Pray Tell

Was Jesus a ‘Zionist’?

A while back I was warned by someone to not associate with a particular organization as it was ‘too Zionist’. I was puzzled by this statement. Reading the Gospels I couldn’t help but ask, was Jesus not a ‘Zionist’? Having a fairly solidified answer in my mind, I thought I would still pose this question to you.

First, lets all get on the same page with the definition of a ‘Zionist’ or ‘Zionism’. This term has become very politically charged and conjures up images of concrete barriers, soldiers fast-roping onto renegade ships and human rights activists protesting outside the United Nations building. While I don’t think Jesus would participate in or advocate any (if not all) of those things, it still begs the question: was He a Zionist? Clarification is needed in this environment of ‘too much information’ and media saturation. We need to lay emotions and political inclinations aside and define this word:

Miriam-Webster defines ‘Zionism’ as “an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel.” 

The Jewish Virtual Library defines ‘Zionism’ as “The national movement for the return of the Jewish people to their homeland and the resumption of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.  Has come to include the development of the State of Israel and the protection of the Jewish nation in Israel.”

‘Zion’ is a term often synonymous with ‘Jerusalem’ but in this context, refers to the larger location and idea of Israeli sovereignty. So in essence, Zionism seeks to establish, maintain and support a sovereign State of Israel. 

Now that we are on equal footing with the definition of ‘Zionism’, we need to ask: was/is He a Zionist according to these definitions? Did/does He long for the restoration of Israel and its sovereignty? Is it even clear in the Gospels? Is His definition of ‘Israel’ different than what we know it today? 

The following is an article describing an ancient ‘bulla’ that has been found by the Israeli Antiquities Authority constituting the first tangible evidence of the existence of the city of Bethlehem. 

My thoughts:

“Furthermore, you who heard the message of the truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were SEALED by him with the promised Ruach HaKodesh, who guarantees our inheritance until we come into possession of it and thus bring him praise commensurate with his glory.” (Eph 1:13-14, CJB).

From the article posted: “A bulla is a piece of clay that was used for sealing a document or object. The bulla was impressed with the seal of the person who sent the document or object, and its integrity was evidence the document or object was not opened by anyone unauthorized to do so.”

Truly this is just in time for Shavu’ot (aka Pentecost)! Having been sent by the Rabbi Yeshua, we are sealed in His holy and set apart Spirit. The integrity and legitimacy of our testimony is proven by our ‘bulla’; our seal. Lastly, we cannot be compromised by anyone unauthorized to do so! Do you bear the seal of the Messiah? 

                                

Let’s cut this short and build our own way,

to Heaven’s door and call it a day. 

It’ll take some time but time’s on our side.

We’ll build it strong, we’ll build it high. 

I know some men that are good with stone.

I’ll get them started and just leave them alone.

All I need is some capital, some big investors,

some bonds or gold. 

See, Babylon is alive today.

Just look around, she’s here to stay. 

If ya can’t beat her you could join her son,

like a Benedict Arnold or a man on the run. 

Salvation is a hard day’s work; 

Day in day out, though my hands hurt. 

We’ll fix ourselves- this world of strife,

If it costs a dollar or if it costs your life. 

See, Babylon is alive today.

Just look around, she’s here to stay. 

If ya can’t beat her you could join her son,

like a Benedict Arnold or a man on the run. 

“Well here are the keys to the Kingdom,

For the one who comes lowly and humbled. 

I called you by name, called you a son.

But you’re still a man, you’re still man on the run.”

“Strange how I always imagined some sort of medieval martyrdom as an “extreme testing” of my faith — but in many ways living for God is more difficult than what I imagined dying for him would be like.”

I stole this quote from another ‘Gabe’.

I’m still deep in thought after reading 1 Kings 12 and 13 last night with the family. The narrative in these two chapters is as odd as it is eerily familiar. 

Here’s an outline of some of these odd occurrences:

-The establishing of a new priesthood apart from that ordained in the Torah: Jeroboam consecrated anyone who wanted to be a priest of the high place (13:33).

He also set up temples on the high places and made priests from among all the people, even though they were not descended from Levi (12:31).

-Jeroboam changed the calendar from that outlined in the Torah: Jeroboam instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Judah (12:32).

-He appointed himself a high priest or bishop of sorts and approached the alter himself: he went up to the altar to burn incense (12:33).

-He changed the center of worship from Jerusalem, God’s appointed place, to Bethel and Dan: He placed one (calf) in Beit-El and the other (calf) in Dan (12:29).

-Jeroboam establishes several ‘holy’ places apart from the one place deemed such:  He also set up temples on the high places… (12:31).

 

A nameless messenger, after confronting Jeroboam on his cult-version of the true faith, is approached by an older prophet claiming to have received a special revelation that God has changed His mind and loosened the standard. The messenger is fooled and has table fellowship with the ‘prophet’. Ultimately this cost the messenger his life.