ARAMAIC WORD STUDY – AFTER ‘ATA’ אתא Aleph Taw Aleph

Matthew 16:24: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

This evening in our Hebrew/Aramaic Workshop on our Learning Channel we will be discussing metaphors, similes, and allegories. The Bible is overrun with metaphors, similes, and allegories and for 2,000 years Bible scholars have been trying to interpret these allegories. I mean it does give a Bible scholar some meaning for his existence as a scholar. However, if the Word of God was meant for everyone, why do we need some elite person with a few letters after his name to interpret a metaphor for us. Now to be sure most metaphors in the Bible need some historical and cultural background to help in the interpretation and I will concede that if a Christian is too lazy to go to a library or in our present society, the internet to discover the historical or cultural background then you need a scholar to show off his great knowledge.

Every so often someone will write to me and ask a very simple question. I may not know the answer or be sure of the answer so I go to Google, look it up, and write up what Wikipedia has to say. I then tell the questioner that I found this on Wikipedia implying politely as possible “Why waste my time doing something that you could have done yourself.” As I find myself becoming busier and busier running this ministry I may actually start putting that sentence in my answer. You see what you need Chaim Bentorah Ministries for is to make you realize you don’t need Chaim Bentorah Ministries.

So, let’s take this little metaphor of Jesus. “If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” You certainly don’t need a Bible scholar or a Chaim Bentorah to tell what that little metaphor means. We all know that to carry the cross was a figurative expression telling us that we must be willing to endure whatever is difficult, trying and even considered a disgrace in order to do what is required of us in the Scriptures. Let it produce whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may bring so long as we are adequate servants of Jesus Christ.

However ,knowing all that doesn’t put Chaim Bentorah out of business. Fortunately for me there are Christians who are hungry for more, who want to put a leash around this verse and take it out for a walk to see what it is really made of. For that, you will need a little help with the original language. In this case the Greek and Aramaic. Something you need just a little instruction from the old dusty professor to be able to do this on your own.

Let’s put this verse under the proverbial microscope and see if there is anything more in it. First, Jesus is speaking to anyone who will come after him. What does that mean? Does it mean to follow after He dies? Does it mean to just chase after him. Or is He saying like the NIV if we aspire to be His disciple. If that is the case why did He just not say: “If anyone wishes to be my disciple” like he did in Matthew 10.

In the Greek, it is the word for after is opiso which means to come after in the sense of following. In the Aramaic, however, the word is ‘ata’ which means to take a journey. In other words, if you wish to take a journey with Jesus, you must be willing to take up your cross.

Maybe you don’t see the nuance here, but for me, this walk with Jesus is a journey not an unfortunate turn of events. A journey is filled with ups and downs. Problems and victories. We are not just following Jesus, we are on a journey with Him, an exciting adventure. I have been watching a series on the Disney Channel called Life Below Zero about adventurers who have decided to live near the Arctic Circle and just live off the land, hunting, fishing, enduring the 50 below zero weather, breakdown of equipment, seeking wood for heat and lean times when they are unsuccessful with their hunting and fishing. Despite all the difficulties, problems, life-threatening situations they are continually saying over and over, they would not give up their lifestyle for any of the comforts in the lower States. They are on a journey, an adventure where each day brings a new set of problems, difficulties, and victories.

So, just searching out one simple word, “after” or ‘ata’ in Aramaic and I have discovered something beyond just taking up your cross or being willing to suffer hardship, shame and reproach, not just to earn a place in heaven after death, but to embark on an exciting journey of adventure.

I feel like many in my spirit that Christians are going to face some hard times in the near future. The enemy is forming an army to move against Christians and that move has begun. Our comfortable complacent Christian life is about to be challenged. We will be called upon to pick up your crosses to follow Jesus. How will you face it, just following after Jesus or ‘ata’ taking a journey with Jesus? Your choice. That journey will be quite an adventure and I am looking forward to it. I am turning 70 years old next week but I am not ready to leave this world. I see before me a journey and adventure that will require carrying a cross and, well, as the Happy Goodmans used to sing:

Though the devil tempts me and he tried to turn me around

You know he’s offered everything that’s got a name

All the wealth I want and worldly fame

Oh, there’s nothing in the world that will ever take the place of God’s love.

If I could still I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now.

I feel in my spirit we are about to embark on a journey where we must carry our cross. I’m on a train, bound for heaven, but I’ve got an exciting journey and adventure ahead before I reach my final destination. Do you care to join me on that train?

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