Yeshua the Messiah, our Master, was a real, tangible, flesh and blood person—just as we are—but without having transgressed the Torah.  The author of the letter to the Hebrews and the Apostle John were emphatic about this reality.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Yeshua Messiah is come in the flesh is of God: ³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Yeshua Messiah is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antiMessiah, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:2-3 KJV)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15 KJV)

Yeshua the Messiah was sent by the Father for the purpose of revealing the Father’s love for his fallen, rebellious, lost, decaying, and dying creation.  Yeshua was also to be the means of redemption and salvation for this fallen and dying world. But the world of man is not always kind to YHWH’S chosen and sent ones.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19 KJV)

But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. ³⁸ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. ³⁹ And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. (Matthew 21:37-39 KJV)

Yeshua our Master was repeatedly harassed, rejected, threatened, falsely accused and caused to suffer great physical violence.

After these things Yeshua walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. (John 7:1 KJV)

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Yeshua, to put him to death; ⁶⁰ But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, (Matthew 26:59-60 KJV)

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of YHWH revealed? ² For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. ³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:1-5 KJV)

And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? (Luke 22:64 KJV)

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Yeshua with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? (John 18:22 KJV)

Then Pilate therefore took Yeshua, and scourged him. (John 19:1 KJV) 

Yet he did not repay this evil with evil.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: (Acts 8:32 KJV)

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶³ But Yeshua held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Messiah, the Son of God. (Matthew 26:62-63 KJV)

And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. ⁵ But Yeshua yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled. (Mark 15:4-5 KJV)

By faith we identify ourselves with Messiah Yeshua in his death and in his resurrection.  At the final supper that Yeshua ate with his disciples, he invited them to become his body and blood, flesh and bone in the world, after his death. 

And as they did eat, Yeshua took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. ²³ And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. ²⁴ And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (Mark 14:22-24 KJV)

After his death and resurrection, Yeshua poured out his Spirit upon the consecrated flesh and blood of his many member body in order that he could continue the redeeming and saving work which he was sent to accomplish through his followers.

Now ye are the body of Messiah, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV)

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4 KJV)

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:18 KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12 KJV)

We should, therefore, expect to see many and wonderful works of transformation in the world around us.  We should expect to see many people coming to know the Father through the Messiah’s ministry in and through us.  But we must also remember that like our Master, we too are sent into the world of sinful men. We are called to be a light in the darkness that sinful men love to live.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14 KJV)

But as we have said, such exposing light is not always welcomed by the wicked.  Therefore we should also expect to be greeted with great violence, attacks, false accusations, and even death.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16 KJV)

As the members of the body of Messiah, we must be obedient to the Head of the body.  Our calling is to surrender our bodies to the Spirit that he may manifest himself through us and complete the work given him.  We have already seen above that when Yeshua was rejected, arrested, beaten, scourged and accused falsely, he was silent.  He bore the injustice and did not retaliate.  He who had the power to calm storms, heal the sick, and raise the dead, did nothing to defend himself.  Instead, he was obedient even unto death!  Even from the cross Yeshua prayed for those who callously gambled for his possessions and persecuted him.

Then said Yeshua, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34 KJV)

When our Master, walked the earth he taught his disciples to do the same.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ²⁹ And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. (Luke 6:27-29 KJV)

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. ⁴¹ And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴² Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. ⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:38-44 KJV)

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 KJV)

These words sound sweet and romantic when read in our churches, synagogues, home fellowships, and times of quiet devotions. But everything changes when they rise up and slap us in the face. When the blows begin landing, when the lies begin flying, when the accusations are posted, and when your name becomes reviled by those you loved, then suddenly these words become a major challenge to our faith and walk. 

At times like these we must recognize that this what Yeshua experienced.  While we were yet his enemies he died for us.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10 KJV)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

It was precisely when we were at our worst that the Father’s love was most powerfully revealed in the suffering and death of Yeshua our Master.  As the body of Messiah, we too must realize that it is in our unjust suffering that the love of YHWH is made most manifest in the world.

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Messiah’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Messiah, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:13-14 KJV)

On this side of the Messiah’s return and our own glorious resurrection, we are the suffering body of Messiah.  Human sinfulness (both our own and others) will inflict itself upon our mortal bodies.  We will bear the wounds and scars of physical blows and malicious tongues. Ours is not to respond in kind, but in silence, forgiveness, and love.  We are to be the vessel by which Yeshua bears the sins of others.  The Apostle Shaul clearly understood that the current members of body of Messiah would complete the work of Messiah’s suffering in their own flesh.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Shaul am made a minister; ²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Messiah in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: (Colossians 1:23-24 KJV)

It is for this reason that we must genuinely have the mind of Messiah. 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Messiah Yeshua: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 KJV)

Such must be our mind if we are to be the vessel by which the Messiah will complete his redeeming and saving work in and through us.  The call to the cross is not an easy calling to fulfill.  Our Master was quite clear, that if we were to be used of him we must be willing to take up our cross and follow him—even when the blows, the lies, the accusations, and the violence is directed toward us. 

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 KJV)

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27 KJV)

To help us at times like these we may remember the words of Shaul, and rejoice to know that suffering and death is not the end of the story, but life and glory follow.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (Romans 6:5 KJV)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41 KJV)

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: ⁶ Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; ⁷ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Master Yeshau shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty messengers, (2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 KJV)