Why Jesus Is Messiah
You’ve probably heard all the reasons why Jesus can’t be the Messiah for the Jewish people. Here are 7 quick reasons why Jesus is the Messiah!
Was Jesus even a real person?
The historical record is beyond dispute. Jesus did exist. He was a real Jewish man, born to a Jewish mother in Israel in the first century, and he went by the name of Yeshua. He was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, and was, in many ways, very much a person of his time and place. Throughout history, Jews and non-Jews alike have been gripped by the person of Jesus as recorded in the accounts of four books of the New Testament called “the Gospels.”
Was Jesus a rabbi?
The Jewish leaders of his day acknowledged Jesus as a peer, calling him “Rabbi” (Luke 19:39). The Talmud is full of conversations between the rabbis, much like those Yeshua is recorded as having had with other teachers and scholars in his day. If Yeshua came to earth today, you would probably find him in dialogue with people from every expression of Judaism. He would teach, he would listen, and he would ask thought-provoking questions.
Do the Scriptures say anything about him being Messiah?
Our prophets and sages spoke of a Messiah who would be a Jewish man descended from King David and King Solomon, born in Bethlehem, and called God’s son. The prophet Isaiah wrote that the Messiah would make atonement for the sins of humanity through his death and be resurrected. Daniel prophesied that the Messiah would have to come before the destruction of the Second Temple. Take a look at the evidence for yourself…
So what was he actually like?
An encounter with Yeshua was rarely a casual chat. His words raised deep questions in people's hearts about God and human life. He was a man who had calluses on his hands, a magnificent sense of humor, and compassion for his people, especially the vulnerable, frightened, despairing, and downtrodden. He expressed that compassion in words of truth and acts of healing…
Who did Jesus claim to be?
A lot of people like to make bold claims about who Jesus really was or reimagine Jesus from a 21st century perspective. But the most important thing to consider about Jesus is, what did he actually say about himself? His words, his actions, his obedience to the God of Israel, and his proclamation of the Kingdom of God all point in one direction and reveal his unique identity…
Why did Jesus die?
In the Tanakh alone there are three references to someone’s death stopping judgment against or serving as atonement for a group of people or the nation. Even some of the rabbis teach that Messiah’s death will serve as atonement for sin. Jesus chose to die an atoning death that would provide reconciliation between humanity and God. Yeshua’s death was not an accident. It was the very purpose and goal of his mission.
Did Jesus rise from the dead?
Yeshua willingly stood in our place and, by dying, took the penalty which rightfully belongs to each one of us. But he didn’t stay dead. By rising from the grave, he defeated the power of sin and death and enabled us to be reconciled with God. And it is this power – the power of life from the dead – which is available to anyone who believes in him. This power has been changing lives of both Jews and Gentiles since the first century.
Who do YOU think he is?
Two thousand years ago, many Jewish people believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. Today, there are still hundreds of thousands of Jews who agree. We believe that we, as Jewish people, have the right to make up our own minds about Jesus rather than let that decision be made for us by rabbis of the ancient past.
What do you think? We would love to hear your perspective and questions.