Finding the Hidden Jesus

     The entire purpose of the Old Testament is neither history nor law, but to reveal Jesus long before God took on flesh. John the Beloved knew Jesus well! The Book of John in chapter 1 reveals the hidden Jesus. It is obvious from that scripture that "the Word" has great significance. John is identifying "the Word" who spoke throughout  scripture: (1) the Word existed from the beginning, (2) the Word (Truth) was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:2).
    The Word's Power is defined in John 1:3: "All things were made by him." That verse identifies the Word as Creator. John 14:6 says that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life. The Word is truth (John 1:1), and "the life" is validated in John 1:4: "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
    That the light is truth is found in John 1:9. Light shines "the way", thus that same verse completes the description of Jesus- the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
     John 1:14 directly identifies Jesus:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

     Truth is the Word and is revealed by God's glory - His Light. "The Word was made flesh", was the Son of the Father, and when the Word was spoken, it was "full of grace and truth". Think on that: God was always about grace, not the Law, and what God said was entire truth. Since those verses start with the beginning, the creation claim is truthful! God is the Creator God and anything less robs Him of His identity. People can't have Jesus without crediting him with creation. Denying Jesus the Creator is denying Jesus the Re-Creator of the new heavens and the new earth which are the promised abode for those who are born-again!
    Jesus is hidden in John chapter 1, but even the naïve can find him therein! John revealed the Word as Jesus who at that time was "God with us". Likewise, John revealed where Jesus was since the beginning: He was creating, speaking, and providing grace and truth. Jesus is hidden in ancient scriptures. Isaiah knew Jesus. Like Jesus, Isaiah spoke indirectly. Jesus spoke in parables that most could understand. Isaiah use similes to present the future which only the righteous could discern.
Follows is an example:

Isa 22:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. 24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it.

  Who do you see in those passages? I see Eliakim. Most people do! He was the son of Hilkiah. He was a real person and a real king! He was not in line for the throne but God caused him to be king. Does that sound familiar? It should because Herod feared Jesus, a pretender to his throne. Likewise, Eliakim was a surprise competitor. Herod knew that Eliakim was given the throne and feared that Jesus was another Eliakim!
     Eliakim was a type of Jesus. His purpose was to reveal Jesus to the Jews. He was born to reveal Jesus to the world. Eliakim's very name means "God stand up" (Abarim Publications: "Eliakim"). Note the similarity to Elohim which is "God" in the plural. My contention is that the singular "El" is the One True God, and that the plural Elohim is God's three aspects: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. As such, God's full identity is hidden in Eliakim's name. Perhaps, "God stand up" points directly to God in the flesh- Jesus!
     Isaiah continues with verse 23: "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house." How much clearer could Isaiah be? Jesus was nailed to the surest place ever! He existed (be) for God's glorious throne. King Jesus sits on the throne today. When the righteous see God they are looking at Jesus. Isaiah knew that!
     Jesus as God had all the things of God: "They shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house" (verse 24). As God is Glory, all that are in His presence are glorious. The flesh is changed from corruptible to incorruptible - glorification. God glorified His Son when he arose from the grave!
     
     Eliakim, to discerning people, is a picture of Jesus. His father's name was Hilkiah. Jews knew full-well what his name meant: "apportion or sharing JHWH". Hilkiah is symbolic of Jehovah (JHVH) who shared or apportioned Himself through Jesus. Thus, we have Hilkiah and Eliakim as representative of Father and Son.  Where is the Holy Spirit in those verses? "(I will) strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand." God's Power is the Holy Spirit. Isaiah defined God, and revealed Jesus to his contemporaries. All they needed was to think on it, and Jesus was revealed just as the Apostle John did after him.
     Look further: God made him and Jesus kings when neither was thought to be in line to the throne (verse 21). Both were of the house of David. Jesus was even called "Son of David" (verse 22). "The key to the house of David" (verse 22) for Eliakim was the throne. For Jesus, it was also a throne. He was made "King" on the cross! Obviously, the cross (key)was upon Jesus's shoulders as he carried his own cross to Calvary. That "key" was the Way to salvation, and only by that "key" can the gate to Heaven be opened and shut (verse 22).
     I think of Paradise of which Adam and Eve were dismissed. Paradise had a hedge around it with only one gate for ingress and egress. There was no backdoor! To enter through the gate back into Paradise required safe passage because it was guarded by cherubim. The "Key" to that guarded gate was the Cross and the password for entry was God's Name - Jesus! Isaiah knew that, and discerning Christians need to know that as well. The Way back into Paradise was revealed. It was God 'standing up" in our place. Salvation was revealed by Isaiah. He was one of the several prophets who were the foundation of the Christian Church:

