Go! And Recognise Jesus the Jewish Messiah
Jesus was born Jewish—not by accident, but by divine design. To understand who Jesus is, we must see Him in the context of God’s covenant with Israel and His fulfilment of Jewish prophecy. Jesus is not merely the founder of Christianity; He is the promised Messiah of the Jews who came to save the whole world.
Romans 1:3–4 (NLT): "The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord."
1. Jesus Was Born Jewish by God’s Sovereign Plan
Matthew 2:1 (NLT): "Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod..."
Jesus was born into a Jewish world. He was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21), presented in the temple (Luke 2:22–24), and raised according to the Jewish law.
God chose Abraham and his descendants to bless all nations (Genesis 12:3). Jesus, the descendant of Abraham and David, is the fulfilment of that promise.
Genesis 12:3 (NLT): "I will bless those who bless you... All the families on earth will be blessed through you."
In Romans 1:3, the Greek word for "descendant" is genomenos (?e??µe???), meaning "having come into being"—He entered into Jewish humanity.
Tim Keller: "Jesus was not a Christian; He was a Jew. The Gospel is the climax of the Jewish story."
Keller reminds us that our faith is not detached from history. It is rooted in the story of Israel.
2. Jesus Fulfilled Jewish Prophecy
Micah 5:2 (NLT): "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village... yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf."
Isaiah 7:14 (NLT): "The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel..."
The Jewish prophets spoke of a coming Messiah—born of a virgin, in Bethlehem, from David’s line. Jesus fulfilled them all.
Charles Stanley: "Jesus was a Jew and the Messiah, fulfilling every Old Testament prophecy with divine precision."
Prophecy is God’s fingerprint on history. Jesus is the promised one.
3. Jesus Lived and Taught as a Jew
Matthew 5:17 (NLT): "Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses... No, I came to accomplish their purpose."
Jesus honoured the Torah, taught in synagogues, observed Passover, and celebrated the Jewish feasts.
The word for "law" is Torah, which also means "instruction." Jesus came not to destroy it, but to fulfil it—pleroo (Greek: p?????)—to bring it to completion.
Jesus' Jewish identity matters because it proves God is faithful to His promises. If He fulfilled prophecy then, He will keep His promises now.
John Piper: "Christianity is not a new religion—it is the fulfilment of everything the Old Testament pointed to."
4. Jesus Died and Rose to Save Jews and Gentiles Alike
John 1:11–12 (NLT): "He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God."
Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, was rejected by many but accepted by some. Through Him, salvation is offered to all.
Romans 11:25 (NLT): "Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ."
God has not rejected Israel. One day, many Jews will recognise Jesus as Messiah.
Romans 10:13 (NLT): "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Max Lucado: "The Gospel came through the Jews to reach the world. Jesus is the bridge between the covenant and the cross."
Lucado beautifully highlights that Jesus didn’t discard Judaism; He fulfilled it to extend grace to the world.
5. Gospel Presentation: From Jewish Messiah to Saviour of the World
Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah:
Lived a sinless life.
Died on the cross as the Lamb of God.
Was buried and rose again on the third day.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT): "God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God."
The Gospel is good news for Jew and Gentile alike:
Romans 1:16 (NLT): "For the Jew first and also for the Gentile."
The Jewish Doorframe and the Lamb's Blood
At Passover, Jewish families painted lamb’s blood on their doorframes. Today, the blood of Jesus—the perfect Lamb—covers the hearts of all who believe, both Jew and Gentile.
The Family Tree
Imagine adopting a child into your family. That child gains a new identity, heritage, and name. Likewise, we are adopted into God’s family, grafted into Israel’s promise through Jesus.
Call to Action:
Honour Jesus' Jewish identity. It proves God’s faithfulness.
Read the Old Testament with eyes for Christ.
Share the Gospel with Jews and Gentiles alike.
Worship the Messiah who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets.
Invitation to Salvation:
Friend, the Jewish Messiah came not only for the Jews, but for you.Have you trusted Him as Saviour and Lord?
Acts 3:19 (NLT): "Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."
Pray:
"Lord Jesus, I believe You are the promised Messiah. Forgive my sins. I believe You died and rose again. I trust You as my Lord and Saviour. Amen."
Benediction:
May the Lord who fulfilled His promises through Abraham, who kept His covenant through David, and who brought salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, bless you and keep you. May you go and recognise the Jewish Messiah as your Redeemer and King.
Go! And Recognise the Jewish Messiah!
