A Pontius Question?

This character is remembered for many reasons and in particular because of one of the most thought provoking questions ever asked.

Although the event is recorded in Matthew 27:1-2; 11:24; Mark 15:1-5; and Luke 23:1-5; only John 18:38 has the specific words of his inquiry.

What

is

TRUTH?

Many of us have no doubt asked the same question at some point in our lives.

Hebrew word for truth is Emet

Strongs 571 emeth: firmness, faithfulness, truth

Original Word: אֶמֶת
Part of Speech: noun feminine; adverb
Transliteration: emeth
Phonetic Spelling: (eh’-meth)

Greek word for

TRUTH

is: a-lethe-ia – alí̱theia – αλήθεια

Greek Alphabet

Latin word for Truth is

Veritas/Verity/verily as in John 5:24 Verily, verily, (Truly Truly), I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

The question in full context:

36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 

37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the TRUTH.

Every one that is of the TRUTH heareth my voice.

 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?

And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

It was not as the Son of God that Jesus/ Yeshua said this, but as the Son of Man.

It would not have been strange to say that as the Son of God He should have been ‘a King;’ of course He was, and much more than ‘a King.’

However even as a seemingly rejected, despised man, standing there before Pontius Pilate, He was ‘a King.’

Pontius Pilate served as the Roman governor of Judea between 26 and 36 CE. Unlike Herod the great, who was also of Jewish descent and made an attempt to honor the Jewish culture, Pilate often provoked and disrespected the people he was appointed to govern.

Known for both corruption and violence, he had a strong interest on maintaining order in Jerusalem. In 36CE, he was recalled to Rome for excessive cruelty.

This makes his desire to free Jesus/Yeshua all the more noteworthy.

Jesus/Yeshua had already declared in John 14:6

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 

ANI HU ha DEREKH, ha EMET, ha Chayim

I am the way and the truth and the life:
no man cometh to the Father, but by me.(John 14:6)

I am the way the truth and the life.

Ani ha’emet vehakhayyim

(אני האמת והחיים)  

Torah Scrolls in Jerusalem

Hebrew tradition is filled with the sages’ reflections on the way (derekh) and the truth (emet) and the life (chayim) of the Jew. Each of these special words represents a universe of meaning to one who studies and reveres the Torah of the God of Israel.

In this verse from the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant), Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua the Mashiach, states that these vital words all refer to Him –

He is the beginning (Alef) and ending (Tav) of their true fulfillment and significance. 

It is in Jesus/Yeshua Himself that we see the way and the truth and the life of God.

It is in the Jesus/Yeshua that we can find the fulfillment and significance that our hearts truly seek; and

it is in the Jesus/Yeshua that we find our means of drawing near to the heavenly Father.

Jesus/Yeshua states that no man will come to the Father without the means of His hand — implying that it is solely by His sovereign election and grace…

(by means of His own “outstretched hand”) that a soul can be admitted into the very presence of the Father. Thank God for the way and truth and life of the Lord Jesus, Yeshua our Savior!

        V’ha-chai-yim   v’hamet  ha-de-rekh   a-no-khi

And the life   and the truth   the way    I (am)

ya-di   ‘al  bal-ti  ha-av    el   ya-vo   lo   v’ish                 

by my hand  without  the Father to   will come   no and man

Jesus/Yeshua is the Truth, and He is also TRUTH itself.

This is eternal life and spiritual abundance. Luke 12:15, 14:33

Through the WAY of Yeshua/Jesus which is obedience to the Father; doing (as He did), only what we see the Father doing.

It means walking in the Spirit of all scripture. 2Tim.3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

But not being legalistic, simply focusing on the father.

Truth is the Word of God.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

It is very clear that they are inseparable, Yeshua/Jesus is not only the TRUTH, He is also the WORD made flesh.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Truth is how things really are, not as we often perceive them to be. It is often far from being comfortable, so comfort is no test of TRUTH.

The Word of scripture tell us we see through a glass darkly, it is referring to looking into a mirror and what we see reflected back is always reversed, it’s back to front.

We do not see ourselves as others see us.

Which is why we almost never like photographs of ourselves because that’s not what we see and perceive how we look!

To see through a glass — a mirrordarkly, is to have an obscure, distorted or imperfect vision of reality.

Because of this we are to learn to see ourselves as our Heavenly Father sees us. He sees us so differently from the way we see ourselves and the way others see us.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. If indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share with His glory.” Rom. 8:17

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

The expression through a glass darkly, comes from the Apostle Paul’s writings; he explains that we do not now see clearly, but at the end of time, we will do so.

1 Corinthians 13:12 . KJ21. For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.

What ever we choose to believe

– it will never change TRUTH.

Truth can be relied upon for it is an absolute, its parameters never move . Truth is not based on feelings that ebb and flow like the tide.

There are many things that are true, however, they are not always THE truth. And a half truth is a lie.

Perception alters truth and confusion distorts it.

Truth is the opposite of false.

Truth exists, only lies are invented.

