Expert: Sal - 3/12/2007

Question
Dear Sal, I have recently read on this website the reasons why Jews don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/Why_Dont_Jews_Believe_In_Jesus$.asp


for the reasons:

2A- How was Jesus a prophet? Was the Messiah even  required to be a prophet-according to what source?

2C- Did Jesus contradict the Torah (which Jews say means he would be a false prophet) and say the teachings don't apply anymore?

5 A and C- Would having an intermediary to pray to God be considered Idolitary-As in Jesus, Apostles and then Priests? Howcome intermediaries are needed, when Jews say that they can go directly to God with prayer?


I just want to know how we Catholics justify our belief in Jesus. PLease help me anaswer these questions, I can't find the answers anywhere.. Thanks  

Answer
Dear JT:


2a) Jesus was a prophet because he spoke the truths of God the Father (Lk. 4:18). It is not necessary for a prophet to reveal future events. However, Jesus did make predictions about the future that did come to pass. Two of these are the destruction of Jerusalem (Mt. 24:15-35) and his own Resurrection (Mt. 12:40).

2c) It is not true that all mitzvoth (commandments) remain forever. God’s commandments do change. The Jews no longer offer animal sacrifices. Paul tells us that the Old Covenant was only for a specified time period (Gal. 3:17-19). Indeed the Old Testament predicted that a New Covenant would replace the Old (Jer. 31:31-34). Such a change would mean the end of the “unchanging” mitzvoth.

5a) The Trinity does not violate the idea of One God. The Trinity is three persons in the One God. We have the full revelation. The Jews only had a partial revelation (Heb. 1:1, 2). God revealed that He was One and then later He fully revealed that He is three persons yet only One God.

5c) Intermediaries are not gods. The Jews used intermediaries throughout their history. for example, High Priests and ministerial priests. If Jews went directly to God, why have Levitical priests? For example, they used priests to obtain forgiveness of sins (Lev. 16:21).

We must always see the Old Covenant in light of the New. The Old Covenant is now obsolete (Heb. 8:13; 10:9). The Jews cannot see that Jesus is Messiah because they are blind to the truth. “Their minds are dulled. To this very day, when the Old Testament is read the veil remains unlifted; it is only in Christ that it is taken away. Even now, when Moses is read a veil covers their understanding. But whenever he turns to the Lord, the veil will be removed” (2 Cor. 3:14-16).

I hope that this helped. Let me know if I can be of further help.

God Bless,
Sal