Daniel Thomas

The Well Eternal: Reflections on Messiah Daniel Thomas

Jacob set his head on a "stone-pillow", and he dosed off. "He dreamt of a stairway ('ladder') that rested on the ground, with its top reaching up to the heavens. On it, he saw the angels of God, going up (ascending) and descending." (Genesis 28: 11-12) And there was the LORD above the top-rung, saying; "I AM the Lord, the God of Abraham, and your father Isaac. In you, and your descendants, all the families of the earth will find blessing. I AM with you. I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you, until I (the Lord) have done all that I promised." (Genesis 28: 14-15) Now, fast forward to the arrival of the Messiah. "Philip, who was from Bethsaida (the same town as Andrew and Peter) found Nathaniel, and enthusiastically to him; 'We've found the One about whom Moses wrote, whom the prophets spoke of, the Messiah, Yeshua, the son of Joseph." (John 1: 45) Nathaniel's dismissive response illustrates just how presumptuous human nature can be; quick to jump to the wrong conclusion based limited understanding. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1: 46) He errantly assumed that "nothing of value" could come from the sleepy "backwards" village of Nazareth. Philip was undaunted; telling Nathaniel to "come and see!" Yeshua later explained; "You shall see even greater things than this. You will see the sky (the heavens) opened, and the angels of God going up (ascending) and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1: 50-51) A person's willingness to believe (faith) activates God's faithfulness to promises. The miracle of Israel is a testament to the restorative power of God... Eternal. And the Messiah's story is a reconstituted version of "Jacob's (Israel's) journey." "You are My witnesses. I have chosen you as My servant, so that you can know Me. I AM the LORD." (Isaiah 43: 10) Those with "eyes of faith" witness "Jacob's ladder", personified.