Pat’s Blog

Beyond the measure of culpability in deliberate omissions, reworks and additions resulting from anti-Jewish theological bias (for example, in Romans 10:4 the Messiah is “the goal at which the Torah aims,” not “the end of the law”) there is a lack of understanding of the ways in which the Hebrew mind views the world that, unless you come from this Jewish culture, escapes most of us.

For instance, John 20:3-9 describes Peter entering the tomb where Y’shua had been laid after His ordeal on the cross. In this passage is noted the “napkin, which was around His head, not lying with the linen clothes.” That verse, translated strictly from the Greek, is correct. What is lost in transliteration, however, is that the “napkin” described there is really a Jewish “tallit” which was why it was laying neatly folded, separate from the other clothes. Not having a Hebrew background would make it difficult understanding what was actually meant behind these Hebrew words.

When every Jewish boy turns 13 years of age, he becomes a bar mitzvah (literally - son of the commandment) and is obligated to begin to observe the commandments of Moses. At that time, he is given a tallit that he takes with him everywhere he goes for the rest of his life for use in his morning prayer. It is what is draped “around” or, more precisely, over the head during prayer and, traditionally, that same tallit is placed over the head of one who has died as they lie in their grave or tomb. That garment has fringes or strings on the corners called “lights” and, when not being used, is to be folded in a certain manner so that the lights all hang together from the same corner.

What is notable about this same event as described in Luke 24:12, has Peter “wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.” Peter was not yet fully aware of all that was happening, but since he saw the tallit was properly folded and away from the rest of the clothes, he knew for certain the Romans had not taken His Master because no Roman soldier would have known what a tallit was, let alone how to properly fold one, as Y’shua would have. When He arose from the dead, while still in the tomb, Y’shua removed the tallit from off his head, neatly folded it and laid it separately from the rest of His clothing - as He had done every day of His life from the time He was a boy, probably without thinking much about it because it had become second nature to him, a matter of habit.

What is significant about this one word, “napkin”, is how it illustrates the lack of understanding a Greek mindset possesses when looking at scripture - and when looking at who He is in Truth. Y’shua was and remains Jewish. He never distanced Himself from His People - not even in death. Think on this - there is not, nor has there ever been, another race of people on the planet upon whom God has declared, “These are My People.” Romans 11 tells us that it is WE, the Gentiles, who have been grafted INTO the Jewish root - not the other way around. It is BECAUSE of the Jewish THROUGH whom the Promise came, enabling us all to come into the Presence of the Father today.

By: haRold Smith in Jerusalem, Israel: http://hethathasanear.com