"I am the Way"

[jc49]

Actually there are hidden treasures that are found by those who seek Him.

Matthew 13:44  (Take a look)

Also, note these:

1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Co 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Eph. 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

     

Hallelujah!!

Eph 3:9 -And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

1 Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

In His Love,

Suzanne

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[Guest Zayit]

I try not to push symbolism too far because we can end up sacrificing proper hermeneutics in an attempt to conjure up something we want to be true, so I approach what I am going to say gingerly, with some trepidation.

Here is what I see with regard to the flaming sword.

The word for Cherub in Genesis, in Hebrew is Kharuv

The word for sword in Genesis in Hebrew is Kherev

The children of Israel were taken to Mt Sinai which is the Mountain that Moses was on when he saw the burning bush.  But the Bible also calls Sinai "Horeb" or as it is rendered in Hebrew, "Khoreb."  The "b" at the end is the same letter in Hebrew as the letter "v" at the end of Kharuv and Kherev.  It is the letter "vet" and it becomes a hard "bet" with the addition of dot called a dagesh.

The consonantal structure of the three words is identical, "KHRV"

The Word of God is a Kherev (sword) according to the Heb. 4:12.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(Hebrews 4:12)

The Word of God is God's "truth."  The Word of God separates like a sword.  Just as a blade of the knife that separated the pieces of the sacrifices, that which was to be offered up to God, and that which was to go to priests, likewise the Word of God separates truth from falsehood.  It reveals the differences between what is wrong and what is right.

The Word of God is a sword or divider that separates us from the World and sanctifies us for God's purposes.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17 )

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

(Ephesians 5:25-26)

Just as the Torah separated the Children of Israel at Mt Khorev and sanctified them as God's nation, believers are sanctified by the Word of God, a two-edged sword.

In the Garden you can see the Kharuvim standing with the flaming Kherevim preventing access to the tree of life.  Likewise the Word of God reveals to us that we in and of ourselves, due to our sin were separated from God unable to enter His presence.

The only way to gain access to the Temple/presence of God was through the sword and fire.  The "sword" (kherev) had to be applied to the sacrifice of the offerer.  We are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and allow the Holy Spirit to use the Word of God to  separate from us those things which are not pleasing to the Lord.  How often have missed out on the joys of experiencing God's presence because we do not laid our all upon the altar?

All of this is a picture of Jesus.  He is the WAY, He is the TRUTH (our sanctifier/separator YHVH Kidshanu) and the the LIFE.  Jesus is our salvation.  His very Name in Hebrew means salvation.  The angel said to Mary you shall call His Name Yeshua (Salvation) for He shall save His people from their sins."  Jesus is OUR tree of life!!

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Excellent post achi!

[WayneB]

Great stuff Shiloh! Who says that you don't qualify as a scholar of Jewish tradition? Great stuff!

[nebula]

That was cool, Shiloh!

[Fiosh]

This MYSTICAL STUFF  I don't like...JESUS MEANS WHAT HE SAYS and SAYS WHAT HE MEANS...YES JESUS and ONLY JESUS IS " THE WAY" as well "THE TRUTH" and "THE LIFE"...there is nothing mystical about it,IT IS THE PLAIN yet POWERFUL WORD of GOD for ANYONE WHO BELIEVES.....in JESUS

SHALOM

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Maybe "mystical" is a confusing word. When I said "mystical", I was thinking of the reality of our spiritual relationship with Jesus. (Think of Eph 6:10-17. )

We are flesh and spirit. The "mystical stuff" is our spirit relating to Jesus.

Jesus IS the Way.....in a very REAL way. Our spirit moves toward the Father by REALLY becoming one with Jesus. Jesus in the Father; and He in us; and we in Him.

WOW....doesn't that take your breath away?

In His Love,

Fiosh

[WayneB]

Fiosh... great thread sister. ...and yes, it does take my breath away.

