October 8, 2024

Some Bible Chapter headings say of John Chapter 1: “The Deity of Christ [Yeshua]” Verse jn 1:2 nkjv, goes on to say: “He was in the beginning with God.”

Unless one has been confused by Theological Seminary, Institutional Religion or other means, one can clearly discern from the plain text of the Scripture that Yeshua IS the Word [Torah], Yeshua WAS in the Beginning, and that Yeshua IS God [Yahweh]. Then in jn 1:14 nkjv, The Bible says that this same Yeshua, GOD, WORD/Torah, eternal and forever existent, "became flesh and dwelt among us."

I will never forget a precious elderly woman, who seemed genuine in her faith in God (her understanding of God, at least), claiming that Jesus [Yeshua] was NOT God. She was a long time follower of a local Christian Science congregation. I have observed other persons with opinions and doctrine that I would consider contradictory to what the plain text of the Bible says… I will not venture off into the “special Bibles” of some religious groups. The main point being, what is the WORD of GOD? Even, who is the WORD? This, to me, is a “must understand” pathway and confession of the seeker of the narrow gate, through which one must enter for eternal salvation… that being Yeshua. There are many Scriptures that speak about this.

For me, the two “bookends” that capsulize Yeshua’s, beginning and ending purpose and work, are jn 1:3-5 nkjv; and, Rev 21:1-8 nkjv...

The beginning bookend: “3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

The ending bookend: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away…, And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son…”

In Colossians Chapter 1, Paul likewise clearly capsulizes the purpose and work of the Messiah… specifically, when we read col 1:13-14, we in essence understand this text [and its purpose] as the meaning of the “gospel.”

Now, all that being said… in some modern translations of the Bible, jn 1:17 has caused some to see a Old Testament “God” as harsh and the New Testament “God” (Jesus) to be loving and kind and full of grace: For example, both the Authorized King James and the New King James render this verse with the conjunction “but” [in italics] that the Textus Receptus Greek Text does not include… as the “Interlinear Bible” so clearly verifies. The AKJV and NKJV both read:

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The KJV reads the same without the italics delineation for “but.”

I have heard laymen, teachers and preachers express this dichotomy between “ONE” God… To me, Yeshua [THE in the beginning Word] and His incarnate earthly coming nature and “Word” representation are both the same. He could not have been the sinless Messiah if He had violated Torah’s [Moses'] words… deut 4:2 and deut 12:32; speaking about “addling to,” and “taking away,” words and meaning of the Torah.

I think jn 1:17 gives us the “letter of the Law,” and the “Spirit of the Law” as a composite, of one truth, not (“but”) two separate ideas. Moses words, which I call the Torah, and Yeshua’s Person are one if the Word became flesh, that being Yeshua… Hebrews 13:8 tells us Yeshua/Yahweh [God] never changes. Thankfully, He is the solid rock of our faith’s foundation, and when we read and study the Bible, OT and NT, we can depend upon its eternal Truth’s power, as ONE Truth, working in our lives; sanctifying, healing, delivering, and faithfully leading us along the narrow pathway to the narrow gate [Yeshua].

When I read and study Psalms 119, which I do often, I see it as the guidebook or pathway illuminator, if I may call it that, that teaches us to navigate the narrow way. When reading it, you will come across many repetitions of the words: Law, Testimony, Precepts, Statutes, Commandments, Judgments, and Word. I have provided a link to a page, from my Bible, for expanding the meaning and use of these words that the Psalmist used. The link is [here].

A closing thought I have is why Yeshua said, “if you love me keep my Commandments…” the word “keep” is like guarding, watching over, protecting, observing faithfully, and is surely connected with Obedience, which Samuel told King Saul, “was better than sacrifice.” 1sam 15:22 nkjv

Unlike the harsh politicized ways of the Religious Pharisees, Yeshua’s kind and loving demonstration of the Torah resonated with the people… especially the folks associated with John the Baptist [likely a Zadok Priest, among the outcast Essene community]. Yeshua made a unique comment in mat 23:1-3 nkjv:

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” It is important to note that Yeshua, speaking of “sitting in Moses’ seat,” I think, implies that He understood (as likely the people did understand) that when the scribes and Pharisees were “sitting” in Moses’ seat, that that is where they sat when reading from the Torah on Sabbath… That the people should observe and do what the Torah reading was saying. Since He called the Religious leaders hypocrites, He identified their own disobedience to the Torah… they notoriously made up their own laws, traditions and ordinances, that Yeshua said, “made His Father’s Commandments [Torah] of no effect.” mat 15:6 nkjv

Clearly Yahweh desires honest and obedient observance to the Torah’s Laws, Testimonies, Precepts, Statutes, Commandments, Judgments, and Word… you think?

Shalom, John