We have memorialized Jesus’ birth in December and we celebrate it in many countries as a national holiday. Who is Jesus? We know his birth as a human happened in Bethlehem, but where was he before he came to earth? The apostle John helps our understanding by recording a very long sabbath morning in the temple courts near the treasury. Jesus was teaching when the scribes and Pharisees tried to trick him in front of many disciples, but Jesus knew what they had been doing. Because of their evil behavior Jesus revealed who he was and we will see that they could not understand what he was saying. It seems similar to Isaiah prophesying the birth of the Messiah to an evil king. Why waste time letting an evil king know that the Messiah would come? Similarly, Jesus tells evil religious leaders and stiff-necked Jews who he is. The crowd of disciples see the escalation of events in the courts between the Pharisees, the Jews, and Jesus, and yet they continued to follow Him. Since the first century we have seen alterations to text, and misunderstandings of Jesus’ name. We will want to remind ourselves of Jesus’ name in the old testament, the Alpha and Omega/Aleph Tav, the intentional alteration of Adonai, and the title Elohim. Let’s explore.
Jesus and the disciples leave the mount of olives early. We are not told this until chapter 9, but it is the sabbath, and it was dawn.
John 8:1 G* And Jesus G1161 G4198 went G1519 to G3588 the G3735 mount G3588 G1636 of olives.
2 G3722 And at dawn G1161 G3825 again G3854 he came G1519 into G3588 the G2413 temple, G2532 and G3956 all G3588 the G2992 people G2064 came G4314 to G1473 him; G2532 and G2523 having sat G1321 he taught G1473 them.
What time is it? Dawn. Where is Jesus? In the temple courts. What was Jesus doing? Teaching. Jesus is sitting down and it is around dawn. We can see that the people Jesus was teaching were not the only ones around. The scribes and Pharisees were also there with a woman.
John 8:3 G71 [7led G1161 1And G3588 2the G1122 3scribes G2532 4and G3588 5the G* 6Pharisees] G4314 to G1473 him G1135 a woman G1722 G3430 [2adultery G2638 1having been overtaken in]. G2532 And G2476 having stood G1473 her G1722 in G3319 the midst,
“But the scribes and Pharisees brought towards him woman in seize upon adultery and make her stand in the middle.”
Just to point it out, the scribes and Pharisees were not in town and just happened to find a woman with a man who was not her husband. The scribes and Pharisees were not concerned with legal matters. If we go back to our understanding of the temple and the booths for the male and female prostitutes we understand what is happening. The scribes and Pharisees took a temple prostitute from the enclosed booths and brought her to Jesus. Why? Jesus is sitting in the temple courts at dawn, teaching. Most people were not in the temple courts at dawn. Yet Jesus had disciples, not just the twelve, but “all the people”, “all the people came to him”. There was a lot for the Pharisees to be jealous over. Jesus was only allowed in the outer courts, he was not allowed free access to the inner courts and chambers in the temple. Yet the people wanted to hear from him, they followed him.
The woman was brought to the group that Jesus was teaching and was made to stand in the middle of all the disciples. Did she have clothes on? Maybe not if she was in the act of adultery. Now why didn’t they take the man with them? Where did he go? Why wasn’t this a problem for him?
John 8:4 G3004 they say G1473 to him, G1320 Teacher, G3778 this woman G2147 we found G1888 in the very act G3431 committing adultery.
“ Say him “Teacher this find on self commit adultery.”
It is interesting that they knew where to look. The Pharisees and scribes knew where to look because they all knew where the booths of the prostitutes were. They visited the temple prostitutes too.
John 8: 5 G1722 And in G1161 G3588 G3551 our law, G1473 G* Moses G1781 gave charge G3588 G5108 for such G3036 to be stoned; G1473 you G3767 then, G5100 what G3004 do you say?
We should ask ourselves why they care what Jesus would say. They weren’t interested in following Jesus. The problem for them was that Jesus was an Essene, and he was smart. He was also intimidating because he was holy and did many miracles. Many people were interested in listening to Jesus, but not the scribes and Pharisees. Additionally, Jesus knew the law better than they did, and soon he will tell them that he was the law giver.
Exo 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Deu 5:18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Deu 22:22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
Deu 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
Deu 22:24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.
