“Prepare the way of the L-RD.”, Isaiah 40:3
The earliest followers of Yehoshua Ha-Moshiach didn’t call themselves a new religion. They called themselves ha-Derekh, “The Way.” They were Jews, following a Jewish Messiah, walking out Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim fulfilled in a Galilean prophet who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and raised. This is that Way, re-framed through Second Temple Judaism, and held together by Tanakh, Mishnah, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Brit Hadashah as one continuing Jewish story.
LOGION, A Saying of Yehoshua
“I am the light that is over all things. I am the All. From me did the All come forth, and unto me did the All extend. Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”, Logion 77
Pastor’s note: The Way is not a place you go. It is a Person who goes with you, in the wood, in the stone, in the ordinary.
1. The Entry: Teshuvah and Emunah, Return to the G-d of Israel
Yehoshua’s first cry was not “start a religion.” It was: “Shuvu, Return, for the Malkhut Shamayim has drawn near.”, Matthew 4:17 / Mark 1:15. That’s the prophets’ cry: “Return to me, and I will return to you.”, Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7.
Emunah is more than belief. It’s bitachon, active, covenant trust in Yehoshua as the Shaliach, the Sent One of YHWH. “The works that the Father has given me... bear witness.”, John 5:36. “Before Abraham was, I AM.”, John 8:58, echoing Exodus 3:14-15.
And we enter through mikveh, immersion in His Name: “Repent, and be immersed every one of you in the name of Yehoshua Ha-Moshiach for the forgiveness of sins.”, Acts 2:38. Just as the Community Rule at Qumran spoke of purity and return (CD 10:10-13), immersion is our kapparah, our doorway into the renewed covenant community.
LOGION, A Saying of Yehoshua
“Whoever seeks should not cease seeking until he finds.”, Logion 2 • “The Kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you.”, Logion 3
Pastor’s note: Teshuvah is seeking that will not quit, and finding that the Kingdom was already inside you.
2. The Path: Derekh ha-Chayyim, The Torah-Perfecting Path
“I have not come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets... but to fill them to the brim.”, Matthew 5:17. The Greek plērōsai is like a cup filled until it runs over. To fulfill is to uphold perfectly.
The Narrow Gate: “Shema Yisrael... You shall love the L-RD your G-d... and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two hang all the Torah and the Prophets.”, Matthew 22:37-40, from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Hillel: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.”, b. Shabbat 31a. Love G-d. Love neighbor. That’s the Way.
LOGION, A Saying of Yehoshua
“Do not do what you hate.”, Logion 6 • “Love your brother as your soul, guard him as the pupil of your eye.”, Logion 25
Pastor’s note: The Path is not complicated. Guard your brother as you guard your own eye.
3. The Practice: Ma’asei ha-Torah, Deeds of Torah
The Beatitudes are an Ashrei Midrash: “Ashrei, blessed, are the poor in spirit... blessed are those who are persecuted.”, Matthew 5:3-12, echoing Psalm 1:1 and Isaiah 61:1-2, paralleled in Qumran’s Beatitudes (4Q525).
Six Antitheses, “You have heard... but I say”, fence around Torah: Anger is murder in seed form (Genesis 9:6 + Deuteronomy 5:17), Lust is adultery in the heart (Exodus 20:14 + Job 31:1), Love your enemies is middat chasidut, piety beyond the letter (Proverbs 25:21-22).
Giving, praying, fasting done b’tzniut, in secret. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen.”, Matthew 6:1-18. To starve the yetzer ha-ra of pride. m. Avot 2:13.
LOGION, A Saying of Yehoshua
“If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves; if you pray, you will be condemned; if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits.”, Logion 14 • “If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the Kingdom.”, Logion 27
Pastor’s note: Not for show. Fast from the world, not for the world.
End of Part 1. In Part 2 we continue: Community, Mission, Endurance, and the Goal, Yemot ha-Mashiach.
Walk in Faith, Go in Grace, and know that you are loved.
Pastor Mark