Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 94 Part 7
- Part 7: The little meal of the little lad
- The meaning of the five little barley Lloaves
- The meaning of the two little fish
- Three festivals are involved in Pesach
- The little silver coins
- Atonement for our souls
The little meal of the little lad:
After these things Yeshua went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs (attesting miracle) which He was performing on those who were sick. Then Yeshua went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now Pesach (the Passover), the feast of the Yehudim (Jews), was near. Therefore Yeshua, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii (The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages) worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” In the Scriptures little is big with Abba Avinu. The little or “humble” ones are the heroes and the Giants (the proud ones) are the bad guys. In our study of the Messiah in Purim we discovered that the name of Mordecai literally means “Little Man.”
We found that HaShem our Father is looking for a people who are humble.
For Him the One who is truly best able to lead is the One who is best able to be the Servant of All. The Messiah is the Humble Man. The little meal of the little lad, therefore, is a testimony to the Humble Man, the Messiah. Yes, Messiah ben Joseph, ben David possesses great power. Yes, He will return as the Conquering Messiah ben David to rule over the entire world with an iron rod. But the Lion of Judah is not who the Messiah “is.” The Lion of Judah is a title of what the Holy One must “do” when evil is present. The Lion of Judah does not define the eternal “being” of the Holy One. He is not the One who is seen in the vision of the Father and Messiah in the new heavens and earth. In heaven the Messiah is known as He truly is: He is the Lamb. It is in the face of the Little Lamb that we see the true eternal Face of the Father (absent of the presence of sin and evil). Philip, one of Messiah’s Twelve chosen disciples, mentioned in the present narrative of the Loaves and Fishes, once asked the Messiah, “Show us the Father and it will be sufficient for us.” The Messiah responded: “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”
The administration of the little lad is ruled by meekness and humility.
It is a Divine riddle definitely worth solving: How does the Creator rule? Does He lord it over us like the false deities of the Gentiles do? No. The Lord (Ha’Adon) is the greatest of all because He is the Servant of All. He is the Moral Superior to All. His personal virtues are without peer. His Moral Power is without equal. Therefore, it is paramount that we understand that it is HaShem’s virtue that “always dictates” what His Power will do. This is why throughout much of His ministry the Messiah deliberately veiled from the view of His followers the exceeding glory of the Divinity that dwelt within Him and the unlimited power of His Kingship, as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Messiah’s mission was not to set-up a Gentile kingdom on earth but a Jewish one.
The Father of our Lord Yeshua Ha-Mashiach sent to Israel His Spirit in the human form of a Son of David so that all of His children might be reconciled to Him and come to possess a servant’s heart and become humble and meek as His Beloved Son. The humanity HaShem desires is not one that is competitive and war-like but humble and peace- loving. The occasional harsh treatment of humanity by HaShem Tzevaot is because of our embracing what is evil instead of what is good. The truth is that HaShem has always desired that the human race become a peace-loving community rather than a community of selfishness, greed, hate, and violence. Only the eyes of the pure in heart can see our Father in heaven. If we would only be changed from the Inside-out by His wonderful and marvelous grace then we would see Him as He truly is: To the pure in heart the Holy One is innocent, pure, harmless, lowly, and yes playful (better than a child).
The Holy One is innocent, pure, harmless, lowly (humble), and yes playful (better than a child). This is who the Holy One really “is.” God is Love. He administers (does) chastisement and judgment only because we choose to do evil instead of good. If we were completely good as He is good, we would not see the terrible, fearsome Divine One that He is so often seen as; rather we would see the truth: The true Face of our Father in Heaven (Avinu Shebashamayim) is one of gentleness, kindness, and innocence. His Face is like the face of a Baby! This is why:
All of the sacrificed lambs at the temple had to be less than twelve months old.
