For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (1 Peter 2:25). With this comment, the Apostle Peter concludes his summary of the redemptive and healing ministry of our Savior, Yahshua the Messiah, in 2 Peter 2:21–25. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of the modern religion of Chr-stianity is the meaning of the life and death of our Savior. If we ever hope to come to recognize the Body of the Messiah in these last days, it is imperative that we first recognize the leader of the group. This leader is NO MORTAL MAN, but rather He is a powerful Spirit being who directs His own people from the Throne of the Great Majesty on High, seated at the right hand of Almighty Yahweh.

I need hardly bring to your attention the fact that in our day, many diversified doctrinal and prophetic views are held by various denominations around the world. When I was a boy, all the ch-rches of our community usually held very similar views on the doctrine of our Savior, such as His virgin birth, reconciliation ministry, and His atoning death. Today we encounter groups who believe just about anything you might imagine about our Savior, and His mission covering a wide spectrum of thought. The tragic thing about some of these misleading doctrines is that they are (without exception) presented as coming entirely out of the Bible. Sincere people are being misled by individuals who profess themselves to be wise, but who have become fools, as the Apostle Paul predicts in Romans chapter 1. Perhaps the most tragic of all erroneous teachings is the rejection by the various religious groups of the Savior as one who atones for sins through His shed blood.

Reading both Old and New Testaments, we may find the Messiah almost everywhere in numerous passages. If I were to reject the New Testament and accept only the Old Testament, I would still have to come to a realization that a unique man lived in the world approximately 2000 years ago, one who was anointed to become the eventual ruler over all this earth. When our Savior appeared, the magi were looking for the Messiah, as were also the Jewish leaders of that day. You may learn this fact from Matthew chapter 2.

In Matthew chapter 1, we discover why they were expecting the Messiah. These men did not have access to the New Testament, and yet they understood from His genealogy that the Messiah had arrived. At the end of this recorded genealogy, Matthew writes in verse 17, "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Messiah fourteen generations." In this passage we may observe the numbers 3x14 (42), meaning a complete perfection of a man in scriptural numerology. Or again, we might say that it was 6x7 (42), meaning a perfect man who had arrived. Every sign pointed to this generation which produced our Savior as the one which would bring forth the Messiah of Israel. (Sometimes critics challenge this statement by Matthew, hoping to cast doubts on the number of people involved, as they forget that the accent is actually on the term GENERATIONS.)

The person who became the Messiah lived a preexistent life with the heavenly Father. In fact it was He who served as the actual creator and later guided ancient Israel. We have such obvious Scriptures as Micah 5:2, on which to form this opinion, "But you, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which are little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of you shall one come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from an ancient era, from ages of eternity."

During the past few years we have seen the rise of a rather popular teaching in many areas of religious thought which denies the virgin birth of our Savior. It should be unnecessary for me to have to point out that we would be denying certain Scriptures should we accept such a doctrine. When we read that before Joseph and the virgin Miriam came together, she was found to be with child (through the Holy Spirit), that Joseph intended to divorce her because of this supposed infidelity, and that Joseph had to be stopped from doing just that through being given a dream, we can draw only one sound, reasonable conclusion. It is that the Messiah’s birth was a supernatural event. He was born of a virgin without being the result of Miriam’s having physical relations with a male.

Perhaps you have assumed that our Savior was an ignorant carpenter who had never been educated. The Scriptures say that He was a very well-educated man! He was known many times in the New Testament as a rabbi. He even says this Himself. In John 13:13 we read, "You call me, Teacher, and, Rabbi, and you say well; for so I am." The word which has been translated "Master" in the King James Version should have been translated "Rabbi." You may find our Savior addressed as Rabbi a total of six times in the King James Version and other words have been used at various other places which should have been translated "Rabbi." Our Savior was recognized as a teacher or rabbi of the Jews, as we find in John chapter 3 when Nicodemus came to Yahshua. In verse 2 we find the famous Rabbi Nicodemus saying, "…Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from Elohim, for no one can do these signs that you do, except Elohim be with him."

Do you remember the incident when Yahshua remained behind when His parents had taken Him to the Passover in Jerusalem after His coming of responsible age (Luke 2:41–50)? You remember that they finally located their missing son after several day’s search. Yahshua was in the temple sitting with the educated people (the doctors), hearing them and asking questions, perhaps so deep that they were embarrassed by the amazing comprehension of this mere youth. The word "doctors" in the King James Version should have been translated "rabbis." I can almost hear these men say as Joseph and Miriam came for their boy, "Take care of that young fellow. He needs study. With his intelligence he will in the future become a really great rabbi and teacher in Israel!"

Every time I hear some hippy or eccentric person pretend that he is living a lifestyle similar to our Savior, I become very indignant! Yahshua was no dropout from society! His message to the leaders of Judaism comprised a return to fundamental, scriptural teachings, and a rejection of traditional interpretations. As a noted rabbi of the time, Yahshua would have been immaculately dressed, as we may observe from the articles of clothing which He wore when He was taken into custody to be impaled. Even John the Baptist had a coat of camel’s hair, a very expensive garment to own. The slovenly dress which is seen on the hippy (street people) element is a disgrace to society and they should be ashamed to detract from our Savior’s wonderful Name by their irresponsible use of it in associating our Savior with modern-day rebellious culture.

Our Savior lived a sinless life, He died for our sins, and He arose again from the tomb. This we may readily learn from Isaiah chapter 53. This chapter was not a later interpolation as some in Judaism today would have us believe. Zechariah 12:10 says that they shall look on Him whom they have pierced, and this cannot happen to the Messiah who is coming in our day. His suffering and piercing must already have taken place, because the event of His piercing precedes the prophecy of Zechariah 14:3–7, when the Messiah returns with power.

Why not look into the Scriptures and allow them to speak to you, rather than elevate traditions and information from outside sources above the inspired Word of Yahweh? Then you will see most clearly, as did our Savior, the purpose for which you are living on this earth. You too will see just where nominal religion veers away from the pathway which leads to life eternal and you will be able to perceive a new purpose for your life.