Miracle #4. Healing demon-possessed man.

1. The Fourth Miracle of Messiah
2. Opening-up questions and clues
3. The miracle happened at the Village of Compassion, Comfort and Consolation
4. The Jewish exorcism took place on Shabbat at the Synagogue
5. What is this New Doctrine?
6. The Judge of all speaks with the authority of God
7. The forty-two encampments from Egypt to the Promised Land
8. A witness and a test of the sovereign, over-ruling Grace of God
9. Messiah taught with authority; not like the Soferim (Scholars, Scribes)
10. This is New Torah!
11. The Judge of all made the demon shut up and leave!
12. I cried out Abba! Abba! immediately the evil spirit left the room!
13. The danger of occult practices
14. The arrogance of Western scientists and mental health experts
15. Psychiatrist M. Sccott Peck and his work, Glimpses of the Devil
16. The Messiah is our Great Physician
17. The Devil and his angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire
18. Like humankind all of the angels possess free will
19. We are all free to follow God’s Way or the way of the evil one

The Fourth Miracle of Messiah:

Markos 1:21-28

{Classical & Mishnaic Hebrew}

וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־כְּפַר נַחוּם וַיְּמַהֵר לָבוֹא בַשַּׁבָּת לְבֵית הַכְּנֵסֶת וַיְּלַמֵּד׃ וַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֲמוּ עַל־תּוֹרָתוֹ כִּי־הָיָה מְלַמְּדָם כְּאִישׁ שִׁלְטוֹן וְלֹא כַּסֹּפְרִים׃ וְאִישׁ הָיָה שָׁם בְּבֵית הַכְּנֵסֶת שֶׁלָּהֶם אֲשֶׁר־רוּחַ טֻמְאָה בּוֹ וַיִּזְעַק לֵאמֹר׃ אֲהָהּ מָה־לָּנוּ וָלָךְ יֵשׁוּעַ הַנָּצְרִי לְהַאֲבִידֵנוּ בָאתָ יְדַעְתִּיךָ מִי אַתָּה קְדוֹשׁ הָאֱלֹהִים׃ וַיִּגְעַר־בּוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ לֵאמֹר הֵאָלֵם וְצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ׃ וַיִּסְחָבֵהוּ רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה וַיִּזְעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וַיֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ׃ וַיִּבָּהֲלוּ כֻלָּם וַיִשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ לֵאמֹר מַה־זֹּאת מַה־הִיא הַתּוֹרָה הַחֲדָשָׁה אֲשֶׁר אַף־לְרוּחוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה מְצַוֶּה הוּא בִּגְבוּרָה וְהֵנָּה שֹׁמְעוֹת לוֹ׃ וַיֵּצֵא שִׁמְעוֹ מַהֵר בְּכָל־סְבִיבוֹת אֶרֶץ הַגָּלִיל׃

{Modern Hebrew}

אַחֲרֵי בּוֹאָם אֶל כְּפַר נַחוּם מִהֵר לְהִכָּנֵס בְּשַׁבָּת לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְלִמֵּד שָׁם. הִשְׁתּוֹמְמוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים עַל הוֹרָאָתוֹ, כִּי הָיָה מְלַמֵּד אוֹתָם כְּבַעַל סַמְכוּת וְלֹא כַּסּוֹפְרִים. אוֹתָהּ עֵת נִמְצָא בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אִישׁ וּבוֹ רוּחַ טְמֵאָה. צָעַק הָאִישׁ וְאָמַר: מַה לָּנוּ וּלְךָ יֵשׁוּעַ מִנַּצְּרַת? בָּאתָ לְהַשְׁמִיד אוֹתָנוּ! אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי אַתָּה – קְדוֹשׁ הָאֱלֹהִים! יֵשׁוּעַ גָּעַר בָּרוּחַ וְאָמַר: שִׁתְקִי וּצְאִי מִמֶּנּוּ! זִעְזְעָה הָרוּחַ הַטְּמֵאָה אֶת הָאִישׁ, צָעֲקָה בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וְיָצְאָה מִמֶּנּוּ. הַכֹּל הִשְׁתּוֹמְמוּ וְשָׁאֲלוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה: מַה זֶּה? מָה הַתּוֹרָה הַחֲדָשָׁה הַזֹּאת? גַּם עַל הָרוּחוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת הוּא מְצַוֶּה בְּסַמְכוּת וְהֵן נִשְׁמָעוֹת לוֹ! עַד מְהֵרָה יָצָא שִׁמְעוֹ בְּכָל אֵזוֹר הַגָּלִיל.פ

אחרי בואם אל כפר נחום מהר להכנס בשבת לבית הכנסת ולמד שם. השתוממו האנשים על הוראתו, כי היה מלמד אותם כבעל סמכות ולא כסופרים. אותה עת נמצא בבית הכנסת איש ובו רוח טמאה. צעק האיש ואמר: מה לנו ולך ישוע מנצרת? באת להשמיד אותנו! אני יודע מי אתה – קדוש האלהים! ישוע גער ברוח ואמר: שתקי וצאי ממנו! זעזעה הרוח הטמאה את האיש, צעקה בקול גדול ויצאה ממנו. הכל השתוממו ושאלו זה את זה: מה זה? מה התורה החדשה הזאת? גם על הרוחות הטמאות הוא מצוה בסמכות והן נשמעות לו! עד מהרה יצא שמעו בכל אזור הגליל.פ

They came to Kefar Nachum, and he immediately went on Shabbat into the synagogue and taught. They were astonished by his teaching, because he was teaching them as a man of authority, and not like the soferim (סופרים), scholars, scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue in whom there was a spirit of impurity, and he cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Yeshua the Notzri? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” But Yeshua rebuked it, saying, “Shut up and come out of him!” The unclean spirit shook the man, shouted loudly and left him. Everyone was astonished and asked one another, “What is this new Torah?” Even the impure spirits are commanded by authority and they obey him! “And the news of him quickly went out into all the areas surrounding the land of the Galil.

