Acts 7:13
And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.
For centuries now the Jewish people have been accused of rejecting the Messiah, of being the force that provoked His execution. This accusation gains momentum each year in spring when people remember the crucifixion. This erroneous understanding of the Bible by Christianity has to do with an ignorance of History as well as with the semantics of English New Testaments which repeatedly use the expression, ’And the Jews …’ These sorts of statements have hang on the Jewish nation for two millennia and have been the source of much atrocious persecution from the beginning of the second century C.E. on. Paul, the chosen emissary of the Master warned against this attitude of non-Jewish believers against the Jewish nation in his famous ‘do not be arrogant against the branches’ (Romans 11:18) olive tree analogy. Could there be a misunderstanding? The events following Chanukah may bring us some illumination.
After pushing away the Greco-Syrian army, the Maccabees sat themselves on the throne of Jerusalem. Because only a descendant of David could sit on that throne (Messiah being a son of David) this created great tension among the people of Judea. A Judean official begged Rome for help. Rome then 'obliged' by taking over Judea and its government, including Temple High-Priest appointments (Maccabees 1 and 2). At that time Herod, the Roman appointed King of Jerusalem persecuted many who were actually from the lineage of David, so they fled to Galilee. Many in Judea resisted this situation, mainly the Zealots and the Assenes, and wanted the return of the Davidic monarchy, of which Yeshua was allegeable. In the end, only a few Sadducee collaborators from the Judean leadership had a serious problem with Yeshua; the rest of the people loved Him and were glad to debate the Scriptures with Him as Jews always do. Most Jewry also lived outside of Israel. Could then the statement, ‘and the Jews …’ refer to the Jewish nation in general?
In the narration of the story of Joseph we see how he concealed his true identity from both the Egyptians and his brothers. We also see that Joseph did not reveal himself to his biological family until Benjamin, the brother who did not persecute him, as he was not part of the plot against Joseph, was present (Genesis 41-45).
In the same manner, the Messiah today and for now 2,000 years has concealed His true Jewish identity from the Gentiles. He also has not yet fully revealed Himself to His brothers. He is waiting for the arrival of Benjamin, the brother who was not part of the persecution ordeal. Could ‘Benjamin’ be today’s Jewish Messianic movement? The Scriptures said that Joseph revealed himself to his brothers at the ‘second’ visitation. If the hardening in part (Romans 11:25) was part of the greater plan of the Almighty, persecutors of the people of God for so-called 'unbelief will have to answer to Abba for what they have done (Jeremiah 2:3).
And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.
For centuries now the Jewish people have been accused of rejecting the Messiah, of being the force that provoked His execution. This accusation gains momentum each year in spring when people remember the crucifixion. This erroneous understanding of the Bible by Christianity has to do with an ignorance of History as well as with the semantics of English New Testaments which repeatedly use the expression, ’And the Jews …’ These sorts of statements have hang on the Jewish nation for two millennia and have been the source of much atrocious persecution from the beginning of the second century C.E. on. Paul, the chosen emissary of the Master warned against this attitude of non-Jewish believers against the Jewish nation in his famous ‘do not be arrogant against the branches’ (Romans 11:18) olive tree analogy. Could there be a misunderstanding? The events following Chanukah may bring us some illumination.
After pushing away the Greco-Syrian army, the Maccabees sat themselves on the throne of Jerusalem. Because only a descendant of David could sit on that throne (Messiah being a son of David) this created great tension among the people of Judea. A Judean official begged Rome for help. Rome then 'obliged' by taking over Judea and its government, including Temple High-Priest appointments (Maccabees 1 and 2). At that time Herod, the Roman appointed King of Jerusalem persecuted many who were actually from the lineage of David, so they fled to Galilee. Many in Judea resisted this situation, mainly the Zealots and the Assenes, and wanted the return of the Davidic monarchy, of which Yeshua was allegeable. In the end, only a few Sadducee collaborators from the Judean leadership had a serious problem with Yeshua; the rest of the people loved Him and were glad to debate the Scriptures with Him as Jews always do. Most Jewry also lived outside of Israel. Could then the statement, ‘and the Jews …’ refer to the Jewish nation in general?
In the narration of the story of Joseph we see how he concealed his true identity from both the Egyptians and his brothers. We also see that Joseph did not reveal himself to his biological family until Benjamin, the brother who did not persecute him, as he was not part of the plot against Joseph, was present (Genesis 41-45).
In the same manner, the Messiah today and for now 2,000 years has concealed His true Jewish identity from the Gentiles. He also has not yet fully revealed Himself to His brothers. He is waiting for the arrival of Benjamin, the brother who was not part of the persecution ordeal. Could ‘Benjamin’ be today’s Jewish Messianic movement? The Scriptures said that Joseph revealed himself to his brothers at the ‘second’ visitation. If the hardening in part (Romans 11:25) was part of the greater plan of the Almighty, persecutors of the people of God for so-called 'unbelief will have to answer to Abba for what they have done (Jeremiah 2:3).
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