salvation – adonainissi

Song of Hallel

Passover has already passed this year (is that redundant?). That being said, I can’t wait another year to share what I’ve recently learned!

Matthew 26:30 (HCSB)
26As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.”
27Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you.
28For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.
29But I tell you, from this moment I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in My Father’s kingdom with you.”
30After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

In the scriptures, you will find a song for Moses, Miriam, and Mary, but you won’t find one for Yeshua or Jesus. Yet it’s right here in front of our noses.

Jesus being fully a Jew would have taken Passover with his disciples as prescribed in the Mishnah (oral traditions) unless He, being the Word incarnate, was doing something new.

The bread:

Three Matzot were used, symbolizing the trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), made from unleavened bread (not puffed up). In Jewish tradition, the middle piece was broken which we now know represented the Son. Half of it is hidden for little children to find it.

Do you think Jesus was giving them Himself, the middle matzah, broken for them? I do.

I wonder if the tradition of sending children to seek the broken matzah relates to this verse?

Matthew 18:3 (HCSB)
3″I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The wine:

Part of the Jewish Passover tradition was four cups of wine.

The first cup was the cup of sanctification (I will bring you out). The second cup was the cup of plagues, drunk before the meal and not mentioned here (I will free you from slavery). The third cup was the cup of redemption which is the one mentioned here (I will redeem you). The fourth cup was the cup of completion which is not shared, but referred to. Here, Jesus redefines the tradition to show that the completion is when we drink wine with Jesus after he comes again and the wedding feast takes place – Revelation 19:9 (I will take you as my own).

Jesus is also redefining the cup of redemption to show that redemption comes through accepting and taking in His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins along with his sacrifice (matzah, body) being broken for us that we might become whole and holy.

The song:

The reference is small, yet profound. Which Psalms did they sing together? I didn’t even know Jesus sang, did you? Of course he would, being a Rabbi. As part of the Passover tradition, Jesus would have been singing the Psalms of Hallel which traditionally cover Psalms 113-118.

Hallel is one of many Hebrew words to praise. I was taught that this word is accompanied by an action of extending both hands high in the air (faith without deeds is dead from a Jewish perspective).

While I won’t be looking at all the references, I want to focus on the pinnacle of Hallel, Psalm 118.

If you study the text carefully, you may discover like me that this Psalm is really pointing to Jesus. I wonder if Jesus’ disciples got that the song they were singing was right in their midst? I wonder if they understood the references that described what Jesus was about to do, or did that understanding come when they were walking with Jesus after His resurrection (Emmaus walk – Luke 24:32)?

I want to highlight some verses from the Psalm:

Psalm 118 begins and ends with the same text as bookends. A common literary device in scripture is a chaism that has the meat in the middle.

1 “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.”

The Hebrew word for love used here (checed), sometimes translated as mercy, can be described as a the intersection of faithfulness, loyalty, and steadfast love.

Psalm 118:14-29 (NKJV)
14 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
The right hand of the LORD does valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go through them,
And I will praise the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD,
Through which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise You,
For You have answered me,
And have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

In verse 14, Jesus has just become their song and their salvation (Jesus is LORD). Wow!

In verse 19, I don’t find the word ‘the’ in the Hebrew, instead I see first person references. I believe it would read more like ‘open my gates of righteousness, I will enter them, thank you God.’ Jesus is returning to the Father.

פִּתְחוּ־לִי שַׁעֲרֵי־צֶדֶק אָבֹא־בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ

In verse 20, it has been translated ‘this is the gate of the LORD, but the lamed prefix is usually translated ‘to’. This could be paraphrased as ‘This is the gate to the Father (I am), the righteous will enter through me.’ I wonder if His disciples picked up on Jesus calling himself the ‘gate’ to salvation and that righteousness had to come through Him?

זֶה־הַשַּׁעַר לַיהוָה צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ

In verse 24, this verse is often taken out of context. Which day were they to rejoice? The day of Passover which begins at sundown. Why? It’s proscribed in Exodus 12:14, because it marked their day of deliverance, but what else might it be saying in a new covenant? I believe that this new Passover is to celebrate the love that is the culmination of this song of praise. The love is demonstrated in verse 27.

In verse 27 in the language of symbols, light is a metaphor for truth, illumination, or understanding.

I believe another way that the Hebrew could read is as follows: The LORD God has become light to us (I am the light of the world). Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

אֵל יְהוָה וַיָּאֶר לָנוּ אִסְרוּ־חַג בַּעֲבֹתִים עַד־קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ

This song was about Jesus becoming the sacrificial lamb of God to be sacrificed as a Passover lamb, once and only once for the sins of the world. It is the greatest expression of love the world will ever know. The altar was in the shape of a cross.

Wow, imagine singing this song with Jesus after sharing the Passover meal, rich with symbolism! The symbolism that they had previously learned had just been turned upside down.

This is the song of Hallel or we might call it the Jeshua or Jesus song. He has become our song and our salvation (Yeshua in Hebrew).

1 John 3:16a
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.

For God so loved the world…

The Gospel Anti-formula (Salvation of a Thief)

I ask you to read the following narrative and consider, how one of the thieves hanging on a cross beside Jesus was saved (e.g. delivered to everlasting life – Paradise).

