Tag Archives: Merkaba

Jesus and Merkaba Mysticism

The likelihood of Jesus practicing Merkavah Mysticism is plausible, though not provable.

But what is Merkaba Mysticism and how can we connect Jesus to this ancient tradition?

Here’s a careful breakdown of the evidence, context, and spiritual content that suggest Jesus may have been connected to early Jewish mystical traditions — especially Merkavah (Chariot) mysticism, the earliest form of what would become Kabbalah.


✨ What is Merkavah Mysticism?

  • “Merkavah” (מֶרְכָּבָה) means chariot, referring to Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot (Ezekiel 1).
  • Practiced between roughly 100 BCE to 600 CE (Second Temple to early Rabbinic period).
  • Ascents into the heavenly realms (heikhalot = “palaces”)
  • Visionary encounters with angels and God’s throne
  • Use of sacred names, ritual purity, and intense meditation
  • Secret knowledge transmitted orally to initiates

Merkavah mystics were often marginal, elite Jewish mystics, operating outside mainstream Temple practice — similar in ways to the Essenes, Nazoreans, and early followers of Jesus.


🕊️ Jesus and Merkavah: Clues and Parallels

1. Jesus’ Baptism and Vision

“The heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.” – Matthew 3:16

  • Similar to mystical heavenly ascent experiences.
  • Echoes Ezekiel’s vision of divine chariot and throne.

2. Transfiguration

“His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light… a bright cloud overshadowed them.” – Matthew 17:2-5

  • A classic Merkavah-like vision: light, clouds, voice from heaven.
  • Presence of Moses and Elijah, both associated with ascents.

3. Ascents into Heaven

“No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.” – John 3:13

  • Suggests esoteric knowledge of heavenly realms.
  • Reflects Merkavah’s idea of the initiated mystic ascending to divine throne.

4. Secret Teachings to Disciples

“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.” – Matthew 13:11

  • Initiatory structure parallels Merkavah practice: secret knowledge for the worthy.
  • Also mirrors Heikhalot literature, where only the pure can safely ascend.

5. Use of Divine Names and Exorcisms

“In your name we drove out demons and performed many miracles.” – Matthew 7:22

  • Use of sacred names is central to both Merkavah and Jesus’ ministry.
  • Exorcism and healing are linked to mystical power from divine realms.

6. Apocalyptic and Angelic Language

“You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” – John 1:51

  • Clearly references Jacob’s Ladder and angelic traffic between worlds.
  • Very much in the symbolic and experiential language of Merkavah mysticism.

🏺 Historical Possibility: Did Jesus Have Access?

  • Jesus lived in 1st-century Judea, during a time when Merkavah mysticism was practiced by fringe Jewish groups.
  • He likely had contact with Essenes, Nazoreans, or other apocalyptic-mystical sects.
  • As a charismatic healer, teacher, and prophet, Jesus fits the profile of a mystic initiate familiar with these practices.
  • The Book of Enoch, popular in his time, contains many visionary journeys that shaped Merkavah imagery — and it deeply influenced early Christian thinking.

🧠 Conclusion: Likely but Unprovable

While there is no direct textual proof that Jesus practiced Merkavah mysticism in the formal sense, several strong indicators suggest:

✅ He likely knew of mystical ascent traditions and divine throne visions.
✅ His teachings and experiences align strongly with Merkavah motifs.
✅ He was spiritually and culturally close to groups that engaged in this kind of mysticism.
✅ His visionary events, use of sacred names, and emphasis on inner purity mirror the initiatory path of the Merkabah mystic.

Thus, it’s plausible — perhaps even likely — that Jesus was a practitioner or inheritor of Jewish mystical ascent traditions, or that he spontaneously accessed the same inner realms described by Merkavah mystics.

Ezekiel’s vision

📜 1. Historical Context: Was Kabbalah around in Jesus’ time?

  • Kabbalah as a formalized system (like the Zohar and Tree of Life structure) developed much later, especially in 12th–13th century Spain and Provence.
  • However, proto-Kabbalistic and mystical Jewish traditions certainly existed during the Second Temple period (which includes the time of Jesus):
  • Merkavah mysticism (visions of divine chariots, as in Ezekiel) was known in certain Jewish sects.
  • Heikhalot literature and mystical ascent traditions predate formal Kabbalah and were practiced by early Jewish mystics.
  • The Essenes and other ascetic-mystical sects (like those at Qumran) had esoteric teachings, possibly influencing or paralleling early Kabbalistic thought.

