The Well with the Holy Name: Reflections on Messiah

By Daniel Thomas and Jerome A Henry

I love the idea of sending a message in a bottle. I have always wanted to write something on a piece of plain white paper, roll it up, slip it into a bottle and let the ocean's currents take it away to a far away land. Safe inside the confines of the glass bottle, the words would travel through time and vast oceanic expanses. After many months or years, the bottle would wash up onto the shore and eventually into someone's hands.

How exciting it would be to find that bottle and read the contents of the note contained inside. Now suppose the writer of the note was a President, a King or what if the message came from outside of our world, beyond time and space, wouldn't you be interested in reading it?

The fact is that we have a message just like that. The bible is a love letter from our Creator. What a treasure we have at our fingertips and what a tragedy if we never discover the wisdom contained inside…

"The Well with the Holy Name" is an anthology of short stories written by Dean Kellio, senior Pastor of Oakzanita Springs Fellowship, and columnist for the Alpine Sun, who has a delightful way of creating word pictures, that both stimulate our minds allowing us to see into "The Well with the Holy Name".

While we live in this present world we are not able to fully see the Messiah face to face. However, as we lean over to glimpse into the well we are able to see His reflection on the surface of the Living Water that flows through the book's pages via the author's unique writing style.

We hope that you will not only enjoy reading the author's prose, that your faith in God is strengthened but that you would also take the time to write a short review for others who might consider being refreshed by the gentle breeze of Jeshua that cannot be contained within its covers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973640967

Daniel Thomas

Daniel Thomas is an Australian filmmaker, writer and actor.

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Copyright © 2018 Daniel Thomas.

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without the written permission of the author except in the case of

brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®

(NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975,

1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-4095-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4097-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-4096-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018911532

WestBow Press rev. date:  11/18/2020

CONTENTS

Reflections On Messiah

Full Circle

Lost And Found

The Stone

Message In A Bottle

The Perfect Fit

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Water Of Life

The Wind Under My Wings

Washing Feet

Blue

About Time

A Moment In Time

A.R.K. Acts Of Random Kindness

Deep Waters

Divine Watchmaker

Washed Clean

The Empty Stairwell

The Bench

Forgetfulness

Turning Around

Pots And Pans

Clutter

Loving Others

Eight Hundred Words Through The Bible

The Family Line

Passover

Walls Of Separation

In The Blink Of An Eye

Broken Hearted

Just A Comma

Free Ride

My Best Day Ever

Through The Storm

Being Patient

Coffee And Cranberry Scones

Beauty For Ashes

Beyond Time

Living Water

Bumper Stickers

Carrie

Christmas Donkey

End Of The Rope

Distractions

Goliath’s Brothers

Memorial Stones

The Whale Is Moving

Friendship Evangelism

Twenty Questions

Messiah

Turn, Turn, Turn

Shipwrecked

The Potter’s House

The Playground

Overflowing Cups

Portrait

Public Service

Tin Can

Battle Plan

The Beach

Cracked Cisterns

Seeds Of Faith

Sky Car

Sweet Fragrance

Bond Servants

Dedication

Epilogue

About The Author

REFLECTIONS ON MESSIAH

Jacob set his head on a stone–pillow and dosed off.

He dreamt of a stairway (or ladder) that rested on the ground, with its’ top reaching up to the heavens. And on it Jacob beheld the angels of God ascending up and descending down. (Genesis 28: 11-12)

And above the top-rung (of the ladder) was the LORD.

I AM the LORD, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give you, and your descendants, the land upon which you are lying. In you and your descendants all the families of the earth will find blessing. I AM with you; and I will watch over (protect) you wherever you go. (Genesis 28: 14-15)

A person’s willingness to believe (faith) activates God’s faithfulness to promises.

Now, fast forward to the arrival of the Messiah.

Philip (who was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter) found Nathaniel, and told him, ‘We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law (and whom the prophets spoke about); Yeshua, the son of Joseph. (John 1: 45)

Nathaniel’s response to news about the Messiah illustrates how presumptuous (and fickle) human nature can be.

Nathaniel assumed nothing of value could possibly come from the sleepy |backwards village of Nazareth.

