Bible Studies
Why Do Jews Reject Jesus?
There was a man called Saul – a Jewish Pharisee who was highly educated man. He spoke several languages. He obeyed the Ten Commandments handed down from generation to generation by Moses. Saul was trained under the chief teacher of all Rabbis – Gamaliel.
Let’s listen in on a conversation he once had –
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.” Source – Acts 22:3
When someone by the name of Jesus…the son of a carpenter by the name of Joseph came of age…around thirty years old, this man called Jesus started to preach to his fellow Jews. He told then that His Father was God. He claimed that He was the Messiah” that they had expected since the birth of Abraham.
A new church was being formed in Jerusalem…a bunch of rag-tag converts from Judaism they were. They were being taught by a handful of followers of the recently crucified Jesus.
“Why would these “apostles” or “diciples” – followers of Jesus be preaching about a dead man”, the Jews thought. “He was crucified…we all saw it.”
This newly formed church at Jerusalem started to grow substantially because the Jews noted that these so-called apostles had the same powers as the dead Jesus had.
"They healed a lot of sick people..even one whom most of us knew”, pondered a few Jews. “That guy used to lay in front of the Holy Temple and beg for money becaue he was lame…he couldn’t walk.”
“But, there he was – running through the Temple…yelling and screaming, “I can walk…look at me, I can walk…it’s a miracle”.
The young “Christian church” at Jerusalem starting growing. These Jewish brothers and sisters were buying into their teachings that the Messiah had come. They convinced many that this one called Jesus was buried on Friday, but that he was raised from the dead on the following Sunday.
“That’s why these “Christ Followers”, these Christians….go to their church on Sunday…Resurrection Day”, they figured.
“We can’t allow ourselves to believe that this Jesus guy was raised from the dead…even though Peter…a Jew, and the other former Jews – now apostles had also claimed.” “We go to Temple on Saturday…the Sabbath. It’s always been the Sabbath”, they exclaimed.
“Just to make sure, we will keep our eyes open and see what these rag-tags do”.
The Jews looked on. They had heard that 500 of their recently dead kingsmen had somehow come up out of their tombs and were now at home – just after the earthquake that they felt and heard the other day.
“That’s difficult to explain…as are all of these others “signs and wonders” and healings that we’ve witnessed ourselves. But we are the ones who clamored for the death of this “King of the Jews” as Jesus called himself.”
“This apostle called Peter raised little Tabatha from the dead, too, but maybe she was just asleep…it couldn’t have been an actual raising from the dead….could it?”
“That little Christian church seems to be growing…they claim that there are over 5,000 Jesish men converted to their beliefs that Jesus is the Messiah…and, with the wives and their children, there are about 15,000 of them now. Something is happening. What will our Temple priests have to say about this nonsense?”
“The priests told this Pharisee…this Saul of Tarsus - to jail these people. In fact, we saw Saul standing at the feet of one of the “deacons” from that church. His name was Stephen, and he was just stoned to death right out there in the street because he said some really bad things to our leaders.”
“You are right, Leonard, I heard Stephen myself. He was telling the priests all about our heritage – from Abraham to Moses …right up to this one called Jesus. He ended his sermon to them by saying, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers”.
“Oh boy!…that ticked them off. I gotta tell you, Leonard, I was at the crucifixion and I heard this Jesus guy say,’My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’, and the Torah that we have says that David uttered that prediction – those same words, as part of his prophecy of things to come. I read it in the 22ds Psalm…verse one.”
This same Saul of Tarsus was empowered to arrest anyone who followed the teachings of this carpenter’s son named Jesus of Nazareth.
One apostle, by the name of Luke, recorded this in the Book of Acts, Chapter 8: 1-“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2-And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3-As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4-Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
“I guess that these Christians are running like scared cats now that Saul is tossing men, women…even their kids into jai, wouldn’t you say, Leonard?”
“Well, not exactly, Samuel, because these same Christians are now teaching about dead Jesus in Judea, and Samaria. Pretty soon, they’ll be teaching about Jesus everywhere in the world.
I wonder why they would keep talking about this man, Jesus….if he’s dead?”
“You are right, Leonard my friend. It makes no sense. The apostles were holed up in what they call the upper room because they were afraid of reprisals against them for being associated with the crucified Jesus….and now, look at them – they are bold…they are preaching to us and they are relentless. Why would they risk their lives over a dead man? Also, Leonard, how is it that these formerly lily-livered apostles can now heal the sick…just like that Jesus guy did?”
