Messianic Viewpoint

Guest (Female): Welcome and Shalom to this our 103rd sermon as we are winding down in our series on this remarkable Gospel of Mark, with Messianic Leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon. And how remarkable it is in how Yeshua was so silent and so patient on that tav, on that cross. Yet we see incredible signs at his death, signs that broke the silence.

One would think that when one dies, silence sets in. After all, isn't that what David said in Psalm 30, verse 9? "What profit is there in my death when I go to the pit? Shall the dust praise you, Lord? Shall it declare thy truth?" But in Yeshua's case, it wasn't death which silenced him, but indeed, death broke his silence.

The earthquake, the rocks splitting, the veil splitting, these signs along with his incredible composure and mercy led the Centurion to understand that his was like no other crucifixion, like no other death. For he alone, our Yeshua, is like no other.

He was silent in the trial, but our uncontainable, incomparable, and unchanging Son of God has shown that those signs at his death proves his power over every realm: heaven, earth, and what is under the earth. He proved his power over the things in the heavens with a control over darkness and light at the ninth hour. He proved his power over the earth when the earth quaked and the rocks split open.

And he manifested his greatness when those saints who were under the earth rose from the dead. These very signs should demand an outcry from us, not a silence, but a strong declaration that at the name of Yeshua, every knee will bow, of things in heaven, of things on the earth, and of things under the earth. All glory to the source of light and life. Be blessed as you listen in to today's program, and shalom, shalom.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: Let us now move to the next section. It is now where we're approaching the best and loudest and unique of all signs: again, the resurrection of the Messiah. There are many other religions in the world, but none of the leaders of these religions came back from the dead to offer salvation. Only Jesus did.

And this is so emphasized in the gospel because as soon as one reaches verse 39 of chapter 15, the intensity and the pace go down and the account is so much easier to follow, like a good story one would read to his children. Or like David says in Psalm 30, for his anger is but for a moment, but his favor is for a lifetime. But when it comes to the work of Yeshua, his favor is way beyond a lifetime; it is for eternity. And it is here where a few good witnesses are introduced to us.

The first is this Centurion. You remember who experienced the previous signs of darkness and the earthquake and the rocks which were split, and perhaps the opening of the tombs, for it was possible that the crucifixion was near a cemetery on the Mount of Olives. And it was given to conclude the account. You know what he said at the end? "Truly, this man was the Son of God."

You know how nice that it is a Gentile who confesses this truth, as a herald of so many others who would follow. He reminds us of the Magi, remember, who also knew that Yeshua was the King of Israel and also that he came from above? You know why? Because they worshipped him.

And this Centurion was a soldier whose heart must have been so hardened by witnessing so many crucifixions. But seeing these signs and surely having witnessed how at the beginning the Messiah in all his pain and suffering cared for others, remember? Do you know that he even prayed for him and for his soldiers when he said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they do"?

This must have melted his heart. This thing must have affected and softened the heart of this Centurion, and at the end he could not but understand that he was different, that he's the Son of God. And the other witnesses are women. See verse 40 to 41.

It says, "There were also some women looking from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome. When he was in Galilee, they used to follow him and minister to him, and there were many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem."

After the trial and the crucifixion, this is such a breath of fresh air. Of the many women that were there, only three are named. This is in keeping with the requirement of the law which says that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, the matter is confirmed, right? Yeshua died and he resurrected because they saw the death, the burial, and the resurrection as well.

And this, I want to tell you, is a major point when you consider that at the time the witness of woman was not accepted in Jewish court. Not was it accepted in a Roman court unless the woman actually was of high social status. But since the Messiah has opened a new era where there's no difference between male and female, between slave and free (Galatians 3:28), for the same Lord is Lord over all (Romans 10). For God and for us, the testimony is as valid as any other.

Furthermore, we see that it wasn't a made-up story, for the people then, the religious leaders, would not have accepted their testimony. But that was too bad. It was too late for them. And the Spirit mentions that these women were with Yeshua since he was in Galilee. That's so nice. That is since the beginning of his ministry, they were there helping and ministering to him, and the Lord is great.

He has their name written down in the Book of Life that is in the scriptures and the Book of Life. Look what it says in Hebrews 6:10, that the Lord is not unjust as to forget your work and the love which you have shown towards his name, in having ministered and still ministering to the believers, the saints. These women were dependable and reliable, and God must have been touched by them, and he was about to give them such a great gift in that Yeshua was to appear first to them and then the others, that is the men afterwards.

As for us, we know that God also witnesses and records all the work you do for him, here in the congregation and outside as well. And by this truth, he encourages us to look up, look beyond and realize that he's not unjust to forget because he marks down everything. Whatever you do, do it unto the Lord. He will reward you. Every action done in the kingdom of God is never for nothing. These are the things that amount to the best investment of our time.

Now, by the way, where were the men? We know from the Gospel of John that there was one of them among them, John himself. He had come to the tav with Miriam, Yeshua's mother. But see that it took actually some courage from John to be present there, for he could have been spotted as Peter was, and perhaps arrested. But the Lord richly rewarded this man, that is, he protected him and also he gave him three letters to write and one very important book, that is the Book of Revelation.

