Y Not I

One thing I think that Messianic Judaism is good at is bringing forth the great meaning and symbolism present in names. A great example of that is in the name Yeshua. From the Hebrew Yeshua means salvation. Although Christians might have learned this at some point, to me the thing that is neat is when the Scriptutre come alive and get filled with greater meaning when you see the words used and you can insert the name into that verse. Try a few of these on and see how wonderful it is, and what a shame it is that it is not something that is emphasized today.

• For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ” ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation(yeshua) to the ends of the earth.’” – Acts 13:47
• Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it-I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as G-d intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. G-dly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(yeshua) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – 2 Corinthians 7:8-11
• For G-d did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation(yeshua) through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. – 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Another interesting thing to me is when the early believer spoke to the Jewish leaders of their day and referred to Yeshua as the Messiah. While the words are translated as Jesus Christ, seem a great deal like a surname, Christ is a title, something that most Christians can grasp, however place the title Messiah or Mashiach in place of Christ and see how explosive a confrontation it was in Acts 4 when Peter was before the Sanhedrin:

• Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Yeshua the Messiah of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom G-d raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is ” ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation(yeshua) is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:8-12

Speaking to the rulers and elders of the Jewish people, Peter stated that Yeshua is the Messiah, a term they all would have been familiar with. Not a new concept, one they all knew and that these rulers rejected. Peter made sure to inject the title. He could have said Yeshua of Nazareth, but he used the title Messiah, Anointed One, that he had to know would further drive home his point, especially with the verse that he quotes following. Then he closes out by saying that yeshua is found only in the name Yeshua. It is a very nice use of names with great meaning that I think gets lost today. Names, titles and concepts that were familiar to all of the day charge up the speech, but without all that background, it is just Peter telling off the Sanhedrin.

This is one thing I really enjoy about Messianic Judaism that brings a great deal of depth to it. It is more than being Jewish it is understanding the people, the culture and the time. Read and enjoy the richness.