What Is Messiah • Messiah of the Jews | What have Christians Overlooked? | Messianic Teachings

The Universal Need and the Revelation of Messiah

Matthew Vander Els opens a teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship by acknowledging the fundamental human desire for community rooted in truth and love, centered around worship of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that this fellowship aims to be more than just a gathering; it is a family and a home. The teaching then shifts to a core question: Does the world need Jesus? The speaker asserts an affirmative answer, drawing from Christian tradition and the New Testament scriptures.

The speaker highlights the bold proclamation of Peter the apostle before the Jewish authorities, as recorded in Acts chapter 4. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), declared that the healing of a sick man was done in the name of Yeshua Hamashiach HaNatzrati, Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom they had crucified but God raised from the dead. This Yeshua is the stone rejected by the builders that has become the chief cornerstone. This transformation in Peter, from fearful denial to courageous declaration, underscores the profound impact of the resurrection.

The teaching delves into a challenging passage from John’s Gospel where Yeshua speaks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood to have eternal life. This “hard teaching” caused many disciples to turn away. However, Peter’s response to Yeshua’s question of whether the twelve also wanted to leave reveals a deep conviction: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We’ve trusted and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” This emphasizes Peter’s unwavering belief in Yeshua as the source of eternal life.

A crucial point raised is that the revelation of Yeshua as the Messiah comes from the Father in heaven. Persuasive arguments or emotional appeals alone cannot bring about this belief; it is God’s work to reveal this truth to prepared hearts. Our role, as believers, is to share the message with those God leads us to. The speaker suggests that the reason some people do not connect with the Gospel message might be because the timing and manner of revelation are God’s prerogative, not our own.

The resurrection of Yeshua is presented as the most compelling evidence of his identity as Messiah and Savior. The disciples’ willingness to face persecution and death for proclaiming his resurrection demonstrates the certainty of their experience of seeing and interacting with the risen Christ. This living testimony has been the foundation of the Christian message for two millennia, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers as Yeshua is known by various names across the world. The speaker shares a personal testimony of a lifelong relationship with Jesus, emphasizing that this relationship goes beyond intellectual understanding and is a living presence in their life.

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The Intertwined Nature of Law, Grace, and Covenant

The teaching then explores the relationship between law (Torah) and grace. While saved by grace through faith, the speaker grappled with Jesus’ statement about fulfilling the law, not abolishing it. Through studying Scripture and consulting others, the speaker came to understand that the Torah, given to Israel through Moses, applies to those who have pledged allegiance to Israel’s Messiah King. This understanding led to the realization that Yeshua, meaning salvation, is the King whose ways are rooted in this Torah.

The speaker discusses the common Christian perspective of Romans 11, which often leads to prayers for the Jewish people to have their eyes opened to Jesus and become Christians. However, a deeper understanding, prompted by the Holy Spirit, revealed the speaker’s own connection with Israel. This leads to the question of what it means to be a New Covenant believer.

The New Covenant, as described in Hebrews (quoting Jeremiah 31), is not like the covenant made in Egypt. In this new covenant, God promises to put his Torah into the minds and hearts of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, and all will know Him. Jeremiah’s prophecy emphasizes God’s enduring commitment to Israel as a nation. This challenged the speaker’s previous understanding and highlighted that the New Covenant, initiated by Jesus’ blood, was a renewal of God’s covenant with Israel. By following Israel’s Messiah King, believers become part of this covenant, intimately associated with Israel.

Application for Everyday Life

• Cultivate a deeper understanding of your faith: Don’t rely solely on surface-level knowledge but delve into the scriptures and seek a more comprehensive understanding of God’s Word.
• Recognize the Father’s role in spiritual revelation: Understand that belief in Jesus as the Messiah is ultimately a work of God’s grace and revelation, and our role is to share the message faithfully.
• Appreciate the Jewish roots of Christianity: Acknowledge and learn from the Jewish heritage of Jesus and the early disciples, recognizing the ongoing covenant relationship between God and Israel.
• Seek reconciliation and understanding with the Jewish people: Be aware of the history of Christian persecution of Jews and actively work towards building bridges of respect and understanding.
• Live righteously in anticipation of the Messianic Age: Strive to live according to God’s principles, understanding that our actions contribute to preparing for the future reign of Messiah.
• Engage in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem and the revelation of Messiah to all: Pray for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in Israel and for all people to come to know the Messiah.
• Support ministries that promote understanding and reconciliation between Christians and Jews: Consider partnering with organizations that work towards these goals.
• Look for the fulfillment of biblical prophecies in current events: Be attentive to how God might be working in the world today in light of scriptural promises.
• Foster unity among believers from different backgrounds: Recognize the importance of working together across traditional divides to advance the Kingdom of God.
• Examine your own understanding of Messiah and His Kingdom: Go beyond basic concepts of personal salvation and seek a more comprehensive view of Messiah’s role and the nature of His future reign.

References

Bible Verses:

• Acts 4: https://biblehub.com/acts/4.htm
• John 6: https://biblehub.com/john/6.htm
• Matthew 16: https://biblehub.com/matthew/16.htm
• Romans 11: https://biblehub.com/romans/11.htm

Books and Resources Mentioned:

• The List, Persecution of Jews by Christians Throughout History by Bob O’Dell and Ray Montgomery: Amazon Link
• The List 2020, Anti-Semitic Incidents Worldwide edited by Gidon Ariel: Amazon Link