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WHY
SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH JEWISH PEOPLE?
Jewish
evangelism is possible. God promised that there
would be a faithful remnant of Jewish people who
would turn to the Messiah (Messianic Jews) in
every generation (Romans 11:5), especially as
we enter the Last Days, when eventually all
of Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). The
1990 Jewish Population Survey, published by the
Council of Jewish Federations, indicates that
approximately 14%to 20% of the 5.5 million Jewish
people in the U.S. have some positive faith or
association with Yeshua. That's around 1,000,000
Jewish people! The Messianic Jewish movement is
growing. There are more than 150 Messianic Synagogues
in the U.S. and 40 in Israel.
Christians
are commanded to bring the Jewish people the Good
News. Messiah Yeshua commanded His disciples to
go to all the world with the Good News about Him,
starting with Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (Acts
1:8). Christians are commanded to "pray
for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6)
and to "comfort My people." Comfort,
comfort My people says your God. Speak kindly
to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare
has ended, that her iniquity has been removed,
that she has received of the Lord's hand double
for all her sins (Isaiah 40:1-2). This is
a call to Christians to comfort the Jewish people
by telling us about the forgiveness of our sins.
There
is a priority to Jewish evangelism. The Apostle
to the Gentiles instructed the Christians in the
heart of the Roman empire: I am not ashamed
of the Good News, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans
1:16).
We will
be identified with the best of the spiritual heros
of the Faith. Moses in Exodus 32:32, Rabbi Paul
in Romans 9:2-4 and 10:1, and Messiah Yeshua in
Matthew 23:37 all willingly offered their lives
up for the sake of Israel.
Gentile
Believers have a special calling to provoke Israel
to spiritual jealousy. Salvation has come
to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous (Romans
11:11). Those Christians who obey this mandate
will fulfill their calling.
Christians
owe a debt to the Jewish people. Through Israel
the promises and covenants were given. Through
the Jewish people came the law, the prophets and
the Messiah who has opened up access to God for
all. It was through Jewish apostles that the Good
News first went to the nations (Romans 9:4-5,
Romans 15:27).
God promises
blessings to those who share the Good News with
the Jewish people. Those that bless the Jewish
people will be blessed, and those who curse Israel
will be cursed (Genesis 12:1-3). Those who pray
for the peace of Jerusalem shall prosper (Psalm
122:6). Bringing the Good News is the best blessing
you can give us. Not bringing this all-important
eternal life saving message is the worst kind
of anti-Semitism. For the nation and the kingdom
which will not serve you (Israel) will perish,
and the nations will be utterly ruined (Isaiah
60:12).
It is
in the best interests of the Gentiles to bring
the Jewish people the Good News (Romans 11:12-15).
If Israel's failure to recognize the Messiah brought
untold spiritual riches for the Gentiles, and
if Israel's rejection of Messiah brought about
the reconciliation of the world, how much more
will our acceptance of the Messiah be! When the
Jewish people accept Messiah it will result in
the golden age for all the nations of the world.
When the Messiah is recognized by the Jewish people,
He will return to planet Earth, and reign from
Jerusalem over all the nations. For the Torah
will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the
nations, and will render decisions for many peoples;
and they will hammer their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will
not lift up sword against nation, and never again
will they learn war (Isaiah 2:3-4).
In
addition, evangelism is an integral part of the
full armor of God (Ephesians 6:15). The preparation
of the Good News protects our "feet."
In other words, it is part of our walk (lifestyle)
and our self-defense in the spiritual warfare
in which we are engaged. Learning how to share
the Good News with Jewish people will better equip
our faith with everyone.
True
Christians should make up for Christian anti-Semitic
teachings and deeds of the past. Since the second
century Church leaders have been guilty of anti-Semitic
remarks and actions. The teaching has been spread
in the Church since the early centuries that the
Church has replaced Israel. This false doctrine
is not faithful to either the Old Testament or
New Testament Scriptures, and is a source of anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism in the historic Church has provided
a basis for rulers to ridicule, discriminate and
even kill the Jewish people. Often these actions
have been perpetrated by those who claimed to
be followers of the Messiah. Can we blame the
Jewish people for so often resisting the Messiah
when His followers appear to be anti-Semitic?
True Christians need to make reparation for the
tragic record of historic Christianity in its
dealings with the Jewish people.
UNDERSTAND
YOUR JEWISH FRIEND
We are
to be ready to make a defense to everyone
who asks you to give an account for the hope that
is in you. To accomplish this goal with Jewish
people, it helps to become familiar with Jewish
culture, interests, literature and humor. Learn
what issues concern the Jewish community most.
It helps to read a Jewish paper and Jewish authors,
go to a deli, visit a synagogue.
AVOID
JEWISH STEREOTYPES
All Jews
are not rich, intellectual, religiously knowledgeable,
have the same physical characteristics, or think
alike. The Jewish community is very diverse in
almost every way.
KNOW
THE MAJOR BRANCHES OF JUDAISM
Orthodox:
Rabbinic Judaism, traditional, observant. Orthodoxy
comes from the Pharisees. There is belief in a
personal Messiah and in the World to Come. The
Talmud is believed by many to be equal to the
Bible in authority. This book has influenced Jewish
religion more than any other.
Chasidic:
It is considered a part of Orthodox Judaism. It
started in eastern Europe in late 1700's. Devotion
to the "rebbe," mysticism, even some
"New Age" influence in their theology,
like reincarnation. They tend to be isolationist.
Conservative:
reaction to Reform Judaism, in between reform
and Orthodox. Traditions can be modified but with
Orthodox influence.
Reform:
Reform Judaism comes from the German enlightenment
in the early 1800's. It liberalized laws and traditions
and de-emphasized the supernatural. Jews are able
to fit into Western society but retain the morals
and ethics of Judaism. There is no faith in a
personal Messiah, in heaven or in hell. There
is not as much strictness about keeping the Sabbath
or keeping kosher or other traditions.
Secular-Humanist:
Judaism without God, centering on mankind, and
the Jewish people. Organized here in Michigan
with the Birmingham Temple, it is now growing
throughout the world.
Reconstructionist:
started in 1934 by Mordecai Kaplan. Modern and
secular in thinking though mixed with Jewish culture
in observance.
Approximately
60% of the Jewish population is "unsynagogued"
although most still identify as Jews. That makes
American Jews among the most "unsynagogued"
of Americans. Only 39% of American Jews claim
to belong to a synagogue. Approximately 15% are
Reform, approximately 15% are Conservative, and
approximately 10% are Orthodox. Only 25% report
attending synagogue once a month. 33% go on the
High Holy Days or a few times a year, while another
23% go to synagogue on special occasions related
to rites of passage, like a wedding or a bar mitzvah.