Truth is reality revealed to a spirit attuned with the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh of the living God.

The Believers spiritual protection listed in Ephesians begins with the belt of TRUTH

It was not a thin belt with which we are familiar today it was very elaborate

and very effective as defensive armor.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Truth will make you free, truth will set you free, truth deliver you from all bondage.

However it is only the truth that you

hear,

receive,

believe

and act upon

that will result in that freedom.

Truth not acted upon will not produce results.

Truth is Yeshua/Jesus is the Messiah.

He is the Word/Torah who became flesh and restored the broken fellowship with the Father.

He redeemed us from the curse of the law of sin and death, unto everlasting life for all who will believe and receive His truth.

I AM – Anochi the TRUTH – EMET.

Emet, truth = firmness, stability.

Matthew 1:21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua,Yehoshua/Yeshua which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from [a]failing and missing (the mark,) the true end and scope of life, which is God]. (AMPC)

The Torah

and the Prophets

and the Writings

and the New Testament

are the written Word of God.

There are extra Biblical writings some were removed in the early centuries by men of the church of Rome and were collectively called the Apocrypha.

The biblical apocrypha (from the Ancient Greek: ἀπόκρυφος, translit. apókruphos, lit. ‘hidden’) denotes the collection of apocryphal ancient books found in some editions of Christian Bibles.

These apocryphal books were positioned in a separate section between the Old and New Testaments or as an appendix after the New Testament.

(It also contained maps and geneologies). The apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years until being removed in 1885 A.D. 

There are also writings by the early church fathers who were getting started and becoming grounded in the teachings and passion of Jesus Christ, early Christian theologians studied Jewish thought, Greek philosophy, and Greek and Latin vocabulary in their endeavor to explain complex Christian theological concepts.

The early church fathers fall into three basic categories:

apostolic fathers,

ante-Nicene church fathers,

and post-Nicene church fathers.

The apostolic church fathers were the ones like Clement of Rome who were contemporaries of the apostles and were probably taught by them, carrying on the tradition and teaching of the apostles themselves.  

Linus, mentioned in 2 Tim. 4:21, became the bishop of Rome, and Clement took over from Linus. Both Linus and Clement of Rome, therefore, are considered apostolic fathers. However, there appear to be no writings of Linus that have survived, while many of the writings of Clement of Rome survived.

The apostolic fathers would have largely passed from the scene by the beginning of the second century, except for those few who might have been disciples of John, such as Polycarp. The tradition is that the apostle John died in Ephesus around A.D. 98.

The ante-Nicene fathers were those who came after the apostolic fathers and before the Coincil of Nicea in A.D. 325. Such individuals as Ireaneus, Ignatius, and Justin Martyr are ante-Nicene fathers.

The post-Nicene church fathers are those who came after the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325.

These are such noted men as Augustine, bishop of Hippo, who is often called the father of the [Roman Catholic] Church because of his great work in Church doctrine; Chrysostom, called the “golden-mouthed” for his excellent oratorical skills; and Eusebius, who wrote a history of the church from the birth of Jesus to A.D. 324, one year before the Council of Nicea.

He is included in the post-Nicene era since he did not write his history until after the Council of Nicea was held. Other post-Nicene fathers were Jerome, who translated the Greek New Testament into the Latin Vulgate, and Ambrose, who was largely responsible for Augustine’s conversion to Christianity.

So, what did the early church fathers believe?

The apostolic fathers were very concerned about the proclamation of the gospel being just as the apostles themselves proclaimed it. They were not interested in formulating theological doctrine, for the gospel they had learned from the apostles was quite sufficient for them. The apostolic fathers were as zealous as the apostles themselves in rooting out and exposing any false doctrine that cropped up in the early church. The orthodoxy of the message was preserved by the apostolic fathers’ desire to stay true to the gospel taught to them by the apostles.

The ante-Nicene fathers also tried to stay true to the gospel, but they had an additional worry. Now there were several spurious writings claiming to have the same weight as the established writings of Paul, Peter, and Luke. The reason for these spurious documents was evident. If the body of Christ could be persuaded to receive a false document, then error would creep into the church. So the ante-Nicene fathers spent a lot of their time defending the Christian faith from false doctrine, and this led to the beginnings of the formation of accepted church doctrine.

The post-Nicene fathers carried out the mission of defending the gospel against all kinds of heresies, so more and more the post-Nicene fathers grew interested in methods of defending the gospel and less interested in transmitting the gospel in a true and pure form. Thus, they began to slowly fall away from the orthodoxy that was the hallmark of the apostolic fathers. This was the age of the theologian and endless discussions on secondary topics.

It may surprise us to see that all the denominations can be traced back to the Roman Catholic church.

The early church fathers are an example to us of what it means to follow Christ and defend the truth. None of the early church fathers were perfect, just as none of us are perfect.

Some of the early church fathers held beliefs that most Christians today consider to be incorrect.

What eventually developed into Roman Catholic theology had its roots in the writings of the post-Nicene fathers.

