Renegade Jew

The Most Magnificent Jew

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

Only someone with a non-functioning brain could examine all the historic, prophetic evidence concerning the Jewish Messiah that's contained in the Bible's Old Testament and not conclude that Jesus Christ is the one that Israel's ancient prophets wrote of. Over 300 specific prophecies that are recorded in the Old Testament speak of Christ and no one else.

For example, Christ's virgin birth was foretold by the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah over 700 years before Christ appeared. (Isaiah 7:14) Christ's Bethlehem birthplace was foretold by the prophet Micah over 500 years before Christ was born (Micah 5:2) and Christ's appearance in Jerusalem and his subsequent crucifixion was foretold by the prophet Daniel over 500 years before Christ appeared. (Daniel 9)

How then, did the Jews not recognize Christ when he appeared? Because they weren't looking for him. Why then, did the Jews adamantly refuse to even consider Christ as their messiah despite the incredible miracles he performed throughout ancient Israel? Because they were warned by the Pharisees, their corrupt religious leaders, not to follow him. What then, happened to those Jews who turned against their religious leaders to follow and worship Christ as their messiah? They were maligned, mocked and ostracized by their leaders as ignorant fools and enemies of God for choosing the itinerant preacher from Galilee over them.

Sadly, modern Jews who choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the Jewish Messiah are treated similarly to their ancestors who put their faith in Him. They are insulted, marginalized, ostracized, mocked, persecuted and sometimes even beaten physically for choosing to believe their prophets over the rabbis. They are labeled as renegade Jews; rebels from Judaism who are considered lower than horse dung for choosing Christ over the religion of the rabbis.

But evidence never lies and the evidence loudly proclaims Jesus Christ as the Jewish Messiah who entered the world 2,000 years ago as a man who subsequently died a violent death on a Roman cross to pay the ultimate price for the sins of mankind that no one else or any religious system could pay for. The prophet Isaiah wrote: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

Indeed. Jesus Christ may be the ultimate renegade Jew to the millions of Jews who still dwell in spiritual darkness. But to those who have considered the evidence and chosen God's truth over religious falsehood, Jesus Christ is the most magnificent Prince of Peace, Lion of Judah, Son of God, Rose of Sharon and the one and only Jewish Messiah who has blessed them with eternal life. Thankfully, many Jews are finally coming to that conclusion and embracing Christ for who he really is--the Jewish Messiah.

And there's something about the faith of a Jewish believer in Christ that's simply incredible. Richard Wurmbrand, a Jew who was one of Christianity's greatest ambassadors to the world during the 20th century, said this when he was asked to express his love for Christ: "I would rather be the poorest man on earth and know Jesus Christ than be the richest man on earth and be going to hell." Now, that's faith--renegade Jewish faith.