Markos 1:21-28

{Classical Greek}

Καὶ εἰσπορεύονται εἰς Καφαρναούμ. καὶ εὐθὺς τοῖς σάββασιν εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἐδίδασκεν. καὶ ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ, ἦν γὰρ διδάσκων αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐξουσίαν ἔχων καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ γραμματεῖς. καὶ εὐθὺς ἦν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν ἄνθρωπος ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ, καὶ ἀνέκραξεν λέγων, Τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ; ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς; οἶδά σε τίς εἶ, ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ. καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων, Φιμώθητι καὶ ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ. καὶ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἀκάθαρτον καὶ φωνῆσαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες, ὥστε συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντας, Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο; διδαχὴ καινὴ κατ’ ἐξουσίαν: καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εὐθὺς πανταχοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον τῆς Γαλιλαίας.

They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. And they were amazed at his teaching; for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Immediately the news about him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Lukas 4:33-36

וּבְבֵית הַכְּנֵסֶת הָיָה אִישׁ וּבוֹ רוּחַ שֵׁד טָמֵא וַיִּזְעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל לֵאמֹר׃ אֲהָהּ מַה־לָּנוּ וָלָךְ יֵשׁוּעַ הַנָּצְרִי כִּי־בָאתָ לְהַאֲבִידֵנוּ יְדַעְתִּיךָ מִי אַתָּה קְדוֹשׁ הָאֱלֹהִים׃ וַיִּגְעַר־בּוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ לֵאמֹר הֵאָלֵם וְצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ וַיַּפִּילֵהוּ הַשֵּׁד בְּתוֹכָם וַיֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ לֹא הֵרַע לוֹ׃ וַתִּפֹּל אֵימָה עַל־כֻּלָּם וַיְדַבְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ לֵאמֹר מָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה כִּי־בְשָׁלְטָן וּבִגְבוּרָה מְצַוֶּה לְרוּחוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה וְהֵמָּה יֹצְאִים׃

אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הָיָה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת אִישׁ וּבוֹ רוּחַ שֵׁד טָמֵא, וְהָאִישׁ צָעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל: אֲהָהּ, מַה לָּנוּ וּלְךָ, יֵשׁוּעַ מִנַּצְּרַת? הַאִם בָּאתָ לְהַשְׁמִידֵנוּ? אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ מִי אַתָּה – קְדוֹשׁ הָאֱלֹהִים! גָּעַר בּוֹ יֵשׁוּעַ וְאָמַר: שְׁתֹק וְצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ! הַשֵּׁד הִפִּיל אוֹתוֹ אַרְצָה בֵּין הַנּוֹכְחִים וְיָצָא מִמֶּנּוּ מִבְּלִי לְהַזִּיק לוֹ. הַכֹּל נִדְהֲמוּ וְאָמְרוּ זֶה אֶל זֶה: מָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה? בְּסַמְכוּת וּבְכֹחַ הוּא מְצַוֶּה עַל הָרוּחוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת וְהֵן יוֹצְאוֹת!פ

אותה שעה היה בבית הכנסת איש ובו רוח שד טמא, והאיש צעק בקול גדול: אהה, מה לנו ולך, ישוע מנצרת? האם באת להשמידנו? אני יודע מי אתה – קדוש האלהים! גער בו ישוע ואמר: שתק וצא ממנו! השד הפיל אותו ארצה בין הנוכחים ויצא ממנו מבלי להזיק לו. הכל נדהמו ואמרו זה אל זה: מה הדבר הזה? בסמכות ובכח הוא מצוה על הרוחות הטמאות והן יוצאות!פ

In the synagogue there was a man who had in him a spirit of an unclean demon, and the man shouted in a loud voice, “Oh, what do we have to do with you, Yeshua the Notzri? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” Yeshua rebuked him and said, “Shut up and come out of him!” The demon knocked him to the floor and left him without harming him. Then awe fell upon everyone, and they spoke to one another saying, “What is this new [word]? that with authority and power he commands the impure spirits and they leave!”

καὶ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ ἦν ἄνθρωπος ἔχων πνεῦμα δαιμονίου ἀκαθάρτου, καὶ ἀνέκραξεν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, Ἔα, τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ; ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς; οἶδά σε τίς εἶ, ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ. καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων, Φιμώθητι καὶ ἔξελθε ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ. καὶ ῥίψαν αὐτὸν τὸ δαιμόνιον εἰς τὸ μέσον ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ μηδὲν βλάψαν αὐτόν. καὶ ἐγένετο θάμβος ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ συνελάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους λέγοντες, Τίς ὁ λόγος οὗτος, ὅτι ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ καὶ δυνάμει ἐπιτάσσει τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις πνεύμασιν, καὶ ἐξέρχονται.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave us alone! What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, it came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another, saying, “What is this new doctrine? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

Opening-up questions and clues:

The following opening-up questions and clues are provided as an introduction to this study on the 4^th Miracle of Messiah:

1.  Look at the symbolism of the above miracle narrative: At what location does the miracle occur? What special day was this? What did the Jewish persons attending the Synagogue mean by: “He was teaching them as a man of authority; and not like the soferim (סופרים), scholars, scribes.” Who are the first century soferim referenced here? Why are they being described as being ones who are without authority? How is this remark of the Yehudim of the first century equally applicable to the Torah scholars of our twenty-first century?