Saul…the persecuter of the church of Christians, had orders: Acts 9:1 –“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2-And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
On the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus, had a strange thing happen to him. Let’s look in on that scene as recorded by Luke in Acts 9:3-4 –“And as Saul journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4-And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”
This is strange because the voice from this shining light didn’t say, “Saul, why are you persecuting the church of Christians in Jerusalem…the voice asked, ‘why are you persecuting ME?” This sounded personal.
Was it God’s voice? Why would God ask Saul why was he persecuting God? It makes no sense.
Paul asked the voice from heaven, 5-“Who art thou, Lord?”
And the voice answered him. “ "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6-"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7 -The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.”
Saul was struck by this one who spoke directly to him. The voice also blinded him, so he had to be led away to the city of Damascus, Syria, by his men.
When he got to Damascus, he met the intended greeter…a man named Ananias. Ananias did not trust Sau. He, and others in Damascus, knew that Saul was sent there to persecute the Christians and haul them off to prison in Jerusalem.
But, Jesus spoke to Ananias, and said, 15- “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.”
Jesus would, from that moment forward, endow Saul, whom He gave the new name “Paul”, his 12th hand-picked, anointed apostle, to bring the “Gospel of Christ” to the Gentiles…to the kings and leaders of the earth, and to the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL – the Jews.
He would end up suffering and being thrown in jail…beaten, and eventually killed, and partly because Paul was going to reap a bit of what he sowed…as God has told us all in His Scriptures. Every sin, although forgiven when people are born-again….there will be consequences suffered.
Saul…now the apostle to the Gentiles – Paul, was facing a group of Christians from very walk of life. This was later on…after Jesus had anointed him, and given him all of the same authoritative powers that the other apostles had.
Jesus gave Paul the power to raise the dead, heal the sick, hold venomous serpents in his hand and not die…and Jesus endowed him with these powers so that he would be able to do signs, miracles and wonders after he preached.
The Jews always needed a “sign” from heaven!
Paul had this to say, as recorded in the Book of Matthew – written by a former Jewish Tax collector…now apostle of Christ:
Chapter Ten –“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.“
Saul, Jewish Pharisee…well-educated Jew…now apostle chosen by Jesus – a supposedly “dead guy”, is telling fellow Christians that he wants his fellow Jews to become believers….NOT CONVERTS from Judaism…just believers.
Nobody can become a CONVERT. If one is born a Jew, he cannot become a CONVERT to Catholicism or Islam. He would simply be a Jew who believes something that was told to him.
In the above scenario, this CONVERT would be a Jewish Catholic. He was born a Jew…he is always a Jew.
Paul continued in his speech: Verse 2-“For I bear them (my Jewish brothers and sisters) record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”
Paul is saying that he himself…being a Jew and a Pharisee in charge of zeal for persecuting Christians…understands their zeal….he had the same zeal once.
3- “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
Paul wants to tell his Jewish brethren that their zeal has merit, but they should use it or channel that zeal in the right direction. They cannot, however, because they are ignorant of the righteousness of God that is found only in their acceptance of His Son…Jesus.
His Jewish brothers and sisters have not accepted this because of their teachings.
Paul wanted them to believe that God’s Son did come, and that this “Messiah” could give them eternal life in heaven through Him….and that they would not have to live…and die…under the Laws of Moses that they cannot possibly keep.
4- “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Paul says that Jesus fulfilled all prophecy. He fulfilled all of the requirements of the Law that man cannot possibly keep without being judged by that Law.
The Law stipulates that man MUST BE PUNISHED when they break the Laws of Moses – The Ten Commandments.
Man cannot keep the Law. Man will always be guilty of lying, stealing, cheating, adultery, fornication, not honoring their parents….you name it…all mankind commits sins.
Paul also stipulates that Jesus died on that cross and exchanged the sins of ALL MANKIND….Jews, Gentiles, Islamic fundamentalists, ALL MANKIND, and He exchanged their sins for His righteous.
5 –“For Moses described the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them.”
Jesus himself had words to say to a rich, young ruler who asked Him, “What must I…a Jewish, rich young ruler do to be saved from the punishment of hell?”
We find that “chat” in Luke 18:18-23 –“A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19"-Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20-You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
Jesus was about to point out to this man that it would be impossible, unless you are as good as God, to keep the Commandments…but Jesus was going to give this young man some rope…enough for him to hang himself on his own words.
