Messianic Viewpoint

Guest (Female): Shalom and welcome to Shalom Ariel and to this our 21st sermon in the Gospel of Mark with Messianic leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon. There are many times in scriptures where we read that Yeshua was alone. Yet because the scriptures write about those times when he was alone, it means that though he was alone, we were meant to know about it. Why would we need to know about it? Because Yeshua often sets the example for us and gives us indication for when we too might need or want to be alone.

Yeshua spent the entire night, for example, in prayer before he chose his disciples the following day. We too should find it helpful and even necessary to spend time alone with the Lord when we have vital decisions to make. But there were times when Yeshua's solitude was meant for him alone and for him only, such as when he was in the wilderness with Satan, when he was in the garden or on the tav, the cross.

Those times were not examples for us to follow, for those were unique because only Yeshua, Yeshua alone could carry through for what was meant for him alone. There is only one savior who can bear the sins of humanity. This was Yeshua's task alone and that's why we must worship God alone and no one and nothing else. How could our salvation be otherwise achieved? First Timothy 2:5-6 says that there is one mediator between God and man and the man Messiah Yeshua who gave himself as a ransom for all.

That should cause us to look in the mirror and ask, are we assuming righteousness from any other source? Are we considering that salvation comes from Jesus plus our good deeds, plus our efforts? Then we need to be taken to that passage that stands alone on the hilltop. By grace you have been saved. We have everything we need in Messiah alone, for when God gave his only son, he gave his best. Because of that, we're never alone.

Joshua 1:9 reminds us of this great promise. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Be blessed as you listen into today's program and shalom shalom.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: Boker tov and shalom shalom Beth Ariel and also friends of Beth Ariel on this beautiful hot day, Shabbat day. So let's open our Bibles to this great biography of Yeshua in Mark chapter 3. Here we are brought to the second Shabbat controversy. After going through the grain field, Yeshua and his disciples enter a synagogue. Let us begin by reading the first two verses and see what happens then.

He entered again into a synagogue and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching him to see if he would heal him on the Shabbat so that they might accuse him. The opening words are solemn. He entered again into a synagogue. Why is the verb enter in singular when we know that Yeshua was with his disciples?

It is to remind us that when it comes to the suffering, when it comes to the death of the Messiah, Yeshua was alone. He was by himself because only he could bear the burden of this unparalleled task. For it is right after this controversy that these leaders immediately begin conspiring and to think how they might destroy him. This we read in verse six. On the Shabbat, they were devising ways to kill him.

In this struggle, Yeshua was alone. He was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was alone on the tav that is on the cross, all for us, all for our salvation. And see how they were intensely devising their schemes. We read that they were watching him. First this verb is in the perfect tense, meaning that at this point, they were always at it. They made this investigation their priority. And the word is so well chosen for they were not only watching, they were actually religiously plotting.

In the historical writings of Josephus, as well as in the New Testament, this same word watching is used for those who are religiously observing holidays, observing Shabbat, just like in Galatians 4:10, when it says you observe days and months and seasons and years. Here this word is translated by the word observe. So instead of observing the Shabbat and resting with God, they were observing in secrecy with the intent to accuse, with the intent to kill really.

And this same word destroy is also used in the Septuagint in Psalm 37 where David being also the anointed of God, King of Israel, was pursued by Saul as we have seen before. In verse 12, it says the wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth. This verse is like a prophecy being fulfilled in front of us in the book of Mark. But the whole situation I want to tell you is sad. It's even cruel.

With Yeshua was a man with a withered hand and those shepherds of Israel, for these religious leaders are shepherds, leaders. And here instead of rejoicing to the prospect of a healing and sharing in the joys of such a miracle, they instead wait, watching how they might accuse, unaffected by the suffering of one of their lambs.

The word withered, what does it mean? It means dry. It means lifeless. It comes from the root word describing a picture of water but one that is empty and so it was parched. It was lifeless. But what is withered in the book of Mark? How does Mark use this word later on? The next time we read of withering is with the parable of the sower.

In the following chapter 4, it describes the seed that fell on rocky ground and because it has no soil to take root it kind of withered itself. So are those who left the word of God for having a withered spirit, one with no life and they could not at all recognize their own Messiah. Later in the book of Mark, this word withered is describing the fruitless fig tree.