How can anything good come from Nazareth?

Philip answered, ‘Come and see.’ (John 1: 46)

Those with eyes of faith witness Jacob’s Ladder…personified.

Truly I tell you; you’ll see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. (John 1: 51)

FULL CIRCLE

The miracle of Israel is a testament to the restorative power of God Eternal. The Messiah’s story is a reconstituted version of Jacob’s (Israel’s) journey, albeit in abbreviated form.

You are my witnesses. I (the LORD) have chosen you to know Me; to understand, I AM the One who has done all this. (Isaiah 43: 10)

The meanings of the various Hebrew names (pre-Flood), and how they relate to the Messiah is truly amazing, but when combined with their chronological overlap (Adam, Seth, Enosh, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, and Abraham), you have person to person communication of God’s Story.

The Bible provides answers. Upon reading about the plagues of Egypt, an over-riding theme emerges. The phrase, So, you will know that I am the LORD appears numerous times in the lead up to the Exodus. But it does not take a threat of biblical proportion to cause people to turn to God. Scripture informs us, A son was born to Seth, and he named him Enosh. At that time, people began to worship the LORD. (Genesis 4: 26)

In terms of the present age and the signs of the times, I am reminded of Jesus’ words; Assuredly I say to you, you won’t see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD’. (Matthew 23: 39)

On April 22, 2020 (the 50th anniversary of Earth Day), in their own respective liturgical language (Hebrew, Arabic and English) Israel’s multifaith leaders prayed together, in unison, on the balcony of the King David Hotel overlooking the Old City. Their prayers were broadcast at 3 p.m. (from Jerusalem).

Here is a brief excerpt of the prayer (from the Book of Psalms, A Song of Ascents):

I lift my eyes towards the mountains. From where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; Your guardian (protector) will not slumber; indeed, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps! The Lord is your protection; He is a shelter; right at your side. The LORD will guard your coming and your going, now and forever. (Psalm 121: 1-8)

Let them (the people) give thanks to the LORD for His mercy. He performed His miracles for Adam’s descendants. (Psalms 107: 31)

And now, more than ever, I ask in the Name of Yeshua, the Messiah, that You, O LORD, remove the unseen viral enemy.

Heal me LORD, and I will be healed. Rescue me, and I will be saved. You (LORD) are my praise. (Jeremiah 17: 14)

Give me new life (rejuvenated) through Your mercy, so that I may obey the instructions (laws and commands) from Your mouth. (Psalms 119: 88)

After having fed the crowds (the 5,000 at Tabgha) with only five loaves and two fish, they (Yeshua and his disciples) crossed the Sea of Galilee. Once they reached Gennesaret, the men there recognized Jesus, and they proceeded to send messengers around the countryside (announcing his arrival). The people in the area brought those who were sick (suffering from various maladies) to Jesus, requesting they be allowed to touch the hem (ritual fringes) of his garment. Scripture says, Everyone who touched it was made well (healed). (Matthew 14: 34-36)

A person’s willingness to recognize Yeshua (Jesus) for who He is, Lord of lords, and king of kings, Messiah, served to initiate the healing process, and more.

As many that did recognize (and receive) him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, He gave the right to become children of God (not on account of bloodline entitlement, or physical human impulse, but of God. (John 1: 12-13)

Jesus and his disciples came across a blind beggar named Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside.

When the blind man heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth (passing by), he began shouting, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus stopped. He told the disciples to call the man over; saying, Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you." (Mark 10: 47-49)

Be encouraged! The sighted blind men and women are on the rise.

LOST AND FOUND

Jacob’s tier-like journey serves as the groundwork for the Messiah’s story of redemption and restoration.

I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and your father Isaac. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth; through them all the families of the earth will find blessing. I will be with you; and will protect you wherever you go. Someday, I will bring you back to this land. (Genesis 28: 13-15)

Here is the seventh statement (promised blessing) made to Abraham:

A second time the angel of the LORD called to Abraham; saying, ‘Because you acted as you did (obeyed God’s instructions) in not withholding your son, your only one, I will bless you, and make your descendants as countless as stars in the sky and sands of the seashore. And your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies. In your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing’. (Genesis 22: 15-18)

Israel’s journey into and out of slavery (under the Pharaoh’s oppressive thumb), and into and out of captivity (under the king of Babylon’s tyrannical rule) represents a cycle of bondage that the God of Israel promised to delivers us out of.