21 –“All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.” This Jewish man had it all…youth…plenty of money…and he was educated….and he kept ALL of the commandments since he can remember….ALL of them!
If, in fact, anyone – including this rich, young, Jewish ruler could, indeed, keep all Ten Commandments, they would be PERFECT….sinless, and could go right into heaven. But, Jesus knew of at least ONE Commandment that this rich, young zealot for Judaism broke.
22 –“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing.”
This must have floored the man who just got finished telling Jesus that he kept ALL of the Ten Commandments of Moses.
“Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
This was the answer to this man’s question, “What must I do to be saved and inherit eternal life?” All he had to do was sell all that he had and give it to the poor.
23 –“When the rich, young ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth”
The rich young ruler was sad because he would not part with his money to “be saved from hell, and spend eternity in heaven” His sin? He put the god of wealth ahead of Jesus. He broke the Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
24 –“And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”
Paul knew all of this,,that it is impossible for anyone on the planet to inherit eternal life in heaven, and he knew that every spirit lives eternally. Some will live eternity in heaven…others in hell.
Paul continued his speech in Romans 10:5 –“Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them.”
Jesus agreed with Moses…”The man who can say that he has kept ALL of the Laws of Moses shall live eternally in heaven.” But, Moses and Jesus both know that man cannot keep the Law, so man who lives by the Law shall be judged…then condemned by this same Law.
Paul says, “There is a way to get into heaven, and it is through the belif that - if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10-For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
This is the Gospel of Christ and is preached to ALL mankind. Whoseover believes, and confesses the above SHALL BE SAVED….Jew…Gentile…anyone on earth.
Romans 11 –“As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. 12- For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13-for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Paul asserts that ANYONE who trusts in Jesus will never have to be put to shame by others.
There is no difference between Jew and non-Jew (Gentile) because this same Jesus is the Lord of all who call upon Him to save them. He is the one who paid the penalty of death for Jews and Gentiles, and because He was the one who paid for our sins, He is the one who can forgive us of all of our sin debts owed under the Law.
Verse 14 - Paul asks, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? “
If someone refuses to believe…whether Jew or non-Jew, they will be punished under the Laws that they cannot keep. If they do not hear about Jesus, how can they believe?
Paul knows that those who teach mankind are “clergy”. Their job is to teach and preach the Gospel of Christ. But, many leaders of “religions” do NOT preach and teach Christ, and they will also be judged accordingly.
15 -And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
Paul is calling upon believers to preach and teach the Gospel of Christ to the Jew and to the non-Jew.
Choosing whether to spend eternity in heaven or hell is essential for all of mankind. They must make this very personal choice. Everyone must be able to answer God’s question, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” when it comes time for what is called The Great White Throne of Judgment referred to in the Book of Revelation. What will our answer be?
In Romans 10:16, Paul continues his dialogue. “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news.”
Paul acknowledges that most Jews from the time of the crucifixion of Jesus have been trained to NOT believe that Jesus came to the earth, fulfilled at least 1,000 prophecies written in the Old Testament, and then he died on the cross, was buried, and resurrected on the third day…and had at least 550 witnesses that have seen Him during the 40 days that he remained on earth.
The old Jewish prophet Isaiah asked God, “Lord, who has believed our message? "
Paul asks, “Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding”. And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me”. But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
These prophets…Moses and Isaiah both talked about Jesus. Jesus would make Israel envious of those who are not a nation (Christians)..they would be envious because this non-nation of Christians would follow this one called Christ because they lacked understanding of the traditions of Israel.
Isaiah said that “I (meaning Jesus) would say, ‘I was found by those who did NOT seek me (Jesus would be found by those not looking for a Messiah), and “I (Jesus) revealed myself to those who did not seek this Messiah.” Jesus did reveal himself to Gentiles who were not seeking a Messiah, but they believed that the Jewish Messiah did come, and that the messiah was the one who did signs, wonders and miracles, and who fulfilled every single prophecy made by Old Testament prophets.
Isaiah prophesied that one day, this Messiah would be holding out His hands to a disobedient and obstinate people…Jews, but they would not receive Him.
The facts are there…prophecy was ALL fulfilled.
Some say it was all fabricated by these Christians after Jesus’ death on the cross.
Others say that these Jewish apostles…and their disciples conjured up stories about Jesus to make it appear that He was fulfilling prophecy.
Most Jews are trained to know why it is that they cannot accept Jesus as their messiah.
