Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections-Volume Three
Overview
“The Torah doesn't speak of Jesus at all.” “You're completely misinterpreting Isaiah. This verse has absolutely nothing to do with your Jesus. It’s not even a messianic prophecy.” “As for the real messianic prophecies, Jesus fulfilled none of them.” These are some objections raised by Jews regarding Jesus as the Messiah. Using the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic texts, and the New Testament, Dr. Brown provides thorough answers to nearly forty such objections. This volume looks specifically at questions raised about messianic prophecies in Isaiah, Daniel, Psalms, Haggai, and Zechariah. It’s an invaluable resource for seekers and for anyone wanting to point students of the Torah to Jesus.
To answer objections based on messianic prophecy it is necessary to look at the Hebrew Scriptures and discover that the Messiah’s mission was both priestly, which involves atonement for sins, and kingly. Scripture points to a two-fold coming of the Messiah. The first arrival was to be accomplished before the Second Temple was destroyed (which happened in AD 70). This involved Jesus’ priestly arrival, when He would be the sacrificial Lamb. Scripture also points to a royal or kingly Messiahship, which Jesus will fulfill when He returns again to establish His sovereignty on a new heaven and earth.
Top Highlights
“All this points to the fact that a birth of great importance was being announced by the prophet, especially for David’s house. It was God’s answer to the attack on the Davidic dynasty, and it was meant as a demonstration of his power and reality.” (Page 25)
“Isaiah 52:13–53:12 is one of the most important Messianic prophecies in the entire Hebrew Bible, and I would not be exaggerating to say that more Jews have put their faith in Jesus as Messiah after reading this passage of Scripture than after reading any other passage in the Tanakh. To the unbiased reader, it clearly speaks about the death and resurrection of the righteous servant of the Lord on behalf of his sinful people.” (Page 41)
“According to Isaiah 52:13–15, the servant of the Lord would not only suffer terrible disfigurement and suffering but would then be highly exalted, to the point that kings would stand in awe of him and bow down to him. While this applies perfectly to Jesus the Messiah, who is adored and venerated by kings and leaders around the world, no such exaltation has taken place for our people Israel.” (Page 51)
“Isaac’s willingness to be sacrificed illustrates the Messiah’s obedience, even to the point of death.” (Page 4)
“Isaac’s return from virtual death prefigures the Messiah’s return from literal death.” (Page 5)
This is a wonderful resource for study of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.
—Darrell Bock, Research Professor, New Testament Studies; Professor, Spiritual Development and Culture, Dallas Theological Seminary
There is no other contemporary resource like this, and it will no doubt be useful in countering not just Jewish objections but the objections of so many other skeptics and naysayers of the New Testament.
—David Brickner, Executive Director, Jews for Jesus
Brown’s answers to objections are carefully thought out, honest, and well researched. His work provides a useful model on how to do apologetics for all who are interested in articulating and defending the Christian faith.
—Craig Keener, Professor, New Testament Studies, Palmer Theological Seminary, Eastern University
Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, by Michael Brown, is must reading for everyone who desires to be better “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1Peter 3:15). Michael is thorough in his responses to “typical” objections to the Messiahship of Yeshua, yet, his style of writing makes these responses easy to understand. Much insight is to be gained as a result of Michael dealing with issues such as “Christian anti-Semitism”. I also appreciated his views on the Holocaust (not an easy issue to deal with).
—Messianic Rabbi Noach Zaner
- Title: Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections-Volume Three
- Author: Michael L. Brown
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2003
- Pages: 255