2.  Why is the Messiah Yeshua addressed as being from the village of Nazareth (נָּצְרַת-Netzeret)? What is the prophetic significance of his being from the village of Netzeret? How does this place name witness to the fact that Rabbi Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel?

3.  What did those attending the synagogue mean when they said: what is this HaTorah HaChadashah (התורה החדשה) and what is this HaD’var (הדבר)? He even commands the spirits of impurity with power, and they listen to him.

4.  What does the term unclean spirit mean? Is this a reference to an acutal demon? or is this a reference to a physical and/or mental illness? Hint: See the second narrative of the same event in the Jewish besorah of Lukas (לוקס-Light-bringer-אהרון). Are demons sentient beings who can take control of humans?

5.  If demons are sentient beings, what specifically was it that the unclean spirit wanted to know? Hint: Closely examine the content of the unclean spirit’s question to the Messiah. Why does the demon address the Messiah in the plural:

מה לנו ולך, ישוע מנצרת? האם באת להשמידנו?פ

“What do we have to do with you (plural), Yeshua the Notzri? Have you come to destroy us?”

6.  Why is the demon forcing its host, the possessed person, to attend this particular synagogue on shabbat? Did the demon know that Rabbi Yeshua would be teaching there?

7.  Why did Rabbi Yeshua silence the demon? Why did the evil spirit throw the possessed person down? Why did he cry out with a loud voice and then go out from him?

8.  Why did the demon drag the possessed person? Hint: How does the Genesis (3:14) Torah account describe the throwing down of the serpent who was up in the tree? How is the serpent permanently cursed after being thrown down? In the presence of Yeshua and the Spirit of the Holy One what humiliating manner of movement is the serpent forced to employ? What authority from God does this act of submission by the evil spirit convey?

The miracle happened at the Village of Compassion, Comfort and Consolation:

The Fourth Miracle of the Messiah is the second miracle of twelve recorded miracle events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) that occur in Kefar Nachum (כפר נחום), in the Village of [God’s] Compassion, Comfort, and Consolation.

The four fishermen Shim’on, Andrew (Adam), Ya’akov, and Yochanan who are followers of Rabbi Yeshua accompany their teacher to Kefar Nachum (Capernaum). Capernaum is where the *home of Shim’on and Andrew (Adam) was; and more importantly it is the location where Yeshua made his home and his headquarters.

*Shim’on and Andrew were born and raised in Beit-Tzaida (בית-ציידה), House of Fishing; then later they moved to Kefar Nachum (כפר נחום).

This fourth miracle occurs at the beginning of Yeshua’s rabbinical ministry. At the beginning Yeshua mainly taught in the region of Galilee. However, in the latter part of his three and one half year messianic ministry Yeshua mostly taught and performed the miracles of God in the region of Judah. Quite significantly at the first of the miracles of Yeshua we discover that half of the miracles he performed happened in *Kefar Nachum.

Ten of the first twenty recorded miracles of Rabbi Yeshua happen at Kefar Nachum. 

*Kefar Nachum is located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Kinneret; which is also known as the Sea of Galilee.

The Jewish exorcism took place on Shabbat at the Synagogue:

The new authority of Messiah’s word experienced by his four talmidin in the third miracle of the miraculous catch of fish, is demonstrated further here in the healing of the demon possessed man. It was on the sacred day of Shabbat at the Synagogue of Kefar (village) Nachum (of compassion, comfort, consolation) that a man possessed by an unclean spirit was healed. The term unclean spirit (רוח טמאה) is the Hebrew equivalent of the *Greek term “demon” (δαιμονίου).

What is this New Doctrine?

The D’var HaShem (Word of GOD) was so powerfully expressed through M’shicho (His Messiah) that it provoked the people at the synagogue to be amazed at what they heard and saw. In total amazement these observant Jews remarked:

?מה התורה החדשה הזאת

 What is this new Torah?

The assembly at the synagogue was utterly astounded, struck senseless with awe by the power and authority of the Presence of God that they had just witnessed. So they were saying amongst themselves: What is this new Torah? that with authority and power he commands the impure spirits and they leave!”

The Messiah speaks with the authority of God:

“He immediately went on Shabbat into the synagogue and taught.”

The Hebrew words make straight (ישר), swiftly (מהר), immediately (מיד-at once), quickly (עד מהרה), at that moment (באותו רגע), and in a moment (רגע) are used here and throughout the entire Jewish besorah of *Yochanan Markos in a very special way. In the gospel of Markos forty-two times  the term immediately is mostly used to indicate the swift, powerful movement of the Spirit of the Holy One working in the midst of M’shicho (His Messiah) and the people of Israel.

*Yochanan (יוחנן) Markos, from HaMakabi (המכבי) means Hammer of the Grace of God.

What are the meanings in Markos of the 42 movements of the Spirit that portray works of His active and passive will?