While we can gain knowledge and insight by studying the early church fathers, ultimately our faith MUST be in the Word of God, not in the writings of early Christian leaders.

4th c. papyrus manuscripts discovered in Egypt – written in Coptic – the language of the Egyptian Christian Church.

45 titles including the Gnostic Gospels and writings attributed to Jesus’s followers including: The Gospel of Thomas.

The Gospel of Phillip.

The Gospel of Mary.

The Gospel of Truth.

The Gospel of the Egyptians.

The Apocalypses of Paul, James, and Peter.

It was on a December day in the year of 1945, near the town of Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt, that the course of Gnostic studies was radically renewed and forever changed.

An Arab peasant, digging around a boulder in search of fertilizer for his fields, happened upon an old, rather large red earthenware jar. Hoping to have found buried treasure, and with due hesitation and apprehension about the jinn, the genie or spirit who might attend such an hoard, he smashed the jar open with his pick.

Inside he discovered no treasure but books: more than a dozen old papyrus books, bound in golden brown leather.

Little did he realize that he had found an extraordinary collection of ancient texts, manuscripts hidden upwards of a millennium and a half before (probably deposited in the jar around the year 390 by monks from the nearby monastery of St. Pachomius) to escape destruction under order of the emerging orthodox Church in its violent expunging of all heterodoxy and heresy. 

Only God’s Word is the infallible guide for faith and practice.

For the Jewish People there are also extra biblical writings and literature that are NOT part of Torah and Tanach.

Torah (sometimes called the Five Books of Moses)

Nevi’im (the books of the Prophets)

Ketuvim (or Writings.)

They include the Talmud, Midrash and Kabbalah.

Bible (Tanakh, ta-NAKH) Tanakh
Hebrew acronym for the 3 sections of the Bible: Torah (5 Books of Moses) + Nevi’im (Prophets) + Ketuvim (Writings)
To the Christian world, the Tanakh is the Old Testament.
Since Judaism recognizes the Christian New Testament as a historical, not religious text, the term Old Testament is not used. Instead it is preferable to use the term, Hebrew Bible.
Mishnah (MĬSH-nuh)
Jewish tradition holds that when God gave Moses the Torah (the Written Law) on Mt. Sinai, he simultaneously provided him all the details of the Oral Law.
The Oral Law explained how the commandments in the Torah were to be carried out.
It is believed that Moses subsequently transmitted that Oral Law to his successor, Joshua, who transmitted it to his successor, in a chain that is still being carried on.
Mishnah (Hebrew for instruction ), c. 200 C.E. is the written form of the Oral Torah created at the end of the second century.
Arranged topically, it was composed of discussions & decisions by rabbis that became the authoritative source of Jewish Law. Gemara (gə-MAR-ə) (also Gemora) (Aramaic for to study ), c CE –
The part of the Talmud that contains rabbinical commentaries and analysis of its predecessor, the Mishnah.
Talmud (TAHL-mud)
The Talmud has two components: the Mishnah (c. 200 C.E.), the first written compilation of Judaism’s Oral Law, and the Gemara (c. 500 C.E.). It is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history.
In Jewish life the terms Gemara and Talmud are often used interchangeably.
Midrash (MĬD-räsh)
The word Midrash is based on a Hebrew word meaning interpretation.
Midrash consists of legends and stories, both educational and entertaining, which complement rabbinic theology and allows the rabbis to explain and expand on the Torah.
Prayer Book (Siddur, sĭd-OOR) Most siddurim (plural) contain the prayers, arranged in a specific order, that are used for religious services. These prayers express the beliefs, hopes and yearnings of the Jewish people for a world ruled by justice and compassion.

The Talmud, the primary source for Jewish religious traditions and laws.

The Midrash

At Pentecost- Shavuot, the giving of Torah is remembered.

Rabbinical Judaism believes that 2 Torahs were given to Moses at that time the written Torah and the Oral Torah Torah she’bal peh. (In Kabbalistic traditions there is even a 3rd or hidden torah as revealed in the Zohar.)

The Zohar is a Kabbalistic commentary on the Hebrew Bible.

The Hebrew Scriptures.
The Writings (Kethuvim)
The Law (Torah)
Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy
The Prophets (Nevi’im)
Poetical Books. Psalms. Job. Proverbs.
Five Rolls (Megilloth) Ruth. Song of Songs. Ecclesiastes. Lamentations. Esther.
Historical Books. Daniel. Ezra-Nehemiah. Chronicles.
Former Prophets. Joshua. Judges. Samuel. Kings.
Latter Prophets. Isaiah. Jeremiah. Ezekiel. The Twelve.
.

The Mishnah

Mishnah refers to a collection of decisions and traditional laws embracing all aspects of civil and religious legislation. This code, which several generations of masters called Tannaim worked on, was given its final form by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi, around the second century CE.

It is divided into six parts (or orders), which are in turn subdivided into tractates, chapters, and paragraphs.