Luke 23:32-42 (HCSB)
32 Two others – criminals – were also led away to be executed with Him.
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.
34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes and cast lots.
35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked Him. They came offering Him sour wine
37 and said, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
38 An inscription was above Him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

First of all, let’s debunk a myth that the place called the Skull aka Calvary (Golgotha in Hebrew) was a hill. While traditional, this doesn’t have any scriptural or archaeological evidence to support it. My family and I were there in Jerusalem in 2015. All we know from scripture was that the place was a public place, that it was outside the original Jerusalem walls, and that it was in a place where would people would pass by (Matt 27:39).

So, what did the thief on the cross do to be saved?

While the thief did not confess all his sins so he could be saved, he did acknowledge his guilt. He acknowledged that he deserved the punishment that the two thieves were receiving. In this, he demonstrated humility (God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble). He certainly didn’t lead a life that was worthy of being saved to everlasting life.

More importantly, he didn’t follow a prescribed formula for salvation.

I know a woman who demonstrates solid Christian character and was saved by Jesus appearing to her in a dream. Jesus introduced himself to the dreamer, she believed and was saved. I also have heard of hundreds of encounters through dreams of Jesus in Muslim nations around the world.

I would suggest that the thief’s salvation came by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).

I would also suggest that the two thieves are a picture of the separation of the sheep from the goats. One enters in (on the right) due to their faith, the other is shut out (on the left) because of their unbelief and rejection of a substitute.

I would offer that the thief demonstrated two things by his words.

1) He acknowledged that Jesus was Lord. Those who were mocking him (blasphemeo in the Greek), did not fear God. This man asked the other criminal, “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?” The thief, in saying “this man has done nothing wrong,” recognized the innocence of Jesus. Did he know that Jesus was to be an innocent offering for his sin, we wonder? Whether he knew this by the spirit or not, he recognized that this King of the Jews was going to come into His kingdom, and therefore be Lord (which means ruler or master by the way).

2) He had faith in His resurrection. Recall that the thief said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” In this statement, the thief is acknowledging that Jesus will be resurrected. The thief knew that no one survives an execution on a Roman cross, especially one that had been brutally beaten and scourged. In the request to remember him, the thief was taking a risk and exercising some faith which is pleasing to God.

I believe this thief was saved because of his faith in the resurrection and Jesus as Master of a coming Kingdom along with the gift (grace) of God.

I would suggest that Paul writes about a similar pattern for salvation in Romans 10:8-13:

Romans 10:8-13 (HCSB)
8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
11 Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame,
12 for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.
13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

In verse 9, we see that faith in Jesus’ resurrection and acknowledgement of Jesus as being God are what saves a soul from separation from God. The Greek word for Lord in the phrase “Jesus is Lord” is ‘kyrios’ for Master or recognizing that one greater than you has the power and authority to decide. Trusting that Jesus as being Master brings honor to God the Father (John 5:24). The Greek word for Jesus is transliterated ‘Isousâ’ and comes from the Hebrew name ‘Yeshua’ meaning to save and deliver.

In sharing all this, my intention is not to come up with another formula, but rather something I found interesting to reflect on. We are saved by the grace that is a gift of God, and the faith in the resurrection and acknowledgement of Jesus as Master of our lives.

God demonstrates through scripture that He is better and bigger than the formulas and boxes we constrain him to. What formulas and boxes need to be undone for you?

The Sign of Jonah

Luke 11:29-30 (HCSB)
As the crowds were increasing, He began saying: “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

One of the things that we often forget is that Yeshua (Jesus), like Jonah, was also a prophet. Yeshua fulfilled the sign of Jonah. So what does that mean? I have been studying the book of Jonah for the past month as part of a Biblical Hebrew course I have been taking. I have discovered some fascinating symbols in the Hebrew as part of my spiritual journey.

Today, I want to look at the book of Jonah as a typology that Yeshua (Jesus) fulfilled and consider both how the type applies and how the type differs. Let’s start with the gospel accounts and work backwards into the book of Jonah.

Like all prophets, some of what Yeshua shared was not always popular.

Matthew 12:40-41 (HCSB)
40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.
41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and look, something greater than Jonah is here!

You are free to disagree with me, but I believe that Yeshua fulfilled the sign of Jonah and was in Sheoul (the place of the dead – the belly of the fish) for three days and three nights before his resurrection (being delivered from the belly of the fish). Why? I am more inclined to take Yeshua at his word rather than the traditions of men. What was Yeshua doing during this time? In the belly of the fish, Jonah had an opportunity to repent and be saved (delivered). In like manner, I believe that Yeshua was giving the people who had died before Him a chance to repent and be saved (delivered) (Acts 2:31 – Ephesians 4:8-10).

Now let’s turn to our text in Jonah. Since this is four chapters of scripture, I will summarize the narrative for you, and draw out key symbols and points as we go.

Jonah was called by God to proclaim a message of repentance to those living in Nineveh, as the evil of the people had risen before the face of God. Jonah rebelled (transgression) against God’s direction, and went to Joppa to find a ship headed to Tarshish, which was the opposite direction of his calling.