This is taken from the 1990 National Jewish Population
Survey reported in the February 25, 1994 Detroit
Jewish News.
Approximately
60% of Jewish people now inter-marry. The majority
of those that inter-marry do not raise their family
as Jews.
KNOW
THE AREAS WHERE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY COME FROM
Ashkenazim
or Ashkenazi Jews: Jewish people from Europe.
Sephardim
or Sephardic Jews: Jewish people from Mediterranean
and Arab countries.
Sabra:
a native born Israeli.
UNDERSTAND
JEWISH HURT
Most Jewish
people have directly experienced some anti-Semitism
during their life. It is difficult for Jewish
people to distinguish real Christians and the
real Yeshua from the false anti-Semitic Jesus
preached by some so-called Christians. Most Jewish
people think that all Gentiles are Christians
and anti-Semitic under the surface. As a result
we have banded together and developed a "we
- they" mentality.
Phase
#1 You cannot live among us as Jews
Many horrible
things have been done to the Jewish people in
the name of Jesus by the historic Christian Church.
Most Jewish people have some familiarity with
the history of Christian anti-Semitism. Soon after
the Jewish Apostles died, the leadership of the
Church was transferred to people who had no respect
for Jews or Judaism. Rather than seeing the Jewish
people as erring brothers to whom they were indebted
for the gifts of the Scriptures, the Messiah,
the Apostles, and the Old Testament saints, the
Jewish people were looked upon as reprobates hated
by God.
Sentiments
in the New Testament expressed against some Jewish
leaders by Jewish followers of the Messiah were
used by later non-Jewish leaders as an indictment
of all Jewish people. Messianic Jews who expressed
their faith in a Jewish context were looked at
with suspicion. When the Church and the Roman
Empire merged around 400 A.D., Jews were reduced
from Roman citizens to barely tolerated immigrants.
They were forbidden to seek converts. They couldn't
own non-Jewish slaves. They were forbidden to
marry with Christians. Severe economic and social
sanctions were progressively made by a Church-State
collaboration against the Jews that lasted for
1500 years.
Jewish
converts had to swear to forsake all Jewish practices.
The following profession is taken from the Church
of Constantinople which Jews had to affirm if
they wanted to join the Community of the Jewish
Messiah: I renounce all customs, rites, legalisms,
unleavened breads and sacrifices of the Hebrews,
and all the other feasts of the Hebrews, sacrifices,
prayers, aspersions, purifications, sanctifications
and propitiations, and fasts, and new moons, and
Sabbaths, and superstitions, and hymn and chants
and observances and synagogues, and the food and
drink of the Hebrews; in one word, I renounce
absolutely everything Jewish, every law, every
rite and custom...
Protestants
often didn't do much better. This is from Martin
Luther's tract, "On the Jews and Their Lies"
published in 1543. "What shall we Christians
do with this rejected and condemned people, the
Jews?... I shall give you my sincere advice: First,
to set fire to their synagogues... in honor of
our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might
see that we are Christians... I advise that their
houses also be razed and destroyed... I advise
that their prayerbooks and Talmudic writings...
be taken from them... I advise that their rabbis
be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss
of life and limb..."
Phase
#2 You cannot live among us
During the Middle ages anti-Jewish legislation
continued to increase and Jews were herded into
ghettos, separated from Christian society, forbidden
to own land, deported out of country after country.
Eventually they were totally isolated in the Ghettos.
Jews were deported from nation after nation in
Christian Europe.
Phase
#3 You cannot live
The Crusaders massacred thousands of
Jews in Europe en route to Israel. Many were burned
alive or tortured. When the crusaders conquered
Jerusalem they burned to death about 1000 Jewish
people in a Jerusalem synagogue as the crusaders
sang hymns. Jews were blamed for poisoning the
wells of Europe during the Black Death in 1348.
Many were killed. The fearsome Inquisition was
directed at "conversos," Jewish converts
whose loyalties were questioned. Many were burned
at the stake. Periodically the Blood Libel was
made - that Jews killed Christian children at
Passover and used their blood to make Passover
matza. Individuals and entire towns of Jews were
destroyed as a result. The persecutions continued
with the pogroms in Eastern Europe and Russia,
usually encouraged by the King or Czar, who were
the titular heads of the State Church, and other
Church leaders. Eventually this culminated in
the Holocaust.
Letter
to Editor published in Jerusalem Post (World-Wide
Web Edition)
October
14, 1996, by Ike Goldman, Delray Beach FL USA
Dear World,
I understand
that you are upset over us, here in Israel. Indeed,
it appears that you are quite upset, even angry.
(Outraged?) Indeed, every few years you seem to
become upset over us. Today, it is the "brutal
oppression of the Palestinians"; yesterday,
it was Lebanon; before that it was the bombing
of the nuclear reactor in Baghdad and the Yom
Kippur War and the Sinai campaign.
It appears
that Jews who triumph and who, therefore, live,
upset you most extraordinarily. Of course, dear
world, long before there was an Israel, we - the
Jewish people - upset you. We upset a German people
who elected a Hitler and we upset an Austrian
people who cheered his entry into Vienna and we
upset a whole slew of Slavic nations - Poles,
Slovaks, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians,
Romanians.
And we
go back a long, long way in the history of world
"upset." We upset the Cossacks of Chmielnicki
who massacred tens of thousands of us in 1648-49;
we upset the Crusaders who, on their way to liberate
the Holy Land, were so upset at Jews that they
slaughtered untold numbers of us. We upset, for
centuries, a Roman Catholic Church that did its
best to define our relationship through Inquisitions,
and we upset the arch-enemy of the Church, Martin
Luther, who, in his call to burn the synagogues
and the Jews within them, showed an admirable
Christian ecumenical spirit.
And it
is because we became so upset over upsetting you,
dear world, that we decided to leave you - in
a manner of speaking - and establish a Jewish
state. The reasoning was that living in close
contact with you, as resident-strangers in the
various countries that comprise you, we upset
you, irritate you, disturb you. What better notion,
then, than to leave you and thus love you - and
have you love us? And so we decided to come home
- to the same homeland from which we were driven
out 1,900 years earlier by a Roman world that,
apparently, we also upset.
Alas,
dear world, it appears that you are hard to please.
Having left you and your pogroms and Inquisitions
and Crusades and Holocausts, having taken our
leave of the general world to live alone in our
own little state - we continue to upset you. You
are upset that we oppress the poor Palestinians.
