Yahoshua, a human being and the Hebrew

22 Mar, 2015 - 00:03 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

From among the Hebrews, there was a “son of man” called Yahoshua the Nazarene. He was born and brought up in the Hebraic religious educational background we have looked at previously.

Yahoshua later spent his public ministry among Galilean Hebrews who knew the Scriptures and debated their application with enthusiasm. They loved the Divine with all their hearts and all their souls. (Deut 6:5).

To appreciate Yahoshua, we should fully understand his human aspects so that we can relate with his life and teachings without making him an object of worship, John 8:42.

Reportedly, he said in John 8:29, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

As a Rabbi, he was considered suspiciously as a nationalist by the Roman Empire. He also threatened the religious authority of the Roman-oriented Herodaic priestly class.

Firstly, Yahoshua was circumcised eight days after his birth (“b’ritmilah”) (Luke 2:21). This was in keeping with the “Halakha,” a Hebraic religious law which holds that males should be circumcised eight days after birth during a “Brit milah” ceremony, at which they are also given their name. This was in accordance with Genesis 17:10-14, “ . . . every male among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin” and Leviticus 12:3 provides: “And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”

Secondly, Yahoshua was presented at the Temple of Jerusalem forty days after birth (“pidyonhaben”) (Luke 2:22) to consecrate him to Yahovah (YHVH), Hebrew name for the Divine, in obedience to the Law (Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:12-15). This is the ‘Presentation of Yahoshua at the Temple’ on Christian calendars and it falls on the same day with ritual purification of his mother (Luke 2:22). This is the ‘Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ on Christian calendars.

Thirdly, Yahoshua’s family went to Jerusalem yearly to observe the traditional Passover (Luke 2:41).

Fourthly, Yahoshua went through the Hebraic religious education system as described by the Mishnah: “At five years old (one is fit) for the Scripture, at ten years for the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations), at thirteen for (the fulfilling of) the commandments, at fifteen for the Talmud (Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen for the bride-chamber (marriage), at twenty for pursuing (a professional calling), at thirty for authority (able to teach others), at forty for discernment, at fifty for counsel, at sixty to be an elder, at seventy for grey hairs, at eighty for special strength, at ninety for bowed back, and at a hundred a man is as one that has (already) died and passed away and ceased from the world.”

Fifthly, at the age of 12, he attended his first “Haggadah”(Passover) in Jerusalem (Luke 2:42). Yahoshua’s excellent questions for the religious teachers in the Temple at his first Passover indicate the study he had done (Luke 2:46). It was nothing miraculous in the Hebrew tradition although the writer of the text wants us to think it was extraordinary.

Sixthly, Yahoshua also learnt the family business (carpentry), first as an apprentice until he became a Master of the craft.

He learnt by observing, trial and error, imitation and correction until the skill was adequately internalized. So he “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with Yahovah and men” (Luke 2:40,52).

Seventhly, after the Temple presentation of Yahoshua, the Gospels say nothing more about him from the 40th day of his birth till 12 years of age and then from 12-30 years of age. At the age of 30, he came out of hibernation and then selected his disciples within the procedural framework of “Bet Midrash.” The original Greek Scriptures translated “disciple” as “mathetes.” The word simply means “a learner, pupil” (Strong’s Concordance #G3101). This means that anyone who is learning something from someone else is a “mathetes.”

Eighthly, at the age of 30, he went through a ritual immersion (“mikveh”) as a symbolic process of Hebrew purification and cleansing.

Ninthly, the explanation of what occupied Yahoshua during the silent period between the ages of 12 and 30, is not found in the Scriptures.

The substance of his statements and teachings reflected a certain knowledge.

The Gospels are also silent about who was Yahoshua’s Rabbi and yet his manner of teaching and sayings was typical of a Rabbi.

Tenthly, the men chosen as disciples were already practicing their trades (most of whom were fishermen), and this indicates that they were not “good enough” students to make the cut beyond the “Beth Talmud.”

This explains why on many occasions the majority of the disciples and close circle of confidants did not comprehend Yahoshua’s rabbinic teachings.

Finally, every year, Rabbi Yahoshua celebrated the “Haggadah” (Passover)as one of the most widely celebrated Hebrew religious events commemorating the story of Exodus.

Yahoshua was a full human being. His life and rabbinic teachings within Essene/Nazarene Judaism were suppressed deliberately because of the anti-Jewish fervour of the Roman Empire that was subjugating Hebrews before, during and after his life.

How was Yahoshua’s Nazarene heritage being disregarded?

 

◆ For feedback contact [email protected]. A gallery of previous articles is availalble on www.sundaymail.co.zw///. He also blogs on other different issues, accessible on www.shingaindoro.blogspot.com

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