Ephes 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

      Isaiah was laying the foundation of the Christian Church when he wrote of Eliakim! He placed the Cornerstone to which the Church was built. Cornerstones are the datums from which the entire structure is built. All structures only have one datum and it is the cornerstone. Structures are built in 3-D from the Cornerstone which must be solid, square, plumb, and true. Jesus was the Cornerstone on which the Church was built, and Isaiah revealed the Cornerstone in his sublime way to all that could understand. I understand! The righteous did as well. Verse 25 speaks of Jesus's death and resurrection: "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off."
     Because the nail was removed from Jesus which held him in bondage, mankind would be set free from bondage by removal of that nail. Jesus defeated death for mankind, and the restraining "nails" of bondage fell off and believers were set free!
     Isaiah painted a picture for the Jews in a manner which they understood. God used Hilkiah and Eliakim to announce the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Some understood what Isaiah was saying. Afterward it takes deep thought. Before the life of Jesus only those communing with God knew what God's Plan was!
   

What Is Truth

     The philosophical question most often asked is, what is truth? In this new age, narrative has replaced truth. "Truth" is accordance to reality. A "narrative" is propagating a perversion of the truth which people call "versions". There are not versions of reality; people merely have different idea of what reality is. Because of narcissism, people are inclined toward their myth as the ultimate reality. Others know their "truth" is false but propagate it anyway. That is prideful. Everyone must be right in their own eyes!
     Wise people discard their notions of truth, and replace those false notions with absolute truth. Wise people don't wish to live a lie. If God is not real, then people should not want Him to exist. A created God would be trusting in a lie. What is truth? The inspired words of the Psalmist are written: "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me..." (Psalm 25:5), and Jesus (God) called Himself "truth" (John8:32). If people know the truth and believe it, they know God (John 8:32), and that Truth shall free mankind from bondage. What is bondage? Falling for deception. Deception is falsehoods which lead to eternal death!
     The narratives in vogue are three-fold: (1) There is no God, (2) A good God would not allow anyone to go to Hell, and (3) God is so gracious that sinning is insignificant. Those are narratives of atheists, fantasists, and heretics, respectively. There are three lines to the wide path of destruction. The path is paved with deception. Satan paved that road with the laws of sin. The pavement is a slushy mixture of truth and lies, which makes the road to Hell quite slippery. Even the "elect" -Christians - believe the lies!
     Science comes close to truth. They test hypotheses using data. If their methodology was without bias, their results would reveal truth. However, science has a built-in biasness: they neglect what cannot be tested. That boundary creates "scatomas" - eyes which cannot see! Scientists have self-constructed lead ceilings to the unknown, whereas the righteous can see right through the sea of glass to God's throne (Rev 4:6). That crystal-clear transparent ceiling/floor can only be seen through by those with bright eyes and bright natures! Scientists cannot see the truth because most reject God on His throne!
    For those who desire truth, it cannot be found in the world, but mere perversions of the truth. Those who reject truth reject man's purpose in life. The truth which sets free is that we are to look up to God. His throne is on that sea of glass but to see God, people must know the truth. The truth is that God is real, powerful, and loving! What is truth? That God is alive and cares about His creatures to the extent that He suffered death when it is us who deserve punishment. Some say, "I've been good; I deserve to go to Heaven." That is not the truth. God says that we are deserving of death but He and only Him can save mankind by spillage of His own blood at His death on the cross.

