News Page

  Shalom
  to you,

Wellsprings of Torah,  www.TorahWellsprings.org
Rick Wills - Messianic Elder,  Mishareth@TorahWellsprings.org

    On this page are common news items. Maybe they should be called Shmooze items, because I present them with a very informal format. It's more like talking about the news than anything else. Furthermore, when they do not directly pertain to Wellsprings of Torah, I cannot assure their accuracy.

Yacov, the brother of Yeshua

    In the last several decades, a few clay grave jars have been found that have the name Yeshua (Jesus) scratched into their lids. They date back to the era of when Yeshua lived, and they indicate that it was a popular name. In fact, the name of Yeshua is mentioned in several Biblical records -- 1Chr. 24:11, 2Chr. 31:15, Ezra 2:2, and Neh.10:9 -- all being translated as Jeshua in common English Bibles. Therefore, as names go, it doesn't seem odd that the son of Mary and Joseph (in the New Testament) would be named Yeshua.

    Nevertheless, outside the name being scratched on grave jars, there has been very little archeological evidence that Yeshua was the proper name of the person currently refered to as Jesus. But recently, evidence has been found. They have discovered a clay grave box that has "Yacov, bar Yosef akhui di Yeshua" scratched into its lid. The words are Aramaic, and they mean, "James, the son of Joseph, brother of that Yeshua." And according to New Testament records, Jesus, the son of Joseph, also had a brother named James. He is the same James that composed the Book of James in the New Testament.

The above images are graphically enhanced representations.
Actual photos can be found in "Biblical Archaeology Review" magazine.

    Additionally, for a grave lid to say more than the name of the buried person, indicates the buried person's importance. For it to also name someone other than a father, indicates the importance of that third person -- in this case, it is Yeshua. Moreover, it doesn't simply say "akhui Yeshua," for "brother of Yeshua." Rather it says "di Yeshua" for "that Yeshua," meaning that Yeshua that the Father has loved and raised from the dead.

    But some scholars are arguing, "Why doesn't it say 'Yeshua Natzroth', for Yeshua of Nazarith?"  And they will probably argue that for a long time, like everyone does the Shroud of Turin. I say the engraver probably knew Yacov personally, and that he was likely grieving as he scratched his name into the stone. Grieving people don't think they have to tell everyone everything. They always think the person is important enough for you to already know the extra details... and that is what he meant by saying, "that Yeshua."

    As we view the box now, it completely empty. To me, this is encouraging because Yocov was called Yacov Ha-tzadik, James the Righteous. He was the Chief Elder of the Jersualem believers, and it would have dishonored his name for anyone to continually rake through his bones. Nevertheless, it comforts me very much to see his name written along with Yosef and Yeshua.

Luakh, the tablet of King Joash

    Archeologists have discovered a stone tablet with Phoenician writing, which is the script that ancient Israel employed until they were exiled into Babylon of Persia. Upon leaving Persia they  had adopted the new script, which is the square script we see in use today. It is also interesting that Persia does not use that script anymore.

    The tablet is a message form King Joash to his craftsmen, saying, There is "holy money... to buy quarry stones and timber and copper and labor to carry out the duty with faith." And if the work is completed well, "the Lord will protect his people with blessing,"

    Carbon dating has confirmed that the stone is as old as King Joash's rule, dating back 2800 years. That is a very long time, and the stone is in remarkable shape. And like Yacov's grave box (and the Shroud of Turin -- that has stains from Jerusalem Passover flowers on it), there are critics at the forefront saying, "It isn't so, it isn't so." But this stone also has fine particles of gold burned into it as if it has survived the fire that melted the gold of the Temple when it was destroyed by Babylon.

Associated Press Photo

    This is a wonderful discovery because it confirms a narrative in the Bible, and it historically validates the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Bible is not just stories.

    The Temple needed repairs in King Joash's day. This luakh (tablet) is the actual decree that was issued from his courts to the priesthood... "There is holy money," funding to do the work of the Lord, "it is time to repair the Temple."

Cave, the lair of Yochanon

    An ancient cave has been discovered by archaeologists in a location near Kibbutz Tzuba in Isreal, a communal farm just to the west of Jerusalem, and it is not far from Yochanon's the Immerser's birthplace. The cave itself predates Yochanon by over 500 years, and it was probably always used for ritual bathing. But on its walls are carvings of a man's figure who has long hair, a hairy garment, and a shepherd's staff. As well, there are depictions of a man's head which are presumed to represent the severed head of Yochanon, who was beheaded by Herod Antipas.

    The cave is 82' long, 13' wide and 16' high. Within it are 28 steps that lead down to a water basin. Near the basin is a small hollow in the wall which was likely used for placing the clothing before washing, and at the bottom of the steps is a very small basin the size and shape of a foot. Beside it is a smaller basin with a narrow channel that connects to the foot basin. It is believed that a candidate would place their right foot into the foot basin, while olive oil was poured into the smaller reservoir, and the oil then overflowed by way of the channel onto the subject's foot.

    Shimon Gibson, the British archeologist who supervised the excavation said: "John the Baptist, who was just a figure from the Gospels, now comes to life." He has also told The Times: "I am now certain that this cave was connected with the ancient cult of John the Baptist. Indeed, this may very well be the cave of the early years of John's life, the place where he sought his first solitude in the wilderness and the place where he practiced his baptisms."

