Yada’ Yah
Book 5: Good News
…Historic fulfillments
5
Mow’ed – Appointed Meeting Times
Three Days…
In our quest to understand what occurred on Pesach, Matsah, and Bikuwrym, we will have to travel back in time and consider Yahowah’s prophetic testimony and Covenant promises and then compare them to the eyewitness and historical accounts of their enablement and fulfillment. So to set the scene, let’s first examine the 24th chapter of Luke, recognizing that his hearsay presentation is sufficiently consistent with Yahowchanan’s eyewitness account that it is likely accurate. That said, the Greek historian sought to add some interesting details he must have thought the eyewitness missed, and with them we should be a little less enamored.
“They said, ‘The Master has been restored to life, He has stood up and has risen (egeiro) in reality (ontos – in point of fact) and has been seen by (horao) Shim’own.’ And they recounted and related (exegomai – fully disclosed and described so as to make fully known) the Way (hodos) just as (hos – because) He was known (ginosko – and understood) by (en – and in) them as broken bread (klasis artos).” (Luke 24:34-35)
Based upon what I have learned studying Yahowah’s testimony, there is little chance the Disciples would have referred to Yahowsha’ as their “Lord” or “Master.” They most certainly didn’t refer to Him using the Greek kurios, which was hinted at here via a Divine Placeholder. These titles were all assigned to Satan in the Towrah, Prophets, and Psalms. But since Luke wasn’t there, was reporting hearsay, and wasn’t inspired, we have no way of knowing for sure what was actually said.
As for the Disciples, they knew that Yahowsha’s body suffered on Passover, and that as the Passover Lamb it would have been destroyed that same night. And they assumed that there had to be some tangible connection between Him and the Feast of Unleavened Bread because He had equated Himself to broken Matsah. But it would be a real stretch to assume that they understood how this would all materialize on FirstFruits. He had told them about these very things during Pesach supper, three days earlier. But it was all a bit fuzzy to them now.
Continuing on, we find three interesting words: apolaleo/free speech, histemi/standing upright, and eirene/salvation. These concepts are related.
“And as they shared (apolaleo – spoke freely about) Him and these things (houtos), He Himself (autos) stood upright (histemi – having come into their presence, He stood upright enabling them to stand, establishing and rescuing them, upholding them with authority and making them safe, acknowledging their validity, recommending and authorizing them, having paid for them so that by choice they could choose continued existence) in their midst (mesos – among them), saying: ‘Be assured of salvation (eirene – of a state of peace and tranquility by being joined to Me in a harmonious relationship, be assured of freedom and safety, of prosperity and great joy).’” (Luke 24:36) The message is consistent from witness to witness, from Yahowah to Yahowsha’. Well, at least it is in Hebrew. He actually said, “Shalowm.” It means “reconciliation,” and speaks of bringing us back into harmony with the Covenant.
That said, we humans have always found the truth startling. Some even fear it. Most reject it.
“But they were startled and teetering in panic (ptoeomai), frightened (emphobos) because they were of the opinion (dokeo – they supposed that) they had witnessed (theoreo – observed) a spirit (pneuma). And He said to them, ‘Why are you agitated (tarasso – troubled and restless)? And by whose account and for what reason (dia tis) have internal deliberations (dialogismos – personal questions and introspection, inward thinking) arisen in (anabaino – stepped into the midst of) your hearts?” (Luke 24:37-38)
At His celebration of FirstFruits, Yahowsha’ resembled light, in that He reflected both an energy and particle nature. He was both soul and Spirit. So the disciples had seen a spirit—the Spirit of Truth. Yet that frightened them because it was not what they expected.
They were without excuse. These men were told what was going to happen just as we have been told. But the truth, diminished and convoluted in human hands, had been replaced by supposition—misguided opinions. And that’s precisely what dialogismos is telling us. These men were startled by the Truth because they had turned inward for answers. Rather than searching the Scriptures for them, so as to understand what had happened and what would happen, they teetered in panic.
