WAS JESUS EVER A NAZARITE?
Over the last few weeks we have been discussing Numbers, Chapter 6 and the rules God gave to Moses for taking the vow of a Nazarite. Today we find ourselves exploring the answers to the question of whether or not Jesus was ever under a Nazarite vow. I’m going to give you my best personal opinion. It will be up to you to study the scriptures and decide for yourself.
COME AS A CHILD – LESSON 264
In COME AS A CHILD Lesson 263 we studied the lives of Sampson and Samuel and noted the fact that they both were committed to God in a Nazarite vow from the time of their birth. You can review that past lesson here: tps://theinseasonlifestyle.com/taking-vows-for-skipping-wine/ if you like.
Now we will stop to consider the life of Jesus. There is no mention of a vow being taken at the time of his birth; but we are wondering if he EVER took a vow as a Nazarite.
Using the Word of God we find inside the scriptures; we want to try to decipher whether or not this might be possible; and if so – why?
BEING RAISED IN THE AREA OF NAZARETH
We do know Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Not long after the birth of Jesus, his family moved to Nazareth; which is located in the north central portion of Galilee. History spells out the early years of Jesus’s life and after the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to escape the slaughter of Herod the Great.
As soon as it was safe (Jesus was probably around three to four years old) they returned to Nazareth, where Jesus grew up and spent the remaining days of his childhood.
LIVING IN NAZARETH
Nazareth was, at one time, famously recognized as the hometown of many Nazarite priests. Hence; the city received its name and came to be called Nazareth.
By the time of the birth of Jesus though, the town of Nazareth was known only for being a dirty and lowly place. It was a place where the poor and the common people gathered. Many inhabitants of Nazareth were hated and despised simply because of the reputation of the culture of that city.
The more prosperous regions of the area looked down on the inhabitants of Nazareth. The people were very needy and they did not want to be bothered by them. They had better things to do in their busy days than to be bothered with the problems of Nazareth.
There was a saying in those days; “Nothing good comes from Nazereth.”
That saying had proven very true; until the day that The Holy Family and Jesus came to live within this city’s gates. Still; the city did not recognize their hidden treasure. It wasn’t until many years after his death and resurrection that many people in Nazereth began to recognize the significance of the life of Jesus.
There is another old saying that proved very true for the lifetime of Jesus; “a prophet isn’t recognized in his own hometown.”
To the people of Nazareth; Jesus was simply the son of a poor carpenter named Joseph.
GROWING UP AND LEARNING
Because of this history of the Nazarite prophets; Jesus probably grew up hearing the detailed stories of those of old who took the vow of the Nazarite.
Jesus would have understood the meaning of such a vow at an early age.
He must have learned all about Sampson as a very young boy, maybe as soon as he could walk and talk. We know that Sampson was a Nazarite who was noted for his long hair and great strength.
It is implied in the scriptures that Jesus understood his purpose and calling from the time that he was twelve when he boldly and respectfully told his parents that they should not be surprised to find him in the temple and about his father’s business.
As a young boy and into his early manhood Jesus was said to have sat at the feet of and conversed with the wise old sages and the educated teachers at the temple. During those days it was very possible that they could have taught him the details concerning the vow of the Nazarites.
Every young Hebrew boy learned Torah. The Book of Numbers containing the laws and statutes which also explained such vows as these would have been memorized. The ancient priests probably explained the stories of Samuel and how his Mother had dedicated him to God with a Nazarite vow.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NAZARITE AND A NAZAREEN
Jesus plainly understood the difference (which we of today’s world often get confused) between a Nazarite and a Nazareen.
A Nazareen was a person from Nazereth; which clearly would have included Jesus.
A Nazarite was a person (from anywhere or any time) that had taken a Nazarite vow.
This person could not cut his hair for the length of his vow. He was separated and set apart as consecrated to God. The Nazarite could not drink wine or consume any grape products of any kind (anything that grew on a vine/tree.)
He was not to go near or be in the presence of a dead body while in his time of separation and the fulfillment of the requirements of his vow; even if someone in his immediate family died. Should this happen, he would be considered unclean and if a death near him happened by accident he had to shave his head and begin the time period of his vow before God all over again until the days were completed.
I have not studied the details around shaving the head if you had to start anew with your vows, but I do suspect that it has to do with the hair of the head being holy and consecrated to God. If it was exposed to a dead body; then shaving the head would remove that problem and the new hair that grew after that experience would be considered clean.
WAS JESUS A NAZARITE TOO?
When we think of the ministry of Christ and consider the Nazarite vow; we can remember times when Jesus would have touched or come into the presence of a dead body.
He touched the centurion’s daughter when he brought her back to life. He also touched the son of another faithful servant and brought him back to life. We know Jesus visited the tomb of Lazarus after he had been dead for awhile.
There are numerous times that we know for certain that Jesus drank wine. (Please realize that drinking wine and getting drunk are not the same thing.) Many stories tell of Jesus at weddings and other joyful celebrations where wine would have been the traditional drink for everyone in attendance.