You are deeply angered over the fact that we do
not give up the lands of 1967, which are clearly
the obstacle to peace in the Middle East. Moscow
is upset and Washington is upset. The "radical"
Arabs are upset and the gentle Egyptian moderates
are upset.
Well,
dear world, consider the reaction of a normal
Jew from Israel. In 1920 and 1921 and 1929, there
were no territories of 1967 to impede peace between
Jews and Arabs. Indeed, there was no Jewish State
to upset anybody. Nevertheless, the same oppressed
and repressed Palestinians slaughtered tens of
thousands of Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Safed and
Hebron. Indeed, 67 Jews were slaughtered one day
in Hebron - in 1929. Dear world, why did the Arabs
- the Palestinians - massacre 67 Jews in one
day in 1929? Could it have been their anger over
Israeli aggression in 1967?
And why
were 510 Jewish men, women and children slaughtered
in Arab riots between 1936-39? Was it because
of Arab upset over 1967? And when you, world,
proposed a U.N. Partition Plan in 1947 that would
have created a "Palestinian State" alongside
a tiny Israel and the Arabs cried "no"
and went to war and killed 6,000 Jews - was that
upset stomach caused by the aggression of 1967?
And, by the way, dear world, why did we not hear
your cry of upset, then?
The poor
Palestinians who today kill Jews with explosives
and firebombs and stones are part of the same
people who - when they had all the territories
they now demand be given them for their state
- attempted to drive the Jewish state in to the
sea. The same twisted faces, the same hate the
same cry of "itbach-al-yahud" massacre
the Jew! - that we hear and see today, were seen
and heard then. The same people, the same dream
- destroy Israel. What they failed to do yesterday,
they dream of today - but we should not "oppress"
them..
Dear world,
you stood by the Holocaust and you stood by in
1948 as seven states launched a war that the Arab
League proudly compared to the Mongol massacres.
You stood by in 1967 as Nasser, wildly cheered
by wild mobs in every Arab capital in the world,
vowed to drive the Jews into the sea. And you
would stand by tomorrow if Israel were facing
extinction. And since we know that the Arabs-Palestinians
daily dream of that extinction, we will do everything
possible to remain alive in our own land.
If that
bothers you, dear world, well - think of how many
times in the past you bothered us. In any event,
dear world, if you are bothered by us, here is
one Jew in Israel who could not care less.
UNDERSTAND
JEWISH HUMOR
One way
of dealing with pain is through humor. Perhaps
that is one of the reasons we have excelled in
humor. We are outsiders looking in, a minority
in a majority culture, which gives us a unique
perspective.
PRE-EVANGELISM:
GENERAL REVELATION
Most Jewish
people don't have a Biblical world view. Before
we can quote the Bible, which is not accepted
as an inspired message from God, often it will
be helpful to give reasons why there is a God
and why the Bible is an inspired message from
Him.
The
Teleological Argument: the Argument from Design
Creation
declares that there is compelling evidence that
God exists (Psalm 19:1, Rom. 1:20). There
is no excuse for ignorance about God because there
is sufficient evidence all around us. Just as
we infer an intelligent designer for any product
in which we discern evidence of purposeful adaption
to some end, so too the universe is full of purposeful
design, which tells us that there is an intelligent
Designer. The universe is more complex than anything
made by man; the Designer must be greater than
man. There is order and regularity in the "laws
of nature" that operate by precise mathematical
formulas. Some great Designer must have designed
them. From the earliest times men apart from the
Bible have concluded the existence of God based
on understanding design in the universe. In his
book Metaphysics, Aristotle argued that
there must be a First Unmoved Mover, a living,
intelligent, incorporeal, eternal and most good
being who is the source of order in the universe.
The
Cosmological Argument: the Argument from Being
Either
the universe always existed, or it had a beginning.
The discoveries of modern science are indicating
that the universe isn't eternal, but in fact had
a point of beginning. The principle that all material
things have a cause is called the Law of Cause
and Effect. Because things exist, there must be
a First Cause, who is Himself uncaused. Since
the physical universe doesn't have sufficient
reason to exist in itself, the reason for the
universe's existence must be found outside the
universe, in a Being whose sufficient reason is
self-contained.
The
Moral Argument: the Argument from Morality and
Conscience
We live
in a moral universe. All mankind has an idea of
what is good or right that seems to be independent
of us. Where did this sense of right and wrong
come from? There is a universal belief in God
or gods in every society among mankind. Even after
seventy years of atheistic communism belief in
God couldn't be stamped out. Where did this knowledge
of God come from? Where does man's conscience
come from? Isn't it logical to presume that there
is a higher moral Being who created this moral
order and gave us conscience?
Pascal's
Wager
When the
odds that God exists or does not exist are even,
then the prudent man will gamble that God exists.
This is a bet that all men must make - the game
is in progress and a bet must be laid. Since the
odds are even, reason is not violated by either
choice. Since there are reasons for both choices,
reason cannot determine which bet to make. Therefore
the choice should be made pragmatically, based
in terms of maximizing one's happiness. If one
wagers that God exists and He does, then one has
gained eternal life and infinite happiness. If
He does not exist, you have lost nothing. On the
other hand, if one wagers that God does not exist
and He does exist, then you have suffered infinite
loss. If He does not exist, then you have gained
nothing. Therefore the only prudent choice is
to believe that God exists, and start searching
for Him.
SPECIAL
REVELATION: DEMONSTRATING THAT THE BIBLE IS TRUE
Challenge
people to read the Bible, and ask God to reveal
to them whether it is the truth. Challenge them
to consider:
The amazing
unity of the Bible: it is unique. It was written
by forty authors from different backgrounds over
1500 years and yet reads like it was written by
one author.
Recent
discoveries demonstrate that the Scriptures are
accurate historically, archaeologically and scientifically.
The Bible
has affected the world more than any other book
ever written. It's the most widely published book
ever written. It speaks authoritatively on morals,
law, politics, literature, art, science.
It is
one of the only books that claims to be the revelation
of God to mankind.
It is
unique in its ability to tell the future.
FULFILLED
PROPHECY ABOUT ISRAEL
The Jewish
people are God's Chosen People. This relationship
is everlasting and unconditional. He will never
cast us away (Deut. 7:6, Jeremiah 31:35-37, 33:23-26,
Romans 11:1).
Due to
unbelief, the Jewish people would be exiled from
the Land of Israel. Life among the nations would
be difficult and precarious in the Diaspora, the
"Galut", the Exile, but we would survive
and be preserved (Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Leviticus
26:31-45).
