YESHUA THE TORAH 

Everything in the life of an observant Jew is a testimony of Yeshua. The Torah scroll and the Torah service in the Ashkenazi synagogues is one of the greatest testimonies of Yeshua I have ever seen. They have done it this way for thousands of years. Now I'd like to lay some groundwork so that you too may see this great testimony of who Yeshua really was and is. And remember, "He is the same yesterday, today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 There are 2 scriptures we need to keep in mind as I walk you through this illustration of the Torah scroll. The 1st one is Luke 2:8-12 . ...... and the angels said to the shepherds, "this shall be a sip unto you; you will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloth, lying in a manger." The 2nd one is John 1: I- 1 4. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ........ and the Word became flesh and dwelt among US." I believe this "Word" spoken of here is the whole Tanach (Old Testament), but is specifically the Torah which is the 5 books of Moshe ..... Genesis through Deuteronomy. In the above illustration the objects are numbered, so here are the definitions of each one. All these objects are located on the eastern wall of the synagogue. 

1. The Eternal Light. This light bums continuously and is the only thing located higher on the wall than the Torah itself The Eternal Light represents the Sh'kinah Glory of God, and it shines down onto the Torah. 

2. The Ark is where the Torah scroll is kept. The meaning of the word "ark" is "a place for that which is plucked and gathered." The meaning of the word "manger" is also a place to store that which is plucked and gathered. 

3. The Torah scroll, dressed. The Torah is referred to as "He". When removed from the ark, He is carried the way one carries a baby. The Torah is dressed in a royal robe; He wears the crown of a King and the breastplate of the High Priest. Yeshua is both our King and our High Priest. 

4. The Torah scroll, undressed. He is wrapped in swaddling cloth which is called a "dipple". 

S. The dipple is a belt like strip of flannel which babies were wrapped in. 

6. The Torah, unrolled. The Word of HaShem is written on parchment paper made of lamb's skin. The 2 posts which the scroll is rolled onto are called "The Tree of Life." The Lamb's skin (flesh) is literally nailed to the Tree of life. After the Torah reading, the scroll which is still opened to the reading, is lifted up high before the congregation and the congregation declares "this is the Word of HaShem as given to Moshe on Mt. Sinai." Yeshua said "if I be lifted, I'll draw all men to me." John 12:32-33. The Hebrew words which I put on this illustration of the scroll says, "Yeshua the Torah, from beginning to end." 

Yeshua said that Moshe wrote of him. He also said "If you don't believe Moshe, you won't believe me." John 5:46. So, who is the True Messiah? He is Yeshua, the Living Torah! If you want to know what He's all about, get acquainted with the Torah. And, we are to be conformed into the image of HaShem's dear Son. Romans 8:28-29. 

The Torah was and is the Testimony of Yeshua. Revelation 12:17. On the Mount of Temptation, the devil tempted him but Yeshua overcame the dragon by the Torah. With each temptation he said "it is written..." Each of the 3 scriptures Yeshua quoted are found in the book of Deuteronomy. In Revelation 12:1 1, we are told that one of the ways we will overcome the dragon in our lives is "by the Word of our testimony". All throughout the Tanach, the Ark of the Covenant was referred to as "The Ark of Our Testimony". That Ark contained The Torah. Shalom and be greatly blessed. 

Patricia Baxley