The feasts and festivals which Jesus attended annually would have celebrated joyfully with the abundance of each harvest and there would have been wine flowing freely and available to all.
Jesus participated in all of these things.
THE CUTTING OF THE HAIR
Though it isn’t specifically mentioned (that I am aware of) in the scriptures; it is highly possible that Jesus cut his hair from time to time.
Most Jewish men did this.
Some scriptures report that it is shameful for a man to have long hair; but long hair is a woman’s glory.
The Nazarite stood out from those in the crowd because he did NOT cut his hair.
We often hear of Jesus blending into the crowd and disappearing from sight as he was walking away from several scenes that could have been dangerous and a lot of trouble to him if he had been seen and known to the public. The scriptures tell us he looked “ordinary.”
From all of the above statements; one might think it a certain fact that Jesus could never have been one who would take the vow of the Nazarite. It simply doesn’t sound like the way he ordinarily lived in his daily life.
SOMETIMES THE TRUTH ISN’T SO EASY TO KNOW
But; let’s think on this further.
One condition of the vow of the Nazarite was that the vow always had a set beginning time and a set ending time. This was a pre-determined and set time-period that the person agreed to be set apart and consecrated only to God.
The length of the vow was between the person and God. The vow could be for a lifetime; or it could be for only a few hours. Each vow was unique and tailored to the purposes of God for that particular individual. Sampson was set-aside to save the people from the Philistines. Samuel was set-aside to be a holy priest and a prophet who would be used to anoint Kings. John-the-Baptist was set-aside to pave the way for the Messiah.
Of course; Jesus was destined to save the world from sin.
Could it be possible that Jesus took the vow of the Nazarite for only a day, or only the hours of his crucifixion?
Why do you think he might have considered such a thing?
THE VOW GAVE ONE GREAT STRENGTH
I’m thinking it was possible that Jesus knew of the strength that God gave to Sampson because of his Nazarite vow. Jesus was about to need all of the physical strength that a human body could endure. His body would take the blame for every sin that you and I ever committed; plus all the rest of the world.
Jesus was clearly sweating it out in the Garden of Gethsemane. We know he was praying that if it were possible, God would take this cup from him.
Christ was going to drink the bitter cup of the adulterous Bride (the church.) He was going to pay the penalty for the one he loved enough to die for.
Yet; he also asked that God’s will be done, and He walked willingly toward the cross in spite of his obvious dread. He laid down his life willingly and without hesitation when his time came forth.
He asked the disciples to pray for him.
Jesus needed great strength to face what lay ahead.
THE WORDS OF THE LAST SUPPER
On the night before he was taken prisoner; Jesus gathered his disciples around him and held the Passover, a type of a last supper, with them.
He very vividly illustrated his love for them in all of the activity that took place that night. A feast was laid out for them. He washed their feet. They had seats of honor and distinction. Prayers were offered up for them. Wine was poured for them. Verbal expressions were shared. Bread was shared with them.
Jesus explained that the wine and the bread were symbols of his own body which he wished to give up for them.
What act could ever be greater than a man willing to give his life for others?
How much did they understand?
DID JESUS TAKE THE VOW THAT NIGHT?
We do not know; but we can pick up on the fact that Jesus had gone to great lengths to express his love and friendship to the disciples. Later; they would grasp the huge amount of significance that they shared at the table with him on that night.
During that Passover (what some have called The Last Supper) as they all sat around the table, Jesus said something extremely significant: He said; “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.“
Was Jesus taking the vow of the Nazarite on that night right before his crucifixion?
Did he do this in the form of the Passover in the presence of a room full of faithful witnesses?
Did Jesus need the super-human strength that is often given to a Nazarite by God; in order to bear the burdens that he was going to face next?
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?
Let’s consider what happened next.
If Jesus had taken the vow it would have begun with his words at the end of that Passover meal.
He did take one other cup of wine that night and he presented it to the disciples. (Yet; we are not told that he drank from that cup; only that he spoke of how he would be betrayed as he presented it.)
Then Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He was arrested and beaten and flogged and scrounged.
He was mocked and humbled and made to take up a cross which he eventually was nailed upon and crucified.
He hung on the cross for hours (after being severely beaten with whips;) with blood trickling down his face and from his body. A crown of thorns had been placed on his head and its thorns crushed down on his brow.
WHAT ABOUT THE BODIES OF THE THIEVES?
Two common thieves hung on each side of him.
Many look at the thieves on the cross and say Jesus could not have taken a Nazarite vow on the night of the Passover because he would have eventually been exposed to the dead bodies of the other two people being crucified along with him.
But Jesus died before they did.
He would have been taken down and removed from the area before they died.
SOUR WINE ON HYSSOP
Other people noticed that Jesus was offered sour wine on two separate occasions as he hung on the cross.
The first time he refused. This makes one consider that he might have been remembering a Nazarite vow and being obedient.
The last time was different though.
Let’s look at this occasion and think about when and how it transpired.
When the Nazarite took a vow, and it was time for the vow to end; he had to bring a sacrifice for God to the temple. It was to be a sin offering.
Why was Jesus dying on the cross?