A Revolution of Hatred

     We are in the midst of revolution. It is not as any before it. Shots need not be fired nor blood shed. Even so, it is a violent revolution! The weapon of mass destruction is hatred. Scripture equates hatred with murder:

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

     This passage presents two ideas: (1) hatred is vicariously killing other people, and (2) haters are doomed to Hell. To put hatred into perspective, meth addiction would be easy to discard compared to the addiction of hatred! For myself, I don't see lust nor pride as any place close to hatred, God understands and tolerates lust because he has been tempted himself. However, God has never hated anyone! "He so loved the world" (John 3:16) means everyone, even those who most humans despise!
      Scripture says "judge not lest ye be judged" (Mat 17:1).  Elsewhere it says "judge not... condemn not" (Luke 6:37). Judgment is thus condemnation, inevitably to Hell! Scripture as well be written: hate not lest ye be hated which is in congruence with the Golden Rule: Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you (Mat 7:12). Let me add, the reverse of this is not valid: do unto others as they do unto you! The Golden Rule is God's rule, and its converse is from the law of sin whose author is the Devil. What is the punishment for haters? God does the punishing:

Prov 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.

     Allow me to rewrite this in shorthand: Love those who hate you! This context is validated by Jesus:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

     The reaction to hatred is to be love. However, even as a Christian, my response to hatred most often is returned hatred. I hate my enemies because Satan desires that I do. It suits his purposes because unaddressed hatred prevents eternal life. For myself, I worry about me when I hate others!
     I read scripture each morning and learn how to love. The Spirit corrects my hatred. Then I turn on the news and listen to others despise people as myself - conservative Christians. Rather than loving them because "they know what they do" as Jesus loved them so  (Luke 33:34), I feel justified in hating them. That is rationalizing hatred as they give me reason to hate! Do I feel good about that? Indeed, for a short time, sin is pleasurable but God checks sin through the emotion of guilt. Paul said it plainly, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Mat 26:41), and he did not what he should do but did not what he desired not to do (Rom 7:15-20).
    I don't want to hate but I do. Even Christians have a "dualistic cosmology" in that the soul has two forces which oppose each other. Let me explain my thoughts on this "dualism" within Christians: As Jesus did in his agony, we should look at the human soul as a cup. The "cup" is dirty with sin. When anyone is born-again by accepting Jesus's death as redemption for sin, his spilt blood washes the cup clean as all past sins are in remission (Rom 3:25). The reborn person has, at that time, a clean "cup". Soon, even Christians sin again, just as in the days of Noah. What did mankind do? Get drunk (Noah) and not honor his father (Ham). Generally, what the new Christian does is "lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, or the pride of life"  (1 John 2:16) - all sins of Adam, all of which are of this world.
     Before the reborn person sins, the Holy Spirit is "poured" fully into the cup. Since God cannot coexist with sin, sin displaces God within the cup. The cup has within it matter as well. Think of a sponge within the cup which soaks up Spirit. The sponge and living water, under God's Laws of the Spirit, cannot occupy the same space. The filled cup is "full of the Holy Spirit" but with sin, that doesn't last long. The Greek word for this phenomenon is "pletho" which means "to imbue" or "to supply" or can even mean "to fill" (Strong's Dictionary). It makes sense that the clean cup is filled, but as the world influences with sinfulness, imbuement is more applicable since the former clean "cup" then has some contamination within it. Repentance rewashes the cup because the blood of Jesus will always cleanse as long as it is in what the cup is soaked!
     Lust and pride quickly dirty the cup, but a sincere prayer for forgiveness cleanses it again! God easily washes away all sin but even Christians must allow Jesus to do the washing. He never infringes without invitation because it is our "cup". Wise Christians give their "cup" to Jesus to do what he wills. That is the living sacrfice which is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1). We accept the Ghost of Jesus as our free dishwasher. He doesn't mind because He is King but Servant too!
     The lust is easily cleansed. The pride needs a good scrubbing with living water. Perhaps prayer and fasting may be a more effective brand of "detergent" (Mat 17:21) because hatred is the poison of an evil spirit.   Before the preparation for re-cleansing the cup, Christians should not "eat" the fruits of the world from the Tree of Knowledge. That is removing ourselves from the influence of sin and its laws!
     The interview news programs with liberals is the fuse which ignites hatred within me. The Holy Spirit keeps it smothered but demonic influences reactivates what God has squelched. Those who denigrate Christians and propagate the law of sin are influenced by demons to do so because demons know that denigrating the things of God crawls under the skin of Christians. In other words, Satan's forces uses God's Word against us just as the Serpent did with Eve back in the beginning. What is that deception: It's okay to hate in God's Name because I am more righteous than they are! My pride as defender of God is what makes me hate others.
     This is not only the dualistic cosmology of me but all mankind. I admit how I hate for two purposes: (1) to quit hating, and (2) so that others can see that they are haters as well. Perhaps prayer and fasting will cleanse all our "cups" and keep them clean. All we need do is bring our cups to Jesus so that he can do the washing. Ironically, sacrificing ourselves is allowing Jesus to do the work!