In the Greek version of Markos one Greek word is used to convey all of the meanings of make straight, immediately, and suddenly—-evtheis (εὐθύς). This word is specifically used 42 times throughout all of the Jewish gospel of Markos. The forty two-times are referenced here:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 , 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,  *26, *27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, *42.

Three of these forty two uses of the word immediately (*25, *26, *42) are found in the Good News of Markos (Makabi). These three uses of immediately (מיד-Hebrew; εὐθύς-Greek) are used differently than the other thirty-nine uses. Their use is a “mystery.” The thirty-nine uses of the word immediately involve the affirmative active will of God. The three words that are a mystery involve the adverse permissive will of God.

In fact, the last use of the term immediately (*42) has to do with the Messiah being judged for our transgressions; and being punished for our sins (cf. Isaiah 53). So regarding this mystery the question must be asked:

Question: Why was the righteous life of the Messiah of God sacrificed for our transgressions?

Answer: The life of Messiah was sacrificed as an atonement for our sins that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God.

The last use of the term immediately in the gospel of Markos/Makabi occurs early in the morning, at dawn, on the sacred day of 14 Nisan. This forty-second immediately has to do with the chief priests and members of the Sanhedrin reaching their decision just after daybreak between 5 to 6 am that our Messiah for the sake of our nation and people of Israel and all the people of the world must be judged as a heretic and a blasphemer. For it is written:

אָז יַקְהִילוּ רָאשֵׁי הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַפְּרוּשִׁים אֶת־סַנְהֶדְרִין וַיֹּאמְרוּ מַה־נַּעֲשֶׂה כִּי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה עֹשֶׂה אֹתוֹת הַרְבֵּה׃ אִם־לֹא נִכְלָאֵהוּ כֻּלָּם יַאֲמִינוּ בוֹ וּבָאוּ הָרוֹמִיִּים וְלָקְחוּ גַּם אֶת־אַדְמָתֵנוּ וְגַם אֶת־עַמֵּנוּ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אֶחָד מֵהֶם וְהוּא קַיָּפָא הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל בַּשָּׁנָה הָהִיא אַתֶּם לֹא־תֵדְעוּ דָבָר׃ אַף לֹא־תִתְבּוֹנֲנוּ כִּי טוֹב לָנוּ מוּת אִישׁ אֶחָד בְּעַד הַגּוֹי מֵאֲבֹד הָעָם כֻּלּוֹ׃ וְלֹא מִלִּבּוֹ דִבֶּר הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה כִּי הָיָה הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל בַּשָּׁנָה הָהִיא וַיִּנָּבֵא אֲשֶׁר יָמוּת יֵשׁוּעַ בְּעַד הָעָם׃ וְלֹא־בְעַד הָעָם לְבַדּוֹ כִּי גַם־לְקַבֵּץ אֶת־בְּנֵי הַאֱלֹהִים הַמְפֻזָּרִים וְהָיוּ לַאֲחָדִים׃

כִּנְּסוּ רָאשֵׁי הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַפְּרוּשִׁים אֶת הַסַּנְהֶדְרִין. אָמְרוּ: מַה נַּעֲשֶׂה? הֲרֵי הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹת רַבִּים! אִם נַנִּיחַ לוֹ כָּךְ, הַכֹּל יַאֲמִינוּ בּוֹ וְהָרוֹמָאִים יָבוֹאוּ וְיַחֲרִיבוּ אֶת מְקוֹמֵנוּ וְאֶת אֻמָּתֵנוּ. קַיָּפָא, שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם וְהוּא הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה, אָמַר לָהֶם: אֵין אַתֶּם יוֹדְעִים כְּלוּם, אַף אֵינְכֶם מְבִינִים שֶׁכְּדַאי לָנוּ כִּי אִישׁ אֶחָד יָמוּת בְּעַד הָעָם וְלֹא תֹּאבַד כָּל הָאֻמָּה כֻּלָּהּ. לֹא מִלִּבּוֹ אָמַר זֹאת, אֶלָּא שֶׁבִּהְיוֹתוֹ כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁנָה הִתְנַבֵּא כִּי יֵשׁוּעַ עָתִיד לָמוּת בְּעַד הָאֻמָּה; וְלֹא רַק בְּעַד הָאֻמָּה, אֶלָּא גַּם כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּקַבֵּץ לְאֶחָד אֶת נְפוּצוֹת בְּנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים.פ

כנסו ראשי הכהנים והפרושים את הסנהדרין. אמרו: מה נעשה? הרי האיש הזה עושה אותות רבים! אם נניח לו כך, הכל יאמינו בו והרומאים יבואו ויחריבו את מקומנו ואת אמתנו. קיפא, שהיה אחד מהם והוא הכהן הגדול באותה שנה, אמר להם: אין אתם יודעים כלום, אף אינכם מבינים שכדאי לנו כי איש אחד ימות בעד העם ולא תאבד כל האמה כלה. לא מלבו אמר זאת, אלא שבהיותו כהן גדול באותה שנה התנבא כי ישוע עתיד למות בעד האמה; ולא רק בעד האמה, אלא גם כדי שיקבץ לאחד את נפוצות בני-האלוהים.פ

The chief priests and the Prushim convened the council of the Sanhedrin. They said, “What shall we do? For this man does many signs! If we do not restrain him, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy our land and our people.” One of them named Kayafa, the high priest of that year, said to them: “You do not even understand that the death of one man on behalf of the nation is better for us than the destruction of the entire people.” He did not speak this word our of his own heart. For  he was the high priest in that year and was prophesying that Yeshua [the Messiah] would die on behalf of the people. And it was not on behalf of the nation alone, but also in order to unite (gather together) the scattered common people of God that they might become one.