So that in their infancy they might bear the true Image of the Beautiful, Magnificent Face that the holy angels behold of our Father who dwells in heaven! It was the will of the heavenly Father, therefore, that the disciples of the Messiah first learn about and fully understand what the designation “Son of Man” (ben HaAdam) means. Then, after these Sons of Israel fully understood what it means to be a Servant-leader in the world, the heavenly Father would entrust to them the far more majestic and glorious revelations of His Beloved Son who is the new and Last Adam (HaAdam Ha-acharon), the new Son of God and the new and final King of Israel (Melekh Yisrael).
There is an important developmental lesson to be learned here about HaShem. He comes to us first and foremost revealing Himself to be a lowly Servant. Only when our hearts are pure do we perceive and accept with gladness this wonderful truth about Him. It is only the meek and poor in spirit who can embrace with complete joy the Holy One’s Perfect Humility and Meekness. The exalted will be humbled. The humble will be exalted. It is only when we submit to and practice the Messiah’s lifestyle of the Humble Man that we begin to understand the revelation of the King of Glory (Melekh HaKavod).
Question: What was it that was invisible that the new and Last Adam came to reveal and “restore” to the face of humankind?
Answer: Messiah came to restore our original resemblance to our heavenly Father.
There is a reason why the Lamb sacrifices at the Temple had to be less than twelve months old in age (in ancient Israel a person or animal was counted as one year old at birth; so a little one became two years old after only twelve months). This was so because the Sacrifice had to accurately bear the “lost” image of the Father, the Face of a harmless, innocent baby. Therefore it is written:
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The meaning of the Five little Barley Loaves:
In Hebrew everything means something special. Every name and place name means something special and so does every Hebrew number reveal something of the unlimited goodness, kindness, and graciousness of Abba Avinu.
Barley is the Bread of Humility.
Barley is the “Poor Man’s Bread.” The five little loves of barley speak of the Bread of Humility that our Father has given to us through the offering of the little lad. Five is the number of the Grace of HaShem. The Grace of HaShem can be accepted or rejected. It is up to each one of us whether or not we will accept the sacrifice of the Messiah that HaShem is willing to credit to us as righteousness. Let me explain what is meant by this. Each spring the people of Israel celebrate anew their national birth that began at the Exodus. In the spring ritual of HaBikkurim (cf. the Messiah in HaBikkurim), in the cutting down of the dedicated barley sheaf on the Sabbath (beginning Friday just after sunset, ending Saturday just before sunset), we are prophetically celebrating the “cutting down” of the Messiah, the perfect Humble Man; who died on our behalf for the cleansing of our sin so that we might inherit the gift of eternal life.
The Deliverer Moses tells us that in faith, when the cut down barley sheaf that represents the Humble Man is ‘lifted up’ and presented to HaShem, then it will be as if we had been transformed and we had become Humble too. This is why the Rabban our Messiah has said:
“If I be lifted up I will draw all men to Myself.”
Messiah is the cut-down one and He is the lifted up one who when presented to the Righteous Father is ‘accepted’ on our behalf. Messiah is our Wave Offering. So as a royal nation of priests and kings (we members of Israel and the Commonwealth of Israel) we too must lift the Messiah up. We must lift up the Messiah as our Righteous Representative sacrifice to the Righteous Father. Then as Moses promised it will be for us as if we too were accepted. It is the Humble Man that our Father in heaven delights in. If we present ourselves a living sacrifice through the Messiah, then and only then will our Father in heaven count it to us as righteousness and accept us as holy and blameless. If we identify with the Humble One then, in Him by the power of the Spirit of Grace:
Israel shall one day be transformed into a royal nation of Servant-leaders that HaShemi can trust to rule His world.
Only through the daily exercise of the supernatural Presence of the Humble Man indwelling the nation and people of Israel will the promises to the patriarchs and prophets be completely “fulfilled.” If we identify with the Ha-Mashiach (the Anointed One) in His suffering then we will abound in His comfort (His vindicating exercise of rule, power, and authority over evil). Then will the knowledge of the Most High flood the earth with the fruit of Light; the goodness, righteousness, and truth of the Holy One. Then and only then, will Israel be transformed into a royal nation of priests and kings (mashiachim, anointed ones). This is a true saying. But the supernatural promises of HaShem will not materialize until all Israel hears, understands, and obeys the testimony of Moses and lifts up the Mashiach ben Joseph, ben David as our offering to the Righteous Father. So, let us lift Him up!
