Judaisms' Rejection Of Jesus

[Theland]

Does any body know the main reasons why Judaism rejects the evidence that evangelical Christians claim is in the Old Testament, and points to Jesus as being the Messiah?
For example, Isaiah 53?
http://www.chaim.org/isaiah53.htm

[Clanad]

The main problem, as I see it, Theland, is that the Jews have always seen in the Torah a problem that they can't reconcile; that being many Scripture references in the Old Covenant clearly predicted the Messiah appearing as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, i.e., a conquering King, bringing with Him the former glory that Israel knew and causing every knee to bow and every mouth confess Him as Lord. On the other hand, many Scriptures just as clearly indicate Ha Maschiach as being the suffering Servant, your Isaiah 53 being a perfect example (there are many, many others). The Jews, especially those of Yeshua's time simply couldn't understand that Messiah would be both, but at different times in two seperate appearances. In fact, a branch of Judaism believes Israel itself to be the suffering servant in an attempt to bring some understanding to the dichotemy... He is to be seen as only the Warrior King and only those Jews that have come to accept Yeshua as Lord (the Messianic Jewish movement is a phenomena of truly Biblical scope growing with leaps and bounds) are able to grasp...

[naomi24]

Some theories suggest that Jesus, through the bloodline of his father, Joseph, was the rightful King of the Jews. The idea that he was the son of God and supernatural was manufactured by men after the event perhaps in an attempt to immortalise him in the hope of eventually returning a Jewish king, a descendent of Jesus, to the throne of Israel. I believe historically the story is essentially a political one and perhaps this is why the Jews didn't accept Jesus as the messiah - simply because he wasn't. You might find this explanation interesting.

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_c/ bl_jesus.htm

[ixychip1001A]

Its actually true that lots of people since Jesus (or Jehuda/Jeshua Bin Miriam) have been pronounced as being a 'candidate' for the messiah..at the time Jesus was thought to be a religious mystic similar to a guru...he only got the divine tag later on when the religion was being sold to those of other faiths.
He never actually said he was divine at all...he said he was his father in heaven's son, but that all men were. In fact to pronounce himself as the messiah (therefore God) would have been the worst kind of blasphemy as men would have worshipped him and not one inexorable god.

[Theland]

Thank you. I have had it explained that Jesus would come first as Yeshua Ben Joseph, and then secondly a Yeshua Ben David. His first visitation was misconstrued by the Jews as Yeshua Ben David, when it should have been the former.
As Clanad says, it seems the Jews cannot reconcile both.
Thanks for that link Naomi - I'll check it out shortly.

[Lonnie]

Hi Theland,
Thats an excellent answer, as always, by Clanad, tou might want to take a look at this link also.

http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/departments/ relstudies/290/judaism/jesus.html

[Theland]

Lonnie - I am really interested in this subject. I find myself thinking and feeling a great affinity for Jews, in spite of what I have experienced as rejection, some of it quite vitriolic. That's a pity. Anyway, as Daobi will tell you, I am partial on very rare occasions to a drop of turps or varnish remover, and tonight has been one such occasion, so, I shall peruse your link when 20 / 20 vision returns. Probably sometime tomorrow. Oh I know it's a sin, hypocrite that I am.

[naomi24]

Theland, don't beat yourself up. You are not alone. My husband is out on a corporate do tonight, and I'm on my last glass from the bottle of red - but then I don't feel I have anyone to answer to, so never mind. hic. :o)

Incidentally, odd that you've found Jews to be vitriolic. Wonder why? Can you give us some examples? Personally, although perhaps I shouldn't say it, I've always thought you were more suited to Judaism than Christianity really - remember I asked you why you didn't choose that path instead?

[Theland]

Naomi - I love Jews and Israel, (never been there), but feel such an affinity for the people and the place.
Examples? BBC message boards - oh I am not judging all jews from a small number of vitriolic posts - but - I do get the feeling that the cross is not only not welcome, but despised. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so. I haven't exactly conducted a poll, and you know more Jews than I. But, here I am perplexed, and I spelled that right in spite of the turps!

[naomi24]

Theland, to be honest I do think Jews come in for unfair criticism from some Christians. For example my friend's eight year old daughter came home in tears after going out collecting for a children's charity when one Christian told her "Go away - you killed Jesus." How ridiculous that is - but unfortunately I think the belief is fairly prevalent amongst some Christian groups, so you can't really blame today's Jews for getting a little upset with Christians at times.

[Theland]

Sadly, Jews were held responsible for killing Jesus, and this was a view upheld by thr RC church and even Martin Luther. Shame.
Then this lead to "Replacement Theology" where the 'church' sees itself as the 'substitute Israel' and benefactor of the covenants that God made with Israel.

[naomi24]

Something else the church has made up to suit its purpose. No end to its manipulation and inventiveness is there?!