Father | Missing Pieces

Yeshua is everything to us: our salvation, our hope, our future, to name a few. It is important to get to know Him as well as possible. We can do this by interacting with Him and also by reading the Bible. It is the word of Yehovah and Yeshua is the living Word of Yehovah. This series, entitled “Who Is Yeshua?” will consist of twenty-one articles. Each article will explore a different section of the Bible to discover different titles and roles of Yeshua and our response to each role. In the sixteenth article in the series, Yeshua is haMashiach at Father’s Right Hand.

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God (Heb 10:12).

What does it mean for us that Yeshua sits at the right hand of Yehovah? There are several aspects to consider in this verse. First of all, the word “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos and it means anointed one. Mashiach is the Hebrew word for anointed one and Messiah is the English word for Mashiach. In Biblical times and, even sometimes today, an individual who was about to take on a role such as king, prophet or priest, was anointed with oil as a sign of his new designation. Yeshua is our King (John 18:36), Prophet (Deut 18:15) and High Priest (Heb 4:14-16); thus, it is fitting that He is referred to as haMashiach (the Anointed). The oil used for consecration is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. When Yehovah told a prophet such as Moses or Samuel to anoint someone with oil, it indicated that Yehovah was appointing and equipping that person with His Spirit for the new assignment (Ex 28:41; 1 Sam 16:13).

Was Yeshua anointed? Yes, more than once. In Luke 4:18, Yeshua tells that He was anointed. “The Spirit of Yehovah is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed…” It is possible that He was anointed by the astrologers who brought him gifts because myrrh was used to anoint kings and was also used for burial. Yeshua was anointed again before his death and burial. While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table…(Matthew 26:6–13).

Yehovah empowers us for our assignments from Him by pouring His Holy Spirit upon us. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (1 John 2:27).

Yeshua now sits on His throne at the right hand of Yehovah. Sitting at the right hand of a king is a symbol of authority. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matt 28:16). From His throne, Yeshua commissions us to “make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). From His position at the right hand of His Father, Yeshua intercedes for us (Rom 8:34), serves as our High Priest (Heb 8:1, 4:14-16), mediates between His Father and us (1 Tim 2:5); and is our advocate in Heaven (1 John 2:1).

Yeshua also anoints and equips us with the Holy Spirit to carry out our assignments in the Kingdom. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today (Acts 2:33). As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (1 John 2:27). As we carry out the tasks that Messiah Yeshua has assigned to each of us on earth, we are mandated to keep our focus on our Leader. So, if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God (Col 3:1 HCSB).

This is an excellent time to ask forgiveness for your sins and invite Yeshua (Jesus) to be Lord of your life. When we commit sin, we incur a debt that none of us can ever pay on our own. It cannot be paid with earthly currency or even with great sacrifice on our part. This debt can only be paid for by the blood of Yeshua which has already been shed for us. This is the greatest gift to ever be offered. Don’t miss out. After you have accepted Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, ask for baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and Counselor and will equip you for Kingdom living.

For many years I kept my distance from God the Father mostly because He seemed so distant and impossible to please. Over the years many people I have encountered have revealed that they had or still do regard God the Father as distant and at least somewhat cold and demanding. Many of us imagine God the Father residing at His ease in heaven, where everything is perfect and there is no hurt or uncertainty. How could He know what it is like to struggle as we do? He has everything, while we have lost much. Yet Scripture reveals just how loving Abba is and how much he shares in our joys and sorrows.

YHVH, our Father, was not content to remain isolated and aloof in heaven, but rather created people in His own image. He lovingly fashioned a world that would meet our needs. He desires not to just view us from afar, but to live among us and share in every moment of our lives. What could God the Father know of our pain and loss and heartache? Everything, for by interacting with people, He has suffered as we do.

After establishing His people in their homeland, YHVH fashioned a home for Himself on earth so that He could dwell among His beloved ones. Always thinking of others, His home was designed to glorify His Son, Yeshua, and to teach us about His plan of salvation. (see other blogs on Temple and Tabernacle) Yet, YHVH left His home in Jerusalem when His people rejected Him even after many attempts on His part to reach out to them. He watched in sorrow as His beloved ones went their own way. He saw His Temple destroyed three times: the physical structure in Jerusalem twice and Yeshua’s body as an atonement for our sin. The special implements from His earthly home were carried off to Babylon and defiled.

YHVH’s desire is to live among His people, yet so many times He has been made unwelcome. People have denied His existence, blasphemed His name, ignored Him, or blamed Him for the results of their own bad choices or the bad choices of others.

YHVH loved His spouse, Israel, and cared for her even when she scorned His love and turned to false gods. He knows what it is like to have a spouse leave to run off after another. He even sent His beloved Son to become one of us so that we could see how much He loves and understands us, but even His Son was rejected.

Scripture is the story of unrelenting love. Let us examine just a sampling of Scripture verses that describe our Father’s love for us. “[The Father] guarded [Jacob] as the apple of his eye.” (Deuteronomy 32:10) “A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.” (Psalm 68:5-6) “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8) “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any one of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:14) “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1)

How should we respond to our loving Father? He tells us in His own words in Scripture:

Love Him: “You shall love YHVH your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut 6:5)

Trust in Him: “But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. (Ps 13:5)

Obey Him: “You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands. (Deut 11:1)

Keep your promises just as He does: “But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” (1 John 2:5)

Yeshua shows us how to love our Father, for Yeshua did all these things. He also did one more thing: He kept His focus on His Father at all times and learned from Him. So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” (john 5:19)

If you feel far from Father, let go of your fears and doubts and run to Him. He is waiting for you with open arms! “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly”. (Luke 15:20)