Force

     Force is not by grace whether it be in civil matters or spiritual. Of course, grace is receiving an underserved gift, and "gifting" is a form of communication - how to communicate love. The gift is offered out of generosity and received with gratitude; the cause and affect of gifting,
     Grace is not giving with an attitude of selfishness nor receiving gifts by coercion. Neither the giver is forced to give nor the receiver forced to accept! Both acts of charity if done freely. Giving is out of free will and receiving likewise.
     In civil matters, "just" governments are kind. The governed receive the kindness with gratitude. Of course, the government doesn't give, but only returns to the governed the excess of what is not needed for administration. Just governments provide for the infirmed, widowed, and orphaned. However, that "giving" is not out of kindness but fairness and is not truly giving; it is sharing what belongs to the citizens. In other words, the government whether democratic, republican, monarchial, or socialistic is not generous because governments don't create wealth - the governed do.
     Western governments are considered generous. None are, including the United States. The government in civilized societies only do what the citizens allow them to do. Most people want the government to be kind to the governed. They mistake kindness with generosity. The government is always poor since it can't create wealth and prosperity. However, governments can be fair. Those are just governments. Ours has mostly been just, but some citizens are always treated unfairly for the benefit of others.
     America has been unfair commencing with the aboriginal citizens of the land for the benefit of immigrants most of whom were of the white race. America was unfair with the injustice associated with indentured servants whose indenture was often unfairly extended and the work burdensome. Many of those indentured were the first slaves, making it easier to accept slavery; the institution  unfair to many for the benefit of the others. In all cases of injustice, some were made richer. Our nation continued to be unfair with the forced removal of Indians from their land for the benefit of the white settlers. That was unfair and barbarous!
     When the Irish came, their Catholicism made them a target for unfairness, and their poverty made them undesirables. Even white people experienced travail. That too was unjust.
     In the 1970s, the government made an attempt at fairness. Because the educational system was unfair to minorities, forced busing was instituted against the will of the people. In order to be fair to some, unfairness was again introduced to others. White flight occurred to the suburban areas leaving most of the great metropolises poor and black. Force caused that. In an attempt to be fair, the government was quite unfair. Love cannot be forced, and ever since the government has tried their version of charity, it has back-fired creating division.
     Socialism is based on an outlook of fairness. It wasn't fair to many that they have little while others have much, regardless of how much hard work some did. Those who had wealth were perceived to have it on the backs of the have-nots. Socialism, with the intention of fairness, created a bias against those who were the most prosperous. Socialists can easily convince most people that they deserve more, but can convince few that they should be the ones who pay for it! Since money is grown by capitalism, the wealthy became the source of funding. The "charitableness" of the government is a fantasy because it has no funds with which to be charitable!
     Taxation has been in existence since governments were founded. The money came from the hard work of the citizens. None of the governments ever created money; only the people can do that! In order to fund the government, the citizens and their slaves were forced to share their wealth with the government. Note that socialism, which is against serfdom, is the same sort of serfdom! They are what they despise.
     Most who receive are content with a government which takes. That is most people. They consider only themselves, and the immediate time without looking toward the future. Half the populace works (in America) to support the other half which receives. Taxation is most often increased. That is not charitable but is forced giving. The American colonies viewed taxation as unfair and rebelled. Unfairness creates hostility. Fair-minded people use revolution as a last resort. Selfish people use violence easily and have a mob mentality. Governments which use too much force are begging for revolution!
     When those who are victims of socialism tire of their victimization, the government increases force. Marxism is knowing in advance that force would be necessary to control those who have the wealth.  Socialism transforms to communism when unjust means are used to obtain the wealth of those who have it. Since government can't create money, socialists know who does, and their goal is to obtain it. Force is used to confiscate the wealth of some for the benefit of others. That knowledge is the basis of communism.
     What Marx failed to consider is that government can only confiscate wealth, not create it, and those from whom wealth is confiscated will stand it only for a time. When that happens the government takes the land and possession for their own use. Thus, the confiscation of property is another tenet of socialism. The recipients of that forced "kindness" appreciate that, and the government  becomes entrenched. When the leaders are in power for a time, they become monarchial. Socialism is a vicious circle which always leads back to serfdom under monarchs.
     In the 1600s and 1700s, even into the early 1800s, denominationalism was forced on the American people. Many colonies had state religions. Many were Anglican (Episcopalian). People were forced to attend church and that denomination under threat of jail time. Those who were of that faith by birth were forced to be "religious" by the government. Hence, with civil freedom the people desired religious freedom as well. Ever since, most of us have a degree of religious freedom, but it should not be taken for granted. Socialism acknowledges the motivation and wealth of Christians and desire it for their own!
     Whereas the prosperity of Christians comes from God, socialists want a cut of it. Another tenet of socialism is anti-clerical; that religion interferes with their agenda. In Christian nations, the church comes first. Socialists, with their doctrine, desire that the government come first. The true Church becomes the victim as weak Christians become social in doctrine and adopt liberation theology which is Marxism within the Church. That theology coerces to ensure that people are loved. Liberation theology is a type of hatred for those who have prospered in favor of those who have suffered. Love should never be legislated nor charity forced or it will back-fire, just as busing to balance racial goals back-fired.
     Mankind seems to most always result to force in all things. Selfish people always endeavor to force others to do their will. Their will is "what is right in their own eyes" (Deut 12:8). When the government doesn't perform their way, they force their will on others (Jud 17:6) as they award themselves kingship! People are inclined to lord it over others:

1 Pet 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 

     We are not to benefit others because God demands it but willingly! Neither are we to do things for our own pleasure but because we are willing to serve the Lord. Neither are we lords in making decisions but do what God has always done! Our will is to be God's will, and God never uses force!
     "Free will" is the central idea of Christianity. Most Jews thought that by doing what God commanded, they would be blessed. That seemed to be the Abrahamic Covenant; it was looked upon as quid pro quo but it was not. God doesn't operate in that manner! For instance, God doesn't want your money (the tithe) for His benefit but yours! It shows a willingness to please God. It is mankind's will which God desires. You can keep your money if it is that important to you. Tithing is not a command. It is God's will for you. Your generosity is a demonstration of love. You have heard the expression, "not for love nor money!" God actually cares little for your money but he does want your love. When you give of your time or money, it must be because of willingness, not coercion. God can't force anybody to love Him because that is not His will!
     If God used force in His Kingdom, he would reign over mostly slaves. That's what socialism does. That is not the doctrine of God. Strangely though, people submit to Marxists without question for the benefit of mankind, but not to God who can truly benefit men! They foolishly turn to the incapable rulers to distribute love when love flows freely from God! Think not?

Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

    When walking strongly through the crowd, Jesus felt love draining from himself as he healed them all; all those who came to him. Just think, what was it that Jesus felt as he died on the cross?