In spite
of our disobedience, the Jewish people are still
the apple of God's eye (Zechariah 2:8) and beloved
by God right now (Romans 11:1, 11, 28).
Israel's
national borders are completely defined (Genesis
15:18-21, Exodus 23:31, Ezekiel 47:13-22). The
Jews have a biblical God given right to the Land
of Israel, including Judea and Samaria (the "West
Bank"), Gaza, the Golan, and all of Jerusalem
(Genesis 13:14-17, 15:18, 17:7-8; Jeremiah 31:2-5,
33:6-12).
Just before
the Messiah's return, the Jewish people were to
be physically regathered from all the nations
and established as a nation on our ancient God
given land (Psalm 69:35- 36, Isaiah 11:11-12,
Isaiah 43:1-8, Isaiah 49:8-13, Zechariah 10:6-12,
Ezekiel 36:24-32). We would never be uprooted
again (Amos 9:11-15).
Israel's
cities would be rebuilt and the land would experience
an agricultural miracle (Isaiah 27:6, 41:18-20;
Amos 9:13-15; Ezekiel 36:8-15, 24-28, 33-38) The
desert would rejoice and blossom as a rose (Isaiah
35:1-2).
The City
of Jerusalem would be returned to the Jewish people
(Luke 21:24). Jerusalem is to be remembered and
preferred above one's chief joy (Psalm 137:5-6).
Just prior
to Messiah's Second Coming, God would begin to
pour out His Spirit upon the Jewish people and
revive us spiritually. Just as we return to the
Land of Israel, so we would also return to the
God of Israel and Israel's Messiah (Isaiah 59:18-21,
Jeremiah 32:36-44, Ezekiel 37:1-29, Joel 2:28-32).
In the
Last Days Jerusalem would become a political "hot
potato," a burden for all the nations (Jeremiah
30:7, Zechariah 12:2-3).
God swore
to personally protect Israel and contend with
those who contend with us. God is a Zionist! Those
who attack the Jewish people will come under God's
judgment (Genesis 12:3, Psalm 121:4, Isaiah 49:25-26,
60:12, Joel 3:1-3, Zechariah 12:2-10, Mt. 25:31-46).
All nations
will worship the Messiah in the renewed city of
Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4, Zechariah 8:2-3, 14:16).
Messianic
Prophecy is extremely helpful in Jewish evangelism.
It helps us demonstrate that the Bible is a supernatural
book inspired by God, and that the New Testament
is the natural continuation of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Among the Jewish people the Tenach (Torah, Nevee'eem,
Kituveem) is considered to be the Bible, or the
Holy Scriptures. The New Testament (Brit Chadasha)
is not considered inspired or authoritative. We
use the Tenach, especially the Messianic prophecies,
to demonstrate that the New Testament is true.
Realize that most Jewish people are not familiar
with the Tenach. Most have never read it. Most
have never studied Messianic prophecy.
Use
Clear Messianic Prophecies
Some say
that over 300 prophecies were fulfilled at the
First Coming. We need only need to know 20 of
the most literal predictions. The writers of the
New Testament saw everything fulfilled in the
Messiah, which was a common rabbinic way of understanding
the Scriptures. The New Testament authors applied
passages to the Messiah that may not be as literal
as a modern skeptic would like. For example Isaiah
7:14 and Matthew 1:23, and Hosea 11:1 and Matthew
2:15.
Messianic
Prophecies
-
Be
able to show that there is a New Covenant
not like the one made at Sinai (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
See Hebrews 8:6-13, 9:12-22, 10:4-24, Luke
22:15-20.
-
Messiah
was to be born in Bethlehem and yet originate
from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2). See
Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 2:1-20.
-
Messiah
was to be a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy
18:15-19). See John 7:40-43, Acts 3:22-23.
-
Messiah
was to enter Jerusalem humbly on a donkey,
and yet in triumph (Zechariah 9:9). See Matthew
21:1-9, John 12:12-16.
-
Messiah
was to be rejected by the majority of Israel,
especially the leaders (Isaiah 53:1-3, Psalm
118:22). See John 1:11, 12:37-43, Acts 4:1-12.
-
Messiah
was to be tried and condemned even though
He was innocent (Isaiah 53:8).
-
See
Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 23:1-25.
-
Messiah
was to die by crucifixion (Psalm 22:14-17).
See Matthew 27:31, Mark 15:20, 25.
-
Messiah
was to be silent before His accusers (Isaiah
53:7). See Matthew 27:12-14, Mark 15:3-4,
Luke 23:8-10.
-
Messiah
was to be beaten and spit on (Micah 5:1, Isaiah
50:6). See Matthew 26:67, Mark 27:30, Mark
14:65.
-
They
were to cast lots for Messiah's garments (Psalm
22:18). See Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24.
-
Messiah
was to be mocked and taunted (Psalm 22:7-8).
See Matthew 27:39-43, Luke 23:11, 35-36.
-
Messiah
was to suffer with transgressors and pray
for his enemies (Isaiah 53:12). See Matthew
27:38, Mark 15:27.
-
Messiah
was to die as an offering for sin (Isaiah
53:5-6, 8, 10-12, Daniel 9:24-27, Zechariah
9:9, 12:10, Psalm 16:10, 22). See John 1:29,
11:49-52, 1 Corinthians 15:53.
-
Messiah
was to be raised from the dead (Isaiah 53:12,
Psalm 16:10). See Matthew 28:1- 10, Acts 2:22-32.
Yeshua's resurrection validates His message
and ministry. It is God's seal of approval
on everything that Yeshua did and taught.
This makes Him absolutely unique in the history
of the world and puts him on a level far higher
than any of the prophets of Israel or other
religions. It also gives Him the power to
help us live a victorious life and overcome
man's greatest enemy - death. Without the
resurrection there would never have been a
Messianic movement. All the hostile authorities
would have had to do to crush the Messianic
movement would have been to produce Yeshua's
body. Yeshua's disciples were in no frame
of mind to fabricate His resurrection. They
refused to believe it when they heard about
it! An immediate resurrection wasn't part
of the thinking of first century Judaism.
Only Yeshua's resurrection could have transformed
them from a frightened dispirited group into
a fearless band that gave up their lives and
transformed the world. The apostles had nothing
to gain from making these things up - except
death. They were known for their sterling
character, not as liars and deceivers.
-
Messiah
was to be God (Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6,
Psalm 110:1, Proverbs 30:4). See John 1:1,
20:28, Hebrews 1:8.
-
Messiah
was to come before 70 A.D. (Daniel 9:24-27).
