Behold, Your Intentional King!
It was close to 100 degrees, but since it was just after 4 pm, the breeze from the Levant Wind (easterly wind from the Mediterranean Sea) blew in, cooling us through our moisture-wicking hiking clothes. As we turned the corner from walking alongside the eastern Temple Mount wall, away from the Mount of Olives, our professor struck out ahead, his long legs causing us to walk double time to catch up. He was headed towards a gate we had walked through on one of our first days, but he turned and stopped short today. Beckoning for us to stand on the narrow sidewalk that led into the Lion’s Gate.
It was at this special location that he began to explain how this was the very gate through which Jesus rode a humble donkey during His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. This road led from Bethany down the Mount of Olives right to this Gate, which was called the Sheep Gate back then- the very spot where sacrificial lambs were brought into the Temple area. It struck me in that moment that, not only did the King enter through these gates amid joyful praises, beautiful music, and heartfelt worship, but He also passed through the LION/LAMB Gate. Is it just a coincidence? I've come to understand that everything about our faith is intentional. We serve a King who acts with purpose and intention.
King Yeshua: Son of Man in Daniel
As a child and teenager, I often scratched my head whenever I read a story in which Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man. I mean, wasn’t Jesus God’s Son? Why would He call Himself a Son of Man? It wasn’t to clarify His humanity but something much deeper.
In fact, of all the books in the Old Testament, by using this seemingly innocent “nickname” for Himself, Jesus was explicitly pointing to EXACTLY who He was and is whenever He used it. Beyond the famous lion’s den and fiery furnace narratives, did you know that we can undoubtedly behold King Yeshua—Jesus—in the pages of Daniel? The people around Jesus at the time would have immediately understood what He was doing.
Daniel is often perceived as a book filled with inspiring tales of faithfulness and courage. The connection between Daniel’s "Son of Man" and Jesus’ self-identification is particularly intriguing.
THE SHEPHERD KING: YESHUA
Growing up in Nebraska, it is no surprise that I found myself trailing behind my Dad, Roger, in hundreds of corn fields in my lifetime. My Dad is a retired agronomist and crop scientist who has dedicated his life to wanting to "feed the world." Although that was his passion, he sometimes found himself disheartened when farmers monetized their crops for ethanol or other means. So, at a crucial moment, our family bought a small acreage outside of the small town I'd grown up in, and he began a new hobby: sheep.
YESHUA: KING OF THE SABBATH
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, is one of the most beautiful gifts given by God to humanity. From the beginning, it was set apart as holy, a day of rest and reflection to draw closer to the Creator. The Sabbath is more than a commandment; it’s an eternal instruction—a declaration of identity and purpose. It reminds us of who we are as God’s children, and who we are not. In Yeshua, the King of the Sabbath, we find its ultimate fulfillment, wrapped in the peace He left for us.
The King is Born: Hope in an Unexpected Arrival
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, it’s easy to become numb to the familiar message found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 2. The nativity story is so well-known, so well-trodden, that we might wonder: What more can be said? (A lot, actually.) But perhaps the real “Behold” moment of Christmas isn’t about gaining fresh insights—it’s about the posture of our hearts. It’s about making room for Jesus in a way that transforms us.
King Yeshua in the Torah
A Thread Woven From Beginning to End
Many people approach the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as if it is merely a historical or legal document with no connection to Yeshua (Jesus). They believe that Yeshua is strictly a New Testament figure, disconnected from the foundation of Scripture. But nothing could be further from the truth. They perceive Him as a figure solely of the New Testament. Yet, Yeshua’s presence is intricately woven throughout the Torah. From the creation of the world to the final words of Moses, the Messiah is revealed in profound and sometimes hidden ways. When we read the Torah with eyes to see, we encounter Yeshua as the heartbeat of the story from the very beginning. He is present, revealing the heart and plan of God long before His incarnation in Bethlehem.