But where were the other ten disciples? We'll find out later. Let's enjoy this time for now. However, there were two other men who were present and demonstrated as well so much boldness and courage. This is when we move into the burial of the Messiah. See verse 42 to 43.

It says, "When evening had already come because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Shabbat, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. And he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Yeshua."

Here we meet a new character, Joseph of Arimathea, who really, I want to tell you, he comes out of nowhere. Let me first tell you how God chooses his people. Let me tell you what the Gospels say about him, the four of them. In Luke, he's called the good and righteous man who was waiting for the kingdom of God. Here we learn that this man was part of the remnant of Israel, who was so close to God and knowing his scriptures and knowing his prophecies as well, for he expected the establishment of the kingdom of God very soon.

John tells us that he was at first a secret believer in Yeshua (John 19:38). But at this point, here in Mark, he was no more a secret believer. By having the body of Yeshua, it became public. What courage, by the way. Matthew presents him already as a disciple of Yeshua (Matthew 27:57), for at this point again, Joseph demonstrated that he was a true disciple. Mark also tells us that he was waiting for the kingdom of God and emphasizes that he was a man of courage.

For he went to Pilate despite the fact that the religious leaders have already decreed that whoever confesses Jesus as the Messiah will be excommunicated. This we know from John 9:22. It must have been difficult for him to do that, again, because he was a member of the Sanhedrin. He was very well-known. But it doesn't matter for him because he understood that Jesus was the Messiah.

And Joseph is enjoying today the fruits of his work in eternity. He knew to invest at the right place. See, we do not always know how the Spirit works. Here's a man who comes unforeseen and unexpected and fulfills one major prophecy. You know what he did? Isaiah 53:9: "Yet he, Jesus, Yeshua, made his tomb with the rich." He was the rich man, for we learn that he gave Yeshua his own tomb, thus fulfilling this prophecy.

But he was not alone, for along with him there was another one. Do you remember who it is? Nicodemus. Another member of the Sanhedrin. You see, they were not all bad; there was some good people there, who also was armed with faith and courage to help in the burial of the Messiah. And we learn something great when we consider what the woman actually did and what Nicodemus actually did as well.

John tells us in John 19:39, "Nicodemus, who had first come to him by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight." And Mark adds in chapter 16, verse 1, that these women also brought spices that they might come to anoint Yeshua. What's so special about bringing these spices to Yeshua? There's apparently no record in Jewish history where we learn that dead bodies were anointed with spices and mixture of myrrh and aloes. They were apparently only anointed with oils.

However, they use these mixtures of spices and so on only in relation to royalty. And when they buried, as when they buried David, it says in Second Chronicle 15 and filled the place with spices of various kind blended with perfumes, arts, and so on. These spices were seen linked also with kings and queens in their lifetime.

As when the Queen of Sheba brought spices as gift to King Solomon, or the Queen Esther was given so much myrrh and spices. And much closer in time are the Magi who offered Yeshua frankincense and myrrh and called him the King of the Jews and worshipped him. And so, once the work was done, Yeshua was given a royal burial from his own followers. What a change of direction we see here in the gospel.

While these women and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus may have believed in the resurrection and expected his body to rise on the third day, they nevertheless took care of it. And as for Nicodemus, he brought the most expensive of these spices because Nicodemus is known in the Talmud. They speak about him as one of the three richest men in Israel.

Now see Pilate's reaction to Joseph of Arimathea's demand for the body of the Messiah. Here we come to consider another prophecy, verses 44 to 45. We will close with this portion. It says, "Pilate marveled that he was already dead, and summoning the Centurion, he asked him if he had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the Centurion, he granted the body to Joseph."

The reason why Pilate marveled is because those crucified did not die right away. Sometimes they would be on the cross very often for several days. But since the Shabbat was about to come, the religious leaders have asked that their legs would be broken so that the crucified would not use their legs to lift themselves up so to breathe and die before the Shabbat.

However, they did not have to break Yeshua's leg, for he was already dead. His work was already accomplished during the three hours of darkness, and there was no need to stay on the cross any longer. But this was a prophecy. We read in John chapter 19, verse 33, "But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, for these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled: none of his bones shall be broken."

What scripture was this? It was in Exodus, chapter 12, during the Exodus when the Israelites were eating the Paschal Lamb. God said in verse 46, "Make sure you don't break any of the bones." That was for them to remember that the Messiah, actually, none of his bones would be broken.

I would like to close with the testimony of Josephus that he wrote about Yeshua. Let us remember that Josephus was not a believer in Jesus. He was actually a Pharisee. He was a neutral historian, and he's very careful in bringing up facts. This is what he wrote 2,000 years ago:

"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was Messiah. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold this and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribes of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day."

This is the testimony of a man who must have been touched by the followers, especially of Yeshua. Especially of the kind these women were, of people like Joseph, like Nicodemus, and who knows, perhaps like the Centurion he also became a believer, who knows. Let us pray.

