Phoenix
by Dale J. Sprague
Op.13 JHVH
Cantos 2. Agape
7 Within a few days, another member of the Abian priesthood appeared. They are usually dressed in white. The priest instructed Joseph to travel to Jerusalem for Yeshua's circumcision ceremony. The priest also instructed Joseph to not tarry in Jerusalem past Miriam's days of purification. They are to just present the offerings to the temple and leave. Herod is seeking to murder the child
Joseph and Miriam decided to live in Egypt until word is sent that it is safe to return. They decided to live in Egypt not only for the safety of the child, but an Abian priest reminded Joseph that it is also written...'Out of Egypt shall the son of the holy spirit of the tora be called forth.' Every relevant piece of scripture must be fulfilled by the Abian mission. And surely, the mission needed every relevant piece
When it was time, Joseph and Miriam presented Yeshua in the Jerusalem temple because it is written in the law, "Every male that opens the womb of the mother shall be called 'manchild of the tora,' and to offer sacrifice according to the tora...a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." This Joseph dutifully accomplished
In Jerusalem, there was a man named Simeon. He was righteous to the tora and was waiting, praying for the salvation of Israel. The eternal spirit awakened within him because it was revealed to him by the Abian order that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah. He was assured of this and was informed about Joseph and Miriam. While Joseph and Miriam were having the ceremony performed for Yeshua according to the custom of the tora, Simeon appeared
With Miriam's permission, Simeon lifted the gifted child into his arms, and blessed the tora, and said, "Now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. My eyes have seen the prophecy that you have prepared for Israel!! This glory of Israel shall be fire to enlighten even the gentiles"
Joseph and Miriam were honored by Simeon's words. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Miriam,
"Listen carefully to me. This manchild is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. There shall be revolution in the heart. And madam!..a sword shall also pierce your soul! so that the thoughts of your divided heart may be revealed
And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser. She was old, and was once married for about seven years. She has been widowed for the past forty'four years, and has remained righteous to the tora. It is well known that Anna serves the tora with fasting, prayer, and atonement, night and day. She also commands great attention among the people. Anna appeared beside Simeon in that instant, and also gave thanks to the torah, and spoke of the Messiah as one who shall restore its authority
After Yeshua's circumcision ceremony, Joseph and Miriam immediately began their journey to Egypt
8 It has been two years since Yeshua was born. Herod's search was futile. The nights of Judea were already darkened from the political dominance of the Romans, the spiritual insurgence of Greek culture, and base lifestyle of many Jewish nobilities. And when Yeshua's disappearance caused the nights to deepen, the rumor that he lives on became a dream. The Messiah manchild's disappearance fed the rumor's fire that perhaps it was true...a Messiah was born
Herod was bitter about his failure, and when he learned that he was being mocked by some of the wise men in his own court, he immediately became filled with wrath and vengeance. He ordered a company of soldiers to slay all boys who were two years or younger. Herod sent his men throughout Judea, which included the coastal cities. But this deadly deed only brightened and colored the dream, and the vow of Gabhriel..that those slain children will not be forgotten within the shadow of Herod's vanity, for on the day Herod ordered the death of Yeshua, he unwittingly ordained Yeshua, messiah of Israel
The Abian order spread more word that the coming of the messiah was inevitable because of evil conceived in the hearts of men and women. For argument, Jeremy the prophet was quoted, "In Rama, there was lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel was weeping for her children, and could not be comforted because they are no longer"
Years later Herod died, and his kingdom became divided among his sons. An Abian brother traveled straight away to Egypt where Joseph and Miriam were living. The priest told them that it was safe to return to Judea. Herod was dead and so was his campaign against Yeshua. However, Joseph and Miriam were instructed to stay away from Archelaus. He reigns too much like his father, Herod. The Abian priest related that it was necessary for them to return to Nazareth and live, because it was spoken by the prophets that the Messiah of Israel shall be called a Nazarene
Joseph, Miriam, and young Yeshua returned to Galilee to their own city, Nazareth. And Yeshua grew strong in spirit. Throughout the years of his youth, the Abian priesthood remained dedicated to Yeshua's education. As Yeshua grew, he filled with the wisdom of the tora
9 Every year at the feast of the Passover, Joseph and Miriam and their children, which had become many sons and daughters over the years, travel in a pilgrim's caravan to Jerusalem
One year when Yeshua was twelve, after they finished the Passover festivities and Yeshua's barmitzvah ceremony, they began their journey back to Nazareth. When Yeshua did not appear at the end of the day, Joseph and Miriam began looking for him
They presumed that he was with friends in the caravan, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem. They searched for three days and eventually found Yeshua by the temple, sitting in the company of scribes and rabbis. Yeshua was conversing with them, and they were enjoying his company. They were impressed with Yeshua's education, partly because he had a Galilean accent..and such comprehensive education is usually not found in the farmlands of Galilee
Joseph and Miriam were astonished. Miriam approached Yeshua directly and asked him why he treats her and his father this way. Miriam told Yeshua that they have been looking for him with great sorrow in their hearts
Yeshua responded, "Why did you look for me? Should not I be about my father's business?
