Why do Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah?

[moses8472]

Hello, am a Jewish and i just wanted to get a better understanding of why Christians believe Jesus is the messiah?? I ask because in our faith Jesus does not fullfil the vast majority of the prophecies of the messiah… And the christians perception of the messiah which i have studied some has no basis sometimes in the old prophecies. Im just wondering thats all, not trying to offend or anything.

 

[Texan_in_DC]

Baruch Hashem Synagogue

In the One and Only Living G-d (Deuteronomy 6:4) eternally existent in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 48:16, Matthew 28:19).

That Yeshua is Israel’s promised Messiah and the Redeemer of the entire human race. By His life, death and resurrection, He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Tenach related to Messiah’s first coming. Yeshua, the Divine Messiah, is the fullest revelation of G-d to man (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7,49:6, 53:1-12, Psalm 16:9-11 Hebrews 1:3).

That G-d made man in His own image and endowed him with a longing for intimate fellowship with G-d (Genesis 1:26, 2:7, Psalm 42:1-2).

That man’s disobedience to G-d’s revealed will (sin) caused a separation between man and G-d (Genesis 2:16-17, Isaiah 59:1-2).

That the only provision G-d made for reconciling man to himself was through the atoning work of the Messiah, who died as the sacrifice for our disobedience and rose again, manifesting the victory over sin and death (Leviticus 17:11, Isaiah 53:1-12, 2 Corinthians 5:19).

That the Bible, both the Tenach and the B’rit Chadasha (New Covenant Scriptures), is the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of G-d, which is man’s only reliable foundation to faith and conduct (Numbers 12:6-8. Isaiah 8:20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

That all who repent from sin and accept G-d’s message of salvation in the Messiah are born of the Ruach haKodesh (the Holy Spirit of G-d. Faith in the Messiah as the Mediator of the New Covenant makes us true children of G-d (Jeremiah 31:31-34. Ezekiel 36:24-27, John 1:11-13).

That those who are of the Ruach haKodesh become members of the universal people of G-d, or the Body of Messiah. This one spiritual fellowship includes both Jews and Gentiles as equal members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27, Ephesians 2:11-18, Isaiah 49:6).

In the work and presence of the Ruach haKodesh in the life of the believer. He brings forth the fruit of righteousness in the life of all followers of the Messiah. The Ruach haKodesh also gifts, orders and leads the local body of believers, enabling the believers to become a community of love and service (Romans 8:14 Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:1 1-12).

That G-d gave the practices of the Law for moral instruction and as a body of cultural-national practice which would point forward to the Messiah’s work. The Law is valid as a reflection of G-d’s righteous standard and as a means of preserving a distinct nation of Israel. Fulfillment by the work of Yeshua does not imply the abrogation of the Law but rather bringing the Torah to its fullest meaning. Righteousness with G-d is based solely upon grace through faith (Deuteronomy 30:11-20, 6:20-25, Psalm l9:7-14, Matthew 5:17-19. Romans 3:23, 27-31, 6:23. Ephesians 2:8-9).

That the nation Israel is chosen by G-d to be a channel of blessing to all the nations on earth. The return of our people to their land is in fulfillment of biblical prophecy. The day will come when Israel as a nation will except the Messiah Yeshua. Then shall the Word of G-d go forth from Zion and the Messiah will come again to establish His world-wide rule from Jerusalem (Genesis 2:1-3, Isaiah 11, Zechariah 12:10, 13:1, Romans 11:26-29).

In the restoration of the Messianic Jewish Community. This community has been dormant for approximately 17 centuries and the resurrected Messianic Community is an indication of G-d’s faithfulness to His covenant people. The restoration of the Romans 11 Olive Tree will provide healing between Jews and Gentiles in the Body of Messiah. (Romans 9-11)

In the ministry of reconciliation between Jewish and Gentile members of the Body of Messiah. Our congregation undergirds and supports the Towards Jerusalem Council II initiative to repair and heal the breach between Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua dating from the first centuries of the Church, doing so primarily through humility, prayer and repentance. (Acts 15, Acts 21:17-26, Romans 11:29. Romans 11:11-24,2 Corinthians 5:18-29, Ephesians 2:11-16)

In the spiritual unity of all believers in Yeshua, the Messiah. As Jewish followers of Yeshua, we are called to maintain our Jewish biblical heritage and remain a part of our people Israel and the universal body of believers. This is part of our identity and a witness to the faithfulness of G-d (Acts 2l:19-20, Ezekiel 36:22. Ephesians 2:14, Romans 9:4).

