Question and Answer with Bob Mendelsohn
March 2022
Question: “Didn't the Jews already have a chance to get saved, and then they said no, and their blood and their children's blood is on them? (Matthew 27.25)” - L J
An answer: Thanks for writing Larry. It's a Bible question and a very important one for relations between Jewish people and Christian friends and colleagues. Blood itself is a major theme in this chapter AND of course in the crucifixion itself. Innocent blood (cf Dt. 27), the money is "blood money" and thus contaminated (Dt. 23.18), Pilate says he's innocent of the blood, and the people say, "his blood be on us and our children." And yet, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Lev. 17.11, Heb. 9.22).
The issue of culpability is in view here and nowhere does the Bible blame any one group or one person for the Messiah's death. Yeshua said it's HIS own responsibility: (John 10.18). The Father is also involved (John 3.16, Gal. 1.4) as do we in that Yeshua died for our sins, after all. (1 Peter 2.24) Many Jewish people have been killed and persecuted for centuries by some who think they are doing God's service in blaming the Jews and laying the guilt from the death of Yeshua on their descendants. That both needs to stop and to be declared as abhorrent to God's people. Amen? -Bob
February 2022
Is it true that messianic Jews celebrate all the holidays, even Christian ones? If so, why be Jewish after all? -MJ
A: Thanks for your good question, MJ, and thanks for processing this with us. No, it’s not true that all messianic Jews do the same things at all! What is true is that we are saved and in love with Yeshua, and that’s about the only thing we all agree on! He’s our Messiah and has forgiven us by the shed blood on Calvary; everything after that is subsidiary. Our focus is on him, whether we celebrate Sukkot or Messiah-mas or Easter or Passover. Some refuse to practice anything ‘pagan’ and others embrace much of many cultures. If we keep our eyes on Yeshua, and him as the Lamb of God or as the Risen One, then we win. If we look to the Lord who ‘tabernacled’ with us and gave us eternal life, we will find deep meaning and satisfaction. Being Jewish is about the preservation of our lineage and that’s accomplished by the Lord who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Get to know Yeshua; and celebrate him in any and all circumstances of life. He and you will both be glad.