Miriam and Joseph were puzzled about this, but reasoned that someone, perhaps Gabhriel himself, must have told Yeshua about his natal father, that he is an Abian priest. For it was fitting upon a young man's barmitzvah to become aware of his path as a man, to know from where he has arisen and to what he is destined. Joseph and Miriam learned then that the mission to cultivate a messiah of Israel was still very much alive
Nevertheless, Yeshua returned to Nazareth with Joseph and Miriam, and spent his adolescent years learning the carpenter's trade from Joseph while continuing his studies of the tora. Miriam never forgot this incident. She knew that Yeshua was no longer a boy, but now..a young man. He must be treated accordingly, as one struggling to get a firm sense of his destiny
Yeshua also learned that his cousin, John ben Zachariah, is also involved in the mission. A few years later, Yeshua left Nazareth. He traveled far and lived in seclusion. He worked as a carpenter to pay his way, but on his own, concentrated his studies on medical practice, specializing in psychosomatic illness, in addition to his tora studies until the days of the mission were to begin
10 Annas and Caiaphas who were high priests, spread the word that the spirit of the tora is strong within John. Though anointed, John lived secluded in the wilderness, and traveled throughout the country around Jordan, urging the people to repent their unrighteous ways and atone with the ancient covenant of the tora. The people were reminded by Abian priests, as it was written by Esaias the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness prepares the way for the Messiah of Israel"
It was also written, as John taught, that every valley of despair shall be filled, and every mountain and hill of pride shall be leveled. The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough shall be smoothed, and all shall see the eternal spirit of the tora
John spoke with great force, "Generation of vipers!! Be forewarned of the calamity to come! Bring forth only those things that are truly worthy of repentance. And do not think, "...but we are the sons and daughters of Abraham!"...for I say to you that the eternal spirit of the tora is blind to bloodline
"And now in our time, an ax is given for the roots of trees. Every tree therefore, that does not produce the good fruit of the tora shall be cut down by its roots, and cast into the fire!"
Many people asked John what should they do. John answered, "If you have two coats, give one to someone that has none. If you have extra meat, do the same"
Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they also asked John what they should do. John told them, do no violence to anyone. Do not accuse anyone falsely, nor sell yourself for money or credit...learn to be content with wages of work, not greedy prospects of windfall profit
As the people became inspired with great expectation, the people mused about John, whether he is or not the Messiah Prophet. About this, John quickly responded, "I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I shall come. One, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloosen. He shall baptize you with the holy spirit and with the fire of the living tora. By this fire, you shall be able to purge the dust from the rafters of your mind. You will be able to separate the chaff from the wheat in your heart"
John worked very hard preaching on the banks of the river Jordan. He became known among the Sanhedrin, and among the Sadducees, and Pharisees. In public company of John's fame and infamy, Yeshua knew that it was fitting for him to be baptized by John, so everyone will know that everyone is equal before the tora. Gabhriel was present, and was proud that his son would take such an initiative there..by the river Jordan
After Gabhriel witnessed John's baptism of Yeshua, Gabhriel, dressed in the customary white of the Abian order, approached his son, and said for all to hear, "My beloved son...in you, I am well pleased"
11 Yeshua was about thirty years old, and was known by most as Yeshua ben Joseph who was a descendent of King David, for it was necessary that Yeshua be raised in a House of David. And Yeshua, being full of the spirit of the tora, left the river Jordan, and went into the wilderness to meditate. In desert solace Yeshua became divided, and his corporal spirit tempted him, "If I am the son of the tora, then I am a great magician and should be able to command this stone to be bone or bread"
Yet he thought, "The body is nourished by life so flourished, by spirit persona, and every word of the tora"
Then, imagining all the alien dominions of the world, Yeshua was tempted, "All this I can take. Vanquish the foe, and gather the spoils for my namesake!"
But Yeshua remembered the first commandment of the tora, "Thou shall not eat from the tree of knowledge of 'good and evil.' Conceive no evils. Such conceptions are the roots of calamity. Only by the fruit of the tree of life can I serve the tora"
Yeshua, alone, went to Jerusalem and sat high up upon a pinnacle of the temple, and again was tempted, "If I am the son of the tora, then I am indestructible. Therefore, why should I not be able to cast myself down without injury"
And now, Yeshua undivided, thought, "To conjure up from the tora, supernatural spirits who will save me is unwise. The tora advises and commands, its spirit cannot be summoned, counseled, or commanded. The whole of spirits' eternal nature is beyond earthly reason and cannot be tested"
After Yeshua's trial of conscience, word reached him that his cousin, John, had been imprisoned. Yeshua learned that Herod Antipas arrested John because John publicly reproached him for having carnal knowledge of Herodias, the wife of his brother, Phillip, and for many other selfish acts. By the time Yeshua reached where John was imprisoned, John had already been executed. Herod had ordered John's head to be severed from his body and served on a platter to Herodias's daughter. After this barbarity, John became martyred, and the motivation and force by which Yeshua began his mission was increased greatly
12 The spirit of the tora is within me. I have been anointed to teach the law to the 'poor in spirit.' I have been sent to heal the brokenhearted, to offer deliverance for captives of vice, and to offer sight to the blind'minded, and free others confined within themselves. You say, "Physician! Heal yourself! As you have done for others in Capernaum, do it here also for yourself in your own country." But I say to you, 'a man cannot be accepted as a prophet in his own country'
After hearing this, everyone in the synagogue of Nazareth became filled with wrath that one of their own would assume such authority. They rose up, and drove Yeshua out of the city. They led him to the brow of a hill nearby to cast him down headlong. But Yeshua became filled with anger and broke free. No man challenged him as he passed through their midst. Yeshua was sullen with contempt for their judgment
"Heaven, hell, purgatory!! ...they are all here on Earth. The world of the tora is also within"
This Yeshua knew. For better or worse, he was resolved to spread this word, that the only throne upon which he can sit is within himself, that everyone has their own, upon which too many were all too willing to have others occupy. Those who would reign from another's throne, do so without thought of another's thought of who one ought to be, for no earthly ruler, no despot father or heavy'handed mother can force an inalienable right from its throne without serious karma to pay
Cantos 2. Agape.13