See Luke 1:5, 2:1-7
-
Messiah was to be pierced
(Zechariah 12:10). See John 19:18, 34-37.
-
The Messianic Process Of
Elimination
Men-----------------------Angels
(Genesis 3:15) the seed of the woman
Shem----------------------Ham, Japhet (Genesis
9:25-27)
Jews-----------------------Gentiles (Abraham -
Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18)
Isaac-----------------------Ishmael (Genesis 17:19)
Jacob----------------------Esau (Genesis 28:13-15)
Jacob
had twelve sons but only Judah was chosen (Genesis
49:10). Judah had many families but only the family
of David was chosen (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah
11:1-2). Messiah Yeshua is the Son of David through
both Nathan and Solomon, on both His mother's
and His step-father's side. Luke 3 traces His
genealogy through Miriam back through Nathan.
Matthew 1 traces His genealogy through Solomon.
Only a minute percentage of humanity could qualify
to be the Messiah based on genealogical considerations
alone, but Messiah Yeshua fulfills the requirements.
Be
Able To Use The Six Spiritual Laws
-
God
loves us and desires that all men experience
a life filled with His blessings. God is the
source of a satisfying worthwhile life: Psalm
16:11, Isaiah 41:10.
-
Man has separated himself
from God by sin. Man is a sinner by his actions
and by his nature: Ecclesiastes 7:20, Psalm
53:2-4, Psalm 130:3-4, Psalm 143:2, Isaiah
64:6, Jeremiah 17:9, Job 15:14-16.
-
The result of sin is separation
from God and eternal death: Jeremiah 31:30,
Ezekiel 18:4, Isaiah 59:2-3.
-
Man is unable to be reconciled
to God through his own efforts or good deeds:
Job 14:4, Psalm 49:7, Proverbs 20:9, Jeremiah
2:22.
-
God has provided the way
of atonement by which reconciliation can be
accomplished: The sin barrier can be removed
by believing God's Word and having the blood
of atonement. Leviticus 17:11, Psalm 49:15,
Isaiah 43:11, 25, Isaiah 53:3-12. The sacrificial
system was preparing us for Messiah's final
sacrifice. Sin offering was for an individual,
Passover was for a family, Yom Kippur for
the nation, Messiah for all people.
-
You must by faith receive
Messiah Yeshua into your life to be your Lord
and Redeemer: Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4,
John 1:12, Revelation 3:20
MESSIANIC
TERMINOLOGY
Words
are powerful. The terms, expressions, titles and
labels that we use in everyday life are crucial
in expressing ourselves to one another. In the
realm of politics terms such as hawk, dove, liberal,
conservative, left-wing, right-wing, Republican
and Democrat help to identify concepts and positions.
In Messianic Judaism terminology is extremely
important. The last two thousand years of history
have seemingly boxed us into an undesirable dichotomy
that exists in the minds of people. This thinking
purports that one is either Jewish or Christian,
a member of Judaism or a member of Christianity.
We believe that it is Jewish to believe in the
Messiah Yeshua and that He is the fulfillment
of Biblical Judaism.
By using
Messianic Jewish terminology, we accomplish a
number of things. First of all, we put Yeshua
back with the proper Biblical and historical Jewish
context from which He originated. Secondly, we
educate people about the Jewish roots of this
faith in the Messiah Yeshua. Finally, this Messianic
language is oftentimes more accurate. I encourage
all Messianic Believers to use this terminology
in order to more clearly express your faith in
the Jewish Messiah Yeshua to Jewish people (1
Corinthians 9:19-22). Here are some of the most
important terms to understand:
-
Yeshua - Yeshua is His
original given Hebrew name! "Jesus"
is the Hellenized- Anglicized form of "Yeshua,"
which means "Salvation." Yeshua
never heard the name "Jesus" in
His lifetime. He was always called "Yeshua,"
which is very similar to "Joshua,"
a common Hebrew name at that time. Good examples
of this name in reference to the Messiah are
found in Isaiah 62:11, in the Tenach and Matthew
1:21 in the New Covenant.
-
Messiah - "the Anointed
One." Some believe that "Christ"
is Yeshua's second name or surname in the
same way that we have a second or family name.
Actually, "Christ" is a title in
much the same way as "President"
or "King." This title is taken from
the Hebrew word "Mashiach" or "Anointed
One," which was translated into the Greek
"Christos" and later anglicized
to "Christ."
The actual English translation of Mashiach
is "Messiah."
-
Messianic Judaism - the
movement of Jewish people who have come to
believe that Yeshua is the promised Messiah
of Israel. This movement is worldwide and
is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy (synonymous
with "true Biblical Judaism"). Yeshua
is the fulfillment or completion of Biblical
Judaism. As Jews, we have "completed"
or "fulfilled" what God wants us
to do as Jewish people, that is, accept the
Messiah Yeshua as our atonement for sin and
come into a personal relationship with God.
He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.
Therefore, how could we, as Jewish people,
by accepting the Jewish Messiah become non-Jews?
On the contrary, we believe that Yeshua has
fulfilled our Jewish heritage and faith. We
have not "converted" to another
faith, but rather we have been completed because
we have found true Biblical Judaism through
the Messiah Yeshua (Matthew 5:17).
-
Messianic Jew - a Jew
who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah and
remains Jewish in lifestyle and worship. Jewish
people who have found the Jewish Messiah have
not converted to another religion but are
fulfilled in their Judaism and heritage. The
term "Christian" originally meant
"follower of the Christ" or "follower
of the Messiah." In and of itself, it
is a good term. Unfortunately over time the
term "Christian" came to mean more
than simply "follower of the Messiah."
To a Jewish person living today, "Christian"
does not describe a follower of the Messiah
of Israel. It means a "non-Jewish"
Gentile churchgoer. It makes little difference
if the person is spiritually reborn or is
practicing the Christian faith. Many people
today have this dichotomy in their minds,
that on the one hand, there are Jews and Judaism,
and on the other there are Christians and
Christianity. You are either one or the other.
Accordingly, when a Jew accepts Yeshua he
"switches over" from the Jew-Judaism
side to the Christian-Christianity side and
is no longer a Jew but a Christian. For all
intents and purposes, the term "Christian"
has become synonymous with "non-Jew"
or "Gentile." We believe that just
the opposite has occurred. Messianic Jews
believe that we have found the Jewish Messiah
and we are now "completed Jews".
Consequently, we choose to call ourselves
"Messianic Jews" which identifies
us as Jewish people who follow the Messiah.
