YAHSHUA IN MAN’S IMAGE

In this study we will explore a reason for Yahshua's sojourn on this earth that has been mainly overlooked but is crucial to our full understanding of our Messiah and His great act of agape love on our behalf. To begin we will cover some scriptures that are very familiar to most of us but necessary to lead us to this understanding.

Gen.1:26-27 We are made in the image of our creator. All bible students know this scripture but most don't understand it fully. This is because they believe the fallacy of the term g-d. This denotes one. Elohim denotes plurality. Without this plurality we cannot get the true picture of who our creator is. Our true creator is identified in the evangel of John, which cannot be properly grasped as it appears in our modern translations. We will turn there and read it, as it would appear in the original Hebrew in which it was written. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Dabar, and the Dabar was with Elohim, and the Dabar was Elohim. 2 He was in the beginning with Elohim; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

All of these scriptures tell us that our great Messiah pre-existed with the Father and was the agent of creation.

John 17:4 I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; 5 and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.

He was a glorified, all-powerful being subject only to the Father. These few brief scriptures will set the stage for this study.

MAIN PURPOSE OF YAHSHUA COMING TO EARTH

All the people of this world who profess religion know that Yahshua came to this earth as a human being to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Most will agree that He also came to reveal the Father, who had never been seen or known, to us. Luke 10:22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." John 6:46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from Elohim; he has seen the Father. John 14:9 Yahshua said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ’Show us the Father’?

YAHSHUA MADE IN MANS IMAGE

There is another reason that He came to this earth that is not generally recognized but it is crucial to the complete understanding of our Messiah and the great sacrifice He made on our behalf.

Remember Gen.1: 26-27 man was made in the image of Elohim. In four BCE in the beautiful fall season Elohim was made in the image of man.

Micah 5:2 “ But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days”. Even this scripture tells us that Yahshua had a pre-existence from eternity.

YAHSHUA DIVINE

Some believe that Yahshua had only the form of a man but was completely divine with all of the eternal attributes of Elohim. They picture Him as a very handsome, tall Grecian looking man with perfect features. Scripture tells us that this is not true.

NO SPECIAL BEAUTY

Isaiah 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

If He was truly divine He was not really human as we are at all but only appeared that way. If this is true, He cannot accurately represent us to the Father and He doesn't truly comprehend the things that we as humans go through. His sojourn on this earth was only special effects and not real. They also believe that He could not have failed in His mission. We will come back to this.

FINAL JUDGEMENT NOT CARRIED OUT

Have you ever wondered why the final judgement of eternal death was never carried out? Sure, people died but the final judgement was never carried out. The answer is the subject of this study.

Yahweh is fair, honest, and just. It is because of these qualities that He could not carry out the final death sentence that sin demands.

NO NEED TO COME TO THIS EARTH

To see our reactions during temptation, stress, fear, anger, and all the other things that we as temporal flesh and blood experience, He did not have to come to this earth at all. He could see all of that from Heaven. In order to understand the reactions to all of these things, one must experience them. Otherwise one can only try to imagine what it is like to feel them.

If He was actually divine and not a one hundred percent, perishable human being then His sacrifice was not really a sacrifice at all but was only special effects and window dressing.

YAHSHUA THE JUDGE

Yahshua has been given the task of being the judge of all humanity. John 5:22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

WHY NOT THE FATHER?

Have you ever contemplated why the Father is not the judge of mankind but has given over all judgement into the hands of His Son Yahshua?

Without diminishing the power of perception, His righteousness, and all of the Father's attributes of perfection, there is a very good reason why He does not qualify to judge and the Son does.

ALL POWERFUL

Consider this; Could a being that is all powerful, eternal, who has never been tempted, never been afraid, never been hungry, tired, ill, stressed, that death cannot touch, fully understand those that are subject to all of these things? It is not blasphemy (as I have been accused of) to say that eternal, all-powerful Elohim did not understand us. It is actually seeing and understanding more deeply the great love and compassion and justice of our awesome creator.

YAHSHUA TRULY TEMPORAL

This is why we must fully realize why Yahshua, while he was on earth, was temporal flesh and blood subject to the very same things that we are. Not divine spirit in human form only but completely man.

John 5:27 and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.

Yahshua was the son of Elohim but He was also the son of man, which made Him completely human.

Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance Elohim overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."

Yahweh does not inspire lies. The following scripture tells us that Yahshua was not divine but was completely man, temporal and subject to death.

Phil.2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Our Master Yahshua,

6 who, though he was in the form of Elohim, did not count equality with Elohim a thing to be grasped, ( Held onto at all cost)

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness (or image) of men.

8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

Notice that He emptied Himself of all that He was. He gave up His eternal glory. We can get the full picture from His prayer to the Father in;

John 17:5 and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.

He had left this glory He had had with the Father from eternity to become exactly as we are.

Heb.2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.

Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

We will go on to see that Yahshua was affected by all the same things that affect us.

HUNGER

Matthew 4:2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry.

