MESSIAH IN THE TORAH - FROM A HEBRAIC ROOTS PERSPECTIVE

Our belief in Yeshua as Moshiach is based upon the writings of Jews. Modern Christianity has forgotten their Jewish roots and created a religion far from the original intention. Christianity is supposed to be much more Jewish than it is. In fact, in the B’rit Hadassah, we are considered a part of the Commonwealth of Israel, grafted in. (Ephesians 2.11-3.6) From a Hebraic Roots Christian perspective, then, Yeshua becomes our great prophet, greater than Moshe. Yeshua fulfills the Torah in his life and in his death.


The Israelites were told of one to come (Messiah) by Moshe himself:For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. Deut 18.1

Moses is told that the coming prophet is the one they shall hear. We believe that is Yeshua.


ALSO IN THE TORAH:
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh (Peace-bringer) come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Gen 49.10

 
B’RIT HADASSAH - NEW TESTAMENT
Then in the B’rit Hadassah after Yeshua fed the multitude (John 6.11-13) the gospel reports:

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” John 6.14 They were referring to Deut 18.14-18 and Gen 49.10

YESHUA CONSIDERED A PROPHET:

"And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet." Matthew 14:5

"And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Matthew 21:11

"But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet." Matthew 21:46

"And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:" Luke 24:19

Even the Samaritan women who met Jesus at the well recognized that He was the prophet who was to come.

"The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet."  John 4.19

We have Jesus taking the words of the preeminent Old Covenant prophet, Moses, and raising the bar on each of the statements below. Jesus is here giving notice that he is that prophet that is greater than Moses. So every word of Christ is to us in the New Covenant, the word of our great prophet:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time"
At least five times Jesus began his point by stating what has been said, and each time it is a clear reference to what Moses said in his role as prophet. He then went on to elaborate on each of the stated subjects beginning with the phrase:

"But I say unto you."
Included in his teachings, and raising the bar, were the themes:

---Thou shalt not kill (Moses) / Don't be angry with your brother (Jesus)

---Thou shalt not commit Adultery (Moses) / Look not on a women in lust (Jesus)

---Divorce must give a writing of divorcement (Moses) / No divorce except for adultery (Jesus)

---If you swear an oath-perform it (Moses) / Don't swear oaths, let your yea be yea and your nay be nay (Jesus)

---An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth (Moses) / Resist evil-turn the other cheek (Jesus)

We see Yeshua as Moshiach (Messiah). In Jewish tradition the Moshiach may or may not be divine. We believe he is divine and will be coming again as King of King and Lord of Lords to rule the earth in righteousness. The Jewish Gospels so instruct.