Image from ratiochristi.org
[Since we have resurrected the whole series on the origins of the messiah idea, this is revived from its 2013 first posting. This is part of the series about the Jewish messiah and whether the Christian messiah fulfills the original criteria. Here’s part of the introduction:
Finally, the pièce de résistance! The question is answered by James D. Tabor in his usual ‘it’s-not-that-simple’ way, because it has to be qualified first. This whole chapter that we have featured in 6 parts is only one of the many mind-boggling chapters of this MUST READ/MUST HAVE book, Restoring Abrahamic Faith. In fact, with all the controversial statements this author makes in chapter after chapter, it is no wonder that our Messianic teacher who called this book “demonic” and warned others about it, as well as Christian friends to whom we have given copies have difficulty getting past the Introduction or if they have, are not convinced of the compelling arguments for a back-to-basics Biblical Faith consistently advocated by its author.
Like any Truth-claim that a seeker is confronted with, it is not only incumbent but wise to check it out for oneself. This website simply provides “another side” to the usual reading of the Bible. Hopefully, visitors to this website who continue to read through all the articles are getting into the good habit of checking out and confirming for themselves the teachings here especially if it runs counter to what they have been taught. Reformatted and highlights added.–Admin1.]
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Millions of Christians press this question upon Jews and other non-Christians—-
do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah?
It may sound like a simple question, however, it is not so easily addressed as one might imagine, given 1900 years of Christian history.
Maybe this is also the wrong question. A more effective query might be:
Did Jesus fulfill what all the Prophets declare the Davidic King will accomplish?
The answer to that question is clearly “no.”
Christians and Jews should be able to agree on the doctrine of the Messiah if they will stay with the clear prophetic teaching of the Scriptures.
When a descendant of David
- appears in the world,
- regather the Tribes of Israel,
- disarms the nations of the world,
- restores the Temple with the Presence of YHVH,
- and sets up a world-wide government
- in which the TORAH is taught to all nations
- —-surely all can agree that such a one is the long awaited Messiah ben David.
If that one turns out to be Jesus the Nazarene, then so be it. If not, even the most die-hard Christian believer will have to rework his or her messianic faith. No Jew would object, if Jesus did somehow “return” and concretely fulfil the Biblical tasks of Messiah. They simply consider such a possibility as highly unlikely.
What Jews have historically had problems with when it comes to Jesus as Messiah, are the declarations that—
- he has already fulfilled his messianic role,
- that his rule is over a spiritual Kingdom in heaven,
- and that he is to be worshipped as God.
- If one then adds to these ideas the notion that the TORAH is abrogated
- and that the Jewish people have lost their covenant with God
—it is not hard to imagine why Jews have rejected Christianity and resisted conversion, forced or otherwise.
The standard Christian view of “Christ” does not reflect the view of the Messiah that one finds in the Hebrew Prophets.
The typical Christian evangelistic message is that
- one must “accept Christ”
- in order to be forgiven of sins
- and go to heaven.
- All who fail to “receive” Christ in this way,
- even if they have never heard of him,
- are doomed to eternal Hell.
Such ideas, no matter how familiar to Christian ears, have nothing to do with knowing and following the TORAH in the way that the historical Jesus advocated.
Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God and upheld the Prophetic vision of the Messiah;
while, in contrast, the later Christian Church proclaimed “Jesus” as heavenly Savior, as God the Son, and totally ignored his message and his TORAH based teachings.
As Rudolf Bultman so well put it,
“the Proclaimer
[of the Kingdom of God]
became the Proclaimed.”
Accordingly, to confess Jesus as Messiah has little connection with the original Hebrew expectation of what the Messiah is all about. Millions who mouth that phrase, and somehow think they are “saved” while others are damned to Hell, have not the slightest understanding of Jesus as a Jew, nor of the Prophetic vision of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God for which he lived and died. So, what is the point of such confessions? The Jews have rightly rejected the whole pagan Christian agenda in this regard.
Jesus taught the same WAY of Salvation
as that found in TORAH and Prophets—
heartfelt repentance of sins,
turning directly to YHVH God in faith,
forgiveness and salvation through His grace,
and obedience to all the commandments of TORAH (Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 18:9-14).
He constantly proclaimed the Prophetic vision of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God.
The only legitimate message “in his name” is the one he preached:
God’s love for sinners,
repentance and forgiveness of sins,
obedience to TORAH,
the call to be a suffering servant,
and the good news of the coming Kingdom.
Image from www.quora.com
My friend and teacher, the late David Horowitz, often remarked that both Christians and Jews will likely be surprised by the Messiah. In other words, he will probably not conform to anyone’s expectations. I rather think he is right.
Christians are sure “Jesus is the Messiah,” but the question is, what do they mean by “Jesus?” It is certain that the “Jesus” of popular Christian imagination and dogma is not the Messiah.
The problem between Christians and Jews is really not Jesus, and whether or not he will turn out to be the Messiah. The problem is that Christianity denies the pillars of the BIBLICAL FAITH:
- God,
- TORAH,
- and Israel.
If one counters by charging that Jews have rejected “Jesus,” it must be asked—-which Jesus have they rejected? Surely they were correct to reject the only Jesus known to them, the Hellenized God-Man of the Christian Church. One thing is certain, when the Messiah comes, whoever he turns out to be, he will uphold these essential teachings of Scripture.
Can we do anything less?