Jonah literally went in the opposite direction (nearly 180 degrees), and headed due West – Tarshish, instead of East – Nineveh. In Hebrew idioms, East is considered facing front or the direction of the Sun (Son), and West is turning towards death or away from God. See the map posted below:

Let’s look at some interesting names and symbols in the beginning of the narrative.

Jonah, son of Ammitai

Jonah – “dove” in Hebrew. This represents his calling (to walk by the spirit) as much as it represented a struggle for him to get there. The dove was also appointed to be a messenger of peace (shalom).
Ammitai – “My truth” in Hebrew. Jonah was called to be Fathered by the truth found in the Son of Man (Yeshua), not his own understanding of truth.
Tarshish – while a shipping hub, represented a place of commerce. This name also has a double meaning of yellow topaz as worn on the breastplate of Aaron and may have represented the familiar and comfortable for Jonah. An interesting implication for the name seems to be “soul urge.”
Joppa – meant “beautiful.” This was the place Jonah found a ship to go to Tarshish. This port town may have represented a ‘gate’ for Jonah and indicated a way of the flesh. There is a way that seems right to a man but ends in death (Prov 14:12).
Nineveh – capital city of Assyria, a Gentile nation. while the etymology isn’t clear, the most fitting seems to be from Nuna, house of fish. Just as Peter was to become a fisher of men, Jonah was to proclaim a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh.

While on his journey, God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah ended up in the place of the dead – the belly of the fish for three days and nights until Jonah remembered God and repented (Jonah 2:7-10). God then appointed the fish to deliver him onto dry land (vomited out of Hades, you might say). Jonah was given a second chance to carry out God’s word and went to Nineveh to deliver the word to the nobles and king. Much to Jonah’s disappointment, the king subsequently proclaimed a 40-day fast and repentance from evil and violence, not just for the people, but for the livestock too! When food is withheld from cattle, they will cry out too (moo)! LOL! It wasn’t just the people who were crying out to God to save them, but the livestock too! God withheld his judgment towards the city as a result.

There are several verses in Jonah chapter 4 which reveal things about Jonah’s heart and about God’s heart.

Instead of pity towards the people of Nineveh, Jonah has a pity party. Jonah, clearly doesn’t understand God’s heart towards this Gentile nation. We don’t know all that was in Jonah’s heart, but we do know that often Assyria was considered to be an enemy of Israel. Jonah didn’t want this Gentile nation (them) to be saved, but rather wanted them to be judged and destroyed.

Jonah 4:1-3 (HCSB)
1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious.
2 He prayed to the LORD: ‘Please, LORD, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster.
3 And now, LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’

Jonah doesn’t want God to be a God of mercy, but one of judgment. How often do we see that in today’s so-called prophets and churches? How often do we want God’s judgment towards those we think are our enemies?

Jonah had heard about God’s good nature (revealed to Moses and David – Ex 34:6-8, Ps 103), but didn’t really want to come to know this kind of God, especially towards those who didn’t “deserve” mercy.

John 3:17
17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

God transacts a trial for Jonah having to do with a castor-oil plant. Jonah chooses not to repent, but to stay in his attitude of judgment and pride (the flesh) versus choosing God’s way which is the life of the spirit (represented by the “oil plant” placed above him for a time).

Jonah 4:10-11 (HCSB)
10 So the LORD said, ‘You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night.
11 Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?’

The number 12 is a type which represents the fullness of a people group. That the king, his nobles, and a town of 120,000 people would all be saved is nothing short of miraculous.
God’s heart was that none would perish, but that all would be saved through him.

Unlike Jonah, Yeshua was without sin and always did what pleased His Father out of a relationship of love and unity.
Unlike Jonah, Yeshua didn’t need to repent in order to qualify for his resurrection.
Unlike Jonah, Yeshua knew the compassion and goodness of God.
Unlike Jonah, Yeshua immediately embraced the death of his flesh (not my will) and accepted His cross.

Like Jonah, Yeshua experienced separation from this world and from God (when he took on our sin).
Like Jonah, Yeshua offers a message to the Gentiles for salvation and that the fullness might be saved.
Like Jonah, Yeshua witnessed miraculous signs and wonders when he simply did what the Father asked him to do.

Going back to our opening text, the sign of Jonah is really about God making a way of salvation and deliverance for the world (Nineveh). This opportunity comes through Christ who died on a cross, was swallowed up in death and was raised up to life again after three days and three nights. There is an invitation to the world to turn from evil and our violent ways and towards Yeshua and His way of love. While the cross of Christ is offensive and foolishness to some, it is the power of God to save those who believe.

Do you ever wonder if you have avoided the really difficult things we are called to do (our Ninevehs), and instead chosen the ways that are comfortable and prosperous (Tarshish)? I do. I work in commerce, and sometimes wonder if I have chosen the way of Tarshish for my life, but I have to trust in the grace of God to both help me in the choosing and to work out the plans that He has prepared for me.

May the grace of God be with you all as you make your choices and help you fulfill all that our divine Conductor has set in motion for you to accomplish.