Early Messianic Jews had many names for themselves:
believers, elect, remnant, followers of the
Way, disciples. Use become a Messianic Jew
rather than "convert to Christianity"
which implies the giving up of the Jewish
heritage.
-
Messianic Synagogue or
Congregation - a congregation where Messianic
Believers can worship and exercise their Jewish
faith in the Messiah Yeshua.
-
Messianic Rabbi - literally
"teacher," the spiritual leader
of a Messianic synagogue.
-
Brit Chadasha - the New
Covenant or New Testament; those books written
in the first century by Jewish writers who
believed and followed the Messiah Yeshua.
-
Tenach or Hebrew Scriptures
- Old Testament. Old Testament implies that
there is a New Covenant, something that we
are trying to demonstrate is true. Tenach
is an acronym from Torah, Nevee'eem and Kituveem,
the Law, the Prophets and the Writings (Luke
24:44).
-
Rabbi Paul - Paul was
a rabbi who studied under the feet of the
famous Rabbi Gamaliel in the first century
(Acts 22:3).
-
Mikveh, Tevilah, or Immersion
- the mikveh is the actual pool of water and
"tevilah" is the Jewish ceremony
of being "immersed" in water for
purification. In the New Covenant, immersion
also symbolized purification when Believers
in Yeshua publicly confess their faith in
the Messiah Yeshua. Christians use the term
"Baptism" for this Jewish ceremony.
-
Israel - "Palestine"
is to be avoided, since it implies anti-Zionist
tendencies.
-
Good News - the word "Gospel"
means "good news" and makes much
more sense to a Jewish listener.
COMMON
OBJECTIONS TO THE GOOD NEWS
"Jews
don't believe in Jesus."
"You're either Jewish or Christian. You can't
be both."
"If you believe in Jesus, you're no longer
Jewish."
God made
you a Jew and no one can ever change that, regardless
of what the majority of Jewish people or rabbis
might say. You are still a descendant of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. Besides, the real question is,
"Is Yeshua the Messiah?" If He really
is the Messiah, then believing in Him is the truly
Jewish thing to do.
The Founder
and early leaders of the Messianic Jewish faith
were Jewish. They lived as Jews. Yeshua was a
Sabra, a descendant of King David, was circumcised
on the eighth day, given a Jewish name, went to
synagogue, and kept the Torah (Galatians 4:4).
The disciples lived Jewish lives: Acts 2:46, 3:1,
18:18, 20:6, 16, 21:20-26, 23:6, 25:8, 27:9 28:17.
The Messianic movement was entirely Jewish at
its inception. The question in the first century
was "Can a Gentile believe in Jesus without
first becoming a Jew?"
Our Scriptures
are Jewish. The Tenach (Old Testament) provides
the foundation of our faith and the Brit Chadasha
(New Testament) was written by Jews.
Yeshua
taught that He fulfilled, not set aside, the Torah
(Matthew 5:17-19).
Rabbi
Paul instructed Jewish followers to remain Jewish
(1 Corinthians 7:18).
While
certain statements in the New Testament seem to
attack the Jewish people and have been used to
justify anti-Semitism, we must realize that the
authors of the New Testament were themselves loyal
Torah observant Jews. Some of the criticisms were
justified. The High Priests in that day were notoriously
corrupt, and is mentioned in other Jewish writings.
Some, not all of the Pharisees were self-righteous
and works oriented. It is not uncommon to criticize
family. An "outsider" needs to be much
more circumspect. Compare New Testament criticism
of some of the Chosen People in light of similar
criticism found in the prophets (Isaiah 1:1-6,
10).
Other
distinctly Jewish teachings are:
Atonement
with God based on a substitute - the sacrificial
system. The" exchange of life" principal"
(Leviticus 17:11).
A personal
relationship with the God of Israel.
The promised
Messiah of Israel.
The unique
unity of God (Mark 12:28-31).
A new
covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
"If
Yeshua is the Messiah, why don't more Jews believe
in Him? Why don't the Rabbis believe in Him or
understand this?"
The Messianic
movement in the first few centuries was widespread.
Acts 21 reports that there were tens of thousands
of Jews who believed and who were all zealous
for the Torah. There were Messianic communities
throughout the Middle East for 500 years.
Some rabbis
like Saul of Tarsus have believed in Jesus. In
modern times Isaac Lichtenstein, Max Wertheimer,
and Daniel Zion, the chief rabbi of Bulgaria during
World War Two, believed in Messiah Yeshua.
Many Protestant
and Catholic theologians don't believe that Yeshua
is the only way of salvation. It shouldn't surprise
us that Jewish leaders don't either.
Moses
and the prophets were rejected by our people (Numbers
14:1-10, Jeremiah 25:4, 2 Chronicles 36:14-16).
It was
predicted that the majority of Israel wouldn't
initially recognize Messiah (Isaiah 53, Zechariah
12:10). The very fact that the majority of Jewish
people don't believe in Him is a strong point
for the fact that He is the Messiah!
Throughout
our history, it has always been just a minority
within Israel, the Remnant, which has faithfully
followed God (Romans 11:5).
He came
the first time as a lamb, not as a lion. He rode
into Jerusalem on a donkey, not with pomp and
glory at the head of armies. He came to die to
atone for sins. He didn't promise political salvation,
but spiritual salvation. Israel's leaders couldn't
understand this. God predicted that they wouldn't
understand because of their spiritual condition
(Isaiah 6:9-10, 29:9-14).
Jewish
people are not brought up to be open minded about
this issue. Rabbis are particularly resistant
to considering Yeshua's Messiahship. Can the rabbis
be wrong and have made a mistake? Rabbis are not
infallible.
"We
Jews believe in one God, not three Gods; God can't
become a man."
We believe
in one God. Yeshua Himself taught that the Shema
("Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord
is One" - Deuteronomy 6:4) was the most important
commandment (Mark 12:28-30).
The Hebrew
words for "One" are "Echad"
and "Yachid." "Echad," which
is used to describe the oneness of God in the
Shema connotes composite oneness, as in the unity
of a husband and wife as one flesh (Genesis 2:24).
"Yachid," which is not used in the Shema,
connotes absolute oneness as that of an only son
(Genesis 22:2). In addition, the plural word Elohim
is the most common name for God used in Tenach.
There is a singular form, Eloah, but it is used
much less frequently. Other hints of this mysterious
oneness within God's nature are found in Genesis
1:26, 11:7, Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 45:8, and Psalm
110:1.
God appeared
throughout Tenach in human form: Genesis 3:8,
Genesis 18, Genesis 32:22-32, Exodus 24:9-11,
and as the Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:7, 9,
11, Genesis 22:1-12, Exodus 3:2-6, Judges 2:1-4,
6:11-22, 13:3-21).
