An Obsolete Priesthood

“And having been made perfect, He became a cause of age-enduring salvation to all those obeying Him, having been addressed by God as a Kohen Gadol according to the order of Mal’kiy-Tzedeq.” (He. 5:9-10, mjlt)

The book of Hebrews speaks of a mystery central to our faith: How did the great High Priest, Yeshua, arise from outside the priestly tribe of Levi, and why? Though the question may seem obscure to us now, thousands of years after the line of priests was broken, the answer is still as important as ever. Grasping it not only illuminates the magnificence of the Master’s sacrifice, but also illustrates how the Father continually maintains His covenants—sometimes in unexpected ways.

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Moses Wrote About Me

“Indeed, if you were believing Mosheh, you would have been believing me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my sayings?”
John 5:46-47, mjlt

The Jews sought to kill their own Messiah. Though the crowd was motivated by Yeshua’s supposed violation of the Shabbat, their rage was not truly founded on a love of God or His words. On the contrary, it was fueled by their disbelief of what God had spoken in the very Scriptures they appeared to defend—the Torah. Moses wrote about Yeshua many times, prophesying with symbolism, allusions, and even with plain speech. By looking at just a few examples, we can see how Moses illuminates some of the most important aspects of Yeshua’s life and work as our Messiah.

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What Does It Mean to Be the Messiah?

Hundreds of times in the New Covenant Scriptures, Yeshua is called “the Messiah.” Yet all too often, we fail to recognize the magnitude of this defining title. We know who the Messiah is, but do we truly comprehend what it means for Him to be the Messiah? Obviously, this title is significant, but in what way? Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, we find other people who are also called “messiahs,” and examining their distinctions can help clarify the meaning and importance of Yeshua’s Messianic role.

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God of Love, Pt. 5

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 24)

The people stood in astonishment and fear, having witnessed the terrifying spectacle. Still suspended above them was the lifeless body of their executed King, and before them, the aftermath of His violent and dramatic end. Some who had been watching were immediately filled with remorse and regret—their eyes opened to the atrocity that had just been perpetrated. Even as the people realized their grave mistake, saying, “Truly, this was God’s Son” (Matthew 27:54), a soldier pierced Yeshua’s side, and blood and water spilled out from His body upon the ground (John 19:34). The people returned home beating their chests in grief (Luke 23:48). The Son of God was dead.

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Why Is Yeshua Waiting?

The Bible says that Yeshua is coming back quickly (Rev. 4:11)—but apparently not as we count quickness. The Bible also says that there will be signs forecasting His return—yet it will still be unexpected (Mat. 24:44). So the question is: does this soon, unexpected return mean that His coming is imminent? At this time right now in world history, could Yeshua’s return happen at any moment? Read more

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God of Love, Pt. 4

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 23)

Determined to have Yeshua put to death, the Jewish council dragged Him before the Roman governor of Judea. In an attempt to draw Rome into their plot, they listed their accusations and false charges, imploring the governor to carry out their desired sentence (Luke 23:2, John 18:31). Initially dismissive, the governor eventually questioned Yeshua concerning the allegation of His claim to be king of the Jews. Yet despite His profession that He was indeed “born, and… come to the world [to be king, so that He] may testify to the truth” (John 18:37), the governor found no fault with Him, and decided to let Him go. But the council was insistent, pushing back on the decision and keeping the proceedings alive.

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God of Love, Pt. 3

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 22)

When the day for the annual Passover feast had arrived, Yeshua knew that His time was near (Matthew 26:18). Desir­ing to share His final Passover with His closest disciples, He sent them on ahead to prepare the foretelling meal.

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God of Love, Pt. 2

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 21)

Yeshua would travel all across the Land of Israel proclaiming this Good News, gathering disciples to His revolutionary cause and displaying unusual feats of supernatural power never before seen on Earth. His closest friends would witness Him turn water into wine, calm storms with His words, and walk unwaveringly on deep, turbulent water as if upon dry ground. Among His throngs of followers, He would miraculously heal the afflicted of their disease, cure the crippled of their infirmity, and give once-blind eyes the ability to see. And everywhere that He walked, and talked, and healed, and wept, and confronted, and pursued and provoked, He would compellingly—and divinely—expound the word of God.

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God of Love, Pt. 1

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 20)

At long last, the people of Israel had returned to their homeland, now a broken and castaway nation. Though they managed to rebuild both Jerusalem and the House of God, they nevertheless remained under the thumb of external subjugation, governed by a succession of warring, foreign empires. Under the influence of their ungodly occupiers, many of the people held onto and adopted foreign customs alien to the will and word of God. They spawned the corruption of their own priesthood, endured the installation of puppet kings, and formed competing segments of a new legalistic, Temple-less Jewish religion—a religion that had been imported from their excursion into exile. The kingdom of Israel—the nation of God’s covenant people—was barely more than an empty shell.

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son (having come from a woman)…” (Galatians 4:4, mjlt)

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God of Revelation

What Is the Good News of Yeshua? (Part 19)

Over the course of nearly half a millennium, the kings and kingdoms of Israel underwent sweeping and turbulent change. The nation split itself in two, and each separate kingdom was plagued by their own sin and recurring foreign subjugation.

Yet even while God’s covenantal people were managing to almost completely forsake their set-apart purpose, the voice of the God of Revelation had not been silent. In the midst of such grave disobedience and completely avoidable upheaval, God continually raised up admonishing prophets to also foretell the restoration of the kingdom—indeed, of the entire world—through the coming Son of David… the one and only Messiah. Read more

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