One of the easiest things to understand in the Bible is that which concerns the Israel and the Jewish people. If a person would simply read their own Bible which would include the entire New Testament they would come to an understanding as the Spirit of truth directs them. This week tens of thousands of Jewish people gathered at the NY Giants Met-Life Stadium in Rutherford New Jersey, and other arenas throughout the country to celebrate many years of daily study of the Jewish Talmud. The NY Times reported the following:
“Nearly 90,000 Orthodox Jews bowed their heads in communal prayer at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday night to open what rabbis hailed as the largest celebration of Jewish learning since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. [NY Times Article By Sharon Otterman, August 1, 2012]
It is important to note here, that the Jewish Orthodox people (and most other Jewish people) do not believe that Jesus is the true, and promised Christ (Messiah). The Bible makes it very clear that there is a spiritual veil which remains upon their hearts which can only be removed, when they turn to Jesus Christ. Listen to these powerful words from the Jewish apostle Paul, a man who had that same spiritual veil removed when he turned to Jesus Christ.
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:14-16)
The Jewish apostle Paul knew what it was like to be in such deception, and he was very grieved because he knew that those who die without faith in Jesus Christ, would be lost (in Hell) forever. That is why Paul wrote the following words:
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (Romans 9:3-6)
The Jewish apostle Paul knew that Jesus was in fact the true Christ (Messiah) and the one who was promised to come in the flesh (physical). Paul had such a love for for his fellow Jews that he wished himself accursed, so that his fellow Jews might be saved! So here we are two thousand years later, and nothing has really changed much at all. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus Christ was the promised seed (descendant) of David who would sit on his throne, and that took place when Jesus Christ rose from the dead!
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:21-22)
The scriptures promised his own people (Israel) that God would raise up a Saviour unto them and that he would be a descendant of David, and that man was Jesus Christ.
Of this man’s [David's] seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: (Acts 13:23)
This is not something that is going to take place in the future, but it is something that has already taken place two thousand years ago. To reject Jesus Christ is to reject salvation. Why? Because Jesus Christ was the only sinless man to ever walk this earth, and because he was the promised passover “Lamb of God” who could, and would, atone for our sins. (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Isaiah 53:1-12) The very proof that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, was his resurrection from the dead. The only hope for Jew or Gentile is to put your faith in the one who rose from the dead, the one who atoned for our stinking sins with his precious blood. (Romans 5:6-9)
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. (Acts 13:24-25)
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ, and he knew that there was coming a person whose sandals he was not even worthy to untie!
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: (Acts 13:27-30)
It is so sad that the tens of thousands of Jewish people gathered at Met-Life stadium do not recognize that the very scriptures which they possess, speak of the Messiah Jesus whom they reject! They “knew him not” (that’s Jesus) nor the voices of the prophets (in their own Jewish scriptures), and thus they fulfilled those same scriptures when they desired that he be slain. God always has the last word, and he raised his Son Jesus the Messiah from the dead. Jesus knew that the Old Testament scriptures which included the books of Moses and the prophets, testified and spoke about him, but they were still adamant in their rejection of him. He offered them eternal life, but they refused it then, and most refuse it now!
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:37-40)
The offer is still open to ALL people (Jewish or Gentile) who desire to be saved.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own [the Jewish people], and his own [the Jewish people] received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:10-14)
The Jewish apostle Paul put it this way:
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks (Gentiles), repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)