You know, I will pray part of an ancient prayer, the Kaddish, usually prayed at funerals, but it has nothing about funerals, but about the greatness of God. Let's bow our head. Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’meh raba. Exalted and hallowed be his great name in the world which he created according to his will. May he establish his kingdom in our lifetime and in our days and in the lifetime of the whole House of Israel, speedily and at a near time.

May his great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. We thank you, Oh God, for your amazing grace revealed in Yeshua our Messiah. And we thank you that Yeshua now appears in heaven to intercede for us and will appear the second time as the King of Kings who comes to judge the world and put away iniquity.

Thank you so much for his coming in grace, for his throne of grace, for his all-sufficient grace. And to the congregation, the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen and amen. May the Lord bless you.

Guest (Female): Shalom Ariel is a daily radio program emphasizing the Jewish perspective of scripture. God is not through dealing with Israel, nor will he renege any of the promises he has made to her. Our teacher for this program, Jacques Isaac Gabizon, is a Messianic Jewish believer and Messianic leader at Beth Ariel congregation, right here in Montreal.

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Shalom and welcome to this segment of our program called the Q&A with Messianic Leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon. And today we're going to explore the question: who is the woman of Revelation chapter 12? Tune in and find out. Be blessed.

I have a question about Revelation chapter 12, verses 1 and 2. This is what it reads: "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And she was with child."

I understand many question the identity of this woman. Some say that it is Mary, that is Miriam, Jesus's mother. Others say that this woman represents the church. Of course, I've also heard that this woman symbolizes Israel. How might we come up with the right answer? Thank you.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: Thank you for this question. You know, who is this woman who is actually in labor and who will give birth to a son who will be the Messiah? Because it says that he will rule the nations with a rod of iron as we read in verse 5. Since the child will rule the nation with a rod of iron as prophesied in Psalm chapter 2, verse 9, the child is the Messiah. So if the child is the Messiah, who then is the woman?

Many say it is the church. The woman could not be the church because the church did not give birth to Jesus. The church came after the birth of Yeshua. Others say it is Miriam or Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary does not fit the context. We know that she never underwent persecution for 1,260 days or 32 months as it is written in verse 6. And there are no future prophecies concerning her in particular.

Who then is the woman? Let us dig into the Bible, for the Bible interprets itself. Let us first see how the woman is clothed. It says with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. Then we are told that she was with child.

There is another Bible passage which has the same elements and indicates to us that the woman is Israel, which fits again very well the context of Revelation. Jacob, back in Genesis, is the one who actually gives us the interpretation for this passage in Revelation. We find this passage in Genesis chapter 37, verse 9. This is when Joseph had a dream. See how he relates it to his eleven brothers and to his father Jacob.

Guest (Female): "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me."

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: We find in his dream the same elements which we have in Revelation 12: the sun, the moon with the stars. After Joseph told the dream to his brothers, they were not able to understand it. Jacob heard it and understood it. See what he told Joseph. There we find the explanation for us. It is in the next verse in Genesis.

Guest (Female): "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?"

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: It is right here where Jacob interpreted the dream for us and also pointed forward to the symbol of the woman in Revelation 12. From that passage, we understand that the sun is Jacob, the moon is Rachel, his wife, and the eleven stars are his brothers. And with Joseph, they will make twelve stars as we read it in Revelation.

This brings us to the root of the nations of Israel's formation. The dream then is about Israel represented by the woman in Revelation 12. The woman identified as Israel plays a major role in the end times. It is again her during the tribulation that the Antichrist will rage much terror. It is this woman who he is wanting to annihilate.

Another indication that the woman is Israel is the mention of the angel Michael. Only three angels are mentioned by name in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, and Satan himself. But why is Michael named here? He is the one we have met in the book of Daniel, the archangel whose ministry is declared to stand guard over the nation of Israel.

His name is Michael, his power and strength not only match but surpasses that of the fallen one, for it is Michael who will win the war against Satan. We read in verses 7 and 8 that he wages war with Satan and wins the war. If Miriam was the woman, should we not have read about the angel Gabriel, since Gabriel is associated with Miriam in the Gospels?

The angel connected to Israel on the other hand is Michael, who is mentioned in this verse of Revelation 12. And one more point: see how the woman is introduced to us in verse 1: "a great sign appeared in heaven." The word "sign" in Revelation describes a miracle, a special sign. Israel is seen here as a wonder and a miracle during the tribulation times, especially when it concerns her past, her present, and future survival.

And while the nation of Israel is today a miracle concerning her survival in the midst of so many enemies, and in a world that is turned against her, Israel will be that great sign and such a miracle of survival in the tribulation time as well. In many ways, these first words are a declaration of the victory for Israel through the 144,000 who are all from Israel, and of course, the two witnesses. In many ways, these first words are a declaration of her victory. These are some of the arguments that can be made concerning the identity of the woman. For further information, you can go to the study of Revelation chapter 12.