So, while the term “Kabbalah” wasn’t used yet, esoteric Jewish mysticism was active and evolving.


✡️ 2. Jesus and Jewish Mysticism: Are there parallels?

Some scholars and mystics suggest that Jesus’ teachings share characteristics with Jewish mystical ideas:

  • Use of parables and symbolic language, similar to later Kabbalistic teachings.
  • “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” — resonates with the inner spiritual journey found in mysticism.
  • Emphasis on the Name of God, purity of intention, and inner transformation.
  • References to the “Father” and Heavenly Realms, which align with Kabbalistic sefirot like Keter (Crown) and Abba (Father).

These could point to Jesus having access to esoteric knowledge, likely through oral traditions, especially if he was in contact with sects like the Essenes or Therapeutae.


🧙‍♂️ 3. Jesus as a Mystical Rabbi or Spiritual Adept

There is a growing body of thought, especially in esoteric Christianity, Gnosticism, and Kabbalistic reinterpretations, that sees Jesus as:

  • A Jewish mystic or spiritual teacher (sometimes called a ba’al shem, a “master of the Name”).
  • Someone who may have been trained in hidden teachings (Sod level of Torah — the mystical dimension).
  • A healer and miracle-worker, which in Kabbalistic and mystical Jewish terms, often implies a deep connection to divine names and spiritual practices.

📚 4. Influence from Kabbalah on Later Christian Mysticism

Even if Jesus himself didn’t practice what we now call Kabbalah, later Christian mystics often merged Kabbalistic ideas with Christian theology, such as:

  • Renaissance Christian Kabbalists like Pico della Mirandola and Johannes Reuchlin.
  • The idea of Jesus as the embodiment of Tiferet, the harmonizing principle in the Tree of Life.
  • The connection between the Sefirot and the Trinity, or Jesus as a divine bridge between humanity and the Infinite (Ein Sof).

🧩 Conclusion: Was Jesus a Kabbalist?

Not in the classical sense, because the formal structure of Kabbalah didn’t exist in his lifetime.

However, it’s very possible — even likely — that he was deeply immersed in Jewish mysticism, particularly:

  • Merkavah/Heikhalot traditions
  • Use of divine names
  • Spiritual ascent practices
  • Inner Torah teachings at the level of Sod (Mystery)

He may have been a forerunner or spiritual cousin of later Kabbalistic sages, and his teachings have certainly inspired Kabbalistic reinterpretations over the centuries.


Let’s explore how the teachings and sayings of Jesus parallel the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and its Sefirot — the ten divine attributes or emanations through which God reveals and interacts with the world.


✨ Overview of the Tree of Life and Jesus’ Teachings

The Tree of Life (Etz Chaim) is central to Kabbalah. It consists of:

  • 10 Sefirot: Divine attributes from Keter (Crown) to Malkhut (Kingdom)
  • Structured across 3 Pillars: Mercy (right), Severity (left), and Balance (center)
  • Represents the inner architecture of both the cosmos and the human soul

We’ll match these with select teachings or qualities of Jesus from the Gospels.


Kabbalah Tree of Life

🔟 Sefirot and Parallels in Jesus’ Teachings

1. Keter (Crown) – Divine Will / Pure Consciousness

“I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10

  • Kabbalistic meaning: The unknowable divine source, beyond comprehension.
  • Jesus: Aligns with Divine Will; teaches unity with the Infinite.

2. Chokhmah (Wisdom) – Flash of Inspiration / Divine Insight

“Before Abraham was, I am.” – John 8:58
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8

  • Chokhmah is the “seed” of divine thought.
  • Jesus expresses timeless insight and intuitive knowing.

3. Binah (Understanding) – Intuition / Structure of Thought

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” – Matthew 11:15
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

  • Binah brings structure to inspiration; the womb of wisdom.
  • Jesus guides listeners into deep understanding, often through parables.