Here is the rationale from their own lips:
"We do not believe that it is prophesied that the Messiah will be crucified.”
Therefore, if that is belief number one, we would need to go into their Holy Books to discover if a Messiah would come to the earth, and then be crucified.
Of course, the expectation of the Messiah was that He would set up His kingdom…for the Nation of Israel, and they would rule under His reign…forever. Tyranny and oppression would be gone, and the world would be at peace.
"We do not believe that the Messiah will be the son of G-d. "
"We do not believe that he will be raised from the dead any more than anyone else."
"We do not believe that he will appear twice, in what some Christians call a second coming."
"We do not believe that the Messiah will be our "savior" in the sense that he will redeem us from our sins."
The Jewish Book of Psalms is Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 22. The entire chapter 22 speaks of crucifixion…starting with verse two “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Jesus said those identical words while on the cross of crucifixion.
I shall choose out a few other verses from Tehillim, only to provide information that a crucifixion was, in fact, prophesied by the king..and prophet, David. Verse 8: “All who see me will mock me; they will open their lips, they will shake their head.” Surely, Jesus was mocked by the roman soldiers and all those who called for His crucifixion.
Verse 9 of Tehillim - David predicts this: “One should cast his trust upon the Lord, and He will rescue him; He will save him because He delights in him.” It is recorded that two common thieves were also crucified, and hung on crosses to either side of Jesus. One of them mocked the Christ…the other cast his trust in Messiah, and Jesus rescued his soul from hell.
Do readers think, so far, that these predictions and fulfillments were “staged”? Did Jesus really arrange to have himself hung on a cross, mocked, spit upon, laughed at…only to have one thief put his trust in Him?
David predicts in Tehillim 22:15-17(or Psalm 22), “I was spilled like water, and all my bones were separated; my heart was like wax, melting within my innards.” Although no bones of Jesus were broken, they were stretched and contorted from His body weight hanging on three nails…two through his wrists, and one through both of his feet.
Verse 16-“My strength became dried out like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; and You set me down in the dust of death.”
You refers to G-d (God) as it is capitalized.
God would set Jesus down in the dust of a physical death. He would be buried in a borrowed tomb. His strength did become dried out – depleted, and his tongue cleaved to his palate for he was thirsty. Someone put vinegar on a sponge, extended it up to him on long pole, and tried to quench His thirst – with vinegar!
Verse 17 of Tehellim (verse 16 of Psalm): “For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me, like a lion, my hands and feet.”
The prediction was that “people would be like a pack of dogs…wild dogs. They would encompass me. A band of evildoers they would be. My hands and feet hurt.”
In verse 18 of Tehellim, (Psalm 17) – “I tell about all my bones. They look and gloat over me.” –
“I will tell them about how sore my bones are because I am hanging by nails fastened to my wrists and my feet, but they look at me…and they gloat.
Then, they (the roman soldiers) would cast lots for my clothes…my scarlet robe that they removed from me.” Verse 19 of Tehellim or in the Christian Book of Psalm 18 – “They share my garments among themselves and cast lots for my raiment.”
Strangely enough, verse 27 of Tehellim reads, “The humble shall eat and be sated; they shall praise the Lord, those who seek him; your hearts shall live forever.”
“The humble (not the proud, disobedient types) shall eat and be sated (meaning satisfied fully), and they shall praise the Lord…THOSE WHO SEEK HIM…and for THOSE WHO SEEK HIM, YOUR hearts will live forever.”
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord –SHALL be saved” Whosoever SEEKS HIM shall find Him, and when they do, they will be fully satisfied, and will live forever…in heaven.”
So, the argument that a crucifixion of a Messiah would not happen is not going to stand up in the court of the Laws of Truth.
The Jews are taught, “We do not believe that the Messiah will be the son of G-d.” Therefore, there would be no prophecy that would suggest such a thing.
So, we must go to the Jewish Book of Isaiah, the prophet. The Jewish Book is Yeshayahu. In verse 5 of Chapter 9, we read, “For a child has been born to US, a SON is given to us, and the AUTHORITY IS UPON HIS SHOULDER, and the wondrous adviser, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, called his name, "PRINCE OF PEACE."
Israel called for a SON to be born unto them, and this SON would carry all of the authority of G-d upon His shoulders.
We could travel back to the Jewish Book of Psalms – Tehillim – Chapter 80 and start with the prayers of Israel looking for God to bless them because they have been abused by everyone. “(G-d), You have made us the target of strife to our neighbors, and our enemies mock themselves.
