Revealing the Notzrim

During a recent tour I led to Israel, an  Orthodox  Jewish  woman came to the door of our meeting room in the hotel basement.  We were concerned because she stood in the open doorway, lingering for some time.  

Then, she walked away, and returned for a second look. I saw her silently examining the face of each traveler in my group.  A local Messianic Jewish teacher was sharing a message that night, and went to check on the unexpected visitor.  The Orthodox woman turned to the teacher and said, “Light, I see light in them!  Are they the Notzrim?  Notzrim is a modern Hebrew term for Christians. 

Notzrim is related to the word Nazarene, referring to Yeshua of Nazareth.  But, the root of notzrim is natzar.  The real explanation for the Hebrew word natzar is to safe keep, to keep until a later time, and to hide it in a way which will later be revealed.

The light in our faces was revealed for the Orthodox woman who suspected that we were believers.  In a prophetic sense, our light is concealed in earthen vessels, but is revealed to those who can see it.  Israel begins to see our light, as we simultaneously begin to see the light of Israel.

Many of us used to be darkness, as Rabbi Paul correctly charges.  But united with the Messiah, we are Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8-9).  Our insight into the kingdom makes us shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome and, if we turn many to righteousness, like stars forever (Daniel 12:3).

Published May 16, 2017