Psalm 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Rev 22:2 …there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

     Jesus didn't die only for the healthy but the sick as well (Mark 12:17). He died for everyone, even those who will not come to him! Virtue drained extensively from Jesus as he healed the nations, taking the sins of the world on his shoulders (John 1:29). No one forced God to die for mankind. Caiphas could not force him, Judas could not trick him, and even Pilate could not force Jesus to die on the cross (John 19:11). God is a proponent of free will. No one forces God to do anything, and God doesn't force anyone to do anything.
     God calls men to love Him. It is optional. Islam demands love for Allah under threat of beheading. Allah is not the God of the Bible whose nature is liberty in contrast to Allah whose nature is force!
     Many say, "A loving God would never send anyone to Hell!" That is true! Like David with Nathan, people condemn themselves to death. God lets us decide our own fate. Ironically, most willingly choose death hoping that death is not forthcoming. In a sense, non-believers are much like the victims of the holocaust who thought they were merely being taken away, failing to realize that they walked by coercion to their deaths. Yes, non-believers will die because of coercion. They die forever for the temporal pleasures of sin. They are slaves to Satan and fail to realize it!

Isaiah Shares a Mystery

     On the sit-com Everyone Loves Raymond, his brother Robert met his lover. He said several times, "It is meant to be!" Christians have met their "lover" and it is meant to be! Jesus is the groom and the Church is the bride. He beacons us, and when we respond, it is meant to be! 

     Paul spoke of the "mystery of Christ":

Ephes 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

     Of what mystery was Paul referring? "In other ages" mankind ("sons of men") did not understand the mystery but sons of God did! The "sons of God" were the righteous patriarchs on whom the foundation of the Church was laid (Ephes 2:20). Isaiah knew the "mystery of Christ" because he was one of the earliest founders of Christianity. Look at what he knew:

Isa 17:4 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean... 7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel....10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips.

     Isaiah knew that in the future Jacob's (Israel's) flesh (the Jews) would diminish in faith. They did so by rejecting the Cornerstone (Mat 21:42). When that day came, "a man"- any man - "shall look to his Maker". What men are there other than Jews? Gentiles! When Jacob got lean, the Gentiles would get fat, and become fellow heirs with the Jews. Hence, Christ died for everyone, which was the "mystery of Christ". Isaiah knew the mystery and wrote about it! The Jews planted the pleasant plants, but the "strange slips" were us peculiar people - Gentile Christians (1 Pet 2:9). Now it's not even the Jews who are the planters as Gentiles become royal priests!
     The Jews, because they were chosen people, thought they were the only ones privy to the Kingdom of God. God, not being a respecter of persons, had another plan. It was a mystery to the Hebrews but God revealed His plan to Isaiah; it included even the Gentiles. Isaiah knew that I was a fellow heir, and that you could be as well. I was in God's mysterious plan from the beginning and so was you. Western Christians, long before Isaiah knew of us, where destined to be included as children of God! Isaiah, thank you for sharing the mystery long before Paul did!

We Must Be

     There are only two places in scripture where it is written, "ye must be": (1) "Ye must be born again (John 3:7), and (2) "Certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law" (Acts 15:24). The first "must be" is what everyone must do to enter the Kingdom of God. The second "must be" are two of the things everyone must not do to attempt to enter the Kingdom of God. "Marvel not", Jesus said in the first instance, I would assume that we all expect that keeping the Law is the way to enter into Heaven. Of course, circumcision is the pledge to keep the whole Law!
     What is the Law? God's commandments - a list of things to do and not to do! Marvel not! You don't need to do those things to be born again! There is one and only one thing anyone must do! "Ye MUST BE born again!"  I'm not marveling at Jesus's behest. I know what it takes to be born again. Faith is a gift, and the giving of that gift is by grace.