The meaning of the Two little fish:
In Hebrew two is the number of “witness” or “testimony.”
The word “fish” is symbolic of the life and activities of our souls (cf. previous chapter #14, paragraphs 2-4). The soul is the treasure house where all of the works that the Holy Spirit has accomplished in and through our lives is kept in “safe” storage. The once-in-eternity sacrifice of Messiah cleanses our souls and the Spirit of Holiness constantly works in our lives to help us accrue treasure in our thoughts, feelings, decisions, and behavior sufficient to add valuable content to our souls.
1. Little Lad=Humble Man=The Messiah
2. Barley=Grain of the Poor (Humble)
3. Bread=Word of HaShem (the NAME)
4. Five=Grace
5. Fish=Soul
6. Two=Witness
Therefore, the literal (mystery) spiritual meaning (sod) of both the five barley loaves and the two fish is: The witness of the gracious redemption of our souls by the Messiah, who is the Humble Man.
The Messiah was the heavenly sacrifice foretold by Moses and the prophets.
He was the innocent, sinless sacrifice that would take away the sin of the world. The animal sacrifices of the high priest Aaron ben Levi were only a temporary prophetic depiction (foreshadowing) of the one time sacrifice of the Lamb of God. This messianic sacrifice made all other sacrifices unnecessary and obsolete (by their complete fulfillment; not by their cancellation). [Note: The future sacrifices in the Millennial Temple (cf. the latter chapters of the prophet Ezekiel referenced in chapter 4 of this document) will only be offered out of a remembrance of the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah and will not represent an actual reinstatement of the Mosaic sacrificial system; which only foreshadowed the once-in-eternity sacrifice of the Messiah.]
As you will recall from our earlier discussion on the Messiah’s cleansing of the Temple, He cleansed the Temple twice.
His first cleansing of the Temple occurred early in His ministry. Thereafter, His second” cleansing of the Temple occurred again at the end of His ministry (cf. significance of the term “second” administration in our article, “Messiah in Purim”). The Messiah due to His atoning death and life-giving resurrection is both HaShem’s final sacrifice for sin (death) and He is our permanent High Priest forever (resurrection). These two historic events of Messiah’s atoning death and life giving resurrection mark the end of Israel’s old religious administration (plagued by priestly graft and corruption) and the beginning of a new administration, the Administration of the Holy Spirit (cf. “Messiah in Purim”). Therefore, Messiah now and forever is our:
1. Burnt offering;
2. Drink offering;
3. Grain offering;
4. Peace offering; and
5. Sin offering.
Three festivals are involved in Pesach:
“The Pesach of the (Yehudim) Jews was near, and the Salvation of HaShem-Yeshua went up to Jerusalem.” About thirty days before the Passover celebration the people of Israel began making preparations for this great eight-day observance. Pesach occurs in the Jewish lunar calendar on 14 Nisan. Chag HaMatzot (Unleavened Bread) is observed from 15-21 Nisan. Yom HaBikkurim (the Day of Firstfruits) should be observed on 16 Nisan (the third day from Pesach) but oftentimes is observed on other days (cf. Messiah in HaBikkurim and Counting of the Omer). Therefore, there are actually three festivals involved in the Passover Festival:
Festival #1. Pesach depicts the Messiah’s death on the accursed tree configured in the Sign of the ancient (pictograph) Hebrew letter Tav.
Festival #2. Chag Ha Matzot represents the cleansing of HaShem’s Temple, redeemed humanity.
