Week Three
In 2021 following the Aristocratic Majority view on when to start counting, we began Counting the Omer on Nisan 22, the day of Resheit or Firstfruits and also Resurrection Sunday (Easter.) On the Gregorian Calendar this was April 4th, 2021. Accordingly the third week of counting begins on the 15th day of the Omer, April 17 at sundown. Week Three concludes on the regular Sabbath, which begins Friday April 23th, 2021 in the evening and ends at sundown April 24th.
Historical context – B.C.E.
As we continue to follow the journey taken by the children of Israel from Egypt to Mount Sinai, we recall how on the seventh day of the first week, God led them to an oasis of palm trees and fountains at Elim. They remained at Elim throughout week two and it is here that we find the children of Israel at the beginning of week three:
Day 15-21 The Israelites remain camped at Elim, 600,000 Israelite men plus women and children and a significant number of Egyptians who had decided to leave Egypt along with the Israelites. They also had flocks of animals as well as personal belongings. It is probable that they became comfortable and that many did not want to leave. In any case it appears that they remained at this location for about 3 weeks.
Historical context in the C.E.
We already saw how Yeshua appeared to the disciples and over 500 brethren during the second week after Yeshua’s resurrection. We are not entirely certain when and how often Yeshua appeared to his followers during Week Three. Let’s look again at some of the scriptures that shed some light on the events during this time period.
Acts 1:1-3 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Yeshua began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Day 15-21 Yeshua is known to have appeared on several occasions. The third occasion he appeared to them was by the Sea of Tiberius where he performed the miracle of the catch of 153 fish. [1]
Condensed text from John 21:1-14: After this Yeshua showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael of Cana, the sons of Zebedee, and two others went fishing and that night they caught nothing. But in the morning, Yeshua stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know Him. He asked them, "Children, have you any food?" "No" they answered. And He said, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. John said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came dragging the net with the fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Yeshua said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." The net was full of one hundred and fifty-three large fish; yet it did not break. Yeshua said to them, "Come and eat." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" - knowing that it was the Lord. Yeshua gave them the bread and fish. This is the third time Yeshua showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
This is also when Yeshua restored Peter to His position as His chosen leader of the Apostles.
John 21:15-19 So when they had eaten breakfast, Yeshua said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Yeshua said to him, "Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
Present context in 2020 C.E.
The world is experiencing what appear to be the birth pangs prophesied as a sign of Messiah's return. (Isa 26:17-18; Matt 24:8; 1Thess 5:3; Rev 12:1-2) A worldwide pandemic has swept over the earth and millions are told to stay in their homes to escape the pestilence. Economic conditions threaten to descend to near depression-like conditions in the U.S. and throughout the world. The political divisiveness is more severe than at any time since the Civil War. Repressive governmental controls, restriction of liberties and censorship and "cancel-culture" is widespread. A sense of ear is pervasive, fanned by public officials with the help of the many in the media. Just as the Israelites were becoming complacent at Elim, so many in the church today are acquiescing to pressures to avoid gathering and sit in their homes hoping things will get better.
Week Three of the Omer represents Tiferet – Beauty and Compassion
According to Jewish Mystical tradition, or Kabbalah, the third week of counting the Omer focuses on the Hebrew Concept Tiferet – “beauty”, “Harmony” or “compassion”. Tiferet blends and harmonizes the free outpouring love of Chesed with the discipline of Gevurah. Tiferet accomplishes this by introducing a third dimension ― the dimension of truth, which is neither love nor discipline and therefore can integrate the two.
Truth is accessed through selflessness: rising above your ego and your predispositions, enabling you to realize truth. Truth gives you a clear and objective picture of yours and others' needs. This quality gives Tiferet its name, which means beauty: it blends the differing colors of love and discipline, and this harmony makes it beautiful. [2]
Charge for Week Three
So let us begin the third week of counting the omer by combining love and discipline with truth and purity of heart, honestly desiring to be changed in our inner person so that we may be worthy of and fully equipped for the purpose for which we were created!
[1] The number 153 has several mathematical properties. As a triangular number, 153 is the sum of the first 17 integers, and is also the sum of the first five positive factorials. It is also the smallest three-digit number which can be expressed as the sum of cubes of its digits. Only five other numbers can be expressed as the sum of the cubes of their digits: 0, 1, 370, 371 and 407. It is also a Friedman numbe r, since 153 = 3 × 51, and a Harshad number in base 10, being divisible by the sum of its own digits.
[2] Aish.com – Counting the Omer http://www.aish.com/h/o/t/48969716.html
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