As a congregation we are determined to live according to the words of Yeshua in Matthew 22:37-40:

“Love the L-RD your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

[JimG]

You might want to check this website, which is put up by an organization of Jewish Catholics. remnantofisrael.net/

Rosalind Moss, a Catholic Answers speaker, is also, like St. Paul, a Jewish convert to Catholicism. catholic.com/seminars/moss.asp

 

[Subrosa]

moses8472:

Hello, am a Jewish and i just wanted to get a better understanding of why Christians believe Jesus is the messiah?? I ask because in our faith Jesus does not fullfil the vast majority of the prophecies of the messiah… And the christians perception of the messiah which i have studied some has no basis sometimes in the old prophecies. Im just wondering thats all, not trying to offend or anything.

Hi there moses8472! -

I am no expert on scripture, so how about I give you something else to consider? Here’s a link…

catholicculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=5075

I hope this helps. Shalom!

Subtrosa

 

[Sir_Knight]

Reprinted almost word for word from a Jews for Jesus publication …

It is important to begin by saying that for one who has already made up his or her mind that Jesus is not the Messiah, no amount of evidence will be convincing. But for those who are honest in asking, the evidence speaks for itself.

When sincerely asked, this question is a good one. After all, there have been false Messiahs in Jewish history. Among the most prominent were Bar Kochba and Shabbetai Zevi. Bar Kochba led a revolt against Rome in the years 132-135 AD

During this revolt, one of the most famous figures in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed him to be “King Messiah.” Unfortunately, Bar Kochba, Akiva and thousands of Jews were killed in 135 AD when the Romans stormed the stronghold of Betar. Shabbetai Zevi, on the other hand, was a self-proclaimed Messiah. Flourishing in 17th-century Europe, the Shabbatean movement spread among both the common people and the rabbis. But when Shabbetai Zevi was arrested in 1666 by the Sultan of Turkey, he converted to Islam rather than face death. We have been tragically wrong before, so it is not surprising that hard evidence should be sought for believing in Jesus.

The idea of a Messiah is one that is found throughout the Hebrew Bible. There, the Messiah’s “I.D.” is given to us. Imagine looking up a friend by first locating his country. That would not be enough information, so you would need to ascertain his city, street, and specific number on that street. It would also help if you had a phone number and knew the time at which he would be home.

Similarly, the Bible tells us the “I.D.” of the Messiah. His ethnic background, place of birth, time frame of his arrival and other identifying characteristics are given. These “credentials” enable us to identify the Messiah, and to recognize imposters.

Of course it might be objected that if these “credentials” are so clear, why didn’t most Jewish people believe in Jesus, and why were they so taken in by false Messiahs like Bar Kochba and Shabbetai Zevi?

To understand this, one must realize that by the time of Jesus, the Messianic hope had become greatly politicized in the minds of the people. They were seeking deliverance from the tyranny of Rome. Although the Scripture spoke both of the sufferings and of the victories of the Messiah, the victorious aspect had become uppermost in the minds of the common people because of the Roman domination. This “lopsided” view of the Messiah has stuck with Jewish people, and the politicization of the Messianic hope has continued. Thus the hope of a political rather than a spiritual Messiah contributes to both the acceptance of people such as Bar Kochba, and the rejection of Jesus in his role as a Messiah.

This is not to say that all Jewish people rejected the claims of Jesus. Far from that being the case, all the first followers of Jesus were Jews. In fact, the rabbis of that time period and afterwards were well aware of the many Messianic prophecies which Christians claimed were fulfilled in Jesus. So for instance, although the Talmudic rabbis concurred that Isaiah 53 was a prediction of the Messiah, by medieval times the pressure from those who applied this prophecy to Jesus was so great that Rashi, that greatest medieval Biblical scholar, reinterpreted the chapter and said it referred to the nation of Israel. This interpretation is maintained today by many Jewish scholars, though it only dates back to the Middle Ages.