Now let’s look at this. Adultery is something they shouldn’t do, neither the woman or the man. But notice how they get around the law. The law says that if the woman is married, or if she is betrothed to a man, then they should both be stoned. However, if the woman is a temple prostitute, then she is probably not married. In fact she could be a widow who did not have any way to take care of herself. Technically, both participants were to be stoned, but the scribes and the Pharisees justified male and female prostitutes as not being married, so neither would have to be stoned. But in this case they want to play games, because they typically didn’t stone temple prostitutes. The prostitutes had been in the temple since the kingdom split.
2 Kings 23:7 G2532 And G2507 he demolished G3588 the G3624 house G3588 of the G2504.2 male prostitutes G3588 of the ones G1722 in G3588 the G3624 house G2962 of the lord G1722 in G3739 which G3588 the G1135 women G5306.1 wove G1563 apparel there G4749 G3588 for the G251.1 sacred grove.
Why were there male prostitutes in the house of the Lord? This had gone on for over 400 years, then the temple was demolished and Judah went into captivity. But defilement is never very far from the temple. When the religious split occurred after the Maccabean era, the people who stayed in temple service were not holy or concerned with defilement. They were concerned with religious rituals. The former temple prostitutes were a ritual service, just as worshipping the stars, the moon, and the constellations.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/passover-male-prostitution-in-temple.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-laity-what-jesus-hates-hierarchy.html
The Pharisees and scribes were testing Jesus so that they could find some way to charge him. They didn’t want him teaching in the temple, and they didn’t like his holiness. But they didn’t know that Jesus knew what they were up to.
John 8:6 G3778 But this G1161 G3004 they said G3985 testing G1473 him, G2443 that G2192 they should have G2724 a charge G2596 against G1473 him. G3588 G1161 But G* Jesus G2736 [2low G2955 1bowing], G3588 G1147 with his finger G1125 he wrote G1519 on G3588 the G1093 ground.
Jesus didn’t have access to the inner courts, but Jesus knew what was going on. Now picture what is happening. The scribes and Pharisees see the devotion of a crowd of people to Jesus’s teachings. What can the scribes and Pharisees do to embarrass Jesus and make his disciples decide not to follow him? The first thing they thought of was to grab this woman who had been living in the temple servicing all the men.
John 8:7 G5613 And as G1161 G1961 they continued G2065 asking G1473 him, G352 having raised the head G2036 he said G4314 to G1473 them, G3588 The one G361 sinless G1473 of you G4413 [3first G3588 2the G3037 4stone G1909 5at G1473 6her G906 1let him cast]!
“But so that persist in interrogating he lift up his head to speak towards them ‘the one who has not sinned her, throw the first stone on her.”
Jesus is sitting talking to a crowd of his disciples. The scribes and Pharisees grab this woman and push her into the middle of the crowd. They persist in asking Jesus about stoning her. If Jesus said ‘yes stone her’, the crowd would have questioned his mercy and compassion, which seems to be what the scribes and Pharisees were hoping for. If Jesus had said ‘no, don’t stone her’ then they would have accused him of violating the law. There is another option. All he had to say is ‘whoever had not sinned with her throw the first stone’. How embarrassing for them. Jesus knew what was taking place in the temple’s inner courts without ever going into the inner courts. She could have easily pointed at each of those scribes and Pharisees. Remember, they are standing in the middle of the disciples.
In our time, we say that there are no degrees of sin. We say that all sins are equally bad. However, under the law there were degrees of sin. Some sins required stoning, like gluttony and adultery. Some sins required an offering in the temple. The scribes and Pharisees wanted to see Jesus condemn a woman to death, but he brought light to their sin instead.
John 8:8 G2532 And G3825 again G2736 [2low G2955 1bowing] G1125 he wrote G1519 on G3588 the G1093 ground.
Jesus is still sitting. After speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus looks down at the ground again. This is a technique that makes angry emotional people uncomfortable. Instead of giving a quick answer and getting into an emotional confrontation, Jesus does the opposite, keeping control over the scribes and the Pharisees by simply not reacting to their hostility and accusations. Not reacting to others is a great thing for us to learn as well.
John 8:9 G3588 And they G1161 G191 having heard, G2532 and G5259 by G3588 their G4893 consciences G1651 being reproved, G1831 went forth G1520 one G2596 by G1520 one, G756 beginning G575 from G3588 the G4245 older; G2532 and G2641 was left behind G3441 alone G3588 G* Jesus, G2532 and G3588 the G1135 woman G1722 [2in G3319 3the middle G1510.6 1being].