The part is called Seder,

the tractate Masekhet,

the chapter Perek;

the smallest paragraph of the collection bears, like the collection itself, the name Mishnah.

In all, there are 63 Mishnah tractates, which contain a total of 524 chapters.

These are not actual scripture they are commentaries written by men. The orthodox Jews include the Pharisees who put heavy emphasis the added laws and traditions of men.

The other texts which are now more commonly referred to, are the Zohar and the Kabbalah.

These are the mystical texts which have roots in Babylonian alchemical Magic and sorcery and are connected to the ancient schools of esoteric mysticism, which is forbidden knowledge. (Possibly refers to the tree of knowledge of good and evil). Kabbalists strongly rely on the use of numbers within written context, using them to prove and align people, places and things which support their interpretations. The Bible Code is apparently somewhat connected to this.

They have developed a tree of life and herein are the roots of new age movement with such esoteric mystical qualities which have become more and more accepted by the mainstream.

The mystic kabbalah schools are NOT where we will find the TRUTH of Jesus/Yeshua. He is the ETZ – TREE of TRUTH and LIFE. 

There may be ‘truth‘ within the knowledge, however, it is not the WAY of Jesus/Yeshua. It is not THE TRUTH of Jesus/Yeshua. It’s not the Truth and life we are to follow. He said Follow ME.

When references are included within posts, they are to show the various concepts and thinking, not to advocate compliance or adherence to those concepts or teachings. The Kabbalistic mystics use the 4th level of Pardes concerning the understanding of Scripture to an extreme degree within the mystical hidden occulted knowledge of spiritual power. This dips into the knowledge imparted by the fallen angels, evil spirits and demonic entities, which the scripture calls Doctrines of Demons.

But even so, the Spirit very clearly tells us that in the last times some will abandon the (TRUTH) true faith because of their devotion to spirits that have been sent to deceive and sabotage, and mistakenly they will end up following the doctrine of demons.

There has been a recent move towards a one world religion and even as we study the Hebrew and Greek/Latin language from the original texts; we are not to think we have to become Jewish, or any specific religious group or denomination.

There is no scripture where Jesus/Yeshua tells us to do that. He said, ‘Follow Me’.

 

We are believers in Jesus/Yeshua as Messiah and Savior.

MMM focus is on the Bible and on the Hebrew translation, in that, we have missed some understanding through the translation and the meaning of the words in the text.

We have a lack of knowledge concerning Hebrew idioms and the Hebraic thought processes as well as the mindset of a culture which is so opposite to our western way of thinking, which at its roots is primarily Greek.

As believers in Jesus as Messiah Yeshua HaMashiach we are

The closeness of a peace treaty in the middle east, the talk of building a third temple in Jerusalem, should stir us to realize the times in which we are living. The ultra orthodox Jews who want to build this temple are of the same spirit as in Jesus/Yeshuas day.

There is no need for a physical temple, we are the dwelling place of His spirit now. There is no need for anymore daily sacrifices, Yeshua/Jesus was the Lamb of God, the ultimate sacrifice.

However all these things must come to pass so that the scriptures will be fulfilled. Our place is to pray for their spiritual eyes to be opened and understand that our redemption is close as His return is near.

The

TRUTH

will make you free and will keep you in the WAY of LIFE

Derech HaYeshua/Yahusha – this is a blessing to the Lord for our salvation: Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who gave to us the way of salvation through the Messiah Yahusha/Yeshua. 

Jesus/Yeahua is the fulfillment of Torahs inner meaning and message.

Many people think of Judaism as the religion of cold, harsh laws, to be contrasted with Christianity, the religion of love and brotherhood. This is an unfair characterization of both Judaism and Jewish law. 

Love and kindness have been a part of Judaism from the very beginning.

Thus, Torah compels us to continual, God based, self-improvement.

It’s the ultimate self-help book.

The core mitzvah of emulating Adonai/The Lord – The Name/Hashem, is “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Indeed, Rabbi Hillel famously taught that this mitzvah is the whole Torah.

Which was in fact Yeshuas’ words

He IS

So we have our answer to the Pontius Question!

Now we have the roots

of

TRUTH

and the

TRUTH

of our roots.

The Truth is that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, not human beings having a spiritual one!

Shalom alecheim!

Please don’t leave this page until you

make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your

TRUTH,

Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..

Simply and honestly say the following, MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

The Almah Miriams and A Place At The Table

Some intriguing facts about people and places connected with this season of His appointed times:

The very first time Almah – עַלְמָה – almāh, is seen is in the Torah

Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, Direction, Instruction, Teaching or Law. (Pronounced:to-raw‘).

Strongs 8451: Acquired knowledge or skills that mark the direction one is to take in life.

A straight direction.

Knowledge passed from one person to another.

It is found in The Book of Exodus

(i.e., Sefer Shemot [סֵפֶר שְׁמוֹת])

שְׁמוֹת   Shemot, Shemoth, or Shemos (שְׁמוֹת — Hebrew for Names, in the Old Testament in the Tenakh.

