Hello Again friends,
About ten years ago I began to pick at a thread pulling upon it to see where it led. I had speculation about the Birth Tribe of Yeshua; the one many call "Jesus." This speculation flies in the face of the traditional beliefs about Yeshua. The thread I speak of happens to be the thread of a connection to the Tribe of Levi. Specifically the Tribe of Kohath; a Sub division of Levi from which all High Priests were selected.
Would I find evidence? Indeed I have. And it troubles me.
It troubles me because it means that Yeshua ("Jesus") has been grossly misrepresented for millennia. It means that we have only been exposed to HALF of His true Identity. We generally accept the connection with Judah; but, have failed to see the connection to Kohath, to Levi. In accordance with Scripture.
In accordance with the words spoken to Moses.
Today We are going to begin by looking at what the Gospels themselves tell us about Jesus brother James. He wasn't the only sibling of Jesus we read about in the Gospels. There were in fact other brothers; and, sisters too who are written about as well.
- James
- Joseph/Joses
- Simon
- Jude (Judas)
- Salome
"Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?" "And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this [man] all these things?" "And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house."
[Matthew 13:55-57 KJV]
His brothers mocked him; suggesting that he go to Judea to perform miracles openly to gain popularity instead of in secret. As you read this. Just imagine their biting sarcastic tone.
'His brothers therefore said to Him:
"Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.""
'For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Then Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come."
When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
[John 7:3-9 NKJV]
At one point they sought to seize him because they believed he had gone mad.
Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard [about this], they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You." But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
[Mark 3:20-35 NKJV]
Not only did they believe he was mad. He was accused of having a demon. Jesus asserts that it isn't the bond of blood that makes others his brothers and sisters. But rather those who do the Will of God.
So what intrigues me the most about James is that after Jesus is resurrected He is visited privately. Yeshua chooses to appear to Him alone. Just the two of them. Imagine what that conversation must have been like. His own brother Yeshua ("Jesus") whom he had likely seen crucified just days ago was alive. Breathing. Standing before him. In the flesh. I imagine James had a moment with Yeshua that was probably filled with weeping, profuse apology, and pleading for forgiveness.
He forgives. Just as Joseph forgave his brothers who wronged him. Do you? Do you forgive?
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
The very one who had previously rejected his brother now would become a pillar of the faith. A Leader within the Jerusalem Church. His behavior if you pay close attention seems to mirror a Nazarite Vow; and, that of a Kohanim. A High Priest. Except I assert he wasn't selected simply because of his attachment to the Kohanim. He was meant to be like Yeshua. A Melchizedek. A King - Priest.
James is the author of the New Testament book bearing his name. James. In the book of Acts we discover that he is also in the upper room praying with other believers.
After his suffering [Jesus], he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:3.
"...and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also [Paul], as by one born out of due time."
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 NKJVStop with me for just a moment to consider that Jesus's mother Mary; his sister Salome; and His brothers James and Joses were looking on from afar witnessing the brutal treatment. I can only imagine their own trauma and excruciating grief at watching their flesh and blood feel the full weight of the Roman Government wielded through deception and manipulation to extinguish a tongue they feared. They saw first hand his suffering. A humiliating death. Which He endured joyfully because of what He would purchase with His own blood.
Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put [it] on a reed, and offered [it] to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down." Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.
Mark 15:36-41 NKJVWhat would your response be? If you saw your own brother, or son brutally murdered very publicly. Then witnessing his dead lifeless body taken down by Joseph of Arimathea to be wrapped in fine linen and laid in a tomb hewn from rock.
We know today that those who witness brutal traumatic deaths suffer from the following:
When my best friend Kirk took his own life. I wasn't there to witness it. I wasn't present to see him being taken down from the tree he had hung himself upon. I was halfway across the country. Didn't even find out until it was too late. My sister Keri would inform me. For the first few days I felt numb. It took me talking to others who had seen him dead before I would believe it. Then all the emotions hit me like a two ton heavy thing. I was a mess. A wreck. Waves of grief would overtake me through the day and I would spend time rocking back and forth in emotional pain as I wept uncontrollably. This went on for months. There are still days today that I grieve. Bitterly.
- Shock and numbness
- Anger and rage
- Severe Anxiety
- Fear and hypervigilance
- Guilt and Helplessness
- Profound Sadness
- Vivid Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- PTSD
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Yeshua's family and those who loved him didn't hear it second hand after the fact. They witnessed all the bloody details which aren't recorded in the Gospels. Before I went into the Marine Corps I had gone thru a training program to become a licensed practical nurse. I thought I wanted to go into medicine. So when I would read an article about Crucifixion from a medical standpoint of what happens to the victim it was shall I say. Rather shocking. I warn you. Some of this is graphic.*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
CRUCIFIXION UP CLOSE
"Crucifixion was one of the grizzliest tortures invented; a form of suffocation that was worse than waterboarding. It could last for days and only ended when the person ran out of strength. Breathing becomes more and more difficult when you hang from your arms, unless you raise yourself. But that means pulling on nails through your wrists, or pushing on nails through your ankles. Bones have more pain sensors than skin, and grinding metal on bone is excruciating.
