From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 1997 1:52 AM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Can You Believe Jesus is Messiah and be Jewish?
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com From: Debbie Lockledge Subject: Can You Be Both?
I had an interesting conversation with a rabbi who, when I used the term "Messianic Jew" told me that this was a contradiction in terms. He went on to say that one cannot be "Messianic" Jew any more than one could be an Buddhist Christian or an Islamic Jew -- to be one contradicts being the other. According to him, when a Jew becomes a Christian he ceases to be a Jew. When I asked him about the Jews expecting a Messiah but not recognizing Jesus as that Messiah, he said that the term Messiah is a Christian term, not a Jewish term and, contrary to what I had always been told, the Jews do not believe in nor are they waiting for a coming Messiah. Comments? -Deb.
>From Eddie: **************
This is a traditional Jewish answer based upon the viewpoint that Jesus is not Messiah and based upon the Jewish perspective to separate any and all "Jewish" beliefs from "Christian" beliefs. In reality, the contradiction of terms is calling a belief system in the God of Israel as "Jewish" or "Christian". In Ephesians 4:4-6 it is written:
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all".
If you believe in the God of Israel, are you "Jewish" or are you "Christian"? Both Judaism and Christianity are based upon some valid Biblical truths which are mixed with man-made traditions and doctrines. Man-made traditions and doctrine separate belief in the God as Israel as "Jewish" or "Christian".
Sadly, I have seen some individuals who have a heart for the "Hebraic Roots" want to convert to Judaism as an expression of embracing what they learn about their roots. However, in reality, they are only "trading" one set of valid Biblical truths mixed with man-made traditions (Christianity) for another set of valid Biblical truths mixed with man-made traditions (Judaism). In reality, these people are seeking a "religious system" rather than a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the God of Israel. Faith in the God of Israel is meant to be LIVED not joining a "club" (religious denomination).
It has always been a Biblical "Jewish" belief to believe in a coming Jewish Messiah. In fact, one of the 13 articles of "Jewish" faith as composed by the famous Jewish Rabbi, Moses Maimonides (Rambam) is belief in a Jewish Messiah.
Messiah comes from the Hebrew word "Mashiach" which means "the anointed One". The Mashiach (anointed one) was also seen to be the Moshiach (redeemer). This was and has always been a long standing "Jewish" belief even before the word "Christian" ever existed.
Reform Jews do not believe in a personal Messiah. To them, Messiah is a world condition of peace. It is a "concept" and term that reflects a time in the future when things on the earth will be "ideal". Perhaps, Deb, you were talking to a Reform Jew who made this statement.
On contrary, an Orthodox Jew believes in a coming PERSONAL Messiah. In fact, the Orthodox Rabbi's teach that the Messiah will suffer and Messiah will be King. They call the "suffering Messiah" (Messian ben Yosef --- Messiah son of Joseph). They call the "Kingly Messiah" (Messiah ben David --- Messiah son of David). However, they have separated this as being two individuals rather than it being both in one person (Yeshua/Jesus).
Yeshua/Jesus was called the "Son of David". This is a ancient Jewish title for the "Kingly Messiah".
In John 1:43,45 it is written:
"The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee and findeth Philip and saith unto him, follow me ... Philip findeth Nathaniel and saith unto him, We have found HIM of whom MOSES IN THE TORAH and the PROPHETS did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the SON OF JOSEPH"
John 1:45 has a double meaning. Of course, the earthly "father" of Yeshua/Jesus was Joseph. So, in a LITERAL sense, Jesus was the son of Joseph. However, the term for the suffering Messiah was "Messiah ben Joseph ... Messiah son of Joseph". Both the TORAH and the Prophets wrote about a SUFFERING MESSIAH. This is the message and meaning behind Nathaniel's statement in John 1:45.
In John 1:48,49 it is written:
"Jesus saw Nathenael coming to him and saith of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile! Nathaniel said unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when you was UNDER THE FIG TREE, I saw thee. Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the KING OF ISRAEL"
In these passages, Yeshua/Jesus is called the "Son of Joseph" (a reference to Messiah ben Yosef) and the "KING OF ISRAEL" (a reference to Messiah ben David).
Yeshua/Jesus told Nathaniel that He saw Nathaniel "under the fig tree". This is a Jewish IDIOM for the Messianic Age. Yeshua/Jesus told Nathaniel that He saw that Nathaniel would be in the Messianic Age with Yeshua/Jesus. Nathaniel knew that Yeshua/Jesus was talking about the Messianic Age and "seeing" Nathaniel with Him in the Messianic Age. So, by understanding what Yeshua/Jesus was telling him, Nathaniel recognized that Yeshua/Jesus was the Messiah and the KING OF ISRAEL (Messiah ben David who was seen ruling during the Messianic Age).
The reasoning of religious Jews who do not believe that Jesus is Messiah which states that if you are Jewish and then believe in Yeshua/Jesus that you are no longer Jewish is convoluted. This is like telling a male or female that after they start believing in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah that they no longer are male or female.
Yeshua/Jesus was/is a Jew. He was born a Jew. He lived on this earth as a Jew. He died a Jew. In fact, Messiah lived a type of Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. When He returns and rules and reigns during the Messiah Age, it will be as a Torah observant Orthodox Jew.
So, it is Jewish to believe in a Torah observant Orthodox Jew as Messiah? Of course it is! This is a foundational and fundamental Jewish belief that the Messiah will be Jewish! So if a Jew believes in a Torah observant Orthodox Jew as Messiah does that make them not Jewish? Belief in Messiah is the most Jewish thing that a Jewish person can do. It is more Jewish than wearing a tallit, tzi-tzit, a kippah, putting a Mezuzah on your door or being circumcised. Therefore, a Jew who believes in a Jewish Messiah (Yeshua/Jesus) will continue to be Jewish. He will be a Jew who believes in Messiah or otherwise known as a Messianic Jew.
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