What Is In His Name?

An image taken over a generation ago...read about its history here.
This image is included there, #54 (9th row, 5th position). Be sure to read the
other stories and how the image owners came to attain it.

If you have a television or read any news online or in print on paper, you have most likely heard about many natural disasters around the world.

These occur every year, some years being worse than others.

Have you noticed that not all the people who perished were unable to rescue themselves?

Earthquakes happen without warning, and people unfortunately become trapped in debris and pass away.

Flood waters rise quickly in a hurricane or heavy rains, causing mudslides or rivers and oceans to breach their typical borders...and people are lost in the stormy waters.

These exemplify how mankind is helpless when natural events overcome people.

Perhaps professional emergency personnel come to the 'rescue', or regular people who are immediately available and do their best to 'deliver' people out of trouble, and these efforts are to be commended and honored.

But notice that despite man's efforts, death is a natural event that overcomes mankind at one point or another...and who will escape death?

Medical and scientific professionals do their best to overcome death's eventual visit...but death has a better record of success over man's efforts.

Mankind has long pondered his mortality, and wondered about the moments 'after' death.

These ideas fill library shelves with philosophical and religious books...and the internet has its share of ideas, most internet ideas being opinions distant from what has already been reasoned generations previously or currently.

Is there anyone who can 'save' a man or woman from death's inevitable visit?

Is there someone who can 'deliver' a person from that eventual reality people will experience in one way or another?

Is there anybody who will surely 'rescue' people from the grave..that place we've seen friends, relatives and strangers go in in but not come out of?

What about people who claim that there is life after death and have no doubt about it?

I am one of those people.

I firmly believe that life continues despite the physical body experiencing 'death' and its eventual decay with the elements returning to their basic state.

Why do I believe this?

This phenomenon was exemplified by Yeshua Christ.

How's that?

If you visit the link beneath the image I shared in this article, you'll realize that people from all over the world have experienced that striking image after developing their film.

A quick explanation for the younger generation; before digital imagery we had 'film', and that paper had to be developed after any image (light) was exposed onto it.

If you read some (or all) of the testimonials at that website about this particular image, you'll see a variety of people sharing a similar miracle, yet in different times and places on earth.

What does that image have to do with death and Yeshua as Christ?

It is this same Yeshua that was mentioned long ago, over the several centuries the Bible was inspired.

The Bible is a compilation of personal or group experiences written down in either journal form, as a letter to others, and in other 'formats'.

The Bible's testimony was brought together into a single volume because it tells the story of this same Unique Individual.

The reason the Bible has lasted so long (meaning that people still refer to it and believe what is contained therein) is because time and time again what is written therein comes to pass.

Every single claim, decree, prophecy, etc., has come to pass.

Some events or themes repeat, like when a harvest is realized after a planting, watering and pruning...though not all people 'see' nor understand these matters.

Some people may never 'see' or experience a miracle, yet understand and believe fully these matters.

Other people, although seeing and experiencing the miraculous, sadly fail to believe these matters.

There are variations within and beyond these two examples of the battle between doubt and faith.

The man Yeshua Christ proclaimed the following:

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Yeshua, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”But Yeshua remained silent and gave no answer. 

Again the high priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 

“I Am,” said Yeshua. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 

- Mark 14: 60-62 (early 1st century A.D.)

It was promised that people will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One - and - coming on the clouds of heaven.

Stephen experienced seeing the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One (Acts 7: 56).

As to how many other times people have also seen such a vision as Stephen did, who knows.

In recent times many have witnessed the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven...documented to having occurred late last century - 20 centuries since Yeshua walked the earth in the flesh (see again image and read those testimonies).

Regarding your death and what Yeshua means to you:

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago... 

- 1 Peter 3: 18-20a

The death of Christ is irrefutable, as is the historical relevance that such a man Named Yeshua and called Christ factually existed.

The testimony from before Yeshua walked the earth, and later proclaimed by Himself, was that He would die and come back to life.

Did it happen?

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him... 

...Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that He was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Yeshua to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 

- Acts 2: 23-24, 31-32

There was a man who was not present to witness Yeshua's death, burial and resurrection (first appearances)...yet, this man saw something possibly similar to what is shown in this article's image:

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a Voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 

“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. 

“I Am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 

- Acts 9: 3-7

There have been countless affirmations of Yeshua's works (miracles) since the 1st century.

Every subsequent year people not only experience miracles personally, but are told testimonies of other miracles...some similar to what is found in the Bible, some quite unique in themselves.

The constant theme among them all is this: the Name of Yeshua Christ.

The greatest miracle, or 'Sign unto mankind', is the fact that Yeshua died and came back to life.

Why is this the greatest, or most important?

Because it speaks to each one of our hearts and souls.

It is most important, because it testifies that life does continue after the experience of physical death.

We have all pondered our own mortality, and we know very well the consternation we've felt when considering such thoughts.

This is why countless millions upon millions of Christians, or those who have placed their faith and dependence on Yeshua as their Savior, their Rescuer, their Deliverer, have not feared death.

These believers knew what awaited them and thus at times even welcomed death, putting away this life's troublesome experiences while expecting a new reality free from pain, suffering, evil and darkness.

So...what of the Name of Yeshua?

The Name Yeshua is Hebrew and is:

- a verbal derivative from "to rescue", "to deliver"

What of that term Christ"?

The term Christ is from the Greek term meaning:

- "the anointed one", a title for the Savior and Redeemer who brings salvation to mankind.

Christ is derived from the Hebrew Messiah, and carries several meanings (read them at the link).

Aside from death, what else have millions upon millions of people been 'saved' from?

Sin.

Sin is any and all things which fall outside of holiness, perfection, purity and uncompromised obedience to God's will.

Has anyone ever been without sin?

Has anybody ever acted and spoken perfectly, fully holy, always pure and in full submission and obedience to God and His will?

Yes!

We read earlier that Yeshua was the righteous exchange for your less than perfect existence (unrighteous).

It is the simple fact that no human being was able to be perfect, and thus sinless, that Yeshua was manifested.

Continuing with the rest of that exchange of your sin for His holiness:

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Yeshua Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him. 

- 1 Peter 3: 18-22

That is a very profound and often times misunderstood passage of Scripture.

Notice 'how' you are saved...and the small part / role you have in His salvation.

Perhaps this next and final one will resolve better the mystery of God's work when He became Yeshua Christ:

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Yeshua, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Yeshua Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

-Acts 2: 36-39

Notice how Yeshua is both Lord and Messiah and how it is the Lord our God that calls you.

In another article, we will explore 'how' Yeshua was made to be Lord, and was / is Lord from times eternal.

God has long called you from eternity, ever since He conceived you in His heart and His mind.

Praised be His Holy Name...that Name through which salvation comes:

Yeshua is 

“ ‘the stone you builders rejected, 

which has become the cornerstone.’ 

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 

- Acts 4: 11-12