If you remember in Mark chapter 11, this fig tree which symbolizes national Israel, he saw it withering and lifeless when actually it was destroyed because of the rejection of their Messiah. So God points the finger on those who were to instruct his flocks concerning his coming. Yet look at them here, they were watching and plotting to kill the anointed one instead of helping.

But again, I want to tell you this is not new. History tells us that when you see the shepherds have no longer compassion for their lambs, it is a warning that judgment must come. Just before the Babylonians destroyed the first temple, God spoke so passionately about his flock, which was heading for disaster. He said through Ezekiel chapter 34, verses 7-8.

Therefore you shepherds hear the word of the Lord. As I live declares the Lord God, surely because my flock has become a prey, my flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd and my shepherds did not search for my flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my flock.

How many times did he say my flock? Four times. Four times in two verses. The words my flock is repeated and we see the same love and passion in Yeshua. You know that he was healing masses of people around him not because they had faith, but because he loved them, because he had compassion on them. And who are the beasts of the field in that verse, in the passage of Ezekiel, but the nations who came to destroy Israel?

Truly the situation in the first century was the same as it is also even today. Israel is back, but who among them is teaching and shepherding the people of Israel by the word of God? Now let's go forward. Let's see how Yeshua reacted to their cold heart. Let's read verses 3 and 4. And he says to the man with the withered hand, get up and come in the middle.

And he says to them, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Shabbat? To save a life or to kill? But they kept silent. This must have happened in Capernaum and to give you a visual help, in one of our trips in in Israel we visited a a synagogue in Capernaum, which is similar to the one where Jesus was or it may even be the very same one that was actually rebuilt over a few times.

This synagogue you are seeing on the screen is the biggest and most grand synagogue ever found in Israel from antiquity. Right in front was the bima from where Yeshua must have spoken. He must have been invited to read the parashah and the haftarah of the Shabbat. On the sides were the people. They were sitting right there.

And right in the middle was a big area where the man with the withered hand must have stood when in the sight of all the attendants Yeshua said get up and come in the middle. This the Greek says in the middle. And this is when he spoke these words in verse 4 to answer the first question. The first is obvious actually here, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Shabbat?

But at the same time, it denounces the coldness of their heart toward the person that was standing. And the second question goes beyond the condition of a man and speaks of their intent to murder. He says is it lawful to save a life or to kill? His words went beyond the paralyzed man, for his life was not in danger, but Yeshua's life was now in danger for they were planning and plotting to kill.

So in answer to this question, see what it says: they kept silent. These are I want to tell you poignant words. This is what we can call the silence of the wolves. And here they were in a public religious place and Yeshua gave them the opportunity to speak. He asked them a question, to argue. But by this point in time, they had already made up their minds.

It is in verse 5 where we recognize that the same compassion and pain that we see of God in the Hebrew Scriptures and we see it right here. After looking around at them it says with what? With anger and at their hardness of heart. And so he said to the man, stretch out your hand and he stretched it out and his hand was restored.

Now let's begin with the healing of the man with the withered hand. Yeshua not only restored him so he could function in his life, because Luke actually tells us that it was his right hand that was healed. And so now he could perhaps resume his occupation. And more than this, Yeshua restored him into fellowship with God.

Because according to Leviticus 21, such a condition would not allow a man to enter the temple of God and to pray. And here the Messiah comes to make him fit to approach the throne of God and he does as he does today by the way to all those who believe in him. And so the prophecy of Isaiah 53 had already begun to take effect even before he went on the tav that is on the cross.

There we read that he was surely he has borne our grief, verse 4, and he was oppressed and afflicted like a lamb that is led to the slaughter. The word grief is the same as the word afflicted translated by the Septuagint, that is sickness, illness, diseases and suffering. Jesus took that as well. And the man and his friends or family that were there at that time of the miracle must have rejoiced.

The whole synagogue actually must have been filled with joy. Imagine somebody just was healed. And at that very same moment in verse 6, we read that the Pharisees went out. They actually got out of the synagogue. They were so attached to their rules and tradition that it detached them from the people and filled them with illogical hatred.