“But the comprehend by hearing and under the self-consciousness put to shame, go out one downward one commence away from the presbyter, and downward leave alone the and woman being in middle.”
Jesus didn’t jump up and fire back at them that they too had sinned with her, instead he asked for the ones who hadn’t sinned with her to cast the first stone. Since all had sinned and no one could throw a stone, they recognized they had been played and were shamed in their hearts. The scribes and Pharisees were outwitted, and yet there the woman still stood in the midst of the disciples.
John 8:10 G352 [3having raised the head G1161 1And G3588 G* 2Jesus], G2532 and G3367 [2no one G2300 1seeing] G4133 except G3588 the G1135 woman, G2036 said G1473 to her, G1135 Woman, G4226 where G1510.2.6 are they, G1565 those G3588 G2725 your accusers, G1473 G3762 did no one G1473 condemn you? G2632
Now Jesus simply asks the woman where her accusers were. No one was left who could judge her.
John 8:11 G3588 G1161 And G2036 she said, G3762 No one, G2962 O Lord. G2036 [3said G1161 1And G1473 4to her G3588 G* 2Jesus], G3761 Nor G1473 I G1473 condemn you; G2632 G4198 go G2532 and G575 from G3588 G3568 now G3371 [2no more G264 1sin]!
Jesus shows his mercy and compassion for this woman and for all people in difficult positions. I’m sure she did not grow up wishing to become a temple prostitute. Jesus continues to teach the disciples and explains that he is the light of the world. Yet the Pharisees are still hanging around.
The Pharisees accuse Jesus of bearing record of himself. Jesus tells them that the Father sent him. They ask about his Father and Jesus says that they don’t know his father. Jesus is teaching near where the treasury boxes are, the place they collected people’s tithes. Therefore there are also people coming and going, listening in on this conversation with the disciples, scribes, and Pharisees. Jesus tells them that he is not “of” this world and that they will die in their sins if they do not believe that he is “I Am”.
John 8:24 G2036 I said G3767 then G1473 to you G3754 that, G599 You shall die G1722 in G3588 G266 your sins; G1473 G1437 for if G1063 G3361 you should not believe G4100 G3754 that G1473 I G1510.2.1 am, G599 you shall die G1722 in G3588 G266 your sins. G1473
Jesus then tells them that when they raise him up then they will know “I Am”.
John 8:28 G2036 [2said G3767 3then G1473 4to them G3588 G* 1Jesus], G3752 Whenever G5312 you should raise up high G3588 the G5207 son G3588 G444 of man, G5119 then G1097 you shall know G3754 that G1473 I G1510.2.1 am; G2532 and G575 from G1683 myself G4160 I do G3762 nothing, G235 but G2531 as G1321 [2taught G1473 3me G3588 G3962 1my father], G1473 G3778 these things G2980 I speak.
Jesus says that they will come to know him. They will know that he is “I Am”. Jesus has said this a few times but so far they don’t get what he is saying.
John 8:29 G2532 And G3588 the one G3992 having sent G1473 me, G3326 [2with G1473 3me G1510.2.3 1is]. G3756 [5not G863 3left G1473 4me G3441 6alone G3588 1The G3962 2father], G3754 for G1473 I G3588 [2the things G701 3pleasing G1473 4to him G4160 1do] G3842 at all times.
30 G3778 These things G1473 of his G2980 having spoken, G4183 many G4100 believed G1519 in G1473 him.
Many believed in what he was saying, many believed into him. They heard him, he had been teaching at dawn in the courts near the treasury. There was a small scene with the scribes and Pharisees who were jealous of Jesus, and now Jesus is telling them who he is. Jesus tells his disciples that they will know the truth and the truth will make them free. The Pharisees took issue with this, saying that they were from Abraham and that they were not in bondage. But Jesus said that whoever commits sin is a servant of sin. Jesus just pointed out that they were sinning with the temple prostitute. They rationalized that she was not married, so they thought they were free from sin, when in actuality they were not.
John 8: 37 G1492 I know G3754 that G4690 [2seed G* 3of Abraham G1510.2.5 1you are]; G235 but G2212 you seek G1473 to kill me, G615 G3754 for G3588 G3056 [2word G3588 G1699 1my] G3756 does not G5562 have space G1722 in G1473 you.
38 G1473 I G3739 [2what G3708 3I have seen G3844 4by G3588 G3962 5my father G1473 G2980 1speak]; G2532 and G1473 you G3767 then G3739 what G3708 you have seen G3844 by G3588 G3962 your father G1473 G4160 you do.
