WiseReader

Is Yeshua the Prophesied Messiah of the Hebrew Bible?
Dan Kane
WinePress Publishing, 2009
ISBN: 1-60615-003-0 

Having spent eight years working with New Covenant Forum, Canada’s oldest continuing evangelical outreach to Toronto’s Jewish community, I’ve developed an abiding interest in the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and in learning how to effectively share my faith with Jewish people.

A few months ago I received a copy of Dan Kane’s book, Is Yeshua the Prophesied Messiah of the Hebrew Bible? The theme is not new, of course. Many Bible scholars, teachers and evangelists have explored this topic, and our book shelves are sagging with works about the messianic credentials of Jesus Christ.

This book is interesting because it is not written by a formally-trained theologian, nor by one who has invested a life-time in Jewish outreach. Kane, with earned degrees in science and engineering, has worked in the nuclear industry, specifically concerned with disposal of radioactive waste.

Raised a Roman Catholic, Kane did not really give religion that much interest until in his mid forties. He came to faith as an adult, and now lives in Nevada where he is an Adult Bible study leader in his local Baptist church.

The author introduces the book by recounting a variety of ways groups view Jesus, particularly Catholics, liberal Protestants, Mormons, Muslims and Jews. Following that, Kane lays out how he approached his research into whether or not Jesus was the Messiah prophesied about by the ancient Hebrew prophets.

He begins with the New Testament record of Jesus, discovering that the Biblical account differs in many ways from the popular views of the churches and groups mentioned above.

Following his New Testament research, Kane examines the Old Testament writings, including a look at the Talmud - Jewish oral tradition. Comparing what he found in the Old Testament and Talmud with what he had discovered from his New Testament research, Kane concludes that Yeshua (the Jewish way to say Jesus) is indeed the promised Messiah of the Hebrew Bible.

Kane has diligently searched the Bible and Jewish literature in presenting his study of the messianic credentials of Jesus. And while much of his material will be familiar to mature believers, he has provided fascinating insight into Jewish history and Jewish thinking about Jesus. Not everyone will agree with all of Kane’s conclusions, but he has given readers much to think about.

Every author writes with a particular audience in view, but at times I found myself questioning who Kane’s intended audience was.

For example, in the Introduction, Kane writes: “Because of the awe and respect many have for the ineffable Name of HaShem, I have chosen to use hyphens with spelling G-d and L-RD” (p.X). Though, to my knowledge, this only concerns observant, orthodox Jews (a minority within their community), it seems that his concern to follow this Jewish custom signifies an intended Jewish readership. However, the vast majority of Jews have no concern at all about this convention. In fact, many Jewish versions of the Bible do not follow this convention at all. So perhaps Kane wants to provide Christians with a Jewish-flavored study of their Lord and Savior.

Further, choosing to refer to Jesus in a variety of ways - Mashiach (Hebrew for Messiah), Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus), L-RD and G-D - lends credence to thinking the intended audience is Jewish, since these are not terms used by the Christian community at large. The same can be said for his decision to use HaShem (the Name), Elohim and Yah as names for God.

Even with a discernible Jewish flavor, Kane’s frequent challenge of Roman Catholic, and liberal Protestant theology leads me to think that the audience in view is mainly conservative Christians. Whatever the case, evangelical Christians find a good level of information and teaching to encourage them in their Christian lives.

Kane is prone to overstating his case, as I feel he does in the following examples:

“…most denominations teach that one cannot know if he is saved!” (p.66)

“The Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant Churches believe he was speaking literally when he discussed eating his flesh and drinking his blood…” (p.73)

“Judas’s remorse was that his plan failed to force Jesus’ hand.” (p.79)

Regarding his study of Jesus, Kane says he discovered that Jesus was different from “the one taught by Catholics and most Protestant Churches and their derivatives.” (p.X)

When commenting upon Jesus refusing the vinegar and gall, Kane asserts that “This lends support to the notion that he and the others drank unfermented wine (grape juice) just a few hours earlier at their last supper together.” (p.87)

Kane’s dispensationalist theology comes through repeatedly, and while I have no objection to that personally, I do find that, like many dispensationalists, Kane tends to place heresy and doctrinal views held by evangelical Christians in the same category, labeling them as false doctrine. For example, the Roman Catholic view of justification, rightly viewed as false, is equated with so-called “replacement theology” (e.g. the church has replaced Israel as the people of God), both being seen as heresies to refute. One may legitimately disagree with the view that the church replaces Israel as the chosen people of God, it hardly warrants equating this with subverting the gospel message.