Verse 8 –“ O God of Hosts, return us; cause Your countenance to shine and we shall be saved.” 9-‘You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out nations and planted it.”
The VINE is Israel.
Verse 15- “O God of Hosts, return now; look from heaven and see, and be mindful of this VINE.”
Verse 16-“ And of the foundation that Your right hand has planted and over THE SON YOU HAVE STRENGTHENED FOR YOURSELF.”
What SON would God be strengthening for Himself? For God to strengthen a SON, he would have to have a Son. The Jews believe that there is ONE G-d, and that He is not a trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Yet, in their Book of Genesis, called Bereishith, This is what this ONE G-d has to say when He wanted to create mankind. “And God said, "Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness, and they shall rule over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heaven and over the animals and over all the earth and over all the creeping things that creep upon the earth."
Any intelligent, educated person who read that verse would have to conclude that US and OUR is plural and not ONE.
But, in case that was a typo in Bereishith, let us continue along into the third Chapter of Bereishith – where Adam and Eve believed the lie of the devil.
Satan told Eve, “God said that you and Adam will surely die if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…SURELY YOU WILL NOT DIE”.
Eve listened to Satan (first big mistake) and argued with herself as to whether she would believe God..or Satan. She chose to believe Satan.
Satan has deceived MANY from that day to now, and he deceives by asking the same question today.
“WILL YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE ME OR GOD?”
Bereishith 3:22 –“ Now the Lord God said, "Behold man has become like ONE OF US, having the ability of knowing good and evil…”
Satan asks, “Will you believe him…or God who wrote the Book saying, “Man has become LIKE ONE OF US?”
Would God have said, “Before man becomes like ME? Just asking.
Isaiah had a bit more to say concerning a SON. He predicted that a SON would be born of a virgin. For a SON to be born of a virgin…it would have to mean that there was no father. The Father would therefore, have to be G-d.
Yeshayah, Chapter 7 and verse 14, it is written: “Therefore, the Lord, of His own, shall give you a sign; behold, the young woman is with child, and she shall bear a son, and she shall call his name Immanuel.”
This Book of Yeshayah says, “a young woman (not virgin) is with child (pregnant) and she shall bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel, meaning “:God with us”.
The “Goyim” (non-Jewish) Book of Isaiah specifically says this: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a VIRGIN shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
It would not be a “sign” if just a young woman gave birth to a son and called his name God with us.”
Speaking of Goy, Genesis 12:2 or Bereishith 12:2 relates that God is telling Abraham this: “And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing.”
The translation of GREAT NATION in Hebrew is “goy gadol”.
God actually promised Abraham that He would make two great nations out of Abrahams loins. One would come through Sarah..his betrothed, and through her son, Isaac. That would be the Jewish nation of Israel.
Because Abraham did not obey or trust G-d when God promised that Sarah would conceive and have a son…at age 90, Sarah offered Abraham her handmaiden… Hagar. She would bare a son – thirteen years before Isaac would be born. That son’s name was Ishmael.
Through that son, the entire Arab nation would come.
Sarah told Abraham to kick Hagar out of their home. Abraham did this, and Hagar and her son, Ishmael, were cast out into the desert.
An angel of God appeared to her and said this…in the Jewish Book of Bereishith…Chapter 16, verse 10 (Genesis 16 if you are a Goy!) –“ And the angel of the Lord said to her (Hagar), "I will GREATLY MULTIPLY YOUR SEED, and it will not be counted for abundance.” Verse 11 –“ And the angel of the Lord said to her (Hagar), "Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him ISHMAEL, for the Lord has heard your affliction.” And he (Ishmael) will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be upon all, and everyone's hand upon him, and before all his brothers he will dwell.”
Genesis cleans it up a bit, Genesis 16:12 –“And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
This prediction of Ishmael would become fulfilled. Through Ishmael, the nations of Arabs were GREATLY MULTIPLIED, but the hands of Arabs will be against every non-Arab, and particularly Jews.
The predominant Arab religion is Islam. The Koran has established that every non believer in Allah is an infidel, and all infidels must be made to worship Allah…or face severe consequences, including death.
In Genesis 17, Verse 20, God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation…a non-Jewish nation…a “goy gadol” from the loins of Ishmael. “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.”
The “twelve princes” refer to the Imams of the Islamic faith.
