Grace to you and peace, from Him who is, and was, and who is to come.
Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) came as the anointed of Adonai (Lord and Master), El Elyon (The Most High God), El Olam (The Everlasting God), El Shaddai (Lord God Amighty), Elohim (God), Ha Shem, Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Host), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace), Yahweh (Lord Jehovah).
So many names because our creator is everything that is goodness and love in creation. Look at the public ministry of Yeshua. Scripture tell us what happened when He entered a village. The people would bring the sick so close they would reach out and touch the Tzitzit of his garment.
The Hebrew root origin for Tzit meant a blossom. The functional purpose of a fruit tree's blossom is to bring forth fruit. Hashem commanded in Numbers 15:37 and Deuteronomy 22:12; the observant men and women were to wear a tzitzit on the corners of their garments. This served a relationship purpose, you could tell an observant Jew from any other person. And for the Jew it was to remember the relationship God offered His chosen children.
The blossom of a fruit tree leads to bearing fruit. Fruit was likewise expected from the observant Jew wearing a tzitiz. The fruit would come as the faithful would be reminded of their relationship with Hashem. This remembrance should serve to protect observant Jews from the temptations of daily life. Giving into temptations, defile. While remembering a relationship with God, that should draw observant people to be obedient to God. Consider if we successful in rejecting the self serving pleasures in life?
After all the pharisees wore a tzitzit, their heart and eye was not seeking a relationship. Instead of a relationship, they wanted to judge regulations. Did Yeshua have errors and flaws that would feed their pride? They found none in him, but they celebrated discovering the errors of His disciples.
So it is today, with people among our families, neighborhoods, school or places of work. What flaws can I find in His disciples. May they instead see the relationship we have.
There was something else about the tzitzit. Scripture reveals to the sick, if they touched just his tzitzit they would be healed. Where did this idea come from? Why was it so believable the sick reached out touched and were healed?
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear My name shall the Shemesh Tzedakah sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
The Hebrew word interpreted as a wing of a bird also communicated the function for something at the corner of something. The tzitzit was attached at the corner of a garment. Malachi prophesied the Messiah would arrive with healing at his corners. Could Yeshua be God's promised anointed one?
Looking at that verse from Malachi we see not son of righteousness but sun of righteousness. The word for servant and the word for sun in the ancient Hebrew was the same. As the sun served the needs of the day, so the servant of righteousness would serve with healing in his corners. The corner of His garment is where his tzitzit would be. So touch the healing where he carried it. Have this relationship experience and be saved.
All observant Jews wore a tzitzit. The Pharisees and Scribes wore tzitzit and they have come to investigate this young rabbi. Their own kind have been spreading the word about miracles and healing. Could this young rabbi be the promised one of God, does he carry healing? Do you need a miracle? Do you need healing, are you reaching out to touch Yeshua.
The reports reaching the religious leaders had said over five thousand people had been fed, with only five loaves and two fishes. Another report was that a little daughter had been restored to life. Another report was about a woman with a twelve year issue of blood, healed by touching his tzitzit.
There was also reports about unclean demons being cast out of the afflicted. In the presence of some Pharisees a man with a withered hand. His hand restored. Then in a different report a paralytic was lowered through a hole in the roof. Yeshua told him his sins were forgiven and to pick up his pallet, and walk home.
Then there were the reports about his teachings. When he taught about our God, it was in a way that was refreshing. He teachings was as if he actually knew a relationship with the our Father of all creation.
The eyes and hearts of the Pharisees and Scribes was not seeking if Yeshua had a functional relationship with the glory of Hashem. Their hearts were focused on regulations. They were ready to pounce on any error or flaw. What is the purpose of being a religious leader. A relationship with God or being consider as very observant to the higher level of regulations. Their lifestyle example served as a burden to imitate.
Remember the purpose of remembering God is to take away a person's focus on the things that are unclean, self-serving desires and on personal pride. The functional purpose of the tzitzit was to keep your heart and eyes reminded about a relationship with God. Without that function in action, how could a human see the fruit of God's blessings or love? How could you see the presence of God in the fulfillment of a promise His anointed would come?
For the past two months I have been encouraged to do a daily journal. Writing a journal about the day's first thoughts about a relationship with God. This function helps to establish a tone for my day. It helps me appreciate the role God plays in the events of my day. Remember during the day there will be temptations.
I understand now just how important this effort and labor is. May I encouraged you to also journal. In a nutshell taking the time to journal has the same function and purpose as wearing a tzitzit. The purpose of the tzitzit is to know a relationship with God through His Son. That is how a blossom brings fruit, through the living Word of God. This function of journaling what the Spirit leads, illustrates the very purpose the ministry of Yeshua served. Yeshua took the focus away from regulations we cannot own our own keep. The focus is placed where God wanted it our relationship.
This relationship action comes by being focused upon the healing Yeshua offers. Yeshua's footsteps guide our choices in life. Do you choose to desire living holy, and being observant to the commandments of our God. Or instead allowing the heart and eye to be led into the ways of evil temptation. The ways that defile our spirit our connection with God.
Journaling your waking thoughts about our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit serves a purpose with our heart, soul, spirit. That purpose is to help live daily an adventure with God. This effort allows God to be the beginning and inner focus of our day. The contrast is to live a lifestyle in conflict with God's holy desire.
The function of an observant Jew wearing a tzitzit, or a true believer in Yeshua Hamashia (Jesus Christ) journaling does not prevent the evil temptations of life, becoming an inner focus. The Pharisees and scribes proved that just like you and I in our daily struggle to glorify God.
A daily personal decision to reject the wayward leadings of the heart and eye is required. Because what comes out of a human can be evil, we must be careful, to focus on what God provides.
It takes remembering what God has brought into your soul by the actions of a Savior. That is the outward functions that do not defile but gives honor and glorify to Adonai (Lord and Master), El Elyon (The Most High God), El Olam (The Everlasting God), El Shaddai (Lord God Amighty), Elohim (God), Ha Shem, Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Host), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace), Yahweh (Lord Jehovah).
I do not believe any one of us, is without our own temptations. Only one person lived a sinless life, until that moment our sins transferred into his death on the cross of shame. Pharisees, Scribes, and Preachers are just as subject to temptations of life as the next person. Financial and relationship desires or needs, are not magically provided for?
But somewhere along the process the power of the Holy Spirit offers a change of direction. For me the experience of God's blessings and love has a longer effect of satisfaction than the pleasures of this physical life.