I’m not picking on the disciples. We are no better than they were. The truth is available to us too by way of the Towrah and yet when we hear that Passover predicts and explains the purpose of the blood of the Lamb, that Unleavened Bread embodies the sacrifice of separation, and that FirstFruits represents our adoption into the Covenant family, many are bewildered by this news.
When we hear that man’s replacement, Easter, is a satanic rite born out of the Whore of Babylon the religious are startled. It’s true that God’s name is Yahowah and the Savior’s is Yahowsha’ yet these truths are not popular. We have grown more comfortable with the satanic title “Lord.” We use terms based upon sun gods like “Bible” instead of “Towrah,” “Church” instead of “Called Out,” and “Holy” instead of “Set Apart.” We “worship on Sundays” rather than engage in a relationship with Yahowah the “Sabbath.” We celebrate “Christmas” and ignore “Tabernacles.” We take “mass or communion” outside of the context of Passover and Unleavened Bread which explain the nature of the broken bread and wine.
Mind you, recognizing these things does not make me better than them or you. Whatever I possess of value is attributed solely to the enrichment of Yahowah’s Towrah Teaching through the enlightenment of the Ruwach Qodesh, the Set-Apart Spirit. While working with Yahowah is an honor, only those who know that they are worthless apart from Him are useful to Him. I am qualified because I recognize that I’m not qualified. Therefore, do not credit me with what you are learning.
Fortunately, Yahowah loves us in spite of ourselves. Because He revealed Himself, we can know Him. Because He exists, we can exist in His presence. Empowered by the Spirit and the Word we can know the truth and we can be useful.
The point Yahowsha’ is translated making in this next paragraph is that He had defeated death, and that through Him, we can too. And also that, in our eternal state, we will be able to diminish some of our spiritual energy and accept a material form when so desired. Most of the time it would be counterproductive, as we’d be stuck in the ordinary flow of time, but not always. Sometimes we may want to touch another person, share a meal with them, or just sing a song, all of which requires a physical presence.
I’m hoping that this is not too confusing. But the underlying issue here is that energy and matter are the same thing. It is just that matter is a reduced form of energy. That means that to accept a physical presence, we’ll have to dial down our spiritual energy from time to time, just as Yahowsha’ was doing now.
“Use your eyes to look at (horao – to perceive and understand) My hands (cheir – My power and ability to help) and My feet (pous – My authority), because (hote) I (ego), Myself (autos), exist in your presence (eimi). Touch (pselaphao – reach out, find, and feel) Me and see. For a spirit does not have (echo – possess or hold on to, wear) flesh (sarx – a physical body) and bones consistent with what you are witnessing (theoreo – beholding and surveying) being possessed by (echo – being worn by) Me.’” (Luke 24:39) While Yahowsha’ had been reunited with the Set-Apart Spirit, He was also corporeal – at least when He wanted to be.
At this point we know that the Ma’aseyah’s new, restored nature was comprised of a material component. It had physical dimensions. Moreover, He was able to eat.
“When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But (de) they even now (eti – still) were in disbelief (apisteo), separated (apo), yet rejoicing in amazement (ekthaumazo – marveling in wonderment). He said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ So they handed Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He received it and ate in their presence.” (Luke 24:40-43)
Though He didn’t need food to sustain life anymore, He could still enjoy it. It’s the best of all worlds. And that’s good news for us because our eternal nature will be like His.
The next statement is important. At the crossroads of the world, in the land most steeped in Scripture, most every aspect of the Ma’aseyah’s ministry was fulfilled in public view. There were hundreds of prophecies predicting precisely what had just occurred, and hundreds more predicting exactly when and where mankind would be redeemed. Yahowsha’ was the living embodiment of the fourth day of creation, of the Lamb of Light provided by God in Yitschaq’s stead, of the prophet predicted by Moseh, and the Ma’aseyah foretold by the Prophets. Yahowsha’ fulfilled the Towrah’s Mow’ed Miqra’ey just as surely as He endured the hellish sacrifice and enjoyed the miraculous restoration depicted in Yasha’yah / Isaiah 53 and Mizmowr / Psalm 22. And in what follows, Yahowsha’ told us where to look if we want to understand these things, if we want to stand upright on His firm foundation rather than tremble in fear and uncertainty.