The LORD used the dispersion (Diaspora) of Jews from the land of Israel as means of refining, pruning, sharpening, and fortifying their resolve.

I will sift the house of Israel out of all the nations as if I were using a sieve; not one pebble will fall to the ground. (Amos 9: 9)

But unlike the purifying of metals, we are informed that we can expect a purifying process of a different sort. I (the LORD) have refined you, but not like silver or gold; I have purified you in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48: 10)

This is My promise, says the LORD; My Spirit, which is on you (Isaiah), and My words that I have put in your (Isaiah’s) mouth, will not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from your descendant’s descendants), forever. (Isaiah 59: 21)

In the natural there’s no way to make sense of 400 years of slavery in Egypt, no way to make sense of the captivity at the hands of the Babylonians, no way to make sense of centuries of Roman occupation, no way to make sense of the circumstances in which we find ourselves; nevertheless, we continue to believe.

Look over the nations and see! Be utterly amazed! For a work is being done in your days that you wouldn’t believe were it be told to you. (Habakkuk 1: 5)

THE STONE

Then the angel told me, ‘This is the word the LORD spoke to Zerubbabel: ‘You will not prevail (succeed) by strength or (carnal) might, but by My Spirit’, says the LORD of Armies. ‘What a high mountain you are! But in front of Zerubbabel, you shall become a plain. He will bring out the uppermost stone (capstone) with shouts of Grace, grace (blessings) on it!’" (Zechariah 4: 4-7)

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

I love the idea of sending a message in a bottle. I have always wanted to write something on a piece of plain white paper, roll it up, slip it into a bottle and let the ocean’s currents take it away to a far away land. Safe inside the confines of the glass bottle, the words would travel through time and vast oceanic expanses. After many months or years, the bottle would wash up onto the shore and eventually into someone’s hands.

How exciting it would be to find that bottle and read the contents of the note contained inside. Now suppose the writer of the note was a President, a King or what if the message came from outside of our world, beyond time and space, wouldn’t you be interested in reading it?

The fact is that we have a message just like that. The bible is a love letter from our Creator. What a treasure we have at our fingertips and what a tragedy if we never discover the wisdom contained inside. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16. NKJV

I talk to people who say they don’t believe in God. They give me all sorts of reasons for their lack of faith but basically it comes down to the absence of solid evidence. Although misguided, they are in good company. Even one of Jesus’ disciples, Thomas, said Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. John 20:25. NKJV

There are many infallible proofs for God’s existence, all of which are found inside the pages of the bible. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 NKJV. But unless we open and hear the word, the seeds of faith can’t be planted in our hearts. All faith takes is a seed, some water and some warm light from the Son.

Found near the end of the New Testament, is the book of Hebrews. Chapter eleven is called the Hall of faith. There in verse 1 we find the definition of faith Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It’s also said that without faith it’s impossible to please God.

We’re told Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by offering up a lamb from the flock. God had instructed that our sin can only be covered up with blood. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Hebrews 9:22. NKJV

Noah who had never seen one drop of rain, by faith built an ark to God’s specifications and saved his household of eight. The only people who did not perish in the world wide deluge were the people who were safely on the ark. Once they were inside, it was God who shut the door and condemned the entire lost world outside.

On faith Abraham left his homeland and journeyed to a land he had never seen before. Even when God asked him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, Abraham obeys and witnesses grace and mercy as God delivers Isaac from certain death by providing a ram caught in the thicket. Later on, it would happen that on that very same mountain, Moriah, God would provide His one and only son to become our sacrifice.

So God did send us a message but it was not hidden inside of a bottle. Instead, He carefully inspired men to record ahead of time foretelling what was going to happen in the future. Then through the blood of many martyrs, the books were canonized, published and distributed worldwide.

One day Jesus will return as the King of kings and the Lord of lords to shepherd