Jesus says that the Pharisees are the seed of Abraham, but that they are not “of” Abraham. We know that the Pharisees were the people who rejected the Holy Spirit at the time of the Maccabean split. Jesus being an Essene/Nazarene and having been schooled under the Essenes was “of” a different order than the Pharisees. Jesus is “of” the order of Melchizedek, Shem, the Zedek/Zadok priests. But truly that is only an earthly perspective. Jesus was of an even higher order as he is the Creator, The Elohim. They kept missing what he was saying because the devil had grafted himself into them. That is what the devil was created to do, sport, prick, goad. The Pharisees, scribes, and Jews looked at Jesus as a man, not as Messiah. Even though all the miracles that Jesus was doing in Israel were pointing to his deity, they couldn’t see it due to the grafting in of the devil into their lives.
The Pharisees loved the power, money, and fine clothes that came with the job. They had the run of the city. We know that they were prideful and elevated themselves over the laity. Jesus points out that the works they do are not “of” Abraham. Killing Jesus would not be “of” Abraham. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of being born of harlotry. They did not believe Mary conceived as a virgin, even though Mary was among the virgins living and serving in the temple. They thought the scripture had been broken and the prophecies were not going to come to pass. That was a mistake.
John 8:42 G2036 [2said G1473 3to them G3588 G* 1Jesus], G1487 If G3588 G2316 God G3962 [2father G1473 1was your], G1510.7.3 G25 you would have loved G302 G1473 me; G1473 for I G1063 G1537 [2from G3588 G2316 3God G1831 1came forth], G2532 and G2240 I come; G3761 for neither G1063 G575 from G1683 myself G2064 have I come, G235 but G1565 that one G1473 sent me. G649
Here Jesus says that if the Elohim was their Father then they would love Him. He says that they do not understand his speech or his logos because they are of their father the devil.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2017/08/children-of-living-god-children-of.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/07/unsuccessful-testing-trials-sport.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/01/sporting-with-devil-not-victims-but.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/02/their-secret-game-twisted-heart-unclean.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/04/dark-and-light-cursing-belial-essene.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/10/love-justice-hate-evil-compare-and.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2019/01/belial-beliar-mastema-mischievous.html
John 8:44 G1473 You G1537 [2of G3588 3the G3962 4father G3588 5of the G1228 6devil G1510.2.5 1are], G2532 and G3588 the G1939 desires G3588 G3962 of your father G1473 G2309 you want G4160 to do. G1565 That one G443 [2a man-killer G1510.7.3 1was] G575 from G746 the beginning, G2532 and G1722 [3in G3588 4the G225 5truth G3756 1has not G2476 2stood], G3754 for G3756 [2is not G1510.2.3 G225 1truth] G1722 in G1473 him. G3752 Whenever G2980 he should speak G3588 the G5579 lie, G1537 from out of G3588 G2398 his own G2980 he speaks; G3754 for G5583 he is a liar, G1510.2.3 G2532 and G3588 the G3962 father G1473 of it.
The Pharisees are of their father the devil who was a man killer from the beginning. The devil speaks no truth and is the father of lies, and this is who the Pharisees are “of”, not Abraham. They allowed themselves to be grafted with the devil. The Jews tell Jesus that he is a Samaritan and he has a demon. Jesus wasn’t a Samaritan, but he was from north of Samaria. The Samaritans were considered dogs and half breeds, but we know Jesus’ genealogy. We also know that demons were scared of Jesus. They begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss. It is interesting that the demons testify that Jesus is the Son of God, the Holy One of God, and the Son of the Most High, Matthew 8:29, Mark 1:24, Mark 5:7, Luke 4:34, Luke 8:28.
Jesus reiterates that if someone believes in Jesus’ logos, they would not see death. However the Jews then said that Abraham and the prophets died. Jesus tells them that they claim the Elohim is their Elohim, but they do not know the Elohim. Jesus then says something that really sets them off.
John 8:56 G* Abraham, G3588 G3962 your father G1473 G21 exulted G2443 that G1492 he should behold G3588 G2250 [2day G3588 G1699 1my], G2532 and G1492 he saw G2532 and G5463 rejoiced.
“Abraham your father rejoiced exceedingly in order that know my day and know and happy.”