Romans only allowed crucifixion for slaves who betrayed their masters and for non-Romans who were guilty of particularly heinous crimes. They banned it a few centuries later because even though they entertained themselves by watching deaths in the circus, they considered it too barbaric.
THE HUMILIATION OF THIS DEATH
Public humiliation was exacerbated by nakedness, but this was the least of the shame suffered during crucifixion. First came urination, caused by fear. Then came defecation, caused by the pain. Worse was to come (and I suggest you skip to the next paragraph unless you have a strong stomach). I learned more than I wanted to know in lectures on forensic pathology.
People are killed and kill themselves in many inventive ways that never make the papers. I was surprised at how many die accidentally though suffocation as a means of sexual gratification. This strange physiological reaction was the final shame of a crucified man: erection and ejaculation due to the slow suffocation.
https://www.premierunbelievable.com/topics/autopsy-of-a-crucifixion/11989.article
This was something that isn't written about in the Gospels. Probably because it is to shameful to even discuss. Did Messiah Yeshua urinate upon himself as he was dying upon the cross? Did Messiah Yeshua defecate upon himself, from extreme pain as he baked in the heat of the sun. His own tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth. Was he completely shamed and humiliated as this article suggest he may have been?
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James was there. He saw it with his own eyes. He heard the clanging of the iron as the nails were driven into Jesus's wrists. He heard the sounds of wailing and weeping from the women. The groans of pain escaping the lips of all three men crucified together that day. He saw, heard, and smelt things that aren't recorded. Then just a few days later. A man he had mocked. His own brother stood alive before him. The two of them alone.
I imagine "Please forgive me" must have escaped James lips repeatedly as he begged Yeshua for mercy. His unbelief most likely rooted in familiarity. Viewing him only as a Carpenter. Tears streaming down his face as he shook with many emotions including fear, bewilderment; and, even joy.
Yeshua could have told James to go pound sand. HE could have told him. You know what? You didn't believe. You aren't worthy to even untie the sandals upon my feet. Hit the road Jack. But. He didn't do any of those things. He forgave. And gave His brother a mission.
So what would be James' response to Yeshua's (Jesus's) resurrection?
James would become a very important pillar within the early church. With historians such as Hegesippus (2nd Century AD), Josephus (1st Century AD) Antiquities of the Jews; and, Eusebius all writing about him; we have more data to consider, about his tribal affiliation.
He is indeed the son of Joseph.
He is indeed the son of Mary.
He is indeed the brother of Yeshua.
The one whom many call "Jesus."
Meaning. He also is cousin of John the Baptist.
Meaning he has a legitimate connection to Judah through Joseph.
But, just as Jesus had connection to Levi so does James.
HOW you ask? -- Through Mary --
If you have been following my blog then you may be familiar with my work surrounding Deuteronomy 18 and how important its role is in establishing that Yeshua MUST BE OF LEVI. He MUST be descended from Moses brethren. Just as the text declares. Moses and Aaron were both of Kohath. The sub tribe of Levi where all High Priests are to be selected from. Neighbors, I am thoroughly convinced that Yeshua is the Prophet Like unto Moses. Please. Hear me out. I already know that you are likely to reject what I have to say without even studying it out for yourselves.
The false teaching about Messiah is systemic. System Wide Corruption.
If Jesus is only of Judah. As we are led to believe. And his birth is considered to be a "virgin birth." Where then does His brother James obtain the right to be the High Priest of Jerusalem? That was something reserved for a Kohanim. A Levite Descended of Aaron. Descended thru Phinehas. Then descended thru Zadok. Finally passed through Zachariah and Elizabeth to John; and yes my friends to even Yeshua as well.
How does James obtain this? Through deception? Through Trickery?
If so he is a fraudster. Except. I don't believe that.
If he isn't a Kohen by birth then his entering into the Sanctuary was something forbidden according to the Written Torah. This function, this duty, this right was something according to the Written Torah that was obtained ONLY via BIRTHRIGHT.
Friends, if you study out "atonement" you will discover that it is brought about by the High Priest who makes the Sin Sacrifice. Yeshua is a Legitimate High Priest. He is legitimately able to offer the blood of the Sin Sacrifice. His own blood. Yeshua is called our High Priest some 17 times in the book of Hebrews.
"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron [was]."
Hebrews 5:4 NKJV
Yeshua was called to His ministry. Just as Aaron was himself called to ministry. Except Yeshua's station as High Priest would supercede even Aaron. You could NOT (legally) be the High Priest if you weren't of the Tribe of Levi; a descendant of Aaron. Yeshua couldn't be an Aaronic High Priest because His own "father" (the alleged father) was of Judah; not of LEVI. This is proven by the Geneaologies in Matthew and Luke. Yet, Yeshua's Priesthood is that of an even Higher Order than even an Aaronic High Priest.
If Yeshua is of the same stock as John the Baptist; as I assert (in several places on this blog) then so is Jesus's brother James. This birthright is not obtained thru Joseph either. But rather THROUGH THEIR MOTHER MARY.