THE SIN OFFERING GIVEN FOR THE END OF THE VOW
There on the cross, Jesus was taking on the sins of you and me and all of the rest of the world. He was offering himself up as a sacrifice for sin. It was the time for the end and fulfillment of the vow; and He brought himself as the sacrifice for sin.
When all of our sins had been placed upon him, bringing him right up to the place and moments prior to the death that sin always causes; he would have felt the heavy weight and waited until the very last sins were placed upon his strong shoulders.
(Have you ever noticed how strong shepherds are when they hoist the lost sheep up on their able solders and bring them back into the fold after they have been lost and wondered away?)
Nothing would have ended until Jesus was sure that all sin had been taken and placed upon his body. He would have known in that very moment of the placement of that last sin, that his vow had been successful and fulfilled and then it was time to end the process.
His task before God would have been completed.
“IT IS FINISHED”
He hung on the cross for six hours before he drew his last few breaths.
In one of those moments he was heard to say “I thirst.”
A soldier took a hyssop stick (hyssop was what was used to place the blood of the sacrificial lamb over the doorposts of the homes of the faithful on the first Passover so that the angel of death would pass over.)
On the stick made of hyssop was a sponge of vinegar that was called “sour wine.” This was probably from a cheap and plentiful drink the soldiers carried around in their belongings. It was lifted up to Jesus on a sponge to drink. He probably could not swallow; but it was used to moistened the lining of his mouth. By now the alcohol content of this “sour wine” was probably completely gone from it; but it was wine just the same. It was a product from a grape vine; which was not acceptable for anyone under a Nazarite vow.
Did Jesus break his vow?
As we noted before; the vow of the Nazarite had a clear beginning time and clear ending time.
The vow (if taken by Jesus) was for strength to fulfill his purpose on earth – to carry through and have the strength to endure the crucifixion that would provide the sacrifice for all human sins.
As his last breaths came; Jesus must have realized the feeling of completion.
He knew that the last sins had been placed upon his body and that his body had been accepted by God as a substitute offering. His very last words tell us this.
Everything within his power had now been done; and his very hard task was now at an end. He had been given the strength that he needed to endure to the very end.
He made that statement out loud right after taking just enough wine on a sponge held up to him to enable him to speak.
Jesus closed his eyes and said “It is finished.”
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH
At that point Jesus was officially declared dead and his body was removed from the cross. A sword pierced his side and water and blood flowed out.
In my own personal thinking; those last moments were the final fulfillment of his Nazarite vow. He had faithfully done everything that he had promised God he would do, and now everything else was left in God’s hands.
Jesus had run his race.
He completed his course.
The final victory was in the hands of God.
DID HE ACTUALLY TAKE THE VOW?
It is my own personal opinion; but I think he took a Nazarite vow so that he would be given the strength to endure. Just like Sampson in those last moments before his death when he asked God for just one more dose of strength in order to save the people.
I can see nothing out of order here.
The vow (for not drinking wine) was not broken before the time for his task was complete.
THE KINGDOM HAD BEGUN
Jesus had promised his disciples he would drink the fruit of the vine with them again; when God’s Kingdom had come.
At the point that Jesus said “It is finished” our sins were covered and God had accepted the sacrifice of Jesus; and the Kingdom of Heaven had officially begun!
Before that moment mankind could not enter the gates. Now a new kingdom was totally possible. Jesus had established the foundation.
In those last moments on the cross, Jesus took just enough wine to make that announcement stating that the work was now finished. He made the statement AFTER the vow had been satisfied and every sin had been placed upon him until it was about to kill him.
We can look forward to Jesus taking the cup of the fruit of the vine with us again one day in eternity
What a day of celebration that will be!
That day will bring all of the promised blessings that come from the promise Jesus kept. We will know the joy of the Nazarite vow fulfilled, and we will see God’s face smiling down and giving more life and abundance throughout eternity.
Our Savior gave it all for us.
He finished the task.
A PERSONAL DECISION
I believe he took a Nazarite vow; but it is something that you will need to decide for yourself.
Many people would not agree with me.
Don’t take my word (or anyone else’s word) for this. Prayerfully ask God to help you to see the truth. The truth always matters.
To me; when Jesus said “it is finished” it meant “my vow before God is now complete and I have fulfilled the total purpose of my vow!” It was like the moment a runner is finally crossing the finish line and falling on the ground with relief and joy; knowing that he had won the race.
The Apostle Paul described it just that way. We know that at times in his life; Paul too took the vow of the Nazarite.
There is a time when he can only lay there in victory; but eventually the runner’s strength will begin to return and in the end he will receive many rewards and celebrate joyfully in the times that come after he has run the course and the race is over.
Right now Jesus is waiting on The Father; and we too are waiting with him for that day when God will tell him the time is right to return for us. We will drink the new wine together as God grants all of his people a new life in a new Kingdom full of the faithful for all eternity and beyond. While we are still waiting it is good to practice for those days. Let’s do all that we can now to bring about those words in The Lord’s Prayer; “Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
That almost sounds like the vow of a Nazarite!