Transcript Handout
Counter-Missionary Education Messiah Wanted! A Counter-Missionary Education Lesson by Uri Yosef, Ph.D., Director of Education Virtual Yeshiva of the Messiah Truth Project, Inc. [The article on this topic is located here - http://thejewishhome.org/counter/Wanted.pdf] Copyright © Uri Yosef 2015 for the Messiah Truth Project, Inc. All rights reserved March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 1 of 6 Introduction Judaism and Christianity disagree on the concept of the Messiah – who he is, and what his mission is. In this lesson we shall first learn what the Hebrew Bible teaches about the promised Jewish King/Messiah and his mission. Then we shall extract from the accounts in the New Testament the qualifications of Christianity’s Messiah (Jesus), and use the historical record to evaluate his accomplishments, and compare both, his qualifications and accomplishments, against what the Hebrew Bible specifies concerning Judaism’s promised Messiah (ַ )מָ ִׁשיחand his mission. March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 2 of 6 Defining the Position An instructive way to illustrate the specifications contained in the Hebrew Bible for the attributes of the promised Jewish King/Messiah and his mission is to cast it in the form of a job requisition: Category Requirements Position Available ַ מָ ִׁשיח- the Jewish Messiah. Job Description To usher in the messianic era, as foretold in the Hebrew Bible, and to preside over the people of Israel as their king, sitting on the throne of King David. Job Requirements To execute and successfully complete the messianic agenda, as described in the Hebrew Bible, within one lifetime. Prior Job Experience None. Qualifications The successful candidate will possess certain attributes that are specified in the Hebrew Bible. Performance Appraisal Criteria The successful candidate will be expected to complete the messianic agenda and, thereby, bring about certain conditions during his reign, though some actions will commence prior to his being identified as the Messiah. We shall now take a closer look at the key items in this job requisition. March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 3 of 6 Prior Job Experience ַ( מָ ִׁשיחper Hebrew Bible - Y) Jesus (per New Testament - ) • Not required since this position was never held before * • Not required since this position was never held before Score* Indicates whether the accounts in the New Testament comply with the specifications in the Hebrew Bible. Qualifications ַ( מָ ִׁשיחper Hebrew Bible - Y) Jesus (per New Testament - ) Score • A biological descendant (progeny, seed = )זֶרעof David and from the tribe of Judah, i.e., via paternal lineage • A “begotten” son of God from a virgin (who has neither David as his biological ancestor nor the required tribal affiliation of Judah) • Lineage to David that passes through Solomon • Two irreconcilable genealogies conflict with this requirement • A political/military and spiritual leader • No evidence of political/military leadership and Torah scholarship • Married with children • Never married nor fathered any biological (physical) children March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 4 of 6 Performance Appraisal and Criteria ַ( מָ ִׁשיחper Hebrew Bible - Y) Jesus (per New Testament - ) Score • Elijah will appear to herald the arrival of the King/Messiah • Claimed John the Baptist was Elijah; John the Baptist denied it • The 3rd Temple will be built in Jerusalem • Did not do it. Instead, 2nd Temple was destroyed in the 1st century • The Jewish exiles will be returned to the Land of Israel • Did not do it. Instead, Jews were dispersed further in the 1st century •Judah and Israel will be reunited • Did not do it. Judah & Israel still into one people not one people in the 1st century • World peace will be established • Did not do it. Wars raged all over the region in the 1st century • A universal knowledge of God will be brought about • Did not do it. Instead, he founded a new religion in the 1st century that diverted people further from the knowledge of One True God • The general resurrection of the dead will take place • A general resurrection of the dead did not happen in the 1st century March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 5 of 6 Summary Question Did Jesus, Christianity's candidate for the position of Jewish Messiah, qualify for the job? Answer Based on his score in the section on qualifications, Jesus did not possess the requisite qualifications for the job. Question Did Jesus, the Messiah of Christianity, do the job as specified in the Hebrew Scriptures? Answer Based on his score in the section on performance appraisal and criteria, Jesus did not meet the performance objectives of the job. Conclusion Jesus was a failed candidate for the job of Jewish Messiah, as defined in the Hebrew Scriptures. Therefore, the position remains open! March 11, 2015 Messiah Wanted! Page 6 of 6