I’ve been observing the discourse between followers of Jesus of Nazareth, the Nazarene, and those who reject his claims and those of his followers for reasons based on the Jewish Bible. I observed something striking that had been clearly stated by the followers of Nazarene:

There is no clear prophecy in the Jewish Bible that states that the promised anointed Davidic king called “the Moshiach” by the Jews would die and be resurrected according to the Jewish Bible. There is no clear explicit prophecy that clearly refers to this Davidic king that says that he would die, be in the grave for three days and three nights and return alive.

This is an important admission for a christian. Why? Because it contradicts what the Nazarene said. The following quotes are from the book “The grounds of Christianity examined: by comparing the New Testament with the Old”, written in 1813 by George Bethune, which Yvonne pointed me to. The book is now in public domain, available free online from places like Gutenberg or archive.org. The quotes are from the first chapter which discussed the fact that Jesus and his followers tried to prove their case from the Jewish Bible.

Again he discoursed to all his Disciples, putting them in mind, that, before his Death, he told them (Luke 24: 44, 46, 47,) that “all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning him;” adding, “thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ (1. e. the Messiah) to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance, and remission of sins should be preached in his name, beginning at Jerusalem …”

Paul, when accused before Agrippa by the Jews, said (Acts 26; 6,) “I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers,” i.e. for teaching Christianity, or the true doctrine of the Old Testament, and to this accusation he pleads guilty, by declaring in the fullest manner, that he taught nothing but the Doctrines of the Old Testament. ” Having therefore (says he) obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small, and great saying now other things than those which the Prophets, and Moses did say should come, that the Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first who should rise from the Dead, and should show light unto the People, and unto the Gentiles.” The Author of the first Epistle to the Cor. says, 15 ch. v. 4, that “Jesus rose again from the dead the third day, according to the Scriptures …”

Take careful note. The new testament has the Nazarene and his followers claim that he was to raise from the dead after a specific amount of time. Peter and John claimed the songs of David predicted it.

But I said it once and I’ll say it again and it has been observed in the mouths of devout christians that I’ve seen discuss the issue thus contradicting the Nazarene, the disciples, and the other man, Paul of Tarsus, there is no clear and explicit text in the Jewish Bible where the text overtly refers only to the promised anointed Davidic king that says that this promised anointed one will die and be resurrected.

Whether a christian will try to use Psalm 16, the book of Jonah, or Isaiah 53, they each share the same problem: none of these even mention “messiah”, nor do they refer exclusively and explicitly to that future anointed one. Even the much used but much distorted Daniel 9 has no resurrection.

Whether christians admit it or not, let’s be plain: the Nazarene and his followers were wrong! The Jewish Bible doesn’t teach this part of their message, as with many other parts of their message. Once again, the Nazarene fails.

Remember, the Jewish Bible and its God still stand even if the new testament and the Nazarene fall. And there is still a way to live acceptable before God, Jew or Gentile, without the Nazarene to separate you from him. As he said to Israel, and the message is universal: return to God, and he will return to you!