Some weeks later, after the above convening of the Sanhedrin, in the morning of *Nisan 14, these (first century CE) Jewish religious leaders tried the Messiah, declared him guilty of blasphemy, and forwarded their request that he be sentenced to death to the roman governor. However, their guilty verdict was rewritten under different charges so that their request would be more acceptable to Rome. The revised charges were sedition against the Roman Emperor, Caesar. [*1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.]

The reason the Roman governor was involved was because the Sanhedrin had lost its power to exercise capital punishment. In Israel, in the first century (CE), only the Roman authorities could administer the death penalty.

The forty-two encampments from Egypt to the Promised Land:

We believe that the Hebrew (and Greek translated) words that convey the meaning of make straight, and immediately, used forty two times in the gospel of Markos, are used principally to remind us of the military sounds (commands) of the Shofar during the forty year period of the Exodus. The number forty is symbolic of a time of testing. The number two is symbolic of witness.

The sounds-commands of the Shofar in view here are those issued by the Shofar of Moshe (the Word of HaShem).

Stop – make camp – break camp – form up – move out!

When our ancestors would follow the Shekinah Glory Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night Moshe would lead us by his shouting out through the Shofar his alternating commands. Five of these commands were: one, for the assembly of the people to stop when the Glory Cloud stopped; two, to make camp; three, to break camp: four, to form up; and five, when the Glory Cloud was on the move – Moshe ordered our people to be on the move.

During this sojourn of our ancestors from Egypt to the promised land our people made 42 reported encampments.

This means the physical Presence (the Shekinah) of the Spirit of the Holy One led Moshe and our people to make forty-two places as His and our encampment(s). Bear in mind that each of the place names of these 42 encampments possess special spiritual meaning (cf. Numbers 33).

This will be a good subject for us to discuss at a later time, as we retrace the 42 encampments of Rabbeinu Moshe side-by-side with the 42 times we hear the Shofar of Messiah in the shout outs of Markos’ use of the word immediately.

Most of our Jewish scholars break the list of our ancestors’ encampments from Egypt to the Plains of Moab into three sections (Numbers 33):

A.  List of 12 Encampments, Section #1: The twelve campsites from Egypt to Sinai (Numbers 33:5-15).

B.  List of 21 Encampments, Section #2: The twenty-one campsites from Sinai to the second visit to Kadesh (Numbers 33:16-36).

C.  List of 9 Encampments, Section #3: The nine campsites from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab (Numbers 33:37-49).

A witness and a test of the sovereign, over-ruling Grace of God:

The number forty-two is symbolic of a witness (the number two) and a test (the number forty). This witness and test was not assigned to us (Israel) by our heavenly Father so that we might fail but so that we might succeed; that we might learn to prevail over the forces of evil by the only effective means available to us—the power of the grace of Adonai Avinu—through His Spirit of chesed, chen, and chanan (grace, grace, and grace). Therefore, the number forty-two is a Divine promise that the human race (Adam, represented in the number six):

Redeemed humanity shall one day be brought to a state of completion, maturity, and perfection by the Spirit of Grace.

Therefore, forty-two times (six-sevens) the term “straight-away,” “suddenly,” and “immediately” are used in the besorah of Yochanan Markos (Makabi) as an obvious prophetic witness that the Messiah is always hearing, understanding, and obeying HaShem in a very special and incredible way. He is always led by the Spirit of the Holy One. The Messiah never does anything of his own will. For the Messiah of Adonai (the LORD) forever says and does only what is the will of Avinu Shebashamyim; and it is the will of our heavenly Father that we one day all become like Him; so that we might do the same.

Messiah taught with authority; not like the Soferim (Scholars, Scribes):

The Messiah did not go about to establish what he said by the authority of the Rabbis, as the Soferim (Scribes) did; saying: on the one hand Hillell says; or or on the other hand Shammai says (מסורת רבנית). Instead of referencing and quoting the sages the Messiah spoke the actual words of God. This authority to speak the very words of God was independent of that given to all other men; or even to the angels. Therefore, these first century witnesses could actually see as well as hear what they had never observed in the rabbinic sages or even the prophets—the signs, wonders, and miracles manifested solely by the actual Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One, who indwells His Messiah—and rightfully so these first century Jews were completely amazed by this!

Our ancestors witnessed the very unique authority of the Messiah; that included complete authority over the spiritual realm (1, 2, 3); as well as the physical realm (1, 2, 3). So it was that these Jewish witnesses at the Synagogue of Kefar Nachum testified:

“With authority and power the Messiah commands the impure spirits and they leave!”

This is New Torah!

This kind of authority over the spiritual realm was new to our people. This was New Torah (התורה החדשה). Our first century ancestors were astonished at how different the teaching of the Messiah was. It being something never seen or heard before; not even in the prior times of the prophets of Israel.

The Messiah had come to Israel in the demonstration of the unlimited power and authority of the Spirit of the Holy One. This Oral Torah of the Spirit carried its own visible evidence along with it. The power of the Torah HaChadashah, the New Torah, brought the conviction of the Spirit into the minds of our people that caused many to acknowledge the truth of it.