They were not able to tolerate the presence of God and the joy that came actually to the people. And it was at this moment when Yeshua felt righteous anger or wrath for he knew how their decision would affect the whole nation. And so he grieved. And by the way, he more than grieved as we understand this word.

For this word here, only found here in the New Testament, is an intensified form of the word grieve, for it has a preposition that makes it even sharper. And what was he grieved about? The hardness of their heart. This word I want to tell you says a lot. We can mark them as opening up a new section in the book of Mark.

Hardness of heart comes after the individual has been given or first exposed to what is truth. And in this case they were given much evidence and many proofs. Yet the door was shut to these proofs. And we have seen these proofs from the very beginning in the book of Mark. Do you remember how the book begins?

It opens up with the testimony of two prophets. The first writing prophet Isaiah and the last writing prophet Malachi. And this was given to them along with John the Immerser, who presented all of the Hebrew Scriptures, that is he is the representative of the Tanakh, including the law and the prophets. Yet their hearts were closed.

Then we have heard the testimony of the Lord himself when he said you are my beloved son and in you are I am well pleased, verse 11 of chapter 1. Then we have the spirit coming as a dove. And we have seen the testimony of Yeshua's miracles. Do you remember these miracles they expected the Messiah to perform like the healing of the leper?

And at the same time, see how the people flocked to Yeshua for he provided and satisfied their hunger and their thirst for freedom and liberty from disease and demon possession. He gave them peace, that is the true Shabbat they were looking for. But all this evidence did not move them anymore. They say that the same sun that melts wax, hardens clay.

The heart of man like the clay could be so hardened to the point that the potter will not be able to mold it anymore. He'll touch it and it will break. This is when the sin against the Holy Spirit is reached, something that will be mentioned at the end of this chapter. And to avoid such hardening for even, I want to tell you, to a certain extent, of course, the heart of believers could be hardened.

The remedy is always stay close to God and listen to God in prayer, in fellowship and in developing the fear of the Lord. Another great irony by the way that we see here is how the story of Pharaoh finds another fulfillment with the Pharisees. They've become like the Egyptians whom they despised. Do you remember how Pharaoh hardened his heart?

God sent 10 plagues to the Egyptian, one for each of their gods, and each of them was an invitation for them to come and to see the true God. But each of these attempts instead, they hardened all the more Pharaoh's mind and heart who dragged his country into a great suffering. Even Pharaoh's own magicians confessed.

They told him this is the finger of God, we cannot do anything about it. But Pharaoh shut himself off from any remorse leading his own nation again to endure more judgment. All this happened 10 times before God took over, 10 times in the first 5 plagues and then God took over. God is not the author of evil, but it is man's choice to do what he wants.

He will respect it and never force anyone into heaven. As Pharaoh hardened his heart and great judgment follows, so we see a similar history with Israel, by not recognizing the Messiah actually great judgment resulted. This is when we consider in more depth verse 6. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against him and to show how they might destroy him.

By the way this is it. This is the effect of the hardness of heart. It was progressive and once again from this point on the Gospel of Mark takes another direction. Things change. The rest of the book could be titled the Training of the 12. Actually it's our training as well. So right after this, Jesus chooses 12 men which will represent the new spiritual government.

This selection will be engraved in heaven forever. For we read in Revelation that on the 12 foundations are written the 12 names of the apostles. So it is a major decision. We will also see that after this event that Jesus will use mostly parables when he speaks to the people so that they might not all understand because he was rejected.

His method of teaching changes. But to the believers he reveals even greater things. When the disciples by the way asked him why he speaks in parables, this is what he answered them in verse 11 of Mark 4. He says to you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside everything in parables.

But the most touching of all things is that we're going to see for the rest of Mark Yeshua's most powerful miracles are yet to be seen, to be performed. And these will be done primarily for the believers. We will see that he calms the sea. He has full power over nature. He even walks on the sea, right?

And what's more, did you know that Peter also walked on the sea? Yes, very short time, but he walked on the sea. And here again, the best wine is served last. While there is so much animosity against Jesus, there is even more love and comfort for those actually who turn to him. What happens next in the text, we read in verse 7.