The Tanakh (Hebrew: תַּנַ”ךְ‎, pronounced [taˈnaχ] or [təˈnax]; TaNaKh also Tenakh, Tenak, Tanach) ) is the canonical collection of Jewish texts, it is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible, which is also the textual source for the Christian Old Testament.

The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra.

The Greek translation of the Hebrew (the Septuagint) (Kitvei HaKodesh

Some Jews refer to the entire Hebrew Bible (Kitvei HaKodesh) simply as the Torah without making the distinction of the divisions shown above.

Though the Christian Old Testament is the result of the canonization of the Jewish scriptures, the order of the books in the Tanakh is not identical to the Christian Old Testament (though the content is the same, the chapter and verse references are not).

כתבי הקדשׁ  – Kitvei HaKadosh – The Hebrew Scriptures

Almah is a Hebrew word – עַלְמָה – for virgin.

Almah (עַלְמָה ‘almāh, plural: עֲלָמוֹת ‘ălāmōṯ), from a root implying the vigour of adolescence and puberty.

It is a Hebrew word for a young woman of childbearing age. … Etymologically, the meaning of the word almah is derived from the verb almah, to hide, or to conceal which helps to support the virgin interpretation.  Being careful here in connecting the concept of being hidden with that of being a virgin, especially since some of the almah’s in the bible went about freely in public and were anything but hidden (Gen 24:43 and Psalm 68:25 -26).

Almah definition, (in Egypt) a woman or girl who dances or sings professionally.

In the second book of Torah in Exodus. Shemot – שְׁמוֹת ….

is the story of a young maiden, Miriam/Mary who was the one who watched over the baby Moses in his box/ark as he floated down the Nile River towards his destiny as a Redeemer of Israel; their mother having set him afloat so he would not be killed by Pharaoh’s servants and soldiers.

This occurred not long after Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Hebrew boys were to be drowned in the Nile river. Previous to this, Miriam’s mother, Yocheved, had hidden Miriam’s infant brother, Moses, for three months.

Miryam watches as Pharaoh’s daughter finds the basket.

Ex. 2:5 And the girl went and got the baby Moses’ birth mother, Jochebed, Pharaoh’s daughter Batya said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took and the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

Almah is also found in Isaiah 7 where the prophetic word states that an Almah will conceive and bring forth a child.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin (almah) will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

This Messianic prophecy is further complemented by a description of this same child found in Isaiah 9:6 which reconfirms the name Immanuel. The Septuagint (Greek copy of the Old Testament) chose the specific Greek word for virgin in this same Isaiah 7:14 prophecy many years before Yeshua/Jesus was born. In the New Testament, Matthew 1:18-23 confirms that Yeshua/Jesus, The Messiah, was the one foretold about in Isaiah 7:14.

Gen 24:43, here “almah” refers to Rebekah, a virgin.

Exodus 2:8, here almah is used to describe Moses’ s young sister, a young girl who is likely a virgin.

Song of Solomon 6:8, classifies Solomon’s women into three categories: wives, concubines and virgins. If they were not virgins, they would be concubines, suggesting almah means virgin.(4)

Scriptures of interest include:

Psalm 68:25, Song of Solomon 1:3, Proverbs 30:19 and Isaiah 9:6.

The Hebrew word almah is not used to describe a virgin 100 percent of the time however, it may have been the best choice in Hebrew and Greek wording.

 All believers understand that this prophecy tells of the virgin (almah) birth of our Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach. Complemented with Isaiah 9:6 which is a further description of this child, including His divine attributes, it fits perfectly with the child’s name/title here, Immanuel (God is with us).

https://www.minimannamoments.com/is-el-eem-anu/

True biblical prophecy works together with other areas of scripture, meaning words in scripture support scripture.

This child’s birthplace can be found in Micah 5:2

A ruler out of Bethlehem, this child’s name/title can be found here in Isaiah 7:14 (Immanuel).

His divine attributes are found in Isaiah 9:6 and Isaiah 43:11.

The time of his death is found in Daniel 9:24 – 27.

His resurrection is found in psalm 16. 

His return to earth (second coming) is found in 12:10 where Israel will look upon the one that is pierced which is further supported in Zechariah 14: 1-7 which brings Daniel’s 70th week (see Daniel 9:24-27) prophecy to an end.

All of these prophecies work together and no one prophecy needs to stand alone.

Some other Marys Almahs and Miryams

John tells us that early on the first day of the week, (Feast of Firstfruits) while it was still dark,

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

” Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”

John: 20:1

The first people to the tomb were women and 2 out of the 3 of them were called Mary. However all 3 may have been called Mary according to Mark 16:1 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and {Mary} Salome went to the tomb.

Mary, (Hebrew Miryam), was one of the most common women’s names in New Testament times, and so it is not surprising that the crucifixion and resurrection narratives seem to speak of as many as five separate Marys.

As we all know the mother of Jesus/Yeshua was also called Mary (Hebrew Miryam); who, John tells us in 19:25, was at the cross with Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  ‘standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.’

