Glorified and Human Appearances of Yeshua
by ASHER INTRATER NOVEMBER 27, 2020
The central figure of the Bible is Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua is both the Son of God and the son of David. The fact that Yeshua is both divine and human is an essential aspect of who He is and what He does.
Romans 1:1-4 – … concerning His Son, Messiah Yeshua our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness.
Since Yeshua is the same – yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), so His nature as both God and man is the same – yesterday, today and forever. Therefore, He will be both human and divine in the future millennium and the new creation; and His dual nature already existed in the past.
Yeshua is revealed throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation as both God and man. At times Yeshua appears in a glorified form, emphasizing His divinity. At other times, He appears in an earthly form, emphasizing His humanity.
In the New Covenant Scriptures, Yeshua appears in His earthly form in the gospels, and in His heavenly form in the book of Revelation. The only instance in which He is transformed into His glorified body in the gospels is on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9, Matthew 17).
Yeshua also appears in both forms in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). A striking example is found in Genesis 18: Yeshua appears in an earthly body to Abraham together with the two angels who went on to destroy Sodom (18:2 and 19:1), He ate lunch and had a long discussion with Abraham about his son to be born and the judgment at hand. He also appeared in an earthly form at Peniel, where He wrestled all night with Jacob, as he was about to cross the border to re-enter the Promised Land (Genesis 32:2). Another appearance (as the army commander with sword drawn) was to Joshua on the night before the battle of Jericho (Joshua 5:13).
Some examples of Yeshua’s appearances in glorified form in the Hebrew Bible are the burning bush (Exodus 3), the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24), on the King’s throne exalted (Isaiah 6), on the throne above the glory cloud and cherubim (Ezekiel 1:26), bought before the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7) and as the man of fire like the book of Revelation (Daniel 10:5).
In the examples above in the Old Covenant, Yeshua appeared in an earthly form to people in the Land of Israel and in a glorified form to people outside the Land. The same is true for the New Covenant: His earthly appearances to the disciples were inside Israel, while His glorified appearance to John was in exile on the Isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
While it is an oversimplification, there is a general pattern throughout scriptures that the Son of God appeared in human form inside Israel and in glorified form outside the Land. [In Hebrew, the word for “exile” is GALUT, and the word for “revelation” is HIT-GALUT. The two words are from similar roots – G-L-H and G-L-L.]
This pattern – both in the New Covenant and the Old – that the divine appearances of the Messiah occur among the Gentile nations, while the human appearances of the Messiah occur within the Land of Israel, touches on the destiny of God for the Church and for Israel. The Church has held Yeshua’s divinity, often missing the significance of His humanity. Israel has held the Messiah’s humanity, often missing His divinity.
The Church has carried the Divine nature; Israel has carried the Davidic. In this generation, Israelis are coming to faith in Yeshua, and the Church is returning to her Jewish roots. The dual nature of the Son of God is being revealed in its fullness. (The Bride – of Israel and the Church – is taking up her dance as the “double camp” [Song of Solomon 6:13]; the Groom will return soon for the marriage [Revelation 19:7]. As Jacob and Esau – Jews and Arabs – are reconciled as the “double camp” [Genesis 32:2], the face of God, “Peniel” will be revealed.)
The reconciliation and the revelation go together. Within the reconciliation of Israel and the Church comes the complete revelation of Messiah Yeshua.