Why I Still Believe in Jesus as the Messiah

These days, there are many unsaved people called "anti-missionaries" who are out there to deceive us into thinking that Jesus was never the Messiah! People, we need to defend the Christian faith. So, I wrote a sketch that should help protect us against the convincing lies of the anti-missionaries (and the devil). Doctor Daniel and Rabbi Cohen This story is a discussion between two fictional characters. One is a Jewish person who knows that Jesus IS the Messiah. The other is an Orthodox rabbi and, of course, an anti-missionary. Doctor Daniel : Jesus, whose Hebrew name is Yeshua, died for our sins. That is, the sins of His people. Rabbi Cohen : He can’t be, because the Jewish Bible rejects the idea of any innocent person dying in place of a guilty person. Let’s see the following verses – Exodus 32:32-33, Deuteronomy 24:16, Ezekiel 18:1-4.Doctor Daniel : In Exodus 32:32-33, God didn’t let Moses die for the sin of his people, because Moses was not the Messiah. Besides, God had a different plan for him. Also, it just wasn’t time for Moses to die just yet.Rabbi Cohen : Now what about Deuteronomy 24:16, which reads that“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin." Doctor Daniel : It doesn't say "and not the sins of any others." And it doesn't say "any innocent person shall not be put to death for the guilty." It only talks about fathers and sons. In other words, it just means you can't punish the family of a criminal. Rabbi Cohen : Nice try, and I see your point. But look at what Ezekiel 18:1-4 says.Doctor Daniel (quietly reads the passage) : What does this passage in Ezekiel have to do with sacrificing one’s life for another?Rabbi Cohen : Any Biblical sacrifice is never enough to make atonement for our sins. Proverbs 15:8, Isaiah 1:11-16, Amos 5:22-24, and Micah 6:6-8. Doctor Daniel : Proverbs 15:8 talks about the sacrifice of the wicked. The Messiah is never a wicked person. As for Isaiah 1:11-16, Amos 5:22-24, and Micah 6:6-8, I agree, because the people were living in sin. Their hearts were not in the right place. Sacrifice is not enough without repentance. Look at the account of Cain and Abel. God wants worship from the heart, not superficial stuff. It is not enough to believe that the Messiah died for your sins, you also have to repent from them. Then, and only then, can there be an atonement for your sin.Rabbi Cohen : I know where you’re going with this, but the Jewish Bible strictly forbids any sort of human sacrifice. Let’s see Genesis 22:10-13, Leviticus 18:21, and Deuteronomy 18:10. That will prove it!Doctor Daniel (reads them and pauses) : Where does it say that God provided the ram because human sacrifice was forbidden? In the beginning of that chapter, God Himself asks Abraham for his only son Isaac to give as a burnt offering. That is unquestionably a human sacrifice. Yes, a human sacrifice.Rabbi Cohen : Oy vey! You are one hard nut to crack! Now, let’s get cracking with those other two verses.Doctor Daniel : My pleasure. So, Leviticus 18:21 is about walking through fire, as a way of worshipping and trusting in evil spirits or pagan gods. Look at how people who practice pagan religions walk on coals of fire. That’s fire-walking, not sacrificing. Even when you look at Deuteronomy 18:10, making your children "pass through the fire" is not "leading like a lamb to the slaughter", which is in the book of Isaiah. Was Abraham going to make Isaac pass through a fire? No, he was going to slaughter him with a knife. Rabbi Cohen (scratches his head) : Daniel, my friend, you have given me so much to think about. All these things you just told me…..It makes me wonder. We may have been missing out on what the Messianic believers have been trying to tell us for the past 2,000 years! I smell the messiahship of Jesus!!!Doctor Daniel (big smile) : Flesh and blood didn’t reveal that to us. Hallelujah!!! Rabbi Cohen (yawns) : Well, it’s getting late. And I’m so sleepy, all of a sudden.Doctor Daniel (checks his wristwatch) : Yeah, me too. At any rate, it was nice talking to you.Rabbi Cohen (shakes Daniels’ hand) : Likewise. Oh, and thanks for showing me what you have learned.Doctor Daniel : Anytime, my friend, anytime. So, have a good night. And may the Lord be with you until we meet again.Rabbi Cohen : And also with you. Good night. (Doctor Daniel leaves.)THE END