[jmwhalen]

Sister Fiosh,

I am by no means knowledgeable of Jewish tradition but I read somewhere once that "the way, the truth and the life" referred to the three entrances in the Jewish Temple... the outer gate, the inner door and the veil that separated man from the innermost dwelling of God, the Holy of Holies.

So what Jesus was teaching is that HE is the sole mediator between God and man and that HE is the only means of access to the Father.  I think He made it clear when He further stated, "no one comes to the Father but through Me."  Furthermore, His words were authenticated when at the moment of His death on the cross, "the veil of the temple (the life) was torn in two from top to bottom." [Matthew 27:51]

It is interesting to note that the Way leads us into the temple, the Truth leads into the inner court but it is the Life that Christ laid down willingly for all of us that leads to the Holy of Holies.

Maybe one of our Jewish scholars can confirm this?

May God Bless you richly,

Wayne

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___________________

"You beat everything, Wayne, you know that!"(Andy to "Reliable Barney Fife").

I am jealous-"the flesh"! Once again, "...Thou hast well said...."(John 4:17). I took a "Hebraic Roots" course, per Romans 15:4 "...for our learning...", and 1 Cor. 10:11 "...Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples..."(ensamples='types'), and learned much the same.

What is very important: as we have discussed previously, when the Lord Jesus Christ said, "... Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am"(John 8:58), "everyone and his brother", to use a western idiom, i.e., every Jew who knew the scriptures, also knew exactly what our great Saviour was claiming: He was identifying Himself with Exodus 3:14-the LORD God.

Similarly, when the Lord Jesus Christ said "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me", anyone who knew the scripture knew He was making a direct reference to the Tabernacle, and, specifically, its arrangement which was a picture, a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus Christ, God dwelling("to tabernacle")with men.

A few other "nuggets" I learned:

22 characters in the Hebrew alphabet-each has a "picture-image". The 6th is

'waw', or 'vav', and its original picture symbolism, is 'hook, nail, peg'.

The Lord Jesus Christ on the cross had 3 nails in His body=three sixes=666. The message is that the anti-Christ system was nailed to the cross by the work of the Saviour on the cross!

Ever notice: the direction of the "way" of approaching the Tabernacle, from Burnt Offering Altar, to the Laver, to the "Holy Place/Holy of Holies" was from east to west. The wise men approached the King of the Jews from the east to the west.

And: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalms 103:12

Who wrote this book?!!!

In Christ,

John M. Whalen

PS: I also am by no means knowledgeable of Jewish tradition, but I am sure that everyone on this board would concede that I am "the expert" when it comes to "The Andy Griffith Show" tradition. I'm afixin' ta get me a "Number 5" tomorrow at Floyd's(or is that "Bowl 5"?)

[Guest Michael29]

Hi There!!

My name is Michael, I'm new to this. I feel that Jesus has been waiting for me to come to him. There is great comfort in that statement "I am the Way". I feel very at ease with it. I know if I turn everything over to him that I will be guided in the right direction. I have given Jesus my life, I pray everyday that he guide me to where his "will be done, as it is in Heaven". I love my Lord, Jesus.

Thank you & God Bless

[tsth]

Dear Michael,

That is very good news! I hope and pray that you seek Him through His Word now, for His Word is what will guide you in the right direction. It is the standard by which ALL things will be measured. Seek Him out through His Word, and His will, will be done if you are obedient to what He teaches you.

The Word was God! The Word became flesh!

God bless you Michael!

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Fiosh]

Hi There!!

            My name is Michael, I'm new to this. I feel that Jesus has been waiting for me to come to him. There is great comfort in that statement "I am the Way". I feel very at ease with it. I know if I turn everything over to him that I will be guided in the right direction. I have given Jesus my life, I pray everyday that he guide me to where his "will be done, as it is in Heaven". I love my Lord, Jesus.

        Thank you & God Bless

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Amen! What a wonderful blessing!

Welcome, Michael.