Often our heart’s concern for the Jewish people is, understandably, that individuals would see Yeshua through the prophets, like Isaiah 53. Yet, the more immediate Jewish concern has been to survive and thrive as a people—a value which is often summed up in the phrase Am Yisrael Chai (the people of Israel live).
The body of Messiah in general, and the Messianic congregation in particular, are established by God to represent to the world His faithfulness in Messiah, to “keep a people whom He foreknew” (Romans 11:2). Congregations are called both to share in and speak to this divine concern, thus testifying of Messiah’s faithfulness to Israel. Believing communities identify with Israel. The importance of the Jewish community’s visible existence is God’s faithfulness to His word. God started with one man, and said, “I will make of you a people” (Genesis 12:2). With Abraham and Sarah who were unable to naturally have a child, He produced a people as proof of His faithfulness and power. God’s testimony of faithfulness to His promise is seen in a community of Jewish people, not just in the individual Jewish believer. Therefore Yeshua said that “upon this rock” He would build a community that testifies of His faithfulness.
The credential that the Jewish Messiah has a sovereign impact on the nations for Israel’s good is vital to the Hebrew Scriptures and the rabbinical writings. The congregation’s testimony pictures a restored Israel with the Nations in the commonwealth of Israel:
God also said to him, "I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you.Genesis 35:11
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (Ephesians 2:12-13).
So also, the congregation is the Jewish olive tree through which both present tense Jews and Gentiles proclaim the Good News that in Messiah: God is faithful to Israel. May the people of Israel live in Yeshua the Messiah!
The body of Messiah in general, and the Messianic congregation in particular, are established by God to represent to the world His faithfulness in Messiah, to “keep a people whom He foreknew” (Romans 11:2). Congregations are called both to share in and speak to this divine concern, thus testifying of Messiah’s faithfulness to Israel. Believing communities identify with Israel. The importance of the Jewish community’s visible existence is God’s faithfulness to His word. God started with one man, and said, “I will make of you a people” (Genesis 12:2). With Abraham and Sarah who were unable to naturally have a child, He produced a people as proof of His faithfulness and power. God’s testimony of faithfulness to His promise is seen in a community of Jewish people, not just in the individual Jewish believer. Therefore Yeshua said that “upon this rock” He would build a community that testifies of His faithfulness.
The credential that the Jewish Messiah has a sovereign impact on the nations for Israel’s good is vital to the Hebrew Scriptures and the rabbinical writings. The congregation’s testimony pictures a restored Israel with the Nations in the commonwealth of Israel:
God also said to him, "I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you.Genesis 35:11
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Yeshua you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (Ephesians 2:12-13).
So also, the congregation is the Jewish olive tree through which both present tense Jews and Gentiles proclaim the Good News that in Messiah: God is faithful to Israel. May the people of Israel live in Yeshua the Messiah!
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