The Hebrew
Scriptures teach that God has always manifested
Himself as a unity with a plurality. In the Tenach
God is described as sitting on His throne in heaven,
and at the same time He is everywhere throughout
the universe (Psalm 139:7-12), and at the same
time God's Spirit was specially manifested in
the prophets, and at the same time God's Shechinah
(glory, the Spirit) was manifested in the Temple
(1 Kings 8:27)!
Plural
Title: Elohim (Genesis 1:1) is plural and is used
2500 times. There is a singular form "Eloah",
but it is used only 250 times.
Plural
Verbs: There are several instances when Elohim
is accompanied by a plural verb. When Elohim they
caused me to wander from my father's house (Genesis
20:13). Elohim they appeared to him (Genesis 35:7).
Elohim they went (2 Samuel 7:23). Surely there
is a God they judge the earth (Psalm 58:11).
Plural
Nouns: The LORD He is a holy God [literally holy
Gods] (Joshua 24:19). Remember your Creator [literally
Creators] (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Let Israel rejoice
in their Maker [literally Makers] (Psalm 149:2).
For your Maker [literally Makers] is your Husband
[literally Husbands] (Isaiah 54:5).
Plural
Pronouns: Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7, Isaiah 6:8.
Plural
Description: Isaiah 48:12-16
"Jews
don't need a middleman. Judaism teaches that a
Jew can approach God directly."
It's true
that a saint or a priest isn't necessary to speak
to God, but we need to approach God on His terms,
not ours. Torah teaches us how. There were mediators
in the Tenach: Moses (Exodus 32:10-14, 30-32),
Aaron (Numbers 16:41-50), Phinehas (Numbers 25:6-
13). Only the high priest could go into the presence
of God, only on Yom Kippur, and only with blood
to atone for himself and for all Israel. Before
rabbinic Judaism we had priests and Levites to
appear before God on our behalf (Numbers 18:1-5).
As it
was the first redeemer, Moses, so shall it be
with the final redeemer. Messiah is a prophet
like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), a mediator
who instituted a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
One provision of that new covenant is that everyone
will know God. Daniel 9:24-27 says that ending
sin, and everlasting righteousness will come through
the death of the Messiah. Isaiah 53 describes
Messiah's death in terms of atonement and mediation
(verses 5, 6, 12). Only Messianic Believers can
boldly come into God's presence.
"Jews
do not believe in human sacrifice."
Human
sacrifices were unacceptable because they had
sins of their own that needed atonement. Sacrifices
had to be perfect. The situation with Messiah
Yeshua is unique. He was the only sinless human
being who ever lived. Only He could make a sufficient
sacrifice (See Isaiah 53:10 where the Servant
is called a "guilt offering," the technical
word for a sacrifice). Animals are less than man.
They could never fully atone for the sins of a
human being. Only one higher in value than man
could atone for man. Besides, God knew that Yeshua
would be raised back from the dead.
"Judaism
does not believe in original sin. I'm basically
a good person."
The rabbis
teach that there are two opposing forces, the
"yetzer ha-ra" and the "yetzer
ha- tov," the evil inclination and the good
inclination. While modern Judaism might teach
that man is basically good, or neutral, the Tenach
teaches that man's basic nature has been affected
by the Fall, and that we are all sinful (Genesis
8:21, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 14:1-3, Proverbs 20:9,
Isaiah 53:6, 64:6, 1 Kings 8:46, Ecclesiastes
7:20). The Bible teaches that apart from a salvation
experience and the indwelling of God's Spirit,
we are powerless to choose the good, do the good,
and save ourselves. The Shoah (Holocaust), daily
newspapers, and locks on our doors should tell
us something about the nature of man.
"How
can a virgin have a child?"
Nothing
is impossible for God. If He can create the universe
out of nothing, causing a virgin to have a child
is nothing. In fact one would expect the Son of
God to have an unusual birth. Messiah Yeshua's
supernatural birth is consistent with the other
miraculous births of some of the great leaders
of Israel - the births of Isaac, Samuel and Samson.
"Why
did God allow 6,000,000 Jews to die in the Holocaust?"
There
is the Biblical Principal that God brings good
out of evil. You meant evil against me, but God
meant it for good (Genesis 50:20). One result
of the Shoah was the realization that there is
no secure place for Israel among the Gentile nations,
and that we needed to reestablish our ancient
homeland of Israel. The nations of the world felt
some compassion toward us after World War II and
cooperated in the rebirth of Israel.
There
is the Biblical Principal that God restrains human
evil. For the mystery of lawlessness is already
at work; only he who now restrains will do so
until he is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians
2:7). Hitler's carnage was eventually restrained.
If he had been victorious, all of the world's
Jews would have faced a similar fate.
There
is the Biblical Principle that every nation that
curses Israel will be cursed by God (Genesis 12:3,
Zechariah 1:18-21). Germany was conquered and
divided. God has similarly punished all the nations
that have attacked Israel throughout history,
like Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon.
There
is the Biblical Principle that the greater the
knowledge, the greater the responsibility and
accompanying judgments. You only have I chosen
among all the families of the earth; therefore
I will punish you for all your iniquities (Amos
3:2). Israel has suffered much because we have
a greater responsibility as the Chosen People.
Unfortunately, throughout most of our history
and especially for the last 1900 years, we have
rarely lived up to our high calling to shine forth
the knowledge of God to the nations.
There
is the Biblical Principle that disobedience brings
judgement. Moses plainly warned us of the consequences
of disobedience to God in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy
28. Israel has always been like sheep among wolves.
We never had numerical or physical superiority
compared to the other nations. Our strength and
protection are in the Lord. When we are far away
from Him, we are vulnerable to the stronger nations
that have always surrounded and hated us. The
Tenach bears witness that when we went astray
from God we were conquered by our enemies. When
we were right with God we were invincible. The
destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70
AD, our exile from Israel for 1900 years, our
wanderings and sufferings which culminated in
the Shoah, are indications that not all has not
been right between us and God since the time of
Yeshua and that we are in need of repentance.
There
is the Biblical Principle that those whom the
Lord loves he disciplines, and He scourges every
son whom He receives (Hebrews 12: 5-11). Lack
of discipline indicates that one is an illegitimate
child and not a true son of God. Israel is still
God's son whom He loves and disciplines so that
we may one day share His holiness and experience
the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
There
is the Biblical Principle that there are levels
of judgement (Luke 10:12-14). Hitler and those
who willingly cooperated with him will be punished
severely on the Day of Judgement. God is more
merciful to the oppressed than the oppressor.