Mary is pronounced MARE-ee. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Mary is “star of the sea”.

Other possible meanings from the Hebrew are:

wished-for child;

rebellion;

sea of bitterness.

Another meaning of Miriam is “Mistress of the Sea”. Keeping in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages.

Transliteration: Miryam

Original Word: מִרְיָם

The name Maria (or Mary) is the Greek transliteration of an older version of the name Mary from the Hebrew name Miriam, the name Mareike means: Bitter or Sea, the same as Maria in Dutch.

The young woman in the exodus story was Mary/Miriam. רְיָםמִ strongs 4813 Miryam a sister of Aaron and Moses pronounced MEER-ee-em.

Most scholars derive the name Miriam from the verb מרה (mara) meaning to be bitter, rebellious or disobedient.

Strongs 4755 Mara מָרָא (pronounced MAHR-ah – maw-raw’) Mara: “bitter,” symbolic name of Naomi MARA. ma’-ra, mar’-a (marah, “bitter”): The term which Naomi applies to herself on her return from Moab to her native country.

Phonetic Spelling: (meer-yawm’)

Word Origin rom the same as Merayah

Original Word: מְרָיָה

Transliteration: Merayah

Phonetic Spelling: (mer-aw-yaw’)

Waters of bitterness or sorrow

Exodus 15:20. Miriam the prophetess — ΄αριαμ in the Greek, in the Latin Maria, from the Hebrew word מרה marah, bitterness. She was so called, say some, from the times of affliction and bitterness, (Exodus 1:14.) in which she was born.

There are several meanings behind the name Miriam, spelled ‘mem’, ‘reish/resh’, ‘yud/yod’, ‘mem’ in Hebrew (מִרְיָם),

Various Jewish sources relate to either bitter, water, rebellion or elevation.

One meaning is based on the letters ‘mem’, ‘reish’ of her name spelling “mar” (מר) which means “bitter”. This connotes the fact that Miriam was born during the beginning of Pharaoh’s bitter decrees as in the verse, “And the [Egyptians] embittered [the Jews’] lives with hard labor.

However, another meaning of mar (מר) is water as in the verse, “The nations are as a drop of water (c’mar) from a bucket”.

Miriam’s strong association with water includes her involvement in saving Moses at the Nile, singing praise to God after crossing the Sea of Reeds or Red Sea and the special well or spring of water called the “Well of Miriam”. In her merit, this well miraculously provided water for the Jews by accompanying them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness.

There is a Hebrew teaching that says, “Three great leaders led Israel: Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

In their merit they received three great gifts: the Well [Miriam],

the Clouds of Glory [Aaron]

and the Manna [Moses].”

When Miriam died, the well was removed as is evidenced by the fact that immediately after the verse And Miriam died, the Torah states, The People had no water.

After Miriam’s death, this is the significance of the verses where Moses is searching for and eventually strikes the rock, in order to restore its’ waters, which had dried up with Miriam’s death.

Concerning the death of Miriam, the Torah (First 5 books of Old Testament) states:

The entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at the desert of Tzin in the first month, and the people settled in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there”.

By identifying Miriam’s death as occurring in the 1st month the Torah reveals that she died in the Hebrew month of Nisan and indicate that the day of her passing, (yahrtzeit), was the 10th of Nisan.

The Sages taught that the Torah’s account of Miriam’s death follows immediately after the laws of purification through the red heifer. This may have been to in order to emphasize and teach that, just as sacrifices bring atonement, so the death of the righteous secures atonement.

Miriam’s great level of purity and righteousness is indicated by the fact that God chose her as the holy (set-apart) person through which to express this teaching. Also noted is that as did Aaron and Moses, Miriam also died through the painless kiss of death, whereby the Divine Presence is revealed to the departing soul as God lovingly draws it back within Himself.

The Sages also explains that this well was the same rock from which Moses brought forth water after Miriam’s death, but adds that it was round as a sieve; such that it would miraculously roll along with the Israelites on their journeys through the desert.

It further states that when they encamped, the leader of each Tribe took his staff to the well and drew a line in the sand toward his Tribe’s encampment. The waters of the well were drawn after the mark and thus supplied water for each of the Tribes. In this way, Miriam was a source of sustenance for all of Israel.

According to one opinion of the Sages, Miriam’s Well is now in the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret). Based on verses which suggest the travelling and coming to rest of the well, they note: “One who ascends to the top of Mount Yeshimon on the Golan Heights, which overlooks wastelands (yeshimon) to the east one can see [looking west] a kind of small sieve in the Sea of Tiberius [the Sea of Galilee]. This is the Well of Miriam.”

According to another opinion of the Sages, the Well of Miriam came to rest in the Mediterranean Sea and can be seen from the heights of Mount Carmel on the coast of Haifa.

In addition, since water is associated with chesedcompassionkindliness – this meaning behind Miriam indicates her special acts of kindness in serving as a midwife,

devoting herself to the needs of her suffering people and sparing Israelite infants from Pharaoh’s evil decree.