What, then, are some of the credentials of the Messiah? Only a few can be listed below; there are many others. All of these passages were recognized by the early rabbis as referring to the Messiah:

* Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:1
* Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10
* Messiah would present himself by riding on an ***: Zechariah 9:9
* Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22
* Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:24-27
* Messiah's life would match a particular description, including suffering, silence at his arrest and trial, death and burial in a rich man's tomb, and resurrection: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

*** Continued in NEXT Post ***

 

[Sir_Knight]

*** Continued from PREVIOUS Post ***

In detail as to lineage, birthplace, time, and lifestyle, Jesus matched the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Scriptures. The record of this fulfillment is to be found in the pages of the New Testament. But several other factors combine to further substantiate the Messiahship of Jesus.

In the first place, he claimed to be the Messiah! When a woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming.” he replied, "I who speak to you am he."1 Naturally, that doesn’t prove anything one way or the other. But if Jesus had never made the claim to be the Messiah, why would we bother to try and prove that he was? His own claim lays the groundwork for the rest of the evidence.

Also, Jesus’ life is in sharp contrast to that of the false Messiahs, and it is a positive demonstration of what we would expect the Messiah to do. Thus, Jesus worked many miracles of healing, bringing wholeness into people’s lives, forgiving sin and restoring relationships. In contrast with Shabbetai Zevi, for instance, Jesus carried out the Law of Moses as a devout Jew. And in contrast with Bar Kochba, although Jesus also died, he was resurrected!

The resurrection is a third piece of additional evidence, and it is perhaps the most convincing vindication of Jesus’ claims. It is interesting that an Israeli scholar, Pinchas Lapide, has written a book which has attracted no small amount of attention in the Jewish community. The reason is that Lapide has said that the resurrection of Jesus is well within the realm of possibility. After all, he reasoned, the Hebrew Scriptures give a number of accounts of people coming back to life. Why not Jesus as well? Regrettably, Lapide fails to note that the resurrection of Jesus is described in terms that go far beyond the resucitations of the other stories; and, he fails to come to grips with the fact that Jesus predicted his own resurrection, which vindicated his claims to Messiahship.

An assortment of explanations has been offered throughout history to explain away the resurrection as either non-historical (“It never happened.”) or as non-supernatural (“Here’s how it happened.”). But these explanations have not been successful. Run down the possibilities for yourself and see which makes the best sense. Did the Roman authorities steal the body of Jesus from the tomb? Then why didn’t they produce it when the word started being spread that Jesus was risen? Or maybe the disciples stole it. But could such a fabrication on their part account for the change in their attitude? Three days earlier they were disillusioned, defeated idealists who had hoped that Jesus would bring in a new world order; could a lie which they knew to be a lie, now account for their hope, their boldness in the face of official persecution, and for the high ethical standards they set?

Or perhaps Jesus never died: he just fainted on the cross and revived in the tomb. This idea was popularized in the book The Passover Plot by Hugh Schonfield. Unfortunately the author overlooked the fact that the Romans pierced Jesus’ side, which would have most certainly killed him. Also, there was a contingent of Roman soldiers guarding the tomb as well as a huge stone that blocked its entrance. There was no way that a resuscitated Jesus could have escaped and then convinced hundreds of skeptical eyewitnesses that he had conquered death forever! Or was it all a mass hallucination? It must have been quite a hallucination to be seen by vastly different kinds of people at different times of day in many different places. You might be able to fool one person, but can you fool five hundred who saw him at one time? And unlike the pattern of hallucinations, these appearances of the resurrected Jesus stopped as suddenly as they started, forty days after the resurrection took place.

The only satisfactory explanation is that the resurrection actually occurred, just as the record says. And if that’s the case, it’s a solid reason for accepting the Messiahship of Jesus.

Finally, Jesus transforms people’s lives. Because he provides atonement for sin and reconciliation with God, Jesus brings peace, joy, and purpose into people’s lives. Apart from faith in him, there is no basis for true peace or direction, for as the psalmist says, “Man is estranged from the womb.” That this estrangement is healed by the reconciling ministry of Jesus is the common experience of those who believe in him.

So, between the objective evidence of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and the subjective verification in our own lives-- there’s ample evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be!