There will be twelve Imams. It should be interesting to note that there have been eleven, and Islam anticipates the return of the 12th Imam…their “Messiah”. His name is al Mhadi. He will return “after much violence is foisted upon the earth. If terrorism is not violence foisted upon the earth, then nothing is.
In my book, America’s Two Holy Wars, I write about this 12th Imam. al Mhadi is supposed to return on the back of a horse named “lightning”. The jewish word for lightning is Burraq. In Arabic, it is Barak. Anglicized, it is Barack. Will the 12th Imam come riding in on the back of Barack?
To complete our study, I will give the verses from the Old Testament prophecy…and next to it, the fulfillment.
For Jews NOT to believe God - the one who told His writers to write the Books, is to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the truth.
Many rely on the words of their Rabbis, rather than to search the Scriptures for themselves.
Unfortunately, when we stand before God or G-d, we will all have to give an account for US…individuals, and we cannot tell G-d that someone else taught us such and such…and we believed them. They will have to give an account for themselves, too.
As for the final arguments presented, we must address this statement:
“We do not believe that he will be raised from the dead any more than anyone else.”
The Jewish Holy Book of Tehillim, Chapter 16:10 reads, “ For You shall not forsake my soul to the grave; You shall not allow Your pious one to see the pit.”
G-d did not forsake the spirit of Jesus to the grave for longer than two nights. "You (G-d) shall not allow YOUR HOLY ONE – YOUR SON, to see the pit.” God did not allow Jesus to permanently see the pit (grave).
Would this Jesus rise from the dead, and ascend into heaven?
Tehillim, Chapter 68 and verse 19 predicted this will happen: “You ascended on high, you took captives; you took gifts to be among men, and also rebellious ones for Yah God to dwell.”
The Christian Book of Psalms reads this way: (verse 18) - “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.”
The final argument for not believing the Messiah came is, “We do not believe that the Messiah will be our "savior" in the sense that he will redeem us from our sins.”
Isaiah 53:10 would dispute that claim. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
In the Jewish Book of Isaiah – Yeshayahu..it reads, “And the Lord wished to crush him, He made him ill; if his soul makes itself restitution, he shall see children, he shall prolong his days, and God's purpose shall prosper in his hand.”
In English from the AMPLIFIED version of the Bible: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him (Jesus); He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You (God) and He (Jesus) make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
Because Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind, only He can forgive those sins.
Jesus shall see His spiritual offspring (born-again believers) and this is the will and pleasure of God…God’s will is clearly spelled out in John 6:40. “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Isaiah 53:6 clearly states that God laid the sins of mankind on the back of Jesus on that cross. “6-All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Other Old Testament Prophecies with New Testament fulfillment:
Jesus would be born of a Virgin – Prophecy - Isaiah 7:14…fulfilled Mathew 1:21-23
A descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 22:18; Galatians 3:16)
Of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Hebrews 7:14)
Of the house of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:1)
Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
Taken to Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15)
Herod´s killing of the infants (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18)
Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17)
Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:1-3)
Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35)
Would preach good news (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:14-21)
Would minister in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-16)
Would cleanse the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12-13)
Would first present Himself as King 173,880 days from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25; Matthew 21:4-11)
Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53) involving:
1.rejection (Isaiah 53:3;John 1:10-11;7:5,48)
2.betrayal by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Luke 22:3- 4; John 13:18)
3.sold for 30 pieces of slver
(Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
4.silence before His accusers Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
5.being mocked (Psalm 22: 7-8; Matthew 27:31)
6.beaten (Isaiah 52:14; Matthew 27:26)
7.spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
8.piercing His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Matthew 27:31)
9.being crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
10.praying for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
11.piercing His side (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
12.given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, Luke 23:36)
13.no broken bones (Psalm 34:20; John 19:32- 36)
14.buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
15.casting lots for His garments (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
Would rise from the dead. (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
Satan…the father of lies, deceived Eve. He said,“Believe me…or choose to believe God (G-d).
Souls are eternal. They will spend eternity in heaven or hell, depending on the choice of the individual.
Each soul shall be without excuse when God asks, “Why should I let you into my heaven?”
The only answer that will be acceptable will be that the individual chose to believe all that his Son, Jesus said.
When Jesus first began His ministry, John The Baptist…a Jew, baptized Jesus.
It is recorded in Matthew 17:5 –“ a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM.”
We have a "Prayer of Salvation" located at www.JohnTyler.com/Salvation.htm
John Tyler, Author of nine books.
FIVE of my books are bible-bases, so those are FREE!
www.RelationshipBooks.com
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