Many times, people want to define themselves by what they do. Though is this a Biblical model? Are we merely an expression of a scripted label or is there something more profound?
Over the next few weeks, I would like to step away up from trying to explain Torah’s sacrificial system and instead, approach the workings of sacrifice through the statements and workings of the Messiah as found in the Book of Mark and in the Book of Ephesians. In doing so, I believe we will find our purpose.
Care to take a dive into who I believe we are?
In this week’s study, the text Mark 12:28-34 reminds us about the greatest commandment ever given. Though what interests me, is what was going on before Yeshua shared this command? Here is a quick picture:
- The Parable of the Vineyard: In this parable, vine growers are given the responsibility to care for the owner’s property. Their reward for doing so, would be a shared inheritance. But when servants are sent to the vineyard to collect shared earnings, the vine growers reject them and even beat them. Some are killed. The owner believes they will respect his son, but the vine growers kill the son as well. In sharing this story, Yeshua clearly points out that the master would put the vine growers to death and then give the vineyard to others because they refused the gift of inheritance.
- Jewish religious leaders try to entrap Yeshua due to the insinuation towards them from the parable. So, the Pharisees and Herodians (both man-made systems) bring a coin to Yeshua to clarify payments to government or to synagogue. Yeshua stays clear of the argument by stating whatever is man’s give to man and whatever is God’s give to God. The point being: God doesn’t need man’s money.
- Not wanting to give up, the religious leaders tried another tactic, by bringing up issues from the laws of Torah. This one dealt with who will a woman belong to if her husbands die. Again, Yeshua ignores the argument and points to the mystery of God by pointing to their lack of understanding when it comes to the Heavenlies and of the “I AM.”
Now we finally get to the text, where Yeshua says:
“Love the Lord your God will all your heart, soul, and mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, what does all this have to do with our called-out purpose? Consider the examples being given by Mark. Are we defined by status, money or interpretations of the Torah? No, we are not. If you noticed, Mark begins his witnessed record with a story about inheritance. But what exactly is this inheritance? I believe the answer is found in Ephesians chapter one.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”
As followers of Yeshua Messiah, we must fully understand who YHWH declares us to be through the workings of Yeshua Messiah. It is the foundation of why we love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves.
- We are blessed with every spiritual blessing
- We were chosen before the foundation of the world
- We are meant to be holy and blameless
To understand our purpose and who we are, we must first accept this inheritance. He has given us a vineyard. Do you want to accept it or reject it?
In the first two chapters of Ephesians, you can begin your journey in understanding your purpose by considering these two important points from Paul:
- We are chosen, redeemed, and sealed by the Spirit through Messiah. (1:3-14)
- There is no longer a wall or a distinction between Jew and Gentile. (2:11-22)
In the following weeks, I will try to uncover the knowledge of God’s accomplishment for all humanity, how to strengthen and exercise our walk in Messiah so we are not swayed by every teaching, the historical background of Ephesians and how it aligns with us, how to ready yourself for spiritual battle, and how to accept your identity in a modern world.
Looking forward to blessings,
Rollyn