The final plan of our Father in heaven (Avinu Shebashamayim) was not only that He would cancel out our sin through the sacrifice of His Messiah our Korban Pesach but that once cleansed we would on Shavuot receive the gift of the new Oral Torah of the Indwelling Presence of His Spirit.

More precious than the written Torah is the new Oral Torah of the Spirit.

The True Oral Torah is not the writings of the Prushim (the Tannaim-תנאים) and their rabbinical successors (Amoraim, Savoraim, Geonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim). The True Oral Torah is the actual Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of Holiness who teaches us Face to face:

ה’ הוא הרוח ובאשר רוח ה’ שם החרות. אבל אנחנו כלנו בפנים מגלים רואים במראה את כבוד ה’ ונהפכים לאותו צלם, מכבוד אל כבוד, כמו מיד ה’ – הרוח.  פ

“Adonai is the Spirit (ה’ הוא הרוח), and in the Spirit of Adonai (רוח ה’), the name of freedom (שם החרות). But we are all inside, revealing, seeing in the mirror the glory of Adonai ,(כבוד ה’) and turning into that image, from honor to honor, as from the Hand of Adonai (ה’ יד)— Ha-Ruach (הרוח-the Spirit).

Therefore, the Spirit of Truth personally guides all of us; each and every child of God. We are called by God our Father to be Indwelt with His Presence. His Indwelling Presence enthroned in all of our hearts is collectively—as one person, one body—possessiing a New Heart-לֵ֣ב חָדָ֔שׁ and a New Spirit–ר֥וּחַ חֲדָשָׁ֖ה. The Spirit is the One Who guides us into all truth. No person is ever to teach us. It is the Spirit of the Holy One Himself who teaches and guides every man, woman, and child of Godf. As it is written:

ולא ילמדו עוד איש את־רעהו ואיש את־אחיו לאמר דעו את־ה’ כי־כולם ידעו אותי למקטנם ועד־גדולם נאם־ה’ כי אסלח לעונם ולחטאתם לא אזכר־עוד׃

וְלֹ֧א יְלַמְּד֣וּ ע֗וֹד אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֜הוּ וְאִ֤ישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר דְּע֖וּ אֶת־ה’ כִּֽי־כוּלָּם֩ יֵדְע֨וּ אוֹתִ֜י לְמִקְטַנָּ֤ם וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָם֙ נְאֻם־ה’ כִּ֤י אֶסְלַח֙ לַֽעֲוֺנָ֔ם וּלְחַטָּאתָ֖ם לֹ֥א אֶזְכָּר־עֽוֹד׃

“They [*six eras of the rabbinical tradition of men] will not teach again, each man [rabbi teaching] his neighbor and each man [rabbi teaching] his brother, saying, ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me (ה’ אבינו-our Father God), from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares God “for I  will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

The Judge of all made the demon shut up and leave!

This day was the holy day of Shabbat. It was a time set aside for the worship of God.

The voice of the demon was loud and disruptive. This no doubt greatly alarmed and frightened those in attendance at the Synagogue of Kefar Nachum. The disrupting influence of the unclean spirit was ended immediately by the Holy One of God. The purpose of the assembled was to worship God and His purpose was to deliver to His people the blessing of His compassion, comfort and consolation. The unclean spirit quickly asked his two questions—addressing the Messiah in *the plural—and then the demons were promptly told to shut up, leave the possessed man, and vacate the premises of God’s synagogue.

Immediately the Messiah made this unclean spirit of the Devil shut up and leave!

The demons were made to shut up and leave. They were forced to stop disturbing God’s people who had assembled together to worship God on the holy day of Shabbat. This unclean spirit, a messenger of the Devil, was sent away without the Messiah ever answering his two questions:

“?מה לנו ולך? האם באת להשמידנו”

“What have we to do with you?”

“Have you come to destroy us?”

*The Messiah Yeshua was addressed in the third-person plural because the Divine presence of God dwells in him bodily. The Messiah is God’s ruler and judge of the angelic hosts. He is God’s ruler and judge of all humankind; both the living and the dead. He is the presiding Judge in the Proceedings of the Heavenly Court. Please note:

This was the first time a miracle was performed by the Messiah on Shabbat.

This was a special time for the worship of Adonai Eloheinu. At the word of the Messiah, demons obeyed. The word of God had great power and authority. Amazement came upon all the people. The authority of God our Father was being visibly displayed through the life of His Son. When the Voice of God spoke through M’shicho the demons were afraid! They respectfully listened and quickly obeyed!

I cried out Abba! Abba! immediately the evil spirit left the room!

 Many years ago when doing graduate studies in the San Francisco Bay Area in *both psychology and religion I was tirelessly working with troubled youth. Part of this time was spent working with young people on the streets and in a juvenile hall that cared for over 5,000 children per year. In addition I was working with young adults who were spread out in college communities throughout the Northern California region. At the time drug abuse and occult practices were commonplace, and young people from all over the world were moving to Northern California. They were hoping to experience for themselves the unique youth culture that had originated in my hometown of San Francisco, California.

*Since then I have earned two doctorates in both counseling psychology and practical theology, and three masters degrees in organization and management, human development, and education; and a license in psychotherapy.

At the time I was not completely certain whether demons really existed at all. Were evil spirits merely a manifestation of our imagination, merely a psychological phenomenon? or were the evil spirits actually fallen angels? as the Jewish and Christian scriptures indicate.