Tribal affiliation is related to your FATHER'S TRIBE. Jesus's (assumed) father was Joseph. His real father according to the Gospels is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Living God. Therefore Jesus was viewed as being "of Judah." Which is why Hebrews declares it is "apparent" He is of Judah. That much is obvious. What isn't obvious is His connection to Levi.
I suspect that this is why the temple is set within the borders of Judah.
Priests aren't given an allotment of land to possess.
Their inheritance isn't land.
It is why YHVH chose Judah; because the Messiah would be the way many are grafted into Judah. Through the Levite who would teach the Goyim how to Walk uprightly in righteousness. The Melchizedek who would set everything right. The Great High Priest who calls us beckoning us to return to the Covenant of Life and Peace He has authority to give; and, to take away.
Friends, to even be considered a "JEW" your MOTHER'S pedigree was paramount. Your status was dependant upon your mother being a Jew. If she wasn't Jewish then neither are you; (according to the Halacha of Judaism).
Elizabeth is Mary's Suggenes. The Greek equivalent of DODAH. Meaning "the Sister of Your Father" among other things. Again. I'm asserting Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist) is "the sister of Mary's unnamed father." If Elizabeth is of Levi; a descendant of Aaron; then wouldn't it stand to reason that her brother (Mary's unnamed father) is also of Levi; a descendant of Aaron? Friends. I am asserting strenuously that Mary and Elizabeth share an ancestor in common.
This is more significant than you can possibly imagine.
So did James take this honor to himself without authority?
I tell you the truth. Elizabeth; and, Her Niece Mary are BOTH of the Tribe of Kohath. They are both Daughters of Aaron. Giving Jesus the perfect pedigree. Levi & Judah. His birth tribe of LEVI is why we find Jesus teaching in the Temple DAILY. Friend. You couldn't teach in the temple if you weren't a Levite. My recommendation?
Study out "Teach," "teacher," "teachers," "teaches," "teaching," and "taught."
That framework will help you to see more clearly. It was rather illuminating for me personally. I can't stress this enough. Jesus teaching in the temple DAILY should be a huge enormous clue just by itself.
Just on its own Merit. This is something most pastors completely miss.
Then there was issue with the woman caught in the act of adultery.
This woman who isn't identified was brought before Him, in the Temple in the midst of those He was teaching. Publicly asking Him to judge her. They sought her condemnation. An act that requires two (2) to (3) three witnesses. An act that requires a trial. An act that requires 70 Levites of the Sanhedrin (the Supreme Court of Israel) to condemn her. An Act that requires a High Priest.
Except the one who was to become the Legitimate High Priest was already present.
Judah wasn't responsible for judgment. Levi was. So. Why would the Levites ask one descended of David to JUDGE a woman caught in the act of adultery? Their actions indicate something deeper than just the narrative of the story. I assert to you THEY KNEW HE WAS OF LEVI. For why else would they bring her before Him for Judgment? For why else would He be permitted to teach DAILY in the Temple?
Guess who the Bible declares is to teach?
You guessed it. Levi. The Descendants of Aaron.
Follow along with me as we read together the words of Hegessipus regarding James the Just.
Brother of Messiah Yeshua ("Jesus").
Concerning the martyrdom of James, the brother of the Lord, from Book V.
"James, the Lord's brother, succeeds to the government of the Church, in conjunction with the apostles. He has been universally called the Just, from the days of the Lord down to the present time. For many bore the name of James; but this one was holy from his mother's womb. He drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh; no razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, nor make use of the bath. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place: for he did not wear any woollen garment, but fine linen only. He alone, I say, was wont to go into the temple: and he used to be found kneeling on his knees, begging forgiveness for the people-so that the skin of his knees became horny like that of a camel's, by reason of his constantly bending the knee in adoration to God, and begging forgiveness for the people. Therefore, in consequence of his pre-eminent justice, he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek Defence of the People, and Justice, in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him."
James, alone was permitted to enter the holy place.
This was an honor that only those descended of Kohath; descended thru Aaron then Phinehas; then Zadok were given by YHVH Himself. Remember, Yeshua ("Jesus") is given the Throne of David. A King who elevated the Zadok to a position of honor. A position that had been usurped by the Scribes and Pharisees.
The High Priesthood was no longer adhering to the familial line which was supposed to be permanent; but, instead was being sold to the highest bidder; or, having one appointed by the Roman Government, instead of being selected per the instructions of the Most High. Should you read Maccabees this will become crystal clear. Again, regarding James the Just; Hegessipus declares:
- He was Holy from his mother's womb
- He drank No Wine or Intoxicating Liquor
- He ate No flesh
- No Razor came upon his head
- He entered the Holy Place Alone
- He wore fine linen just as Torah instructs High Priests
"And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These [are] the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." Exodus 19:6 NKJV
Who is to speak these words to Israel? Moses. A Kohathite.
One from the Tribe where all High Priests were to be selected.
What position did James Hold?
That of a Kohen. A High Priest.
In this case. A Melchizedek.
Just like his brother Yeshua.
Just like us when He raises us.
An entire nation of King Priests.

















