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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Holocaust, Antisemitism, Missionaries (9/12) Previous Document: Question 17.2: Is belief in Jesus-as-G-d compatible with any Jewish movements? Next Document: Question 17.4: What do missionary groups believe? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Answer:
The question above is a typical one asked by Christian Missionaries.
The answer is easy, if one understands Jewish beliefs.
Jews do not believe that the Messiah is a part of G-d, or Divine in
any way, more than any other person. Jews look only to G-d for our
salvation, and when the time comes for G-d to bring the anointed king,
then it shall happen. Jews do not concern ourselves with the messiah's
identity, for the messiah is a person and the messiah's coming does
not change our relationship with G-d. Jews do not accept the notion
that Scripture "foretells" that G-d would robe Himself in flesh; in
fact, to Jews, this idea is idolatry, and we stand against it.
The reason why Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah is
straightforward: he did not meet the requirements in the job
requisition! G-d outlined these requirements in the Bible. The key
aspect of proof is in the state of the world.According to the Bible,
amongst the most mission of the messiah includes returning the world
to return to G-d and G-d's teachings; restoring the royal dynasty to
the descendants of David; overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem,
including the Temple; gathering the Jewish people from all over the
world and bringing them home to the Land of Israel; reestablishing the
Sanhedrin; restoring the sacrificial system, the Sabbatical year and
Jubilee. This simply has not happened. Judaism has no notion of the
messiah not doing these things on the first visit, let along needing a
second visit to do these things. Whenever these things are described
in the Tanach, the description says that the messiah will come and do
these things--once.
Oh, you want specifics? According to Torah, the Messiah will:
1. Ezekiel 37:26-28: Build the Third Temple
2. Isaiah 43:5-6: Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel
3. Isaiah 2:4: Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred,
oppression, suffering and disease. "Nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore."
4. Zechariah 14:9: Spread universal knowledge of the G-d of Israel -
uniting the entire human race as one: "G-d will be King over all
the world--on that day, G-d will be One and His Name will be One"
Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies. Additionally:
* Jesus was not a prophet. Prophecy could only exist in Israel when
the land is inhabited by a majority of world Jewry. During the
time of Ezra (~300 BCE) the majority of Jews refused to move from
Babylon to Israel, thus prophecy ended upon the death of the last
prophets (Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi). Jesus appeared on the
scene approximately 350 years after prophecy had ended.
* Jesus was not descended from King David. Per Genesis 49:10 and
Isaiah 11:1, the Messiah must be descended on his father's side
from King David. However, according to the Christian claim that
Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father -- and
thus could not have possibly fulfilled the messianic requirement
of being descended on his father's side from King David! The
Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from a verse in Isaiah
describing an "alma" as giving birth. The word "alma" has always
meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries
later and translated it as "virgin." This accords Jesus' birth
with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by
G-ds.
* Tradition teaches that the Messiah will lead the Jewish people to
full Torah observance. Deut. 13:1-4 states that all mitzvahs
remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the Torah is
immediately identified as a false prophet. Throughout the New
Testament, Jesus contradicts the Torah and states its commandments
are no longer applicable. (John 1:45 and 9:16, Acts 3:22 and 7:37)
In Christianity, the role of the messiah was redefined in order to fit
the man's career as written by his followers. As Jesus was said to
have been resurrected, the Bible was examined with the purpose of
finding evidence that the messiah would be killed without bringing
peace to the world or redemption to Israel. There was therefore the
expectation of a second coming, at which time Jesus would carry out
the task expected of the messiah (because he obviously didn't do it
the first time). This also required creation of an explanation for the
first coming and its catastrophic end. The net result of all of this
was to shift the function of the messiah from a visible level where it
could be tested (as in Tanach, what Christians call the "Old
Testament") to an invisible level where it could not. As a result of
this reworking, the messiah's goal the first time around was changed
from the redemption of Israel to the atonement for "original sin". A
reworking of Biblical themes.
There were also mistakes with respect to Jesus's death and its
foretelling. Psalms 22:17 says, "Like a lion, they are at my hands and
feet." The Hebrew word ki-ari (like a lion) is grammatically similar
to the word "gouged." Thus Christianity reads the verse as a reference
to crucifixion: "They pierced my hands and feet." Christians also
claim that Isaiah 53 refers to Jesus. Actually, Isaiah 53 directly
follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption
of the Jewish people. The singular form is used because the Jews
("Israel") are regarded as one unit (this occurs elsewhere in Torah).
For Jews, if the Tanach's requirements for the messiah have not been
fulfilled, then there can only be one explanation: he has not yet
come. To Jews, who were often subjected to mockery and contempt when
asked where their messiah was, this was a painful statement to make.
But it was inescapable. As our forefather's said: Ani M'amin: I
believe with complete faith in the coming of the messiah; and though
he may tarry I shall wait for him every day."
Furthermore, Christianity contradicts Jewish theology. In
Christianity, the notion of "Trinity" breaks G-d into three separate
beings: The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
However, the basis of Jewish belief is captured in the Shema: "Hear O
Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is ONE" (Deut. 6:4). Jews declare
the One-ness of G-d every day, writing it on doorposts (Mezuzah), and
binding it to the hand and head (Tefillin). This statement of G-d's
One-ness is the first words a Jewish child is taught to say, and the
last words uttered before he dies. In Jewish law, worship of a
three-part G-d is considered idolatry -- one of the three cardinal
sins which a Jew should rather give up his life than transgress. This
explains why during the Inquisitions and throughout history, Jews gave
up their lives rather than convert.
Furthermore, Christians believe that G-d came down to earth in human
form, as Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). However,
in Judaism, the fundamental idea is that G-d is Incorporial, meaning
G-d has no physical form. In Judaism, G-d is Eternal, above time,
Infinite, beyond space. G-d cannot be born, and cannot die. Saying
that G-d assumes human form makes G-d small, diminishing both G-d's
Unity and Divinity. The Torah says: "G-d is not a mortal" (Numbers
23:19). Judaism says that the Messiah will be born of human parents,
with normal physical attributes just like other people. He will not be
a demigod, and will not possess supernatural qualities. In fact, an
individual is alive in every generation with the capacity to step into
the role of the Messiah. (Maimonides - Laws of Kings 11:3)
In Christian belief, prayer must be directed through an intermediary.
Jesus himself is an intermediary, as Jesus said: "No man cometh unto
the Father but by me." In Judaism, prayer is a totally private matter,
between each individual and G-d. Torah says, "G-d is near to all who
call unto Him" (Psalms 145:18). Further, the Ten Commandments state:
"You shall have no other gods before me," meaning that it is forbidden
to set up a mediator between G-d and man. (Maimonides - Laws of
Idolatry ch. 1)
Lastly, in Christianity, the physical world is viewed as an evil to be
avoided. Mary is portrayed as a virgin. Priests and nuns are celibate.
Monasteries are in remote, secluded locations. In Judaism, the belief
is that G-d created the physical world not to frustrate us, but for
our pleasure. Jewish spirituality comes through grappling with the
mundane world in a way that uplifts and elevates. Sex in the proper
context is one of the holiest acts we can perform. The Talmud says if
a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do
so, he will have to account for that in the World-to-Come. Jewish
rabbinical schools teach how to live amidst the bustle of commercial
activity. Jews don't retreat from life, we elevate it.
So what do Jews say about Jesus, if he wasn't the messiah. The
historical Jesus (not the mangod Christianity made him into)
accomplished a great deal in turning people away from idolatry and
towards a more authentic knowledge of G-d. But he has no special role
to Judaism, in fact, no role at all.
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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