Jesus just told the Pharisees and Jews that Abraham knew about Jesus’ day and rejoiced and was happy about it. The way Jesus is explaining it makes the Pharisees and Jews wonder how Abraham could have known about Jesus. How could Abraham rejoice and be happy over Jesus?
John8:57 G2036 Then said G3767 G3588 the G* Jews G4314 to G1473 him, G4004 [3fifty G2094 4years G3768 2not yet G2192 1You have], G2532 and G* [2Abraham G3708 1you have seen]?
“Then say the Jews towards him ‘Be not yet fifty years, and seen Abranam?’”
The Jews could not process this information. How could Jesus know that Abraham was happy about Jesus? This would mean that the one that Abraham walked and talked with as a friend, which was Yahweh, was Jesus.
Genesis 18:1 G3708 [3appeared G1161 1And G1473 4to him G3588 G2316 2God] G4314 before G3588 the G1409.2 oak G3588 G* in Mamre, G2521 at his sitting G1473 G1909 near G3588 the G2374 door G3588 G4633 of his tent G1473 G3314 at midday.
2 G308 And lifting up G1161 G3588 G3788 his eyes G1473 G1492 he saw; G2532 and G2400 behold, G5140 three G435 men G2476 had set G1883 upon G1473 him. G2532 And G1492 seeing, G4370 he ran up G1519 to G4877 meet with G1473 them G575 from G3588 the G2374 door G3588 G4633 of his tent. G1473 G2532 And G4352 he did obeisance G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 ground.
Abraham sees the Elohim and invites the three anēr in. Anēr means “male” as compared to “manfaced”. Manfaced, anthrōpos, means “human as compared to angels”. The three were male beings, they were not anthrōpos. Abraham feeds them and then one of the Elohim speaks specifically to him,
Genesis 18:13 G2532 And G2036 the Lord said G2962 G4314 to G* Abraham, G5100 Why G3754 is it that G1070 Sarah laughed G* G1722 in G1438 herself, G3004 saying, G686 Indeed is it G1065 G230 truly G5088 I will bear, G1473 and I G1161 G1095 have grown old?
14 G3361 Is G101 [2impossible G3844 3to G2962 4 the Lord G4487 1 the saying]? G1519 At G3588 G2540 this time G3778 G1519 to G5610 the hour G390 I will return G4314 to G1473 you, G2532 and G1510.8.3 there will be G3588 G* to Sarah G5207 a son.
Yahweh tells Abraham that he and Sarah will have a son. Because Sarah laughed, Yahweh says; ‘Is the saying impossible in the presence of Yahweh?’. Yahweh then says that he will return. Yahweh continues.
Genesis 18:17 G3588 And the G1161 G2962 Lord G2036 said, G3766.2 No way G2928 shall I hide G575 from G* Abraham G3588 G3816 my servant G1473 G3739 what G1473 I G4160 do.
18 G* [3to Abraham G1161 1But G1096 2coming to pass], G1510.8.3 he will be G1519 made into G1484 [4nation G3173 1a great G2532 2and G4183 3populous], G2532 and G1757 [6shall be blessed G1722 7by G1473 8him G3956 1all G3588 2the G1484 3nations G3588 4of the G1093 5earth].
19 G1492 For I had known G1063 G3754 that G4929 he will order G3588 G5207 his sons, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G3624 his house G1473 G3326 after G1473 him; G2532 and G5442 they will guard G3588 the G3598 ways G2962 of the lord, G3588 G4160 to do G1343 righteousness G2532 and G2920 judgment; G3704 that G302 G1863 the Lord may bring G2962 G1909 upon G* Abraham G3956 all G3745 as much as G2980 he said G4314 to G1473 him.
Yahweh calls Abraham his servant. Yahweh and Abraham know each other. This is a communicative relationship, they speak to one another.
John 8:20 G2036 [3said G1161 1And G2962 2 the Lord], G2906 The cry G* of Sodom G2532 and G* Gomorrah G4129 has multiplied G4314 towards G1473 me, G2532 and G3588 G266 their sins G1473 G3173 are great, G4970 exceedingly.
21 G2597 Going down G3767 then, G3708 I will see G1487 if G2596 it is according to G3588 G2906 their cry, G1473 G3588 the cry G2064 coming G4314 to G1473 me G4931 that they exhaust; G1490 and if not, G2443 that G1097 I may know.
22 G2532 And G654 turning back G1564 from there, G3588 the G435 men G2064 came G1519 unto G* Sodom. G* And Abraham G1161 G2089 was still G1510.7.3 G2476 standing G1726 before G2962 the Lord .
