As I have been journeying back to Torah I have been beginning to see Jesus (Yeshua) His life and purpose, through different "lenses". The church has taught us that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who as His sole purpose - was to deliver us from our sins. Which of course is partially true. But, it is taught also that His basic "role" on earth - was to be the expected and long waited for - Messiah. This belief causes a problem. Read on.
Yesterday I was speaking with a coworker who was asking me what I believed and was I a Jew? And how could I have a picture of Jesus in my office if I was a Jew. She said she was very confused. So, I began to tell her about my spiritual journey as a non-believer, then as a Christian and now as a follower of Yeshua the Rabbi. Interestingly enough, she did not know that Jesus was a Jew! Who do people, secular, Jews and Christians think He really was?
That is why I began to really pray and seek HaShem (Gd) about this several months ago. The question I had was "Who was Yeshua, why did He come?" And trust me I have been begging Gd for answers, for Truth.
This is what I was struggling with. The Jews do not believe Yeshua is the Messiah. Why? If you research this you will find that the main reason is He does not fulfill major prophecies that say He will descend on the Mount of Olives and He will enter the Eastern Gate, to sit on the throne of the Temple and rule forever. That He will restore HaShem's kingdom on earth. Yeshua did not do this, therefore the Jews conclude He is not the Messiah.
That began to really bother me. Why do we call Him the Messiah when He didn't fulfill the role? Yes, He fulfilled many smaller "Messianic prophecies" - but not the huge ones. He obviously is not ruling from Jerusalem right now, the Kingdom on earth has not been restored - so what about that?
I prayed and sought Him. Sought Truth. And this is what I feel like He revealed to me.
Yes, Yeshua is the Mashiach (Messiah) only He made an appearance as The Prophet (and Rabbi). He fulfilled Deuteronomy 18:15 "Yahweh, your Elohim will raise up for you a Prophet like Me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear (shema)." I am convinced Yeshua was that Prophet. Even a "Voice" from heaven confirmed this, Matthew 17:5 "...and suddenly a voice came out of a cloud saying, 'This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear (shema) Him!'"
I believe He was sent in the "role" of the Prophet. To warn, to teach (as a Rabbi), to educate - to save Israel. He knew the Temple was about to come down, and Jews would be dispersed for many hundreds of years. He preached that they must "teshuvah" - repent and turn back to HaShem. That is how much HaShem loves us, He sent the Messiah to turn our hearts. And through all of this, He prophesied His own return as the True Messiah.
Maybe Yeshua HaMashiach has made appearances before. Was He the One who spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden? Was He the One in the burning bush? Who spoke to Moses in the wilderness and handed Him the Torah? The One who spoke and sometimes revealed Himself as "The angel of the Lord (Adonai)"?
So, if this could be true that Yeshua the Messiah came only as the Prophet - then what about His death on the stake and His resurrection from the dead? All true. Yeshua is an "emanation" of the One true Elohim. He only did what HaShem told Him to do. HE came to save His Sheep. His people were not ready to receive Him, they did not recognize Him and they killed Him. Just we have killed many prophets. Matthew 23:37 "'Yerushalyim, Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers the chickens under her wings, but you refused!'"
Yeshua knew He was to be rejected as the Prophet. That He would be killed. He was so loving and gracious that He took His holy blood and took it to the altar in the Temple in Heaven - to "seal" the future New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:33). Through the witness of His Resurrection we are given hope of our future resurrection!
There you go. Simple and basic. Yeshua did not come in the role of the Messiah. He came in the role of the Prophet and teacher. The greatest part is He is returning as the Messiah. The one that the Jews having been praying for. He will descend on the mountain, it will split in two, He will enter in the Eastern Gate, and His glory will fill the Temple. He will restore the Kingdom and teach Torah from the Temple. Jerusalem and the world will experience His true love and shalom peace forever.