Parashat Metzorah, the “leper” which we read this Shabbat seems particularly appropriate for this time of year, for the soon-coming Feast of Pesach with Yeshua as its central figure. The affliction, named tzara’at, is described in terms that we also encounter in Isaiah 53, regarding the Messiah of Israel, who was afflicted when He gave up His life (during Pesach), to forgive, redeem and heal His people. Several other terms used in the Parasha, such as “outside the city” are akin to “outside the camp”. “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Yeshua also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:11-13).
When
honoring Pesach, we do not generally call to mind the invitation to come and
drink from Yeshua's cup of suffering. Hebrews 12:4 states: “You have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin” (Hebrews
12:4). There is only one place where we can be released from the bondage to sin
and death and that is, as we know, outside the camp, at the cross, by faith
receiving what the Father has offered us through Yeshua’s shed blood. For
“according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood,
and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
A
person who was afflicted by what was called tzraat (which is not the literal
sickness that is known as leprosy), was manifesting in his body an internal,
sinful, condition. Sin has a tormenting
effect on the soul. The afflicted person had to be examined by the priest who determined
whether the latter was unclean and as such had to go outside the camp. But, surprisingly, when the leper's body turned
completely white he was declared clean!
"And the priest shall look
at the raw flesh, and he shall pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is
unclean, it is leprosy. Or if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to
white, then he shall come to the priest, and the priest shall look at him, and
behold, if the infection has turned to white, then the priest shall pronounce
clean him who has the infection; he is clean” (Leviticus 13:15-17 emphasis added). What
an amazing picture of what the blood of Yeshua does to our leprosy! When we are completely covered with the “(white)
tzara’at" the priest declares us clean.
To reiterate, even though the white skin indicates having had leprosy,
yet we are declared clean! This is why
we must present ourselves to our High
Priest and repent, shedding off the old blood/life. Knowing that we have been separated
from the raw flesh and the power of sin, we are now under the covering of the
blood of Yeshua. His blood heals the infection which
allows to be declared, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be
as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18; See also Psalm 51:5-7). But if we (as sons) participate with sin, we
will be loved in a very special way: "My
son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Father, nor faint when you are
reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord/Father loves He disciplines, and He
scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:5-6).
During
the Pesach “seder” four cups are lifted, based on Exodus 6:6-7: The Cup of Sanctification – “I will bring you
out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (principalities and powers); The
Cup of Judgment or Deliverance – “I will deliver you from slavery to them”
(laws of sin and death); The Cup of Redemption – “I will redeem you with an
outstretched arm”; The Cup of Praise or Consummation (of marriage) – “I will
take you to be My people, and I will be your Elohim”.*
However,
according to the Gospels, Yeshua and the disciples drank only three of these
cups, omitting the cup of Judgment (Matt. 26:27-29; Mark 14:23-25; Luke
22:17-18,20; 1st Cor. 11:25). But soon after, the Father did present Yeshua
with this cup. With blood, sweat, and tears Yeshua agonized in Gat Shmanim in
submission to the will of His Father: "My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not My will, but Your
will be done" (Matthew 26:39). There was no judicial way of getting around
the Law of Redemption. The Redeemer had to give up His life. Thus, Yeshua
consumed to the full the Cup of Judgment, as His body was torn with whips and
beatings until His flesh was as raw as that of a leper. He had to take on the Cup of the Wrath of
Elohim that was upon the Adamic race. “Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup” (Psalm
11:6). “You who have drunk
from YHVH's hand the cup of His anger; the chalice of reeling you have drained
to the dregs” (Isaiah 51:17). Indeed, YHVH's anger and wrath for all the
ills committed by mankind became Yeshua's lot. Today we are witnessing and experiencing
everywhere, and particularly in Israel, an avalanche of evil and violence, as
well as deception and gross injustice. There is a natural desire to get back at
the enemies who are committing such atrocities, but no matter how evil their
actions and the wrath of Elohim that is due them, Yeshua has already taken all
of that upon Himself when He drank to the dregs that Cup of Judgment.
It
is not only during the Pesach season that we are invited to go outside the camp.
It remains a place that we can come to in order to repent at any time, as this
first feast accompanies us all year round. Regardless of which calendar we use,
the truth is eternal. To KNOW Yeshua and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His suffering means being thankful every day for YHVH’s feast,
giving Him glory for His loving discipline which brings us into the law of
liberty/freedom that Pesach offers.
Credit to *https://saintjohnneumann.org/
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