*The religious writings of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam also all affirm that evil spirits are a reality; and that much of the evil that exists in the world today is due to the malevolent activities of these powerful, intelligent, supernatural beings.

I discovered that fallen angels, unclean spirits, and demons are real.

This discovery happened when one of the young street people I had been working with had reported that she had come under the influence of a sorcerer who claimed he could evoke the presence of demons. True to his claim she observed the spirits moving objects. I doubted her experience. Until one night one of these spirits came and attacked me. Then, in the presence of my roommate, Roger Hoffman, the demon was defeated.

How did the demon manifest himself and attack me? What sensations and thoughts did I have during the assault?

A very powerful presence came into the room and began speaking to me. I was barely awake when I sensed its presence. I still vividly recall the sensations that I felt when it was speaking to me. I do not recall what it said; only that the power of its presence was incredibly hypnotic. The demon’s  power was such that I felt physically paralyzed and mentally powerless to resist his will.

I recall five first impressions of the event. First, in the brief time of its visit I do not recall what the unclean spirit was saying to me. Second, its presence evoked in my consciousness a strong sense of the color of a translucent emerald-green; the color of Chinese Jade. Third, the presence of the evil spirit instantly made me feel very weak, sick, and helpless. Fourth, I knew the demon was ancient in age and that its original base of operations was historically sourced in China. Fifth, I knew this manifestation was related to the occult activities of the Sorcerer that my young friend had referred to.

So, what happened next? In a matter of a few seconds, and without any conscious intention of my own, instantly I cried out:

“Abba! Abba!”

At the instant I said these words, this powerful being fled from my presence and at the moment it left I felt a great sense of fear and painful humiliation was being experienced by the departing unclean spirit. Quite frankly the whole experience left me in a state of mild shock. I momentarily wondered if the Spirit of God had really just delivered me or was this something I had imagined? Then the next two words that automatically came out of my mouth brought the truth back into focus. I shouted across the room to my roommate who was asleep:

“Roger! Roger!”

Then as my roommate was awakened, I excitedly said to him, “You will never believe what just happened to me!” Then he responded in a manner that completely amazed me. He said, “Chuck, let me tell you about the dream I was having just now when you awakened me:”

“I was walking down a series of steps that had been carved into the the side of a mountain and at the bottom of the mountain was a very large serpent. As I moved down the steps toward the serpent I felt increasingly weak and under its control. At the bottom of the mountain – just as I helplessly drew near to the serpent – some *words came out of my mouth that caused the very large and powerful serpent to immediately shrivel up and vanish. Then immediately I awoke to hear you say, ‘Roger! Roger! You will never believe what just happened to me!’

*The words Roger spoke in his dream were “Abba, Abba” (Daddy! Daddy!).

The danger of occult practices:

The day after the occult attack on me was thwarted I called my young friend. I told her that a evil spirit had attempted to attack me but that the attempt had failed. I strongly urged her to break off her relationship with the sorcerer and stop participating in his occult practices. She refused. I told my young friend:

“You do not belong to the devil. You belong to God!”

Then I delivered this word to her:  “Because you have believed the lie and chosen to disobey God you will lose your mind for a time. You will go to a mental hospital and remain there for a time. But because God is merciful He will forgive you and show you mercy. He will heal you and completely restore your mind. You are about to be disciplined but God will always love you; and with His discipline you will learn not to rebel against Him and you will receive from Him a better life:”

כל מוסר בעת בואו אינו נחשב לשמחה כי אם לעצב, אבל אחרי כן יתן פרי שלום וצדקה למתחנכים בו.פ

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Three years later I received a phone call from my young friend.

Everything that was said came to pass. She went insane. She ended up in a mental hospital. She was eventually released from the hospital and now she was in her right mind. Since her release she had met and married a very bright and talented young man who worked at Stanford University inventing medical devices that were used in heart surgery.

For those whom God loves He disciplines.

My young friend was now happily married and only weeks before she had given birth to her first child. We met together and talked about her ordeal and what she learned. I reminded her that God loved her and that she was not punished, only disciplined—-for God our Father disciplines His children whom He loves.

The arrogance of Western scientists and mental health experts:

Today the vast majority of psychotherapists and psychiatrists refuse to recognize a problem exists with occult practices. So we perpetuate the problem of real demonic activity through our continual use of ineffective medical practices. on the one hand, mental illness is real and there are effective therapies to treat mental illness. However, on the other hand spiritual illness is real and there are effective means to treat spiritual illness.

Those who live in countries where occultism is commonly practiced have rightfully complained of the arrogant and ignorant attitude of my fellow Western scientists and medical experts who simply explain away all occult phenomena as being harmless without really knowing anything about it.

Psychiatrist M. Sccott Peck and his work, Glimpses of the Devil:

How can any scientist conclude there is no devil until he has examined all of the evidence?

One scientist after asking himself this question, Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, decided to study and participate in exorcisms that he might answer for himself whether the devil was real or not.  After twenty years of investigation Dr. Peck determined that the devil is real and that demonic possession is a reality and that exorcisms are required to remedy this spiritual and medical problem .

It is medical because its malevolent nature compounds and at times even causes mental illness.

If you wish to know more about Dr. Peck’s investigative work and his belief that possession and evil should be included as a valid diagnosis that is listed among all other mental illnesses read his books, “People of the Lie the Hope for Healing Evil,” (1998) and “Glimpses of the Devil” (2005).

