Is Jesus in the Zohar?

So first of all what is the Zohar?

The Zohar is a Jewish sacred text first discovered in Medieval Spain by Moses De Leon in the late 13th century and the Zohar  זֹהַר meaning radiance or splendor and was written in Jewish Aramaic and is the basis of modern Kabbalah.The true believers believe it was written by Shimon Bar Yochai and second century CE Tannaitic Rabbi and student of Rabbi Akiva.True believers believe it was lost and Moses De Leon simply found it maybe in a cave ,although sceptics believe De Leon wrote it himself albeit inspired by Yochai.

The authenticity of the massive 6 volume and more chapters than I can recount book is not what is for discussion.Also I am in no way saying the writers of the book intended Jesus to be in the Zohar ,few Kabbalists are believers in Yeshua as the Messiah and it would be insane to say the Zohar is in any way about Jesus.However I purpose a theory that Jesus was secretly encoded in the Zohar without it’s writers whether they be Yochai or Leon even knew it.Is Jesus in the Zohar in secret code without most readers even knowing it or the writers knowing it?

That is what we will talk about?How is the Zohar structured ,it’s in six main parts and is a mystical meditation on the Torah and has an Introduction and sections on Breishit(Genesis) Shmot (Exodus) Vayikra (Leviticus) B’midbar (Numbers) Devarim (Deuteronomy) and has sub sections on the of the annual Torah reading Parashat’s.It features interactions with several recurring Rabbi’s especially Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the Zohar concludes with the death of Yochai.But also features Rabbi’s Elazar,Yehudah,Aba,Yossi and Chaya and they converse with each other. I’m am not going to analyze the whole Zohar even though I did read it ,what I will discuss it is Jesus/Yeshua secretly in code in the Zohar.So let us begin then and dive in and also I have used Full Zohar Online found at zohar.com

I chose this version (the Aramaic never changes) not because it is the best English translation but because it is well organized and fully translated which is important for reference and finding things later.The Sefaria.org is better in some ways but harder to go back and find things.

In the Breishit or Genesis section in parashah Noach 25:193 ,I will paraphrase and give the gist there is not enough space in the blog to quote the English and Aramaic word for word ,so please look these things up for yourself.

Animals before the flood of Noah during the time of the Nefilim and giants when angels mated with human women.they mated across different species .Meaning for instance Lions mated with Jackels example in the Aramaic it said spoiled or tainted all flesh.So hence all flesh was perverted leaving no flesh fully clean.This world view of all of all flesh being spoiled is very Christian and not a typical Jewish perspective.This does not speak of Jesus but does deal with the notion that all flesh both animal and human is to tainted for salvation to come by anything but faith alone.

Next is also from Breishit in the Chayei Sarah 3:19 it talks of through the nachash or snake and the snake poisoned Chavah(Eve) and Eve brought death into the world.This promotes a original sin world view ,which again is more Christological than a orthodox Jewish hashkafah (point of view) this is a pro Yeshua hashkafah.

Also from Chayei Sarah 20:155 it says that מטטרון שר הפנים שהאו נער

First it speaks of Metatron who is known in the 3rd book of Enoch as the little YHVH and many believe that is a reference to Jesus if you read.It also says Metatron is a Sar which often can mean Prince and Jesus is often known as a Prince.It also calls Metatron a boy or son using the word nar and we know Jesus is known as the “Son of God” .Although nar means boy not son remember we are dealing with Aramaic and not Hebrew.Remember that we are not arguing a literally reading of the Zohar but that Jesus is in secret code.

Here we go to Section Shmot parashah Mishpatim 8:391 מטטרון עבד יי this says Metratron is a servant of yy which is a letter substitute for Gods great holy name.So again the little Adonai is Gods great servant ,strongly hinting at Jesus!

Next in section Shmot parashah Ki tisa 2:4 the Faithful Shepherd is introduced not much is said but it is his first introduction ,the for Faithful Shepherd in רעיא מהימנא in Aramaic is pronounced likely most best Ra’ya M’heimna and based on New Testament scripture is a Faithful Shepard a good depiction of Jesus,yes I think!

One of the most controversial passages of prophecy in the Tanakh or Old Testament is Isaiah 7:14

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (ESV)

People argue that the use of the term virgin is wrong and that the Hebrew word used in the passage is Alma meaning young woman as opposed to the more proper betulah meaning virgin.However in the Zohar, Vayikra section ,parashah Acharei mot chapter 6:48-49 it shows in the English translation Alma and Almot (that is the plural) as virgin.This brings credence to Isaiah predicting the virgin birth.

Now we go to section Vayikra parashah Tazria 9:37 ,here in a very esoteric manor speaks of two powers in heaven and a Elohim just below Hashem (YHVH) that is a helper to Hashem.It’s subtle and cryptic but clear in intent ,a reference to Metatron who represents Jesus before the incarnation,for the son existed eternally with the Father!

The Faithful Shepherd is back in Section Devarim parashah Ki Tetze 16:72 with reference to “your rock ” a term Jesus is known for and also to Malkhut ,that is Kingdom ,meaning the Kingdom of God.

In the Bamidbar section in parashah Balak 34:367 it talks of the “Son” surrendering his life for us ,very Christiological language.

The Faithful Shepard is back in section Bamidbar parashah Pinchas (Phineas) 113:767 and even talks of a fig tree if that reminds you of anything.Again this is not trying to refer to Jesus but I believe it’s in code.

I could go on and on about Metatron who is in the third book of Enoch a representation of God’s Son or the Faithful Shepard.And there is also in the Zohar and Kabbalah the Zeir Anpin which means the small face literally but figuratively it means God’s helper and references to the Zeir Anpin are all over the Zohar if you read just a little bit.The point is made that Judaism does not deny that there are two powers in Heaven ,they deny Yeshua or Jesus is the second power but once you understand that the two powers in Heaven is not in dispute than it’s easy to then suppose Jesus is the other power.