These criticisms noted, I still recommend Kane’s book for Christians seeking a popular treatment of messianic prophecy and a Jewish history of reaction to Jesus.

A version of this review first appeared in ChristianWeek.

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“Is Woody Allen a Jew?” Coming on the heels of a lengthy conversation where my rabbi-friend had argued that Jews believing in Jesus were no longer Jews, my question was framed in light of his equating Jewishness with adherence to Judaism.

“Of course he is”, my friend replied. “Why would you ask?”

“How could he be a Jew?” I exclaimed. “You are an orthodox rabbi and he is, as far as I can tell, a secular Jew. He is everything you are not! How can you say a secular Jew, who apparently believes little about traditional Judaism is still deemed Jewish, but a Jew believing in Jesus and seeking to live a godly life is not Jewish?”

Undaunted, my friend countered, “Woody Allen is an uninformed Jew.”

“Following that logic,” I said, “every Jewish person believing in Jesus is simply an ‘uniformed Jew,’ but he or she is nevertheless still Jewish.”

“No,” my rabbi-friend countered. “A Jew who believes in Jesus makes a conscious decision to become an idolater, because Jesus claims to be God and there is only one God.”

I have had many conversations with my friend since that day, and invariably our conversations revolve around a familiar set of Jewish objections to Jesus and the Christian faith. Because my main vocation is leading an evangelistic, discipling ministry in Toronto’s Jewish community, I am always in the hunt for good resources to assist me in answering those objections.

One of the best resources I have found is the multi-volume work Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus (BakerBooks, Vols. 1 & 2 - 2000; Vol. 3 - 2003; Vol. 4 - 2006) by Michael L. Brown. Described by Barry Leventhal (Academic Dean & Professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary) as the “foremost messianic apologist in the world,” Brown is an able defender of the Messianic Jewish/Christian faith.

With a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University, Brown, a Jewish believer in Jesus, has been a visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Fuller Theological Seminary. He has authored more than 15 books and contributed to the Oxford Dictionary of Jewish Religion. Currently Dr. Brown serves as president of the FIRE School of Ministry. Having appeared in numerous public debates with Jewish leaders, Brown is well-qualified to answer the objections his fellow Jews raise against Christianity.

In volume one Brown addresses 35 objections of a general and historical nature. He responds to such statements as “I was born a Jew and I will die a Jew”; “I won’t betray my ancestors”; and “If Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, why isn’t there peace on earth?” At the heart of these sorts of objections is the sentiment that “Jesus is not for Jews,” that Jesus cannot be the Messiah since we are not living in the Messianic Age.

His second volume deals with 28 theological objections to Jesus. Among the doctrines discussed are such matters as the Trinity, the Deity of Jesus, the concept of a suffering Messiah and the continuity/discontinuity of the law. Brown believes these objections are among the most serious, cutting to the very heart of what divides Messianic Jewish/Christian faith from traditional Judaism. Underlying objections of this kind is the opinion that the New Testament portrays a foreign religion, a religion unfaithful to the Hebrew Scriptures.

Brown tackles 39 Jewish objections to Jesus as the fulfiller of OT messianic prophecies in volume three. Accusing Christians of mistranslation, misquotation or taking verses out of context, Jewish objections in this area relate to the belief that Jesus did not live up to the Biblical description of Messiah.

In volume four, Brown answers 34 objections raised against the veracity of the New Testament. Those objections revolve around claims that the New Testament is historically inaccurate, that the Gospels portray a mythical Jesus who was a false prophet.