He was so weak with hunger that the angels had to come and minister to Him Verse 11

Matthew 21:18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry.

WEARINESS

John 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, and so Yahshua, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Unless He was totally human He would have felt neither of these things. As we do, He needed food and rest to rejuvenate Him. The evangels tell of all the things that He felt as a human.

YAHSHUA FELT FEAR

One of the things that He felt was fear.

Mark 14:33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Yahshua offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Yahshua cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My Elohim, my Elohim, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Psalm 22:1 To the choirmaster: according to The Hind of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My Elohim, my Elohim, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

Mark 15:37 And Yahshua uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last.

FAILURE POSSIBLE

Yahshua was completely human, with all of the human emotions that we are subject to. He did not just breeze through this human life without all of the things mentioned above. At this time I must bring to your attention that Yahshua could have failed. Yes He could have failed to achieve the what He came to this earth for. Consider this; we are all faced with the possibility

that we could fail in this way of life leading to the kingdom. If we do not persevere to the end, either of our lives or the return of Yahshua. we have failed. This possibility is continuously confronting us. If this same thing did not face Yahshua, He does not know how we feel every day of our lives. He cannot correctly represent us to the Father because He does not fully understand what it is like to be us.

Being fully human as He assuredly was, did He have some kind of advantage that we don't have? Before we answer this let us look at some scriptures to see how He was able to remain perfect for all of His sojourn on this earth. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. Scripture doesn't tell us that Yahshua was but because of who He was and the greatness that would be his we can be sure that He had the Holy Spirit from the womb as well.

Luke 1:15 for he will be great before Yahweh, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Yahshua also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

NO ADVANTAGE

We can be sure that Yahshua had the Holy Spirit without measure for all of His time in the womb and until his death on the stake. Could this be an advantage that we don't have? No!!!

This was no unfair advantage. Think of this; The salvation of the whole of mankind depended on Him and Him alone. Satan would attack him relentlessly from every angle. We are told that not many should desire to be teachers as we are judged much more strictly.

James 3: 1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

This is because what we say and do affect so many people. Imagine how stringently Yahshua upon whom the whole world depended for instruction and example, would be judged. He would need the full measure of the Holy Spirit of Yahweh just to persevere. He had no advantage that He did not need as the Saviour of the world. Satan tried at the time of Esther to destroy the line of Judah that He would come from. He tried this kind of preventative measure many times in the history of Judah. Immediately after the birth of Yahshua he tried to destroy Him. When Yahshua was in the wilderness fasting for forty days, satan came to him at his weakest point physically. What he did not understand was that as Yahshua weakened in the flesh, He was being strengthened in the spirit and was at His strongest point when satan came to Him.

Yahshua did something that we need to do. He was in constant contact with His Father in Heaven.

Luke 5:16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to Elohim.

Matthew 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed.

Mark 6:46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

SOME PROPHESIES IN PAST TENSE

This comes from a frame of mind that is not prevalent even among the sacred name groups.

A statement that has been made to me trying to refute the belief that Yahshua could have failed, is that the prophesies concerning this were all made in the positive. Some were made in the past tense as if already fulfilled. We don't have time to go into these scriptures in this study. But we can understand why they would be stated in this way by turning to one scripture referring to the first fruits harvest in this age.

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.

30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

This is in the past tense. It says that those He justified He also glorified. I am not yet glorified. You are not yet glorified. Why would this be said in this way as if it has already taken place? It is to instil a mindset. It is the mindset that Yahshua had. This mindset comes from faith.

To give an example; I have heard converted people say many times,” we will never be perfect in this age.” This is a copout. If one thinks in this way they are setting their goal on imperfection.

Our goal should be perfection. Matthew 5:48 “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This has to be our goal. Perfection. Yahshua had this mindset and that is why He did not fail. He was totally dependant on Yahweh for His strength.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from Elohim,

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in Yahweh and in the strength of his might.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your Elohim; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

This is why Yahshua did not fail. He knew that it was His heavenly Father's strength that would see Him through to the finish. It is that strength that will see us through as well.

Since Yahshua has faced all of the things that we will face as we follow this way of life He can fully understand us and is qualified to be the judge. That is also why He can accurately represent us to the Heavenly Father. He knows what is like to be a temporal human being.

His death was true cessation of life for three days and three nights. Death, not just window dressing. Yahshua lived His life in true human form and assuredly died in the same human fashion. If He did not then Yahweh is a liar when He inspired the following scriptures;

Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.

Revelation 1:5 and from Yahshua Our Master the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible Elohim, the first-born of all creation;

Have no doubt, Yahshua gave up all that He was to become exactly as we are. He lived a perfect human life to give us hope. He died a terrible human death to give us courage. He was resurrected an immortal spirit being to give us faith. He ascended to the Father in Heaven where He was glorified and coronated king of kings to give us assurance. All He has done from the time of creation was for us. As He did not fail we can be assured that we will not fail either if we have this mindset as Yahshua did.