Then Jesus withdrew to the sea with the disciples. Now Jesus did not just withdraw or leave to go somewhere, but the word in the Greek is often used for withdrawal from danger. Like the magi when they were warned in a dream to leave their own country by another way. Or when Joseph, Miriam and Yeshua left for Egypt. In both cases the same word is used.

And here Yeshua then left perhaps because of the religious leaders who had planned to destroy him and perhaps they planned to destroy him right then and there. But it was not the right time. It was not the right manner of his death. The prophecy speaks of Yeshua having his hands and his feet pierced by the way, just like we have it in Psalm 22:16.

And it was to be done at the right time, that is at Passover and not before. And from this point on again, the attempts on his body were numerous. And the Gospels report many attempts on his life. And for a purpose, for if they could kill him before he gets on the cross, it would have prevented the power of his redemptive death.

However, it is in these very attempts to kill him where he also performed some powerful miracles to preserve the exact time of the crucifixion leading to our redemption. For instance, let me give you an example. As he was in the temple during the feast of of Hanukkah, it was in John 10:39. There were hundreds of people surrounding him at which point Jesus just disappeared from their sight.

We read that therefore they sought again to seize him, but he escaped out of their hand. How do you suddenly escape in the sight of hundreds of pairs of eyes around you? This was another powerful miracle guaranteeing his way to the tav for our salvation. This is when we realize these things we really appreciate again and again what Yeshua did for us.

John 7:30 says it very clearly: so they were seeking to seize him and no man laid his hand on him because his hour has not yet come. These are the miracles between the lines. Reading all these things can only bring us again to appreciate our salvation. One more point on this subject. Today there are many who are under the impression that if all the Jewish people recognized Jesus, he would not have had to die.

Instead we would all be heading to heaven and so it is the fault of the Jews if we are suffering. I hear this all the time. Do you remember the term deicide, Jewish deicide? It's the belief that the Jews as a people will always be collectively responsible for the killing of Jesus. And that was a constant accusation against the Jews throughout the last 2,000 years.

But it's time that they wake up and smell the hummus. They forget that Jesus came to die no matter what. And thank God for this, otherwise we would all be heading for hell. In fact, the Bible tells us who killed Jesus. Do you remember that passage of Acts 4:27? For truly it says in this city where they were gathered against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand and your purpose predestined to occur.

So we have here Herod, Pontius Pilate, also the Gentiles and last Israel. All these are responsible for his death. It says Gentiles that is the people, the nations of the world, it doesn't specify any since all men were involved in his rejection. It was not only one nation, but the whole world who stood against the Messiah.

In short, every human being is responsible for the death of Jesus. If one human being never sinned, then Jesus wouldn't have had to come. And thank God that he gave his life for us. We can say because he died, I'm going to heaven. And as the song says, because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all our fears are gone. Amen.

Now see what happens when Yeshua withdrew. Here we see a last testimony of his powerful presence. While some were seeking to kill him others and a great mass of people were seeking him for blessing, healing and deliverance. Verses 7 and 8, I'll read it for you. So Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples and a great multitude from Galilee followed and also from Judea and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan and the vicinities of Tyre and Sidon and a great number of people heard of all that he was doing and came to him.

This must have been the pinnacle of his fame. They came from everywhere, east, west, north, south. No one could just lightly dismiss this great testimony, only the hardened heart. They came from Galilee and from Judea covering the territory of Judah and that of Ephraim and other northern tribes, including Jerusalem, which is located in the tribe of Benjamin.

And I want to tell you there's great symbolism just in the mention of these first places. King David was the only king who could gather the south and the north together, the people from Judah and Ephraim into one nation. The next one to do this is Yeshua right here. And he will do even more when he comes back.

Guest (Male): 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.

Guest (Female): If you've been encouraged by the messages, we'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at 1-888-685-5902 or you may write us at info@bethariel.ca, that's B-E-T-H-A-R-I-E-L all one word, dot C-A. You are also welcome to join us for our Saturday morning services.

We are located at 6297 Monkland Boulevard, corner of Madison in NDG. The message is given in English, but we do offer simultaneous translation into French and Russian. Services begin at 11:00 AM. We have Shabbat school for children of all ages up to and including teens.

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