Abraham negotiates with Yahweh over Sodom. While the angels go down to Sodom, Abraham is trying to stop Sodom’s destruction because his nephew Lot and Lots’ family live there. Abraham’s negotiations end at ten people. Lot had several children, some married with children, one had been murdered, and two of his youngest were virgins. Now we can understand Lot’s wife turning to look at the destruction. What was Abraham negotiating for? Abraham was negotiating for the righteous not to be punished with the unrighteous. Paul explains the same thing, that the righteous are saved from wrath, Romans 5:9, I Thessalonians 1:10, I Thessalonians 5:9. The righteous are saved, delivered, and not appointed to wrath.
Now imagine the Pharisees looking at Jesus, listening to this, and trying to believe that he was the one who sent the flood that killed the heirs of the Nephilim. That this Jesus was the one who sent fire and brimstone on the heirs of the Nephilim in Sodom. The Pharisees and the Jews knew this story. They knew it well. Jesus had just declared who he is and they did not like it. They could not see who he was. Jesus continues.
John 8:58 G2036 [2said G1473 3to them G3588 G* 1Jesus], G281 Amen, G281 amen, G3004 I say G1473 to you, G4250 Before G* Abraham G1096 existed G1473 I G1510.2.1 am.
“Jesus said them ‘Of a truth, truly I say, before Abraham was born I Am.’”
Jesus just said he existed before Abraham. That is one thing, but he identified himself again by saying that he is the I Am. Notice how Yahweh announced himself to Abram.
Genesis 17:1 G1096 [3was G1161 1And G* 2Abram G2094 5years old G1768 4ninety-nine], G2532 and G3708 the Lord appeared G2962 G3588 G* to Abram, G2532 and G2036 he said G1473 to him, G1473 I G1510.2.1 am G3588 G2316 your God, G1473 G2100 you are well-pleasing G1799 before G1473 me -- G2532 then G1096 be G273 blameless!
Yahweh appears to Abram and says I Am your Elohim. If we remember the story of Abraham, then we know that he knew of Yahweh as a child, having lived with Noah and Shem after Nimrod wanted to kill him. Abraham was not obeying random voices from the sky, he knew about Yahweh and had learned about Yahweh from Noah and Shem/Melchizedek. Being visited by Yahweh was not a new thing to Abraham. Now imagine Jesus standing among a bunch of Jews and Pharisees who do not like him and have been watching him since dawn trying to trap him. Jesus says that he is before Abraham and that Abraham knew him. Heads were exploding. But Jesus didn’t stop at Abraham.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2011/06/abraham-lives-with-noah-and-shem.html
Jesus adds in another person revered by the Jews and the Pharisees, Moses. Jesus says that he is the one who spoke to Moses. Jesus called himself the I AM. Again I’m sure peoples’ brains were short circuiting. Remember, the people who wanted to kill Jesus claimed ancestral heritage back to Abraham and they claimed to revere and uphold the laws that Moses gave. Jesus is saying that he is the one who gave the laws. What did the Elohim say to Moses?
Exodus 3:14 G2532 And G2036 God said G3588 G2316 G4314 to G* Moses, G1473 I G1510.2.1 am G3588 the one G1510.6 being. G2532 And G2036 he said, G3779 Thus G2046 you shall say G3588 to the G5207 sons G* of Israel, G3588 The one G1510.6 being G649 has sent G1473 me G4314 to G1473 you.
1510 LSJ Gloss:εἰμί I have
Dodson:εἰμί I am, exist.
TBESG:εἰμί to be
G:V
εἰμί,
Thayer:
1) to be, to exist, to happen, to be present
εἰμί
eimi i-mee' First person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist (used only when emphatic) KJV Usage: am, have been, X it is I, was. See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1526, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2277, G2468, G5600.
I exist is past, I am is present, I be is future. Jesus is all three of these tenses. But seeing Jesus walking around Jerusalem healing people and correcting the Pharisees and scribes made the Jews and Pharisees angry instead of curious as to who he is. Jesus is the one who was, who is, and who is to come, Revelation 1:8. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Jesus told John again who he is when he came to John on Patmos. We are fortunate to have hindsight, but they were disrespecting the Messiah, the Alpha and Omega.
