A CONSIDERATION OF TWO NAMES: YESHUA (JESUS) AND MARIAM (MARY)

BY Dr. Y’Shua Yisrael

There is a plethora of questions, misunderstandings, and even denial amongst  Christians about the name of the Lord. At this critical juncture, it is time to address the uncertainty and lack of specificity by asking, what is the savior’s authentic name, Jesus or Yeshua? As his Hebrew name is gaining recognition and increased usage, perhaps it is time for the original Hebrew name to be given priority. I have used a paring method which places the anglicized name in parentheses. In the 21^st century,  access to information is virtually instantaneous; the ignorance and illiteracy of yesterday is quickly vanishing. Questions that were once shrouded in mystery are answered  with 100% accuracy by means of artificial intelligence( A.I.) For example,  it is known with certainty, there was never an Israelite woman by the name of Mary with a son named Jesus! The name, Mary, in the New Testament is an anglicized version of her Hebrew name, Mariam, which means, drop of the sea, wished for a child, or beloved. Likewise, the name Jesus is an anglicized translation of the Hebrew name Yeshua; a name which means, Yahweh, the God of Israel, is salvation, welfare, and the deliverer.  Historically, the name Jesus was heralded as the holiest possible name. It has been regarded sacred and thought to be a unique name that God himself, through his Arch Angel Gabriel, instructed Mariam (Mary) to name the miraculous child. Ministers of Christianity have taught that the name Jesus was the only name through which man could obtain redemption from sin, soul salvation, and eternal life. As society slowly emerges from illiteracy, research into the Hebrew letters revealed that the letter “ J” is not within the Hebrew lexicon. Moreover, the letter J is approximately five hundred years old. Consequently, 2000 years ago the name Jesus was not in the vocabulary of Hebrews and Israelites. Research into  Hebraic names has evidenced the concept of,  Lashon Ha Kodesh; the inherent creative intelligence of each Hebrew letter and its mathematical equivalent.

The Hebrew letters are the building blocks of creation. For example, the Hebrew name,  ישוע (Yeshua) is a sequence of Holy letters; a  progression of the divine intelligence that manifests as a specific phenomenon in creation. The Hebrew letters are the primal substance of reality; You can not translate the energy of a sacred Hebrew name; its transcendent features are what makes it sacred.  A Holy Name like ישוע (Yeshua)  possesses an indomitable life force, that when translated is winnowed away and lost. Within Christendom, the name “Yeshua. ” is becoming increasingly visible. Some religious organizations use the Hebrew name; Jews for Jesus, for example. Other denominations know it, but neither use nor teach it. I asked a Catholic Priest; Father Jose, if it is permissible to pray in the original Hebrew name of Yeshua and he said, certainly why not! Personal prayer and private prayers are determined by individual preference. However, in group settings such as liturgical prayer, only the name Jesus is used, per the teachings of the Church. Going forward, the name controversy will continue to elicit considerable discussion and debate. I am an advocate for the original, Hebrew holy name Yeshua because it is Lashon Ha Kodesh,  a holy tongue which when spoken elicits a profound neurophysiological response as the quality of divine intelligence associated with each letter is infused into my mind. I find it preferential to English because spiritually it is both soothing and elevating.  For more than three decades I have prayed and praised God in this Holy name with remarkable blessedness. In my view, in future documents, the original Hebrew names of Yeshua and Mariam should be given preference, with the English name placed parenthetically.

In a recent article, the Hebrew name Mariam was used along with a photo that depicted her faithfully as a woman of color. Some readers were, no doubt perplexed. The intention was to shatter the assumptive state of complacent Christians who do not study, identify, or appreciate the Hebraic heritage of their faith. In retrospect, the dominant culture, in its rush to infuse itself into the Gospel narrative, simply ignored the facts pertinent to geography, linguistics, and ethnic demographics of the region in which the gospel scenario unfolded. According to studies of plate tectonics, the country of Israel is actually in Northeast Africa.

Why should  Christians familiarize themselves with the linguistic roots of Israel? The answer is simple because it is from the Torah that the law of love is given: “thy shall love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, soul and resources. These matters are to be set up on one’s heart, spoken and thought of continuously, taught to members of their household, bonded on the arm and placed as frontlets on their head” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Without this singular love and devotion to יהוה (Yahweh) The Creator, you cannot love his creatures or appreciate his omnipresence in nature.  In the gospel of Mark, 12:29, Yeshua (Jesus), when asked what was the greatest commandment, recited Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18, which says, love god and love your neighbor as yourself; on these two commandments, the law and the prophets are completed. The second reason to familiarize yourself with the Judaic roots of the faith is that salvation initiates a transformation of your consciousness into the image of the Lord; inclusive of his mind, heart, and Spirit which are Hebrew. Finally, if the goal of worship is for the worshiper to become united with the one worshipped, then spiritual union with Yeshua ( Jesus) indubitably deepens the appreciation for his Hebrew perspective and that of his Heavenly Father’s Laws. The Eurocentric portrayal of Mariam (Mary), Yosef (Joseph), and Yeshua (Jesus) as European is inaccurate, biased, a vestige of yesterday, and no longer tenable.

“Behold the LORD has done great things for me, all generation shall call me blessed and holy is his name (Luke 1:49)”. These are the prophetic words of the Holy Spirit, speaking through Mariam ( Mary) with exaggerated unction; a salient, evidenced-based demonstration of her exceptionality. The words of the angelic salutation are Not the words of the messenger Gabriel but are the words of the Heavenly Father himself. The distinction, “full of Grace”, to my knowledge has never been attributed to another human. To be full of Grace is equivalent to being sinless. Obviously, Mariam (Mary) possessed celestial perception and Clairaudience which permitted her to see and communicate with the Arch Angel Gabriel. Finally, that  Mariam (Mary) kept all that the Angel had said in her heart for repeated contemplation, speaks to her perspicacity and spiritual maturity. The American society is turned topsy-turvy because the cart has been placed before the horse. Perhaps our patriarchal heritage has robbed society of the ability to recognize those female traits that by comparison make a male seem inferior. A woman’s submissive role is evidence of her greatness; God always asks the greater to serve the lesser. It is Mary’s “Yes” to God that restores the spiritual equilibrium to humanity that Eve’s disobedience caused. To this end, she is the new Eve that forms the new humanity called, “the people of god”. Mary’s yes is the “ sine qua non” of Redemption. The exemplary role of Mariam (Mary) has been understated, deemphasized, and devalued. Mariam (Mary) is the spouse of the Holy Spirit.  This article is written to state categorically, that to know Yeshua ( Jesus) is to love Mariam (Mary) his Mother; for they are One. Without Mariam (Mary) there is no Yeshua (Jesus)! Being one with Yeshua (Jesus) means seeing and loving his mother Mariam (Mary) as the queen of Heaven.

Dr. Yisrael teaches an introduction to the Hebrew Aleph-Bet for anyone who wishes to embark upon the spiritual adventure of studying the language of God (Lashon Ha Kodesh) Interested parties contact: babayshua@gmail.com.