece Deuteronomy 30:11-14
11For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.))
are you stammering? Paul just quoted Deuteronomy or TORAH!!!! brings new meaning to the next few verses
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
((wait um confessing is a work....so internally we believe and externally we act on that belief))
And that revelation my friends brings new meaning to the following verse:
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
but how should work out our salvation, that which has been made internal, how can we bring it to the external ... again I say TORAH. It is our boundary, our guide if you will so that we may know what is right, good, acceptable, and perfect according to G-D's will ...which HE already told us and if that's not enough in the books of Moses for you, we also have the prophets and apostles writings.
Please read the Pentateuch with more interest and do not view it as a drag or boring to read. In it can life be found. Even my 6 year old son is enjoying his Torah lessons.
Deuteronomy 33
1And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. ((Who is G-D's right hand? ah ha))
3Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
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