4. Chesed (Mercy/Loving-kindness) – Overflowing Love

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
“The greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

  • Chesed is unconditional giving and mercy.
  • Jesus is the embodiment of divine compassion.

5. Gevurah (Strength/Justice) – Discipline / Boundaries

“Do not think I came to bring peace, but a sword.” – Matthew 10:34
“Woe to you, hypocrites!” – Matthew 23

  • Gevurah balances mercy with truth and judgment.
  • Jesus rebukes injustice and challenges spiritual complacency.

6. Tiferet (Beauty/Harmony) – Compassion / Balance of Mercy and Judgment

“Come to me, all who are weary… and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” – John 14:6

  • Tiferet is often seen as the Messiah point on the Tree.
  • Jesus as the compassionate center who harmonizes justice and love.

7. Netzach (Victory/Eternity) – Perseverance / Endurance

“Take up your cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24
“In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart: I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

  • Jesus models endurance and spiritual victory over suffering.

8. Hod (Glory/Humility) – Submission / Reverberation of Divine Speech

“Not my will, but Yours be done.” – Luke 22:42
“He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death.” – Philippians 2:8

  • Hod is about sincere humility and the power of language and praise.
  • Jesus exemplifies humble obedience and the power of word.

9. Yesod (Foundation) – Connection / Generativity / Spiritual Transmission

“Abide in me, and I in you.” – John 15:4
“The Kingdom of God is within you.” – Luke 17:21

  • Yesod is the spiritual bridge between divine and earthly.
  • Jesus connects heaven and earth through himself — the mediator.

10. Malkhut (Kingdom) – Manifestation / Presence in the World

“Thy Kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10
“Go into all the world and preach the good news.” – Mark 16:15

  • Malkhut is the Shekhinah, the divine indwelling presence.
  • Jesus brings the Kingdom into manifest form through his presence and mission.

🧠 Final Thoughts: Jesus as the Living Tree

Some mystics (e.g., in Christian Kabbalah) suggest that Jesus represents the full Tree of Life in human form:

  • He embodies the balance between heaven and earth.
  • His teachings map perfectly onto the spiritual ladder of ascent.
  • As the “Son”, he harmonizes the upper (Father) and lower (Kingdom) worlds.

Jesus guiding the turbulent waters of the mind

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Merkaba – Vehicle of Ascension

History has talked about the Mer-Ka-Ba mostly as the vehicle that allows a person to ascend or descend into the higher or lower worlds. But actually the Mer-Ka-Ba is much more than just a vehicle of ascension. It can be, really, anything — since it is the primal pattern that created all things and all universes, both visible and invisible (see The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, volumes I & II).

In the Bible there is reference to Ezekiel and the wheels by which Ezekiel ascended into heaven. This was the Mer-ka-Ba.

In the Torah, there is reference to the Merkavah (as it is spelled in Hebrew) which has two different meanings: One meaning is ”chariot,” which is a vehicle; the other is the ”Throne of God.” When the two definitions are combined, the true meaning comes to life.

In Ancient Egypt, this primal pattern was called the Mer-Ka-Ba. It was actually three words, not one. Mer meant a kind of light that rotated within itself. Ka meant spirit, in this case referring to the human spirit. And Ba meant the human body — though it also could mean the concept of Reality that spirit holds. And so the entire word in ancient Egypt referred to a rotating light that would take the spirit and the body from one world into another.

I once spent a couple of hours with Credo Mutwa, the spiritual leader of the Zulu tribe in Africa. He explained to me that Merkaba (one word) was a Zulu word meaning a space/time/dimension vehicle. He told me that according to Zulu legend his entire tribe had come from another dimension here to Earth using the Merkaba.

In the modern world there are teachers worldwide — and I am one of them — who are helping people remember the Mer-Ka-Ba. Thus begin a process in consciousness that will eventually translate us from the third-dimensional world into the next higher one through what is being called ”ascension.”

Ascension involves a process where the human body is transformed into light and translated by an incredible birth into a new world. It is achieved through a meditation that requires the mind, heart, body, and spirit to completely integrate in one pattern of light and transcend the human limitations of this reality.

This concept of the Mer-Ka-Ba as an ascension vehicle is not new. It is very, very old.

