Portion 41 – John 11:55 – 12:1

Submitted by: Minister M. Smith

How is it that Yeshua can be right before our eyes, yet we cannot see him? How can we confess that we are submitted Yeshua yet still obey the commands of the Wicked? How can we consider ourselves alive yet still be dead in our thoughts and actions? We find the answers to these questions in this passage of scripture.

In these verses, we see the crowd fully immersed in the ceremonial aspects of YHVH’s feast, while failing to grasp the true goal of the feast. In their ceremonial observance they are unable to see Yeshua. Their focus of Yeshua, the man, coming to the feast blinded their eyes to see Yeshua, YHVH in the flesh, in the feast. They gave no thought to the ceremonial purification which is evident by their asking each other “what do you think?” And they were unable to grasp the faithfulness of YHVH in supposing that Yeshua would not attend the feast. They made YHVH’s feast a ceremonial practice that resulted in being short-sighted, thoughtless, and unfaithful. As disciples of Yeshua, we must not allow ourselves to fall into the ceremonial practice of YHVH’s word. YHVH’s feasts are unlike any other celebration on earth. They are not about observation, but about transformation; we should be changing. Our eyes should be opening to the reality of Yeshua, our understanding of the scriptures should be increasing, we should be repenting daily, and we should be growing in power and strength. (Luke 24:44-49) If we are not seeing these things, then we must re-evaluate the motivation of our practices.

Our confession of Yeshua goes beyond our lips; it shows up in our thoughts and actions. If we do not surrender all of ourselves to Yeshua, our thoughts and actions will contradict our confession and leave us aligned with the Wicked. In this passage the head cohanim gave the order that he was to be informed of Yeshua’s whereabouts, so they could arrest him. Only those who were surrendered to Yeshua would be able to discern this matter and not give in to this wicked plan. All others would give Yeshua up, placing their very Salvation in the hands of the wicked. This is why we desperately need the discernment of the L-RD. We are not wise enough, nor swift enough to know the workings of the demonic realm in our own limited understanding. It is only by being fully surrendered to the Ruach Hakodesh that we are able to escape the schemes of the world and not be used as an agent of Satan. We have to stop relying on the counsel of our emotional alliances, sinful inclinations and personal fears. (Jude 20-25)

There is a key hidden in this passage: It says that Yeshua was going to Beit-Anyah six days before Pesach. This sixth day reference mirrors the sixth day of creation. On the six day of creation, YHVH made humankind. On this sixth day Yeshua was creating a New Humanity; those who have been raised from death to life by Yeshua (Ephesians 2:13-15). This New Humanity is heavenly minded, alert and faithful; no longer subject to the world. This New Humanity has given up the ceremonial observation of YHVH’s feast, seeking to truly be purified by the washing of the Word. This New Humanity is full of life and walking in the Ruach Hakodesh; not easily coerced by the Wicked, but standing firm in Yeshua. Each one of us should examine ourselves by asking “am I behaving as the New Humanity or am I still operating as the old humanity?” The aim is to walk afresh; our daily life should reflect the newness we have been given in Yeshua. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)