Epistle Ki Tetze

Epistle Ki Tetze

John 18:1-18

Joh 18:1 When Yeshua had spoken these words, he went out with his talmidim over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which he and his talmidim entered.

Joh 18:2  Now Yehudah, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Yeshua often met there with his talmidim.

Joh 18:3  Yehudah then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief Kohanim and the Perushim, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Joh 18:4  Yeshua therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went forth, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”

Joh 18:5  They answered him, “Yeshua of Natzeret.” Yeshua said to them, “I AM.” Yehudah also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

Joh 18:6  When therefore he said to them, “I AM,” they went backward, and fell to the ground.

The “Voice of YHWH,” known as Metatron by the Sages.

John, continued:

Joh 18:7  Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Yeshua of Natzeret.”

Joh 18:8  Yeshua answered, “I told you that I AM. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,”

Joh 18:9  that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.”

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. Those whom you have given me I have kept. None of them is lost, except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

John, continued:

Joh 18:10  Shim`on Kefa therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the Kohen Gadol’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Melekh.

Joh 18:11  Yeshua therefore said to Kefa, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?”

Joh 18:12  So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Judeans, seized Yeshua and bound him,

Joh 18:13  and led him to Anan first, for he was father-in-law to Kayafa, who was Kohen Gadol that year.

Joh 18:14  Now it was Kayafa who advised the Judeans that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

Joh 11:49  But a certain one of them, Kayafa, being Kohen Gadol that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,   Joh 11:50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”   Joh 11:51  Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being Kohen Gadol that year, he prophesied that Yeshua would die for the nation,   Joh 11:52  and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of Elohim who are scattered abroad.

John, continued:

Joh 18:15  Shim`on Kefa followed Yeshua, as did another talmid. Now that talmid was known to the Kohen Gadol, and entered in with Yeshua into the court of the Kohen Gadol;

Joh 18:16  but Kefa was standing at the door outside. So the other talmid, who was known to the Kohen Gadol, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Kefa.

Joh 18:17  Then the maid who kept the door said to Kefa, “Are you also one of this man’s talmidim?” He said, “I am not.”

Joh 18:18  Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Kefa was with them, standing and warming himself.

Obviously, Peter was not damned to hell for his fear and cowardice, but we should be careful.  If a person is in a situation where they do not with their alliegance to be known, one can certainly obfuscate.  But it is not a good policy to tell an outright lie.  It is permissible to do so to save a life, but an astute person will steer the conversation in such a way as to avoid having to lie.

The prophets spoke of the suffering servant in plain terms, without coming right out and saying that YHWH Incarnate  was that servant.  This mystery was not understood by the prophets.  They knew only two things – a Messiah would come, and that YHWH would come to earth and fight for them.  They did not understand (and the prophets did not make plain) that these two events were one and the same, both at the first advent and at the second.  At the first, YHWH came to earth to defeat the Law of Sin and Death, and to dissolve the marriage bond between himself and the House of Israel so that it could be forged anew.  But they confused this with the events of the second advent, which is why they kept expecting Yeshua to overthrow the Roman government.  As the events of Passover were unfolding, they were scared and confused – but those are not sins, and Elohim forgives us when we are afraid and act in fear, just as he forgave Peter.