“There is more to this idea of Yahweh as being or existing. Other spiritual beings were created, so they had a starting point. Other spiritual beings are not mighty almighty, and they do not know all the details of our time frame as Jesus said in regards to the new heavens and new earth, that not even the angels know the time of that event. This is important to understand. The devil has no idea about time. While he can be inter-dimensional, he is limited. The devil is not all knowing, all existing, or all powerful. He is simply just a hack. He would like to be like Yahweh but he will never be close. Further, demons are bound to earth, they are not inter-dimensional, and they are locked into the same constraints of time and space as we are. If we go back to our studies regarding the word Elohim, we see why this is important.
In an effort to be respectful and honor the personal name of Yahweh, the Jews came up with the idea of not using His name at all, thereby avoiding any blasphemous words. Instead they favored using Adonai or Elohim which both mean ruler or master. In today’s vernacular it would be like calling someone king or president. The problem is that those words were not meant to be the personal name of Yahweh but that is how they are used. Other beings are called elohim or adonai, not just Yahweh. This is what has led to much confusion as well as heresy. People feel safe misrepresenting Yahweh claiming he is saying and doing things contrary to his written word because in reality they are simply saying “the ruler said” or “the master is doing”. Who is the ruler or master? Is it Yahweh, the devil, angels or men? So what started out as reverence became twisted into a confusing mess. People unwilling to use Yahweh’s name the same way the patriarchs did are able to hide behind lies and falsehoods.”
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/12/omni-god-his-name-is-yahweh-mighty.html
We want to be aware that Adoni is not an original scriptural name. This was an intentional alteration. We should also understand that Jesus’ name is found in the old testament in prophecy. When people suggest that Jesus is not mentioned they are mistaken.
Another factor that complicates things is that some names can be translated differently in various languages, and we misunderstand translated names because of variations in the usages of consonants and vowels in those other languages. For example, Yeshua is Hebrew and translated into English as Jesus. In English, translating back to Hebrew, Yeshua is Joshua. From Hebrew to Greek, Yeshua is Iesous. In Aramaic, the name Jesus is Eashoa. In Latin, Jesus is Iesvs, (remember Indiana Jones almost blew it with the “J” for Jehovah in The Last Crusade). Now, if we take the name Jesus and translate it into modern languages, we have a whole host of different variations. Which one is right? Truly, it doesn’t matter, the Angel told Mary and Joseph to call him Jesus, or in their Northern Israeli language of Aramaic, Eashoa. However in the Old Testament Jesus is called Joshua, not Joshua the son of Nun (at least this Joshua has an identifier), but Joshua the High Priest.
This brings up a good point, why would the Father, God, name his Son Joshua, Yeshua, Jesus? God did not make things complicated, but sometimes distortions in expounding scriptures make things difficult. We have to remember Hebrew was almost a lost language in 300 BC, and there were deliberate changes to text at or about 300 AD by Jews trying to take the Christianity out of the Bible.
Hebraic speaking people from the first century through to today know that the name Joshua means Jesus in English. Therein lies the problem; if one does not believe in Jesus as Messiah, hiding any relationship between Jesus and the Messiah will be normal. If we take our previous understanding of the Aleph Tav, and combine that with the understanding of names and translations of names, we find that Zechariah, in the second year of Darius, gave us the name of the strong man on the cross, the one we were to look for. Remember, when we studied Paleo Hebrew, as Moses wrote AZ (Aleph Tav) almost 5,000 times in the Torah alone, and AZ or ‘et is used over 11,000 times in the Old Testament, which means ox and sign, or strong man, and cross. In Daniel 9, Daniel says he read Jeremiah and knew the 70 years of exile were almost up. That was in the first year of Daruis. It was the time of Daniel’s greatest vision of the Anti-Christ, the seven year tribulation, and the angel’s exact date when the Messiah was going to be hailed as King, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. From the time of Daniel’s vision it was173,880 days. In other words, 483 years until the Messiah comes on a donkey (of a 360 day year). One year later, after Daniel’s vision, Zechariah tells us the Messiah’s name, Jesus. I bet most people have never heard that before.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/jesus-name-in-old-testament-messiah.html
The Aleph Tav that Moses wrote throughout the Torah is translated in Greek Alpha Omega. Jesus identifies himself as the Alpha Omega, or the Aleph Tav. It is the A Z the first and the last. Therefore at the time when Jesus is identifying himself to the Jews and the Pharisees, they are seething, knowing who he is claiming himself to be.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/06/father-of-lies-jesus-i-am-witchcraft.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/05/ancient-understanding-of-law-abraham.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/12/omni-god-his-name-is-yahweh-mighty.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2018/08/new-jerusalem-eight-thousand-years.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-choice-aleph-and-tav-part-1-of.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/08/supernatural-visions-and-aleph-tav-who.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/jesus-name-in-old-testament-messiah.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/11/gods-among-men-unraveling-satan.html
The Greek is more accurate, as we realize that we need to eliminate all the usages of Adonai and return the words back to either Yahweh or Elohim. We then understand that Jesus is telling the Jews and Pharisees that he is the one who spoke to Moses when Moses received the law.