… Source.

 

[moses8472]

I just want to say thank you for your responses. Im going to look at those links youll provided and see for myself. thanks.

 

[discipleofJesus]

moses8472:

I just want to say thank you for your responses. Im going to look at those links youll provided and see for myself. thanks.

Hello moses8472,

You might also want to look at the following links

jewsforjesus.org/answers/prophecy

jewsforjesus.org/answers/prophecy/evidence

jewsforjesus.org/answers/prophecy/chart

jewsforjesus.org/answers/jesus/proofessay

jewsforjesus.org/answers

 

[Booklover]

moses8472:

I just want to say thank you for your responses. Im going to look at those links youll provided and see for myself. thanks.

Hi!

Could you give us a list of the prophecies that you say Jesus did not fulfill!

Vickie

 

[gambinosyn]

Yes i can… In jewish tradition here are the prophecies in which Jesus did not fulful:

The whole world will worship the One God of Israel (Isaiah 2:17)
The Jewish people will experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11)
Nations will end up recognizing the wrongs they did Israel (Isaiah 52:13-53:5)
For My House (israel) shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations (Isaiah 56:3-7)
The peoples of the world will turn to the Jews for spiritual guidance (Zechariah 8:23)
The ruined cities of Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 16:55)
Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:9)
The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 40) resuming many of the suspended mitzvos
Jews will know the Torah without Study (Jeremiah 31:33)

There are a few more but i will leave it at this. I know some of the prophecies christians say will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again, but since in Jewish belief the messiah will only come once i did not put those up since they would definately disagree on that.

 

[moses8472]

yes for the most part those are some of the prophecies that were not fulfilled by jesus in our faith.

 

[discipleofJesus]

You might want to read

“Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections” by Michael L. Brown
(Volume Three of the series “Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus” by Michael L. Brown)
amazon.com/gp/product/0801064236/ref=pd_bxgy_text_b/102-9212261-2834559?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Michael L. Brown (Ph.D., Near Eastern Languages and Literature, New York University) is a Jewish believer in Jesus and founder of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida, where he resides. He is also founder and president of the FIRE School of Ministry and has served as a visiting professor of Jewish apologetics at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission.

You also might want to check out realmessiah.org/

 

[Texan_in_DC]

I dont get it how do these refer to Jesus not fullfilling his prophesy?

The whole world will worship the One God of Israel (Isaiah 2:17)

1. Ok today Jews, Christians and Catholic Christians worship the same God of Isreal, yet we are winning more over each day, and the end of time has not come yet has it?
   The Jewish people will experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11)
2. I believe they will in Heaven, the Jews were looking for a king to literally save them and be their king, but instead this teaching was really talking about the next life to keep things simple.
   Nations will end up recognizing the wrongs they did Israel (Isaiah 52:13-53:5)
   For My House (israel) shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations (Isaiah 56:3-7)
3. Whether you are Jew, Islam, or Christian, Isreal is a very holy place for all world religions and again the world has not come to an end yet?
   The peoples of the world will turn to the Jews for spiritual guidance (Zechariah 8:23)
   it is the root of Christianity, without the Jewish traditions where does Christianity hold water?
   The ruined cities of Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 16:55)
   Coulnt this be talking about the end of times?
   Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:9)
   Yes I believe again on the last day, the Holy war, all weapons will then be destroyed.
   The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 40) resuming many of the suspended mitzvos
   The Temple was rebuilt, but through Jesus everyone can come into His temple to worship God…
   Jews will know the Torah without Study (Jeremiah 31:33)
   How does this interfere with the Jesus Prophesy?
   There are a few more but i will leave it at this. I know some of the prophecies christians say will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again, but since in Jewish belief the messiah will only come once i did not put those up since they would definately disagree on that.

Again these are prophesies about the end of times, not Jesus not fullfilling them. I would really want yall to help me on where and how Jesus did not fulfill his prophesies.

I am very confused!

 

[Texan_in_DC]

moses8472:

yes for the most part those are some of the prophecies that were not fulfilled by jesus in our faith.

with all due respect none of these to my knowledge would counter why we say Jesus is the Mesiah.

PS

Does all mean ALL or all who believe as a former protestat one arguement was that all meant Christians.

