Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 5/21/2008

Question
HI,

I have heard that Jews do not believe in Jesus because they say that he did not fulfill all the prophesies in the Old Testament which are made about the Messiah.  Is this true?  If so, then will there come a time when he does fulfill them?  Do you know which prophesies he did not fulfill?

Thank You

Answer
Hi Andrew,

Thanks for this great question!  There are two things at play here.

1.  Because Jesus grew up in Nazareth, they assumed that He was born there.  The prophecy clearly states that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but most folks did not know it.

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Joh 1:45  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46  And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.


2.  There were many prophecies about the Messiah taking a literal kingdom.  That has not yet happened.  Even the disciples thought that this would happen after the resurrection.

Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.


The Kingdom will come, but not yet.


I hope that this is a help to you.

In Christ
Pastor Don