Festival #3. Yom HaBikkurim commemorates Messiah’s resurrection from the dead and His promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The season of Pesach occurs in the spring each year, normally at the end of March or the beginning of April. Every male after the age of thirteen was required to worship HaShem (the NAME) in Jerusalem (lit. Foundation of Peace) during the three mandatory festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot (spring, summer, fall). Each festival teaches a basic doctrine that is required for conversion, sanctification, and the rule of the Almighty One to be perfectly established in each individual (glorification) and throughout the earth (millennial kingdom). To repeat, the three required festival observances are:
(1). Pesach;
(2). Shavuot;
(3). Sukkot.
“The Pesach of the Yehudim (Jews) was near, and the Salvation of HaShem (Yeshua) went up to Jerusalem (the Foundation of Shalom). And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.’ His disciples remembered that it was written:
‘Zeal for Your House will consume Me.’
The Yehudim then said to Him, ‘What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?’ The Salvation of HaShem (Yeshua) answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Yehudim then said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which the Salvation of HaShem (Yeshua) had spoken.” “And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.’”
The whip Messiah used to drive the businessmen out of the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple was made out of the “cords” that bound the animals to the Temple court. The cords had a dual purpose. They were also used to tie the sacrificial animals to the horns of the sacrificial altar when they were sacrificed. The cords were loosed from the sacred animals only after they had been sacrificed at the altar. Just as Messiah is the true High Priest, He is also the true Sacrifice of our Father in heaven. He is Seh HaElohim, the Lamb of Elohim (our Korban Pesach):
Prophetic Depiction #1. Messiah is the Sinless One who provides Atonement for sin. He is our Burnt offering.
Prophetic Depiction #2. Messiah is the Selfless One who poured out His life (blood) as a ransom for many. He is our Drink offering.
Prophetic Depiction #3. Messiah is the wholly Devoted One who supplies perfect dedication to HaShem. He is our Grain offering.
Prophetic Depiction #4. Messiah is the Peaceful One who secures fellowship (reconciliation) with HaShem. He is our Peace offering.
Prophetic Depiction #5. Messiah is the Gentle One who turns the wrath of HaShem away from others and onto Himself. He is our Sin offering.
The little silver coins:
The coins referred to in the account were small silver coins that were used to pay the half-shekel temple tax.
The money changers were converting secular money into temple coinage because there were idolatrous “pagan images” displayed on nearly all of the secular coinage. Every male over the age of twenty was required annually to pay this redemption of the soul temple tax. The Rabbis refer to this obligatory tax as the “atonement for the soul.” This is derived from Moses’ instructions in Exodus 30:15: “The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to HaShem to make atonement for yourselves.” There are three objectives that are achieved by the once-in-eternity sacrifice of the Messiah on behalf of the people of Israel (and the Commonwealth of Israel; i.e. the believing Gentiles):
Objective #1. Remove (expiate) all sin from believing humanity.
Objective #2. Second objective: Instill in His followers complete dedication to the will of the heavenly Father.
Objective #3. Secure a permanent fellowship (Shalom, Peace) between Abba Father and Redeemed Man.
Atonement for our souls:
All of these activities of the Korban Pesach (Sacrificed Lamb) at the Temple testify to Messiah’s death on the accursed tree (configured in the Hebrew Sign of the Tav ).
Meaning #1. The tables of the money changers were made out of wood, wood symbolizes Messiah’s humanity.
Meaning #2. The overturned tables refer to Rabbi Yeshua’s substitutionary atonement.
Meaning #3. The Messiah’s heart (Spirit) was overturned (haphak) and atonement was made when He took sinful Man’s guilt upon Himself and was punished for humanity’s sin and rebellion (unlawful acts) against HaShem (Lamentations 1:20): “See, O HaShem, for I am in distress; My Spirit is greatly troubled: My Heart is overturned (haphak) within Me.”
The “atonement of the soul” money, the little silver coins which the Salvation of HaShem (Yeshua) “poured out” refers to the Messiah’s poured out blood: “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood.” Silver metal (in the Scriptures) oftentimes is symbolic of redemption, the shedding of blood.