Another meaning behind Miriam is related to the letters ‘mem’, ‘reish’, ‘yud’ of her name spelling: meri, (מרי) which means “rebellion”.

This makes reference to the way she rebelled against Pharaoh’s orders that the Jewish midwives kill all male infants. She even rebelled against her father who, in the name of sparing Hebrew infants from death, caused couples to separate so they wouldn’t have children. Once she convinced her father of his mistake, Amram remarried Yocheved, followed by the other Israelite men, after which time Moses was born.

A last meaning is based on all of the letters of the name Miriam, ‘mem’, ‘reish’, ‘yud’, ‘mem’ spelling the word: merim – (מרים) which means elevate. In the merit of saving the new-born Israelites, thereby building the House of Israel, God blessed Yocheved that He would make from her houses of cohanim and leviim and from Miriam, houses of kingship. Merim here indicates the fact that Miriam, from whom King David came (through her husband Calev of Judah), was elevated to house the Davidic Dynasty which is destined to elevate the Hebrew nation and the perfected community of humanity to Redemption and the World to Come. This might be consistent with an idea which, although not found in Jewish sources, is based on the suggestion that mri in ancient Egyptian means beloved.

The song of Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21 Miriam became the leader of the Hebrew women when they and their families escaped from Egypt. On one occasion she and the women sang the Song of Miriam; it is one of the few poems that survive from the ancient world.

Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.

Then over 1000 years later another baby was born. She was named after this Almah. Moses sister Miriam.

In our translations we know her as Mary.

Meaning of Mary: Usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) – the spellings are interchangeable – which were from the Hebrew name מִרְיָם (Miryam).

 Usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) Like other typical Levite names, the name Miriam is probably Egyptian of origin, and mentioned earlier, derived from a word that means Beloved.

To a Hebrew audience, particularly one that didn’t speak ancient Egyptian, the name Miriam/Mary would have seemed obviously akin the verb מרה (mara) meaning to be rebellious or disobedient, or the related verb מרר (marar), meaning to be bitter or strong.

The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including, (as previously mentioned): sea of bitterness, rebelliousness, and wished for child. However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry – beloved, or mr – love.

This is the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly Mary the mother of Messiah.

Matthew 1:18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”

There is the general belief that the name Mary in the Hebrew is Miriam. The problem with this is that Miriam as we have seen, means rebellious or bitter.

However she was always called Miriam and she was the true Almah, the one chosen as the vessel (womb/racham) to bring the Messiah, the Redeemer, into our world as a baby. Isaiah 9:6

This word Almah, also means, One who is hidden; as in Hidden from the world, (the place of hiding in the womb/racham) separate, pure and untouched.

The Hebrew verb: רָחַםrâcham (Strong’s #7355, x47) – to have mercy, and its corresponding noun: רַחַם – racham (Strong’s #7356, x44) mercy, compassion, womb, bowels.

רחמ

This word can also be applied to those who desire and then choose to become pure, untouched, separate from sin cleansed and holy/set apart. These will be the ones who will bear God’s presence and be a channel, a vessel for bearing God’s blessings into the world.

It is there, for whosoever will, to become a spiritual Almah.

To separate ourselves from whatever is pulling us in another direction and to join ourselves all the more securely to the Father.

There is no better time than right now at this season of new beginnings, of new life; to renew our covenant with the Lord, to rededicate our lives.

As we follow the days of Omer to Pentecost, we can prepare our hearts with some spiritual spring cleaning in readiness for the outpouring of His spirit, 50 days from Resurrection Day.

It was no coincidence that on Nisan 17 daytime – That among the women bringing spices to the tomb early in the morning were two called Mary/Miriam. Who had separated themselves (the ecclesia) to the service of their Lord and had been made clean, holy, set apart, in His sight.

Mark 16:1 – Three women visit Jesus’ tomb: Mary Magdalene, a second Mary the mother of James, and (Mary) Salome.

Having been given new life for old, they sought Him out from where He was Hidden from the world,

(the place of hiding in the womb/racham) in the tomb and resurrected raised as the seed,

Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah of new beginnings – Yeshua the Resheet on Reishit Katzir, the beginning of the Harvest; Chag Ha-Bikkurim –the first fruits festival.

(Weymouth New Testament):

In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was–a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies”

All food has to die first.

The grain is plucked from the ground, dies, is crushed, mixed and baked to make bread. The fresh fruit and vegetables we eat, were all cut off and removed from their life support and are in the process of dying when we eat them.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-season-of-our-hiding/

Then after Mary saw Jesus; the disciples encounter the risen Messiah and on Nisan 17 evening – Yeshua/Jesus raised from the dead at/after Havdalah, (at least before sunrise).

Interesting notes to questions that we have misinterpreted because of mis-translation, Hebraic meaning and culture.

What was the seating arrangement at the last supper, (Passover) and how did Judas get to sit at the place designated for the gathering’s most honored guest? Who prompted the Lord to reveal the name of His betrayer?

