Tag: Yeshua

Glory Clouds and Rainbows

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

Not everything in the life of Paul, an apostle of Messiah, was glory clouds and rainbows. We often focus on the end of his race, which was glorious in Yeshua/Jesus; but the years, months, and weeks before his graduation were filled with pain, suffering, and heartache.

Paul, writing in Corinth to Rome, reflecting not only on the glory of Messiah, but also on his own experience writes, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Ro. 8:18).

The sufferings, experienced not only by his audience in Rome, but by Paul himself: beatings, shipwreck, stoning, lashes, rejection, false accusations, gossip, etc., (II Cor. 11:23-28). These tragic circumstances pale in comparison to the glory yet to be revealed in the saints of God in Messiah.

Later in Romans 8, Paul encourages his audience that what they, he, and we are enduring is being worked together. This imagery is that of the potter before his wheel, taking the clumps, seemingly disconnected, being worked into something useful, as he writes:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Ro. 8:28).

Who is he describing? There are qualifications, those who: love God, and are called. The saints, ἅγιος/hagios.

What is a saint/ἅγιος/hagios? In Greek, one who is separated, committed, pliable to the will of God as called in His grace. In Hebrew, קָדוֹשׁ/kadosh – seaparated, dedicated, cleansed by separation from the common.

For those set-apart to God, He takes the “all things” noted by Paul, and works them with His hands together, according to His will, as He reforms His people into the image of His Son. Paul explains:

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Ro. 8:29).

Messiah, suffered and endured to a degree beyond our comprehension. In this, we recognize that we, as His followers, will share in His sufferings (I Pet. 4:13; Phil. 3:10; Matt. 16:24).

Yet, here is the good news. Even though our lives are not, neither should they be, all glory clouds and rainbows, the comfort for suffering is so much greater, Paul encourages:

“For as the sufferings of Messiah abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Messiah” (I Cor. 1:5).

Paul, following Yeshua, provided an example of faithfulness and endurance in suffering, despair, and pain. Know for certain, just as Paul knew, that what will be revealed in you, to the glory of the Father, is far greater than what you endure right now; and that every uncertainty, every fear and failure, heartache and betrayal is being worked in His hand.

Be well. Shalom.

Taking it to the Streets

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

It was the practice of the Hasidic teachers in Judaism to find lessons, Torah, in everyday life. Reminders of the Lord in creation. They learned Torah (instruction), not only from books, but everywhere.

Upon waking, His mercy. Before food, His provision. From rain, His grace. In joy, His Spirit. Walking along the way, His direction. In relationship, His forgiveness. In anger, His justice. In business, His righteousness.

From trains, godliness in punctuality. From clocks, the value of time, and therefore life itself. In trees, rocks, gardens, cities, everywhere the eye could see, they found Torah, a lesson, about God.

Whether in the mountains, the valleys, or on the plains, He is there. He is ever with us, and by faith, we recognize His presence.

When the Bible uses the word “presence,” it is not implying a mystical experience, but a personal one. In Psalm 16:11 we find one expression of this:

שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ

“In Your presence is full joy,” or “full joy in the presence of Your face.”

Two words in the Hebrew Scriptures are used to express presence. The usual, as in Psalm 16:11, is פָּנִים/panim, face. The other is עַיִן/ayin, eye.

How do you know when you are really present with someone? You are close to their face, and you see into their eyes. There you experience their presence, breath, aroma, and life.

In Isaiah 6:3 the angels declare:

מְלֹא כָל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדֽוֹ

“All the earth is full of Your glory,” כָּבוֹד/kavod: glory, weight, presence. Yet, this is impersonal. It is a statement of fact. So what do we learn?

The Hasidic teachers would say that the impersonal, factual reality of the Lord’s presence, kavod, will lead us, if we have eyes to see, to the experience of beholding His face and eyes, His countenance, everywhere as He personally abides with us as Emmanuel – God with, among, within us (Jn. 15:4; cf. Matt. 1:23; Isa. 7:14).

As Paul tells us, creation reveals His invisible qualities (Ro. 1:20), yet we must go deeper, further, personal, and to His face (Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:11, 18, 19-20; cf. Ex. 24:10-11).

In Messiah we have the assurance of that personal encounter, and promise to see Him everywhere. As Yeshua said in John 12:45, “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”

Taking our theology to the streets means, in everyday life, to be mindful that we are, in fact, in His presence, before His face, seeing Him eye to eye. Learning to see His Word and promise in creation, everywhere, putting it into action. Not just an echo of His glory around us, but that personal knowledge of the One we know, and who knows us.

Be well. Shalom.

Passover Meditation #6

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

After the blessing to sanctify the day of Passover at the beginning of the Seder, we do the first of two hand-washings, וּרְחַץ/urchatz; which in Aramaic means to lean into or to trust.

We see in the sanctification of the day our holiness In the midst of the holy day: and with the וּרְחַץ/urchatz, we ask ourselves, what have we been trusting in this past year, and what will we trust in during the year to come?

At this point in the Seder we recognize that we are washing, and therefore being cleansed, as וּרְחַץ/urchatz in Hebrew means to wash. However, we do not yet know how to be a blessing with our hands.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה הָ׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם

“Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us through your commandments and has commanded us concerning the washing of hands.”

Later, just before the elements are taken from the Seder plate, we wash again, this time with the regular blessing for hand-washing. Why?

Having heard the story of the exodus, we have now learned how to be a blessing with our hands. We will now lift them freely to serve the Lord, and the human community; because we have trusted in, leaned on, the Lamb Who cleanses us. On the evening of Passover, Yeshua said:

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn. 15:3).

Now wash knowing that you have been washed, and prepared to serve those around you with His blessing.

Be well. Shalom.