The Messiah is our Great Physician:

ויאמר אם־שמוע תשמע לקול ׀ ה’ אלהיך והישר בעיניו תעשה והאזנת למצותיו ושמרת כל־חקיו כל־המחלה אשר־שמתי במצרים לא־אשים עליך כי אני ה’ רפאך׃

And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of Adonai Eloheicha, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer” (Adonai Rofecha).

הסלח לכל־עונכי הרפא לכל־תחלאיכי׃

Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.

Sin is an incurable disease. The only cure for sin is provided for us by the Great Physician, our Messiah. All the physical diseases of our bodies and minds spring from sin and all of the diseases of our souls arise from sin. The Spirit of the Holy One teaches us to confess our sins, and return to Him and that it is He—The Spirit; and not we ourselves—who shall lead and empower us to live righteously.

The Messiah is our Great Physician. He is the one our heavenly Father sent to us so that one day we might be permanently healed of all of our diseases. He is not only the one who heals our bodies but Messiah our Redeemer is also the one who heals our minds, souls and spirits. Messiah brought to us (Israel) the forgiveness of God and the gift of *eternal life.

*The gift of Living Torah, the Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One, was first received on Shavuot (30 CE) by a remnant of Israel. This gift from our heavenly Father is given to all who believe in His besorah, good news message of Divine Redemption. The gift of the Father, the Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One is our guarantee of eternal life in the age to come (cf. the Messiah in Shavuot).

The Devil, his angels and all who rebel against the Rule of God shall be judged:

!לכו ממני, ארורים, אל אש עולם המוכנה לשטן ולמלאכיו

“Depart from me, accursed ones (ארורים), into the eternal fire which has been prepared for Satan (שטן) and his angels!”

One day the Messiah will speak these terrible words of judgment to those persons who have failed to genuinely repent of their sins and humbly return to God in true faith. In this pronouncement the Messiah specifies those for whom the lake of fire (אגם האש) was originally prepared for—the Devil/Satan and his angels. Therefore, it is for this reason of impending judgment that the unclean spirit had sought out the Messiah. On behalf of the Devil and all of his angels the Messiah is being asked if the time of their judgment had now come. This fear of the time of their impending doom, when the Devil and his angels are to be thrown into the eternal fire (אש עולם), is clearly indicated in the two questions that are asked by the unclean spirit.

?מה לנו ולך? האם באת להשמידנו

“What have we to do with you?” “Have you come to destroy us?”

The Devil and his angels will be cast into the Lake of Fire:

In the Hebrew Scriptures the word angels simply means messengers (מלאכים-malakim). The Hebrew word malakim reveals to the purpose of the creation of the angels. They are special servants of Avinu Shebashamayim to convey His messages to us. God our Father in His love and grace has made the angels ministering spirits to serve Him and His children. He gave the angels charge to look after us. One of the reasons why you have had some narrow escapes where you have escaped terrible harm or death itself is that God’s angels were looking after you.

However, not all of the angels are good angels who contribute to your health and safety:

.וזנבו סחב שליש מכוכבי השמים והשליכם ארצה

“And his [the Devil’s] tail carried one-third of the stars of heaven [angels] and threw them to earth.”

Not all angels are ministering spirits to help us, the heirs of the salvation of God. We read that throughout human history that two thirds of the angels shall remain faithful to their calling and that one third shall  rebel against the God of Heaven. The latter disobedient group of one third of the *stars in heaven were fated to be cast out of heaven the moment the Devil enlisted them in his rebellion against God. This is the reason we call these angels fallen angels.

*Stars are a symbol of God’s messengers and messages. Both angels and humans are referred to in the Scriptures as functioning as malaki, messengers of God.

Like humankind all of the angels possess free will:

Like humans all of the angels are free to do or not to do the will of God

Soon the angels who have chosen to rebel against God will temporarily gain control of all the government systems of the world; then humankind will enter into a time of the Great Tribulation (צרה גדולה). This time of the fallen angels and humankind’s great rebellion against God is also called the time of Jacob’s Trouble (ועת־צרה היא ליעקב). In the time of Jacob’s Trouble the world will go through a time of great deception and spiritual darkness.

This will be a time of wickedness like there has never been before in all of human history.

At the completion of the seven years of Great Tribulation our Messiah will return to Israel. Then when Messiah returns in great power and glory he shall swiftly in a single day put down the rebellion of all of the fallen angels and all of the nations and peoples of the earth who do their *bidding. Both the disobedient angels and all of those human beings who have joined the Devil in his rebellion against Gd will be judged.

*All who hear, understand, and obey the evil one’s messages (communications).

We are all free to follow God’s Way or the way of the evil one:

On the one hand, at the first Satan and his angels and all who follow him will be removed from the earth and thrown into their place in sheol. Then later after the one thousand year period of the golden age of the Messiah’s reign on earth has been completed—these rebellious angels and the humans who follow them will be brought up from sheol to be judged at the Great White Throne (כסא לבן גדול) of God. Then after their judgment and sentencing they shall be thrown into the eternal fire; also known as the Lake of Fire (אגם האש).

On the other hand, as for those of us who have accepted *God’s Way (דרכו של אלוים) we shall dwell forever in a new heaven and new earth, His new creation that Avinu Shebashamayim has prepared for His children and His holy angels. Shalom, Shalom.

*All who hear, understand, and obey the Holy One’s messages (communications)..

NEXT, HEALING SHIMON’S MOTHER-IN-LAW…

Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 76 >>