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Dear friend, b’shalom. Your people were called by G-d to be a
kingdom of priests and holy nation (Exodus 19:6), his witnesses to
the nations (Isaiah 43:10), a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:6)
and a blessing to the whole world (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). The
evidence that G-d has a special plan for your nation is evident
throughout the Tanach,. G-d has committed Himself to be involved in
the history and life of this nation. G-d has bound Himself to your
nation with an everlasting covenant He made with your fathers
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Whether you are aware of it or not, G-d is
has been involved with this nation since its creation and will
continue to be involved until the day when all the promises He made
to you through the prophets will be fulfilled. The most important
promise G-d made is the coming of the Messiah, to save mankind from
his sin.
God’s Plan of Salvation
Let us go all the way back to Genesis chapter 3, where we learn
about the disobedience and fall of man. After Adam and Eve sinned,
G-d gave the first promise of the Messiah while cursing the snake,
(Genesis 3:14-15). Then he killed an animal and made for them
"garments of skins" (Genesis. 3:21). Adam and Eve’s own method of
covering themselves with fig leaves was not sufficient. Man cannot
cover himself. G-d must provide the covering. In order to make them
garments of skins, G-d had to slay an innocent animal or animals.
G-d here, among other things, was teaching that innocent blood had
to be shed for the atoning of sin. G-d’s plan of salvation involves
the death of an innocent substitute. Sin deserves and demands
judgment and death. An animal was killed instead of Adam and Eve.
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to
you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood
that makes atonement for one's life” Leviticus 17:11
All of these offerings and sacrifices were a picture of G-d’s
provision for man’s salvation. G-d was giving the children of Israel
a picture of the sinless Substitute who would someday come.
G-d’s Promise of a Savior
The nation of Israel holds G-d’s promises of the coming Messiah. He
had to be a descendant of Abraham. G-d told Abraham that by him all
the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis. 12:3). Since
all people on earth are sinners (Psalm 14:2-3), all people deserve
G-d’s curse, not G-d’s blessing. Only those who have been saved from
their sins can be blessed of G-d (Psalms 32). As a result the
promise of blessing for the families of the earth must include
salvation for the families of the earth and this salvation would
come through the seed of Abraham. The Messiah must be of the line of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and from the line of Judah according to
Psalms 2.
In Isaiah 11:1 we learn that the Messiah, G-d’s great King, must
come from Jesse, therefore from the line of David (Jesse was David's
father). The covenant G-d made with David (2 Samuel 7) confirms that
this great King must come from the line of King David. He was to be
born in Bethlehem of Ephrat (Micah 5:2), of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).
In Isaiah 9:5 (9:6 in most English versions) the male child who is
born is called the "the Mighty God" and "peaceable ruler." He will
trace His human descent from David. To summarize his birth: It must
be in Bethlehem of Judah. It must be a miracle birth, by way of a
virgin. The One born will be "the Mighty God" but will trace His
human lineage through David.
The Death of Messiah
Does the Messiah have to die? The “seed of the woman” mentioned in
Genesis Three is the first prophesy that Messiah was to die." The
seed of the woman will have his heel bruised. This implies that the
Messiah must suffer.
My friend, it is understood understand that some orthodox Jews teach
that chapter 9 is a passage which today many are told not to read.
The reason is because of verse 26. There we are told that the
Messiah will be CUT OFF. He is not cut off for any crime which He
had done, but He is cut off for the sake of others. He died, not for
Himself, but for others, as their Substitute. This is why the common
English version says, "Messiah will be cut off, but not for
Himself." A careful study of this amazing prophesy, will even show
us when the Messiah was to suffer a violent death. But why did he
have to die? I know that this concept might trouble you, but the
Isaiah 53 tells us why. When He was to come, Messiah was to be
despised and rejected, hated and be put to death.
Dear friend, the Jews did not kill the Messiah; according to the
prophet it was G-d himself. Yes, the Messiah was smitten by G-d. A
holy G-d must judge sin and punish sin. When the Messiah took our
sins upon Himself, He was judged and punished by G-d. We are the
ones who should have been punished, but He was punished in our
place. He died as our Substitute, as our perfect Sacrifice. He took
upon Himself the punishment we deserved. He was judged in our place.
We are the guilty ones who deserve death, but He died instead of us.
The Tanach teaches that we are all sinners and there is no one that
does good (Psalm 14:3). We are all condemned to die. But the good
news is that Yeshua died for ALL of us. We are all guilty, but He
bore the guilt of us all. All of our sins were laid on the Messiah.
He who was sinless, was treated as a sinner for us. As our
Substitute He took our sins upon Himself.
He did not die for a few, He died for the many. The One died for
all. He poured out His soul unto death. He bore our guilt and was
punished for our sins. Sin demands death (see Gen. 2:17 in the Torah
and Ezek. 18:4). Yeshua died instead of us and paid the death
penalty in full. The LORD, who is the righteous Judge of all the
earth, is now completely satisfied that sin’s penalty has been paid.
Because of what the Messiah did for us, the LORD is able to provide
for us complete forgiveness of sins: "For I will forgive their
iniquities and remember their sins no more" (Jeremiah 31:34 and see
Psalm 103:10-12).
What Must You Do?
Believe, my friend, believe. Believe all that is written in the
Tanach, all that G-d told us about the Messiah. Do not harden your
heart to what is written. Put your faith in Yeshua for the
forgiveness of your sins. Remember, you are one of the chosen ones.
You can reign with Messiah after He returns to vindicate your nation
and deliver you from all of your enemies with His great might and
power. Just say, “Yeshua, I need You to save me from my sins. I
believe you died for my sins. Forgive me for my rebellion. Help me
to understand who you are. Give me eternal life so I can reign with
you and serve you in your holy temple on our beloved Mount Zion,
amen”.
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