I am refering to the statement of all will worship the God of Isreal.

If we take your course that all meaining everyone will know the God of Isreal than what is the purpose of life, why are we here right now waiting if we are all going to go to heaven?

 

[moses8472]

I just want to say that all of the prophecies of the messiah that you mentioned that gambinosyn had written down havent been fulfilled… You see the writings are of when the messiah comes. There is nothing that says the messiah will come, die, and then come again. You see the prophecies as being fulfilled because you believe at the end of times when jesus comes a second time that they will be.

But from our belief in judaism the messiah will come only once… Hes not going to come, die, and then come again. For god never states that in our beliefs. Thats why i say in our beliefs Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies of the messiah because when he came he barely accomplished any of them, and then died. Which in our belief the messiah wouldnt do. Its just the perspective we look at things i guess. But that is just my belief for i am Jewish thats all.

 

[MommaKat]

Moses8472
I ask you to read a book for some information. It is “Salvation is From the Jews” written by Roy H. Schoeman and published by Ignatius Press.

 

[ahimsaman72]

moses8472:

I just want to say that all of the prophecies of the messiah that you mentioned that gambinosyn had written down havent been fulfilled… You see the writings are of when the messiah comes. There is nothing that says the messiah will come, die, and then come again. You see the prophecies as being fulfilled because you believe at the end of times when jesus comes a second time that they will be.

But from our belief in judaism the messiah will come only once… Hes not going to come, die, and then come again. For god never states that in our beliefs. Thats why i say in our beliefs Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies of the messiah because when he came he barely accomplished any of them, and then died. Which in our belief the messiah wouldnt do. Its just the perspective we look at things i guess. But that is just my belief for i am Jewish thats all.

So, what you are saying is that since Jesus died and rose from the dead that would automatically disqualify him for fulfilling these prophecies. Since he didn’t usher in an age of peace and triumph before he died, he therefore couldn’t be the Messiah. Do you I understand what you are saying correctly?

Peace…

 

[moses8472]

yes i understand what i am saying correctly… It was never written in scriptures that the messiah is to come, not fulfil the prophecies, die, and then come back again anf fulfil them. That just does not make sense by any means. For why would god have to send a messiah, kill him, and then take him to heaven and then send him again??

Of course if you are christian you would believe that it happened to take away our sins. But in Judaism that was never the case… the messiah was not to come to take our sins. For God had already forgiven us… All we had to do was to obey the 10 commandments, and worship his greatness. Therefor there was no need for a messiah to take away our sins. And because of that the whole concept of him dieing and then coming back to fulfil the prophecies is just not true… But that is from a Jewish perspective. So thats why i believe what i believe.

 

[SolaChristo]

Debate between conservative Jewish Rabbi and Christian Scholar that was a former Jew(sic)

January 23-29, 2006 (Week Two)
Watch online: (Real Player) | (Windows Media)sidroth.org/asx/sn1-23-06.asx
Download: (Real Player) | (Windows Media)

January 16-22, 2006 (Week One)
Watch onlineReal Player) | (Windows Media)sidroth.org/asx/sn1-16-06.asx
Download: (Real Player) | (Windows Media)

Guests: Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, Dr. Michael Brown
Subject: An Orthodox Rabbi and a Messianic Jewish Scholar debate the question: “Who Is Jesus?” (2 Shows)

 

[ahimsaman72]

moses8472:

yes i understand what i am saying correctly… It was never written in scriptures that the messiah is to come, not fulfil the prophecies, die, and then come back again anf fulfil them. That just does not make sense by any means. For why would god have to send a messiah, kill him, and then take him to heaven and then send him again??

Of course if you are christian you would believe that it happened to take away our sins. But in Judaism that was never the case… the messiah was not to come to take our sins. For God had already forgiven us… All we had to do was to obey the 10 commandments, and worship his greatness. Therefor there was no need for a messiah to take away our sins. And because of that the whole concept of him dieing and then coming back to fulfil the prophecies is just not true… But that is from a Jewish perspective. So thats why i believe what i believe.

That’s fine. I just wanted to make sure that I understood correctly. I do the same thing with my wife. Here’s a typical question I ask, “So, what you are saying is…” I learned it at a marriage seminar

Peace be unto you…