Archive for April, 2009

Jesus is God’s Son

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Islam would teach that God doesn’t have a son and I would have to say that I generally agree with you based on your perception of son-ship. Even though Jesus was born in a unique and miraculous way I agree that God is not having sex or reproducing after that fashion. That is a belief that is centered on pagan mythology and there are cults that teach this.
Dr. Michael Brown who is an expert in the field of Semitic languages, which is the original language and culture of the Jewish people and the Bible, has commented on the very nature of this concept. To begin with we must first keep in mind that our 21st century brain doesn’t think along the lines of ancient Hebraic thought.
Actually the word God’s son is used many times in the Hebrew Scriptures in which God relates to Israel as His son, as well as the kings, and also the angels. Since Jesus is the Messiah then He is the ultimate representative of this title considering that He is a descendant of Israel but also He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and lastly He has been exalted above the heavenly host or angels. Given His credentials then how much more is He worthy of this title as being God’s Son.
In the Bible the Hebrew word for son is “ben” or “bar” in Aramaic and “ibn” in Arabic. It can refer to a literal offspring which is how you are comprehending the use of the word for “son” or it can be spoken of metaphorically such as the “the sons of the prophets” which means the disciples of the prophets. When it refers to an Israelite king it means “son” by divine adoption as in 2 Samuel 7:14 where it says ”I will be his father and he will be my son” and it can also be said of the nation of Israel as in Exodus 4:22-23 where it  states that the Lord says “That Israel is my firstborn son and I told you let my son go so he may worship me.” Yet another meaning for son is someone who belongs to the same class of being such as the angels. By saying that I don’t mean that the angels are God but they are likewise referred to as the “benei elohim” or the “sons of God”. This word can also be used of the obedient people of Israel as spoken of in Hosea 1:10 where it says “They will be called sons of the living God.”
Lastly the word can denote a title or a specific mission so therefore since Jesus fulfilled the unique role  as the Messiah then He is to be  regarded as the ultimate” Son of God”. In conclusion the terms “son” and “father” can be used in a figurative or metaphorical way as corresponding to the bible contrary to a modern materialistic contemporary view. So regardless of your bias or common usage of these words as a part of your personal cultural expression or vernacular it can be wrongly applied as completely foreign to the ancient biblical worldview.
 
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* Of special note regarding the title and term ‘Son of God’ , it is used in its most unique and supreme sense as a reference to the divinity of Jesus as the Christ in Mathew 28:16-20, John 5:16-27, and Hebrews 1. The Divinity of Jesus and Islam

Jesus the Suffering Servant

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

This portion of Isaiah 52: 13-53:12 as found in the Tanakh does not need a commentary. Many Jewish people have come to believe in Jesus just  through this one source. Actually some Jewish people have never read from this book of the Prophets and when they hear it for the first time they think that Christians developed this passage not realizing that it came from their own Hebrew scriptures.

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous
servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

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The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Is 52:13-53:12

Jews do believe in Jesus

Monday, April 6th, 2009

To say that Jews don’t believe in Jesus is merely a reactionary response without any tangible evidence. We must remember that Jesus Himself was a Jew and His first followers were Jews. The challenging question that was posed among Jesus disciples  was not  whether one could still be a Jew and believe in Him but rather how could one be a Gentile and receive Jesus. In actuality there has always been a believing community of Jews throughout the ages and today it is as large as several hundred thousand. The problem is that many Jews don’t even bother to research the person and work of Jesus and what little understanding they have of Him is often a misunderstanding. Yet many Jewish people that have seriously studied His life have surprisingly received Him. In closing, I would like to lovingly challenge you to solidify a position of belief or unbelief  based on the evidence of objective/subjective truth without relying upon irrational emotional charges.

 

 

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