“Moreover (de),’ He said (lego – affirmed, taught, and advised), ‘This is the Word (logos) which I articulated (laleo – shared, speaking freely about) for your advantage (pros) while I was still with (eti sun – existing in a different state and time with) you, because (hoti) all things (pas – collectively and individually) which are written (grapho – expressed and memorialized by letters on a page) concerning the account (peri) received and established by (nomos) Moseh (Moseus – a transliteration of the Hebrew Moseh, meaning to draw out), the Prophets (Prophetes – from phemi, to make known and affirm pro, beforehand), and the Psalms (Psalmos) must by necessity (dei) be fulfilled (pleroo – rendered precisely, completely, and perfectly) as they relate to and concern (peri) Me.’” (Luke 24:44) So let it be said, so let it be done. So let it be known, so let it be relied upon. The Word and Yahowsha’ are one.
Let’s read that again: “Moreover,’ He affirmed, ‘This is the Word which I articulated for your advantage while I was still with you, because all things which are written concerning the account received and established by Moseh, the Prophets, and the Psalms must by necessity be fulfilled as they relate to and concern Me.’”
If you don’t know what Moseh received from Yahowah through inspiration you simply can’t fathom what happened during these three days, why it happened, or when it occurred. If you don’t know what the prophets predicted and what the psalmists proclaimed you may “marvel in wonderment” but you’ll never be established sufficiently in the truth to be an effective witness.
No religions were born this day. No new doctrines were taught. The Mow’ed Miqra’ey established in the Towrah, the prophecies inspired by Yahowah, the Mizmowr / Psalms received by Dowd / David, were all made manifest. These things happened because it was necessary. Man required redeeming. And the Scripture that provided the Way required verification.
“Then, at that time (tote), He opened their minds and caused them to think (dianoigo nous – explained by way of thought and reasoning), bringing things together so as to make them wise and upright in (suniemi – intelligent, possessing the capacity to be sent out understanding) the Scriptures (Graphe – the Written Word).” (Luke 24:45)
This is the purpose of the Spirit. She opens our minds, helping us think by connecting related things together. The means to being upright and the source of wisdom and understanding are found in the same place—the Word of God: His Towrah Teaching.
The only “Scriptures” available at the time Yahowsha’ spoke these words were contained in the Tanakh—a Hebrew acronym for Towrah, Prophets, and Writings. There was no “Bible.” The “Christian New Testament” had yet to be written. And even when it was, it was not inspired by God and thus not Scripture. Yahowsha’ defined the whole of Scripture with the words: “the account received and established by Moseh, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” A “New Testament” was not added to an “Old Testament.” The totality of Yahowah’s Testimony is contained in the Hebrew Scriptures. Everything He wants us to know is based upon the Towrah’s foundations. Without it, everything crumbles.
To understand Yahowah’s Scripture, the Towrah, the Prophets, and the Psalms, we must open our minds first. Only then will we be able to process the information intelligently by way of thinking and reasoning. And the best way to do this, according to Yahowsha’, is to connect related things together.
For example, the last days of Yahowsha’s earthly life can be connected to the Exodus enactment and Qara’ / Leviticus proclamation of the Mow’ed Miqra’ey of Passover, Unleavened Bread, FirstFruits, and Seven Sabbaths. And these things can be associated with their predicted fulfillment in Dany’el 9, Mizmowr 22, and Yasha’yah 53. Bring these thoughts together and you will become “wise and upright.” You will be “intelligent, possessing the capacity to be sent out.” You will “understand the Scriptures.”
In the word you will find the Word and the Way. For example, Yasha’yah 52 and 53 speak of the “Suffering Servant.” Therefore, it also found its way into Luke’s historical account…