Exodus 6:2 G2980 [3spoke G1161 1And G3588 G2316 2God] G4314 to G* Moses, G2532 and G2036 said G4314 to G1473 him, G1473 I am G2962 the Lord .
3 G2532 And G3708 I appeared G4314 to G* Abraham, G2532 and G* Isaac, G2532 and G* Jacob, G2316 [3God G1510.6 1being G1473 2their]. G2532 And G3588 G3686 my name, G1473 G2962 the Lord, G3756 was not G1213 manifested G1473 to them.
As the children of Jacob are close to leaving Egypt, Moses is told by Yahweh that he is the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Clearly he says that his name (Yahweh) was not manifested to them. The word here that is translated as manifested, is the word dēloō, meaning to “make clear, to make visible, to make plain, or to reveal”. Yahweh did not make plain his name to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We know that it was Yahweh speaking to them, and they knew that they were speaking to an Elohim, or Yahweh Elohim, and Moses made this all plain to us when he wrote the Torah. Moses told us that it was Yahweh Elohim or Yahweh that was speaking to them. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob simply understood the Elohim spoke to them. Moses also added the identifier of the AZ or Aleph Tav, so that people would understand who was speaking.
Jesus is telling the Pharisees, scribes, and Jews, that he was the one who gave the law to Moses, he was the one who told Moses his name, and he was the one who walked and talked with Abraham. Jesus’ point still stands, if they were “of” Abraham, they would know who he was. Instead of asking him questions in a nice way, they pick up stones to throw at him. Why do they have so many stones just lying around the temple? Do they just keep a pile of stones in the courts to kill people? They are ready to kill Jesus. John doesn’t say how he concealed himself, but somehow Jesus was cloaked.
John 8:59 G142 Then they lifted G3767 G3037 stones G2443 that G906 they should throw G1909 at G1473 him; G* but Jesus G1161 G2928 was hidden, G2532 and G1831 he went forth G1537 from out of G3588 the G2413 temple, G1330 going G1223 through G3319 the midst G1473 of them, G2532 and G3855 passed by G3779 thus.
John 9:1 G2532 And G3855 passing on, G1492 he beheld G444 a man G5185 blind G1537 from G1079 birth.
2 G2532 And G2065 [2asked G1473 3him G3588 G3101 1his disciples], G1473 G3004 saying, G4461 Rabbi, G5100 Who G264 sinned, G3778 this one G2228 or G3588 G1118 his parents, G1473 G2443 that G5185 [2blind G1080 1he was born]?
3 G611 Jesus answered, G3588 G* G3777 Neither G3778 this one G264 sinned, G3777 nor G3588 G1118 his parents; G1473 G235 but G2443 that G5319 should be made manifest G3588 the G2041 works G3588 G2316 of God G1722 in G1473 him.
Jesus cloaks himself and walks through the middle of the Pharisees, scribes, and Jews. Then goes out to heal a blind man, which is another notable miracle that the religious leaders would not accept as coming from the Messiah. Later the Masoretes erased this qualification for the Messiah from the Book of Isaiah.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/10/recovery-of-sight-to-blind-isaiah-61.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/07/scriptures-moses-destroyed-scripture.html
We should notice that the events at the temple courts did not deter Jesus’ disciples. They then witnessed Jesus opening blind eyes. Jesus opened at least ten blind eyes, it could be more. When Jesus revealed himself to the Pharisees, scribes, and Jews, all they wanted to do was to kill him. They had been grafted with the devil. So why reveal who he was to them? Was it because they wouldn’t believe and that would make the story spread? Would people share what Jesus said? The disciples already knew who he was, they didn’t need him to say that he was the I AM. Since Jesus’ crucifixion many people have attempted to alter text, add names, and delete text, yet those things don’t hinder the children of God. We are persuaded by understanding expectations. The unseen proof resides within our heart. We personally know the I AM because it is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