Throughout each volume, Brown follows a consistent format: concisely stating an objection, presenting a clear answer, supporting his response with appropriate citations, both Biblical and extra-biblical, and giving attention to possible objections leveled at his answers.

Brown writes for three groups: Christians interested in sharing their faith sensitively with Jewish people; Jewish believers who are being confused by the growing stridency of Jewish anti-missionary organizations; and for Jews of every background who do not believe that Jesus is Israel’s promised Messiah.

A careful reading of these volumes will reveal that many Jewish objections to Jesus are rooted in misconceptions about Christianity - misconceptions born and cultivated in the soil of a “gentilized” Christian faith disconnected from its Jewish roots. As Brown convincingly demonstrates, Christianity is a lot more Jewish than you think.

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You can purchase these books from Christianbook.com by clicking on the title below.

Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, 4 Volumes
By Michael L. Brown / Baker

When Christians share their faith with Hebrew friends and family, difficult questions often arise. Combining scholarship, spiritual seriousness, and an engaging style, Jewish believer Brown offers fair and comprehensive answers to more than 100 general, historical, and theological queries regarding New Testament teachings, the Messiah, Old Testament prophecies, and more. Thoroughly documented and footnoted. 250–350 pages each, four softcovers from Baker.

What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus?
Michael L. Brown
Chosen Books, 2007
ISBN: 0800794265
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Michael Brown, a Jewish believer in Jesus, is a leading apologist for the Christian faith, especially as it relates to the Jewish community. He has authored over 18 books on holiness, spiritual renewal and revival, discipleship and Jewish apologetics, along with academically-oriented works in Old Testament and Hebrew studies. His multivolume Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus (Baker Book House) is one of the best treatments I have seen on that particular subject. It is a substantial resource for anyone involved with ministry among Jewish people. Watch this space for a short review of this series.

At a much more popular level, and therefore of greater interest to Christians generally, is Brown’s What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus? In this highly accessible book, Brown tackles more than fifty questions Christians often have about the Jewish people. This is an useful handbook, and because of the way it has been assembled, one does not need to read through the book, but can peruse the Table of Contents to find the answers to many of the most often asked questions about Jews, Judaism, Israel and the Jewish view of Jesus and Christians.

The book is organized under four major headings:

Part 1 - Judaism and Jewish Practice
Part 2 - The Jewish People and Jewish History
Part 3 - Rabbi Yeshua and the Jewish Background to the New Testament
Part 4 - Contemporary Christians, the Law of Moses and the State of Israel

Within each section, Brown poses commonly asked questions. Here is a sampling of questions addressed in the book.

What is Hasidic Judaism?
What is Oral Law?
What are the main differences between Judaism and Christianity?
What do Jewish people think about Jesus?
Do Jews refer to God by the name of Jehovah?
Why do traditional Jews have separate dishes in their kitchen for meat products and dairy products?
What is the origin of the term Jew and can Jews today really trace their lineage back to the Jewish people of the Bible?
Why have Jewish people been so hated and persecuted through the centuries?
Do contemporary Jews want to rebuild the Temple?
Should all Jews move back to Israel?
What does it mean to “restore the Jewish roots” of the Christian faith?
Did Jesus abolish the Law?
Should Christians keep the Law?
Should Christians observe the Sabbath on Saturday?
What is the difference between Passover and Easter?
Should Christians unconditionally support the nation of Israel?
Did God make a special way for Jews to be saved without believing in Jesus?

While it would be naive to think readers will agree with every answer Brown provides, they will nevertheless find his sometimes surprising, but always instructive, responses reasonably extensive. Whatever your personal view on some areas of theology, you will find Michael Brown to be a solid advocate for the essential, bedrock doctrines of the Christian faith.

With substantial upheaval within the Messianic community - some Messianic leaders are questioning doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, and even the necessity for Jewish people to consciously believe in Jesus - Christians should be grateful for the solid work of Jewish believers like Michael Brown. I highly recommend this book.
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This book can be purchased through ChristianBook.com by clicking on the image or title below.

What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus?
By Michael L. Brown / Chosen