Cave Entrance (Associated Press)


Foot Anointer (Associated Press)

    What this discovery may shed light on is suggested by the Foot Anointer. And the reason is due to testimony of Yochanon (John) in the Bisorah (Gospel) of Chadasha (New Testament). There we hear Yochanon saying in reference to Yeshua the Messiah (Luke 3:16-17), "Indeed, I immerse you with water, but another comes who is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will immerse you in the Ruach Hakodesh and fire; he, whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

    To remove the sandal from someone's foot is a reference to the Torah injunction regarding land inheritances. It is stipulated in Deu. 25:9, where a widow takes possession of the inheritance that would belong to her late husband's brother. We see it depicted again in Ruth 4:7, where Boaz takes possession Naomi's inheritance and marries Ruth. The same principle is reflected with Adonai saying to Moshe from the burning bush, "Moshe, remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." And again for Yehoshua (Joshua) when faced with the Malakh (angel) when first entering the Promised Land. Which, in the latter two cases, the removal of their sandals had signified that where they stood was in Hashem's possession.

    Likewise, when you entered a man's house, you also removed your sandals, washed your feet with water, and then anointed them with oil. In a similar fashion again, Miriam had washed Yeshua's feet with her tears, and then anointed them with fragrant oil. Therefore, for this same reason, Yeshua the Messiah, while together with his Talmidim (disciples) at their last Pesach (Passover), poured water into a basin and began to wash their feet. Then, he said (John 13:8), "If I don’t wash your feet, you have no portion with me." And with this he was signifying to them that they must abdicate their inheritance in this world (ie. remove their sandal), in order to obtain a part of his "portion" in the world to come (ie. and receive new sandals).

    But why should you anoint your foot with oil? The story of Job (29:6) tells us, "...the rock poured out for me a rivulet of oil." This is the oil from the hewed oil basin and its channel to the foot basin, and Job describes it as being a special comfort for himself. Moshe also referred to this oil basin as he blessed the Tribes of Yisrael, for he said of Asher (Deu. 33:24), "...may he dip his foot in the oil." Bathing your foot with oil, after immersion in water, sealed the cleansing that the water had done for your foot -- and this is the foot that wore the sandal that signified your ownership of an inheritance.

    So Yochanon, as depicted in the above photograph, may have had the same provision at his private immersion facilities. Moreover, this is what he would have been implying by saying, "...whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen," in reference to Yeshua. Though Yochanon was his senior by age, as well as his first cousin and Cohen (Priest) by birth, Yochanon did not presume to own the land upon which he and Yeshua were standing.

    Nevertheless, Yeshua said to Yochanon, "Suffer it to be this way for now, and immerse me as you do the others, for I must fulfill everything that is proper." Then, after his immersion in the Yarden river, Yeshua may have even set his right foot forward for Yochanon, and his foot would have been anointed with the oil. With this, the Bisorah tells us, the heavens opened and the Ruach Hakodesh descended to rest upon Yeshua... and the voice of Hashem declared, "This is my Son, you must yield your obedience to him."

The above photos are supplied by Nasa.

    Then, on Saturday (Shabboth) morning, February 01, 2003, the tragedy that followed their return from that mission was devastating to everyone. Ilan, along with the six other astronauts, had perished upon reentry into our skies over the southern Unites States.

    This was a tragic accident in a distant place above us, but I have confidence that Hashem did not leave them in the skies. I think that Hashem brought them back to the earth. I also believe that this merciful God, who names all the stars of heaven, will remember the names of these seven who have fallen from the stars and returned to our lands.

    After a year, the Wellsprings of Torah Congregation has arranged, through "www.JNF.org", that a tree to be planted in Israel in memory of "Ilan Ramon and Space Shuttle Columbia Crew". May this serve as a living tribute to his memory... "When you shall come to the land you shall plant trees." Leviticus 19:23.

    The above Hebrew text from the Torah, being loosely translated for the purpose of this example, is explaining... "With the first pattern (the beginning), he carved (created) as Elohim (the Masterful), all the heavens and earth. But the earth had emerged as 'Tohu Wivohu' (a waste place, and it was unidentifiable), for there was dark matter overwhelming its depths.

    Then the Winds of Elohim (the Holy Spirit, and the force of his Powers) compressed the surfaces of the waters (which were the cooling gases) -- and Elohim was saying, 'There will be light!', and a radiance was initiated. Afterward, Elohim observed that the brightness was completely 'Tov' (harmonious and pristine). So he built places to harbor the light, as well as places for the darkness. And He named the radiance Day, and he named the darkening Night... this was the Erev (the mixing of the universe), and the Boker (the exposing of creation) -- the first Yom (the day event of our world)."

    The residual light of that event is the image that the WAMP Satellite has collected. That light has remained, and according to Rabbi Schroeder's earlier manuscripts and books, its increasing burning might have encompassed nearly seven billion years before a new event would evolve. And that evolution would occur by the design and hands of Elohim, as He went on to build the succeeding five days (events) until He rested within the seventh production of those labors. By Rabbi Schroeder's conjecture, the five days after the first would have been 3.5 billion years, then 1.7 and 0.9, lastly 0.4 and 0.2 billion... leaving us in the seventh day, and with the previous six transpiring across 13.7 billion years.

    Our own days have now been in progress for 5,763 years (2,003 AD) from the beginning of His resting. And the sum of mankind's days since then, can only be referred to as a flutter of breath when compared to the great days of Adonoi, our Elohim.

    Psalm 8:3-6, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained -- What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet ..."

    Indeed, the WAMP Satellite is poised at the foot of the whole earth -- and it is gazing at the great "Everything" of our Elohim -- and by it, we are glimpsing at what He has maintained as His own Glory.

    Verse 9, and the Psalm's conclusion, "Adonoi, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!"