Questions Jews Ask

Response 02: Did Jesus Fail the Tanach's Messianic Criteria?

Outreach Judaism's Argument

Outreach Judaism's argument about the Christian Messiah is that the Messiah must bring visible, historical redemption: world peace, universal knowledge of God, restored Israel, resurrection, Torah obedience, and the final redemption described in passages such as Ezekiel 37. Since Jesus did not complete these tasks, the Christian appeal to a second coming is considered an after-the-fact explanation for failure.

Christian Response

The Christian answer is that the Hebrew Bible itself contains both triumphant and suffering patterns, both present and future dimensions of redemption, and a sequence in which atonement and restoration are not collapsed into one undifferentiated moment. Christians agree that final redemption is not yet complete. The disagreement is whether the Messiah's work must be completed in one visible phase or whether Scripture allows a first phase of suffering, atonement, resurrection, and worldwide proclamation before the final consummation.

The New Testament does not invent the idea that God's promises can have inaugurated and future dimensions. The prophets often speak with compressed horizons. The return from exile, new covenant, forgiveness, Spirit, Davidic rule, Gentile inclusion, and cosmic peace are related, but not always temporally unpacked. Christians believe Jesus inaugurated the new covenant and kingdom, while final peace and resurrection remain future.

Ezekiel 37 is a strong Jewish objection because it includes national restoration, resurrection imagery, reunification of Israel, Davidic kingship, sanctuary, covenant peace, and God's presence. Christians do not deny that these promises await full realization. They argue that Jesus' bodily resurrection is the firstfruits and pledge of the general resurrection, and that his exaltation begins Davidic rule before its final public manifestation.

The second coming is not an embarrassed patch. The New Testament expectation of Jesus' return appears in the earliest Christian materials, including Paul. It is not a medieval repair to a failed messianic claim. Already in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul links Jesus' resurrection to future resurrection, final defeat of death, and the consummation of God's kingdom.

Hebrew Bible Patterns

Several Hebrew Bible texts create space for a more complex messianic pattern:

  • Daniel 7 presents a heavenly "son of man" figure who receives dominion after the oppression of the saints.
  • Isaiah 52:13-53:12 presents a servant who suffers, is rejected, bears sin, and is afterward exalted.
  • Psalm 22 moves from suffering and apparent abandonment to worldwide worship of the Lord.
  • Zechariah 12-13 includes mourning, cleansing, and pierced/rejected imagery in the context of Jerusalem's future.
  • Jeremiah 31 promises a new covenant involving internalized Torah and forgiveness.

None of these texts, standing alone, forces the entire Christian chronology. But together they show that suffering, atonement, resurrection hope, Spirit-renewal, Gentile blessing, and final triumph can belong to one redemptive pattern.

The Resurrection as the Messianic Warrant

The Christian claim stands or falls on resurrection. If Jesus was not raised, Outreach Judaism's objection is decisive: a crucified claimant who did not redeem the world is not Messiah. But if God raised Jesus, then his death is not disqualification but vindication. The resurrection says that God has identified the crucified one as Messiah and has begun the final redemption in him.

Bottom Line

Christians should not say that all messianic prophecies are already fulfilled. They should say that Jesus fulfilled the suffering, atoning, inaugurating, and resurrection phase of messianic work and will complete the visible universal restoration at his return. The second coming is not a denial of Tanach's criteria; it is the Christian claim about the sequence by which those criteria are fulfilled.

References

  • Outreach Judaism, "The Christian Messiah": https://outreachjudaism.org/the-christian-messiah/
  • Sefaria, Ezekiel 37: https://www.sefaria.org/Ezekiel.37?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Jeremiah 31: https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.31?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Daniel 7:13-14: https://www.sefaria.org/Daniel.7.13?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Isaiah 52:13-53:12: https://www.sefaria.org/Isaiah.52.13?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Psalm 22: https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.22?lang=bi
  • Sefaria, Zechariah 12:10: https://www.sefaria.org/Zechariah.12.10?lang=bi
  • Bible Gateway, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A20-28&version=NRSVUE
  • Bible Gateway, Acts 3:17-21: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3%3A17-21&version=NRSVUE