The Word Himself tabernacled among us
The apostle John wrote; “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” (John 1:14) In the Old Testament God dwelt over the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The twelve tribes of Israel were settled around the tabernacle. There were four tribes on the North side, four Tribes on the South side, four tribes on the East side and four tribes on the West side. They formed a cross with the Tabernacle at the centre. When Yeshua the Messiah was born He was God Himself manifest in flesh and came to dwell among His people Israel. God walked this earth in the person of Yeshua the Messiah. He came for one purpose and that was to redeem Israel and the world from the power and penalty of sin and to deliver His people from this present evil age.
The Mercy seat of the Cross
In the Old Testament when we see the High Priest sprinkling the animals blood on the mercy seat covering the ark it was a foreshadow of Yeshua the spotless lamb of God and perfect High Priest shedding His own blood on the mercy seat of the cross to atone for the sins of the whole world. It was a sacrifice never to be repeated. Just as the Tabernacle was central to the lives of the Israelites so the work of the cross is central to the lives of the Body of the Messiah, His faithful Church.
Yeshua is God
Isaiah the prophet writes; “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The Kingdom of God
The Prophet Isaiah writes about the first and the second Coming of Yeshua. When He came the first time He established the Kingdom of God in the hearts of men, a Kingdom that was eternal and invisible in nature. The kingdom of God is now, but not yet. It is here now in the hearts of His people and He reigns over His kingdom from the Fathers right hand in heaven. When He comes the Second time, that Kingdom of God will be physically manifested to the whole world when He reigns from Jerusalem as the Saviour of the world and as Israel’s Messiah. Indeed in that day the government of this planet will rest upon His shoulders. The titles the prophet Isaiah attributes to the Messiah our Lord Yeshua could only be said of deity. God Himself came down in the person of Yeshua. God indeed tabernacled among men!
God With Us
Matthew writes; “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” which means God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) At this Christmas season as believers in Him we can say God is with us, God is for us and God is in us. While He reigns now in heaven He is yet to reign on this earth in his millennial glory. He now sits on the throne of David spiritually and reigns over His faithful followers but as Israel’s Messiah even though through the work of the cross David’s fallen tabernacle has been restored spiritually He is yet to physically sit on David’s throne in Jerusalem. The Olive Tree (Israel) still stands. The cultivated (Jewish) and uncultivated branches (Gentile) believing branches in the Messiah remain connected to the Olive tree by faith and the root that spiritually sustains them both and produces fruit for God from those believing branches is the root of Jesse our Lord Yeshua Ha Mashiach, the true vine.
Christmas not only looks back to His First Coming as the Son of Joseph, the suffering servant, but also to His Second Coming as the Son of David, the all-conquering KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. When He comes again with great power, glory and splendour for all to see there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
Shalom in and through Yeshua Ha Mashiach. Brother Raoul
