The Sunday Mail
So far we have established that Yahoshua’s name was perverted into becoming “Jesus.”
We have also recognised that he was a natural human being, born and raised within the Hebraic religious framework among the Nazarenes.
If Yahoshua was a historical figure, we need to locate him based on time, space or geography, conditioning cultural or social environment, language, and human-side through conception or parenthood, birth, naming, adolescent, maturity and death.
And uniqueness and peculiarity of individual character, traits, tastes, choices and decisions.
We can only conclude that a particular person may have existed and later deviated from the norm of his or her location to qualify as exceptional if these six aspects have been determined.
Was Yahoshua the Nazarene a religious exceptional person?
To be exceptional means “to stand apart from others of his group….” Was he a religious game changer?
“It must be a (writing) of bold frankness…And for me, the worst demon is that of taboo: this inhibiting or curbing code that places certain areas and subject matters beyond (human) discourse, beyond (human) scrutiny.
This unbending, seemingly timeless and inelastic sensitivity code which declares some areas off limit. This has to go, to allow (our humanity) to move on and forward.” – Nathaniel Manheru, The Herald, 27 December 2014.
Yahoshua’s public ministry was as a Rabbi. The title ‘Rabbi’ in first-century contemporary literature meant Sage or ‘my Master’ with religious authority.
Rabbis without s’mikah (authority) were ‘Teachers of Law.’
“S’mikah Rabbis” rendered new interpretations of the Torah and took disciples (Talmidim) who would follow them throughout their schooling. One formula for rendering such interpretative rulings was “You have heard it said…, but I tell you…..”
There were many Rabbis with s’mikahprior to the first century CE. They included prominent names Honi and Hillel (the grandfather of Gamaliel).
The status of being a Rabbi took a new meaning after the fall of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE and it became a specific formal position and occupation.
The definitions of the word “disciple” in Greek and Hebrew is one who is learned, taught and skillful in the teachings of his Master. Luke 6:40: “A taught one is not above his teacher, but EVERYONE perfected shall BE LIKE his teacher.”
The disciples are then able to communicate these teachings of their Master to other pupils.
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of Yahovah’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” – Hebrews 5:12. This was in line with the Great Commission: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:20.
For 13 times in the first four books of the Greek Scriptures, Yahoshua the Nazarene is called a Rabbi. Forty one times he is called a teacher.
Only one time is he called a carpenter (Mark 6:3). In Matthew 11:28, Yahoshua said, “Come unto Me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John’s Gospel features eight instances where Yahoshua is addressed as Rabbi attributed to Yahoshua’s first followers who were earlier followers of John the Baptist and that the Baptist himself had pointed them to Yahoshua (1:38), Nathanael (1:49), Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (3:2), his disciples (4:31; 9:2; 11:8), the multitudes (6:25), and Mary Magdalene (20:16).
From the Scriptural record, we have noted of many different groups of people who refer to Yahoshua as “Rabbi” or “Teacher” (the rough translation): his disciples; Pharisees; John the Baptist’s disciples; common people; Torah teachers (Matthew 8:19); Herodians (Luke 3:12); lawyers); the rich and the Sadducees (Matthew 22:23-32, Luke 20:27-28). He also refers to himself by this title.
When he was thus called a Rabbi, he did not correct anyone because he was one.
The respect accorded to Yahoshua by a ruler (Luke 8:41) and the head of the synagogue (Mark 5:22) is a sign of ready acceptance for Yahoshua as an observant Nazarene Hebrew and a religious leader with authority.
Yahoshua called those who had already failed the rabbi test (the rabbi ip-hakshiham). And he said, “Lech Acharai – Come, follow me … Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30, cross-reference with Numbers 12:3, “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth”).
According to Hebraic religious tradition, for one to be considered a Rabbi, he needed to have been attached to a Rabbi with s’mikah for religious instruction and was of service to him.
Two Rabbis with s’mikah needed to recognise the student that he has qualified to become a Rabbi with s’mikah.
Next week, lets determine the specific aspects that show that Yahoshua the Nazarene was a Rabbi.
For feedback contact [email protected]. A gallery of previous articles is available on www.sundaymail.co.zw////?author=266 <http://www.sundaymail.co.zw////?author=266>. He also writes on different issues,www.shingaindoro.blogspot.com