What actually is the Mer-Ka-Ba? Technically, it is an electro-magnetic field sitting at about four degrees Kelvin, found primarily within the microwave range — at least in the third dimension — that is entirely geometric in nature. Specifically, the geometry used is called ”Sacred Geometry,” as this particular geometry is found in the creation patterns of all things in Creation.

The Mer-Ka-Ba field is extremely complex, involving the five Platonic solids and other sacred polyhedrons. It is believed to extend through all possible dimensional and parallel universes, and can possibly change its nature from electro-magnetic to whatever is appropriate.

The blueprint of the Mer-Ka-Ba is found throughout nature, such as in this photo of a galaxy.

One of the functions of the Mer-Ka-Ba, as we said, is to act as the vehicle to take the spirit and the body into the next world. However, this function — and most of the other possibilities — is impossible to obtain until something changes within the person. Sombrero galaxyThe Mer-Ka-Ba is situated around the human body like a three-dimensional geometric web that is dormant and nonfunctional, waiting for the right moment. When the spirit that inhabits the body remembers that it is there and begins to change certain aspects of itself, an incredible transformation begins to grow.

It was believed in ancient times, and even written about by the Hebrews, that the Merkavah could be turned on by certain principles in meditation. This involves breathing changes, and mind, heart, and body changes that alter the way a person perceives the Reality. From my perspective, it is the beginning of ”Enlightenment.”

And yet it is clear that the Mer-Ka-Ba can also be ”activated,” as the New Agers say, by other methods beside the male-style instructions using the breathing changes mentioned above. It can also become functional through methods that are purely female. Through the true living of qualities such as love, faith, trust, truth, and compassion, the Mer-Ka-Ba can spontaneously become alive. In other words, very pure human character can translate into a living Mer-Ka-Ba field around the person, even if that person doesn’t initially know it is there.

And yes, absolutely, the Mer-Ka-Ba is alive. It is a living field, not a purely mechanical field of energy. Because it is a living field, it responds to human thought and feeling, which is the way to connect to the field. So the ”computer” that guides the Mer-Ka-Ba is the human mind and heart. The possibilities are endless.

At a certain and specific moment (not necessarily in this lifetime), a person’s Mer-Ka-Ba field can become alive. When this happens, an electro-magnetic change occurs which results in a disc of energy that comes out from a tiny place near the base of the spine and quickly expands to about 27 to 30 feet in radius around the body. This disc can easily be perceived by scientific means, and if the United States Airforce is correct it can be put up on their computer screens via satellite. In other words, the military can see people who activate their Mer-Ka-Bas, and watch as they move around the surface of the Earth.

Since the number of people who have done this is now in the millions, it is a fairly common sight now. It is the enormous magnetic burst that results from the disc expanding that brings attention to itself. This can easily be made invisible by people who activate their Mer-ka-Bas, if they so desire.

The knowledge of the Mer-Ka-Ba is well known by most of the more powerful governments of the world. I am certain that our government used the Mer-Ka-Ba in the 1943 Philadelphia Experiment and the 1983 Montoc Experiments — in their mind-control experiments and dimensional explorations, and in controlling weather. And I am equally certain that Russia is using the Mer-Ka-Ba in their spy programs and defense systems.

But regardless of government experimentation, Mother Earth, the human race, and we as individuals can profit from this understanding and knowledge. The remembering of the Mer-Ka-Ba is unfolding all over the world. From my point of view, this unfoldment is all part of the evolving cosmic DNA. The Mer-Ka-Ba will be remembered now because this is the time to remember.

Yes, I believe, as did almost all the ancient civilizations, that there are specific moments in the history of mankind where great jumps in human understanding take place, as in the ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, and Indus Valley civilizations.

I truly feel that we have arrived at another one of these grand moments of human history where brilliant light expands around the world, and another huge leap in human consciousness appears. And, my friends, I truly believe, from my own personal experience, that the Mer-Ka-Ba is a doorway or a dimensional window into a higher level of consciousness that could be the catalyst for this great change called ascension.

So, to close, I will say again: Your character is the key to your ascension. Regardless of who you are at this moment, good or bad, you can change your character. Like losing weight, it is completely within your control if you focus.

In changing yourself, your Mer-Ka-Ba can become alive. And once it is alive, everything is possible.