Ephes 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

   Remember, marvel not! You don't even need be amazed. Things people do are not saving.  The one thing people must do is use the gift - the one gifted by God to everyone because He desires that "none should perish" (John 3:16).Whether anyone wants it or not, you have the gift of faith. There is a parable of Jesus of what can be done with gifts of money (Luke 19:11-27). Three men were all given the same. Two grew the money; each one was given the same amount. One grew the money by 500%, another by 100%, and one kept God's money safe. He returned to God what God had given him. Two of the three trusted God to grow the money. The latter failed to trust God and endeavored to keep God's gift safe without trusting God to grow it.  God took His gift from the one who didn't grow it at all, and gave it to the one who grew it the most! His reasoning was this:

Luke 19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

     Now apply that parable to God's gift of faith. He gives the faith but the recipient must grow it. That trust is called "the work of faith":

2 Thes 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.

     You all have the "gift of faith". Now take that gift and work it? How does one  do that? By trusting God to grow your faith. The one man in the parable got the same gift as the other two. God blessed the two by different amounts because they trusted Him... by different amounts but both trusted. On the other hand, one man failed to trust God at all, and only gave back to God what he had been given. The outcome was that he lost the gift that God had given him because he didn't grow the gift. The same goes for the gift of faith; it is free but we must grow it or lose it!
     If you remember, Jesus used the story of Moses lifting up the brass serpent on a pole. Those who looked up at the snake were kept safe from the deadly poison of vipers. They did nothing but look up because Moses (symbolic of God) held the pole. They trusted that symbolism. On the other hand, those Hebrews who dodged the snakes without looking up were bitten and died. They failed to trust God, and dodged the peril on their own. That brass snake on the pole represented Jesus on the cross. All that must be done for safety is trusting Jesus on the pole. The brass viper appeared red in the sunlight. That represents Jesus's shed blood while on his pole. That was his gift to mankind. Now we must take the gift and grow it by trusting in Jesus's blood:

Rev 1:5 … Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

     What must one DO to be born again? Have faith in Jesus who on the cross, shed his own blood in place of ours. The spark for that faith is God's gift; it is left to the Christian not only to keep the fire burning, but make it a bon-fire or it can go out!
     Preachers today preach that people "must have a salvation experience."  How does one do that? No one can save themselves, and if they do things for salvation it is like the Hebrews who dodged the snakes themselves. Experiencing salvation is Jesus raising Christians from the grave and the world. You can't do that; only God can! Everyone can, though, trust in the Lord and grow the faith they are given. If that is done, when the time comes, they will then experience salvation! (Unless.) Unless they fail to grow the faith which has been gifted to them. That spark will die if it is not fully burning and kept stoked!
     What is it that you must do? Look up to Jesus who God placed on the pole. Keep looking, for he is there!

We Are Barabbas

     Important doctrine is often hidden within the text. Scripture can't be read. It must be considered. Each and every word has importance or it wouldn't be there! Why would the reader even care that Barabbas was freed? We are Barabbas!

John 18:37 ...To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

          This all occurred at Pilate's "hall of judgment "b(John 18:28).  Pilate "sat down in his judgment seat" (John 19:13) as he judged the case: the Jews vs. Jesus. Jesus pointed out to Pilate that he (Pilate) could do only what God allowed (John 19:11). Pilate was forced into judging, albeit he was afraid! The prosecution (the Jews) changed their law very quickly:

John 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 

Before, they had said:

John 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

     The Jews transferred the task and guilt from themselves to Pilate. Don't you suppose that Pilate judged because he was afraid. In his face, the Jews changed their laws just for Jesus. Why so? That prophecy be fulfilled! (John 18:32), as foretold by Jesus himself:

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

      Jesus purpose is clear from John 18:37 above that he should "bear witness to the truth" to which Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (verse 38). However, Jesus had already answered that by saying, his voice is truth (verse 37 again).  We know from Genesis Chapter one and John Chapter one that the "Voice" in the beginning was Jesus, and that Jesus is "the Word". Whatever Jesus says is truth whether it be by his Voice or men inspired to write God's directives and teachings (Job 32:8; 1 Tim 3:16).  Jesus had to die! This "court" was what is called a "kangaroo court" in modern times!
     The prosecution lied as usual. They changed the law specifically for Jesus. Originally, Jesus was accused of claiming that he is God. That was not punishable by crucifixion in the Roman Court of Law but sedition is! We know that Jesus was accused of sedition because that crime resulted in crucifixion in their law. The Jews could not crucify Jesus by their law so they played the serpent and deceived Pilate. Sedition, at that time, was prevalent, and many were regularly crucified on Calvary for sedition. However, only one was resurrected from the dead, and that was Jesus the Christ!
     Now back to Barabbas: Although guilty he was not judged! He was released and made a free man although a malefactor: a seditious robber and murderer. Jesus was innocent of all charges and Pilate knew that as he said it several times. Mob mentality ruled. Pilate, we know from history, was cautious to be fair to the Jews because of the shadow Jewish government - the zealots- who were trying to overthrow the Roman government. There was a revolution in progress and because he was "king of the Jews" in Herod's place, Pilate may have had doubts about Jesus guilt as proclaimed to him by the Jews. He may have believed Jesus to be part of the plot to destroy Roman rule. Pilate was entrapped: he feared the mob and feared the possible sedition of Jesus the King of the Jews.
     This "trial" is typology as well. Pilate sat in the judgment seat in the "hall of judgment" judging God! How ironic can it get! The liberal theologians don't care for this, but Jesus will judge the world:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory... 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

     But here we have Pilate doing the judging on his throne, ironically in Gloryland  (which I believe Israel is), and he is judging God! The prosecution and jury are the Jews and their biasness has not been questioned! They care not for justice but want done what is "right in their own eyes" (Judges 21:25) similar to when their law was lax. That corrupt jury, without a trial, freed Barabbas. Jesus is the True Judge but the Jews had the audacity to determine who lives and dies. As representatives of mankind, they allowed the criminal to live and the innocent One to die! Barabbas was guilty but was not even charged. Jesus died in his place. We are Barabbas!
     Barabbas, in this trial, is typical of us. We sinners have yet to stand trial. Pilate's gift to the Jews was release of Barabbas. God's gift to mankind is our release. Barabbas did nothing at all to be freed. Neither did we! "Jesus paid it all," as the song goes! Barabbas accepted his freedom but thought it was from his peers. However, the truth is that Jesus had to die! By mercy, Barabbas was freed because God allowed the substitution and even planned it in advance! You see, there were only three crosses ready! Someone had to be released and God's Plan was for it not to be Jesus! (That was Jewish custom, not Roman!)
     If children of Satan were to receive justice, the Romans would have had to have billions of crosses. Since Jesus died for all of us, God needed only one cross! (The other two crosses had their purposes as well but that is another story; they too were types so that we understand.) We don't know what happened to Barabbas. Perhaps he was born-again as he looked up at Jesus on the "pole" in his place! If Barabbas lifted up God's Name, and didn't take Jesus's death frivolously, perhaps indeed he was saved. We jus don't know!
     We do know who he represents. We are Barabbas! As mentioned yesterday in my blog, Origin recounted that his full name was Jesus Barabbas, meaning "Jesus - son of the father". Two Jesus's were subject to crucifixion. One was God and the other godless. What is the symbiology in his name? Like us, he was "son of his father":

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

     Jesus Barabbas was Jesus - the son of the devil - as the description fits. Because his name was Jesus and his father the Devil, Barabbas was a type of antichrist. (Not the Antichrist but a type of one.) If you'll remember, Jesus said that he came into the world to bear truth. John says that children of the Devil "abide not in truth" in the passage immediately above. Barabbas was there representing his father the Devil. Perhaps, rather than lifting Jesus up, he sneered in glee because it was not him!
     Some people do that! I believe that Barabbas likely broke the Fifth Commandment which is "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vain." He may have looked at God's Name on His "pole" and took His death frivolously. I would gamble that Barabbas enjoyed the mob mentality and was so pleased with his own freedom that he missed the point of Jesus's death.
     We are Barabbas. Some people do that! I won't judge Barabbas. Pilate didn't either. However, I can judge myself in preparation for my own trial. My hope is that God says, "well done good and faithful servant", and I not stand where Jesus stood. He already took my malefactions and delivered them personally to the Devil in Hell. He didn't give Barabbas any more recognition. He was likely only a mere servant to his master - his father the Devil.