Not only are there sins of commission but there
are sins of omission. Will God leave unpunished
those nations, individuals and churches that knew
what was happening but turned a blind eye and
did nothing? Hitler probably could have been stopped
if enough concerned churches, individuals and
nations had cared enough and taken appropriate
action. God has granted mankind the awesome gift
of free choice. He doesn't violate our ability
to choose. He treats us as men, and respects our
decisions. Sinful human beings normally misuse
their freedom. People chose not to see what was
happening. God will eventually judge man for his
evil choices (Daniel 12:2, Psalm 37:7-11).
Finally
there is the Biblical principle to weep with those
who weep (Romans 12:15). The friends of Job were
at their best when they said little and sat quietly
comforting Job. Perhaps even better than answers
to Israel's suffering are those Christians who
stand with Israel in our grief and mourn with
those of us who still mourn. God was not rejoicing
but rather was grieving over the senseless loss
of life and human potential of the Shoah. In all
their affliction He was afflicted (Isaiah 63:9).
"What
happens to Jews who do not believe in Yeshua?"
Scripture
is very clear about the absolute need to believe
in Yeshua. If anyone in Israel doesn't listen
to the prophet like Moses, God will judge him
(Deuteronomy 18:17-19). If the Jews in Egypt refused
to apply the blood of the Passover lamb on their
door their firstborn son would have died. Yeshua
said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
and that no one comes to the Father except through
Him. He told the Jewish leaders that they would
die in their sins unless they believed in Him
(John 8:24). Rest assured that God is a fair judge
and will take everything into consideration. But
you have heard about Yeshua. You are now responsible.
Will you be part of the problem or part of the
solution?
"Christians
have a long history of hatred and persecution
toward the Jewish people. A good tree can't bear
bad fruit. Yeshua can't be the Messiah."
Yeshua
taught us that we need to make a distinction between
people who call themselves Christians, who say
"Lord, Lord," and those who do the will
of God. He warned us that there would be wheat
and tares. Yeshua taught that people don't really
love Him unless they do the things that He told
them to do, and that we could tell His true disciples
by their love, even for their enemies. Like Yeshua
they would pray,"Father forgive them."
There is a difference between Gentiles who are
nominally Christian and true Christians. True
Christians should love the Jewish people (Romans
11:11). Being born in a Christian home doesn't
make you a Christian any more than being born
in a bakery automatically makes you a bagel. A
Christian must be born from above. Being born
once simply isn't enough. There have been many
true Christians, like Corrie Ten Boom and her
family, who have given their lives for the Jewish
people.
The Messiah
is supposed to usher in worldwide peace, end war,
poverty, regather Israel and rebuild the Temple.
Yeshua has done none of these things. If Yeshua
was really the Messiah, why aren't we in the Messianic
Age?
There
are two sets of descriptions of the Messiah in
the Hebrew Scriptures. One set of prophecies describe
a suffering Messiah who will suffer and die to
atone for our sins (Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10,
Daniel 9:24-27 Psalm 22, Zechariah 9:9). The other
set of prophecies describe a victorious Messiah.
We have to deal with both descriptions of the
Messiah. Rabbinic literature speaks of two Messiahs,
Messiah Ben-Joseph (the Suffering Messiah) and
Messiah Ben-David (the Conquering Messiah). In
reality, there are not two Messiahs who come at
one time, but one Messiah who will come twice.
He would come the first time to suffer and die
for the sins of the world and the second time
to set up His Kingdom over the entire world. There
must be a change of heart in humanity. Even if
we lived in a perfect environment, we would still
ruin it and hurt each other if our nature wasn't
transformed. Messiah had to first die to atone
for sin, pour His spirit into us and start the
process of recreating and transforming human nature.
If Yeshua fulfilled these prophecies about the
suffering Messiah, rest assured that He will return
to fulfill the prophecies about the victorious
Messiah.
"Isaiah
53 refers to the Jewish people or the Messianic
Age - not the Messiah."
Other
servant passages in Isaiah refer to an individual
and not the nation of Israel (see Isaiah 49:6).
The text itself makes it clear that it can't be
Israel.
-
There is a clear distinction
in pronouns. There is a contrast between the
"we," "us" and "our,"
while the Servant is described in the third
person singular. Isaiah the prophet, a Jew,
in speaking of himself and his nation Israel,
uses the pronouns "we," "us"
and "our." He describes the Servant
as someone other than himself and his people
by using the pronouns "he," "him"
and "his." Since the speakers are
clearly Isaiah's people Israel ("we"),
then the Servant whom they describe ("he")
must be Someone other than Israel. They cannot
both be Israel.
-
In 53:8, Isaiah declares
that the Servant was put to death "for
the transgression of my people." If the
servant died for Israel, the Servant cannot
also be Israel.
-
The passage repeatedly
claims the innocence of the Servant. 53:4-6
says that His suffering was not for his own
sin but for the sin of others. The prophets
and Isaiah never characterize Israel or any
other nation as perfectly innocent (1:1-31,
64:5). Since Isaiah affirms the Servant's
innocence while at the same time affirming
Israel's guilt, Israel cannot be the Servant.
-
The Servant is a voluntary
and unresisting sufferer. He willingly accepted
His suffering, offered himself as a guilt
offering, poured himself out to death. The
Jewish people have suffered immensely, but
never willingly.
-
The Servant is cut off
out of the land of the living, and poured
himself out to death. Israel never has been
and never will be killed. See Jeremiah 31:34-36.
"Religions
are all alike. They all have some good points
and can help people to lead worthwhile lives.
The good people of all religions have a share
in the world to come."
All the
nations are in deep spiritual darkness apart from
the God of Israel (Psalm 14:1-3, 96:5). The religions,
philosophies and ideologies of the nations will
not bring salvation. While there is some truth
in most religions and philosophies, God has revealed
Himself most clearly in and through Israel and
the Messiah. He chose the Jewish people to reveal
Himself to us, and then from Israel that light
was to spread to all the nations (Isaiah 60:1-
3, Micah 4:2). If there is one God, it makes sense
that there is only one way to Him. If you were
in Egypt and didn't apply the blood of the lamb
to your door, no matter how sincere you were,
your firstborn son would have died. Yeshua is
the ultimate revelation of God and is the only
way to the Father (John. 14:6, Acts 4:12).
Note:
INTRODUCE CONCEPTS OF MESSIANIC JUDAISM
What
is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic
Judaism is a movement of Jewish |