The upper room as it is today.

Most of us think of the Last Supper in terms that are familiar to us. In our imagination Jesus/Yeshua and His disciples sit around a square table on chairs. Jesus/Yeshua is at the center and His disciples are around him.

The famous painting of Leonardo Da Vinci may also be uppermost in our thinking.

The seating of guests in chairs, implied in Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting, were not used for this most solemn occasion.

Some scholars say the layout of tables may have taken a horseshoe shape.

At the Pesach/Passover supper, everyone reclined on one elbow and yet still faced the table. (As in the diagram above.)

This meant that they lay head towards table and feet away from it.

The person who reclined in front of another was referred to as reclining or leaning on the bosom or chest; or more commonly spoken of as the lap of that individual. Not literally leaning on the persons chest.

This was the meaning in John 13:23, 25; at the last Seder, Pesach supper meal. To be in Abraham’s bosom meant to have the place of honor at a banquet, in Luke 16:23 where it refers to Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. This was in reference to him being a partaker of the same state of peace and joy as Abraham had in paradise awaiting Messiah. Here may be where we have misinterpreted that reference in John 13:25: Now there was leaning on Jesus‘ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 

In the seating diagram above, Judas is sitting to the left of Jesus/Yeshua, in the place designated for the most honored guest. Although the host would normally select who sat next to him, (see Luke 14:7 – 11), no record exists of Yeshua/Jesus asking Judas to sit next to Him. Judas likely felt he deserved to be the honored guest at the supper and quickly claimed the choice position as his right.

Apparently at a Jewish meal, the top place was at the head end of the table or the middle of the middle couch, however the guests, were not really free to sit where they desired. The host could seat and reseat guests as needs arose. Jesus gives an example of the host asking a presumptuous guest to give up his place of honor to another guest.

Luke 14:1 – 14 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. [9] If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’

 Based on Jewish law and tradition, Passover (and most meals) was partaken of while people reclined around a low, long oval table.

Each person would be lying on their left side and leaning on their left arm, with their feet behind them and their heads facing the table. This means those seated on the left side would have their bodies somewhat facing the end of the table. This position, during a meal like the last supper, frees up the right arm for eating.

Jesus/Yeshua was the host of this seder meal – (the leader). Although the Bible does not directly state the seating for this last meeting, we can postulate where Judas, Jesus, Peter, and John would have had to sit.

It should also be noted that Peter, in the seating diagram below, is located across from John at the end of the table. This was, (especially during this most solemn seder,) the lowest and most humble place at the table.

Is there evidence from the Scripture to show that the above seating arrangement for Yeshua/Jesus’s last gathering with His disciples is correct?

In the gospels it tells us that Peter had to get John’s attention in order for him to ask Yeshua/Jesus who was going to betray Him. (John 13:21, 24).

This would have been unnecessary if Peter was seated next to John. Peter, however, had to be close enough to John so that his request wouldn’t be heard by the others. John then leans backwards against Yeshua/Jesus’ chest to ask Him. (John 13:23-25).

Given how people sat to eat a meal, John had to be immediately to Yeshua/Jesus’ right while at the table. This position enabled him to slightly lean back and be against the Lord’s chest. Additionally, the interaction that involved Peter, John, Yeshua/Jesus and Judas, was quiet and close enough so that the other disciples didn’t know what was said (see John 13:28). This meant they didn’t know that, during the meal, the betrayer would be the one given a piece of bread, the sop.

The host of a formal meal or supper would give, the honored guest, at the table the first sop. The sop was a piece of bread or other small amount of choice food that is dipped in a sauce. The host, once he had the sop, would place it into the mouth of the honored guest. This guest always sat to the left of the host, in John 13:21, 25-26, the Bible clearly states was Judas Iscariot.

After receiving the sop, Judas asked if he was the betrayer, which Messiah confirmed that he was in Matthew 26:23-25. Satan then immediately enters Judas and he leaves the room.

The 9 disciples who didn’t hear what was discussed, were unaware of what was happening (John 13:28-29). After Judas left and the seder was finished, Yeshua/Jesus did something that caught the disciples off guard. He took off some of His clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and then began at Peter to wash the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-8)! Peter was the first to receive this ceremony since he sat at the end of the table. His seating also explains his initial impulsive rejection of having his feet washed (John 13:6)

Reclining to eat in first Century Israel was symbolic of their freedom from Egyptian bondage, no longer slaves. At Passover as at every seder meal, They reclined as described in the four Gospels. It was understood that when it was written that they reclined it was because they were eating a meal. So as to not take up much space at the table the couches or pillows they reclined on were angled toward the table. They were not full the length of a couch alongside the table.

In Hebraic thinking, the Seder plate holds the place of honor at the Passover table!

https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-secrets-of-the-seder-plate/

Please – Don’t leave this page without making certain of your place at His Banqueting table.

He IS RISEN and He is calling you…inviting you to Come and Dine…

Shalom to all!

Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..

Simply and honestly say the following, MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.