How does one become a Messianic Jew? (We will now use the Hebrew terms instead of the Greek.) The Scriptures, of course, give the answer. The message of the prophets was clear and unfailingly the same: REPENT. The Hebrew word for repent is shuv. It means to turn around, turn back. In other words, stop, turn around and go back to your God whom you have left. It not only means to be sorry, but also to turn in the opposite direction and proceed. Every prophet had virtually the same message. Ezekiel 33:11 is but an example:

"Say unto them, `As I live!' declares the Lord God, `I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'"

The necessity of this message is understood when the concept of sin is understood. Sin is doing what one desires instead of what pleases God. Everyone is a sinner. David said, "...There is no one who does good..." (Psa. 14:3).

When John the Baptist appeared, his message was identical: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 3:2). The Greek basis for this New Testament word repent means a turning of one's mind, while the Hebrew emphasizes a turning of the heart. Both are necessary. After Yeshua was tested in the wilderness, the Bible records that His very first public sermon began with, "...Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17). Repentance is preparation for salvation.

The second step is to believe in Yeshua. One cannot believe in Yeshua until he has first repented. Thus, John had to prepare the way for Yeshua. The Western world is full of Christians who believe in Jesus but have never repented of their sins. These Gentiles may be described as heathen Christians--the opposite of born-again Christians.

To believe in Yeshua, a Jew must first become acquainted with Him. The most obvious step is to read about His life and teachings in the first four books of the New Testament. Also, the book of Hebrews, Paul's special epistle to the Jews, will give a better understanding of Yeshua and His mission to the Jews.

Before one can truly believe in Yeshua, he must change the direction of his life and turn toward God. But why believe in Yeshua? In English, the meaning of Jesus' name is lost, for Jesus is not a name like Joe or Robert or Jack. As we have explained, Jesus means savior or salvation in Hebrew. Thus, the Scripture could be translated:

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Salvation (Yeshua): for he shall save (yoshia) his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

Thus Yeshua and yoshia are both forms of the Hebrew word that means save.

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Yeshua took on Himself the very name Salvation. Most Hebrew-speaking people don't even know His correct name and are surprised to hear the real pronunciation and meaning. Many will not believe His name is Yeshua until shown in a Hebrew New Testament. A Jewish believer is readily identifiable by the way he pronounces Yeshua's name in Hebrew--a significant witness.

An Orthodox Jew might counter, "But the Messiah has to be the ruler of the earth. Our Scriptures contain many promises that the Messiah will bring peace to earth."

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

"In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.

"In those days Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she shall be called: the Lord is our righteousness." (Jer. 33:14-16).

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders...There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom...(Isa. 9:6,7).

Then it will come about in that day That the nations will resort to the root of Jesse, Who will stand as a signal for the peoples; And His resting place will be glorious (Isa. 11:10).

The simple answer is, of course, that Yeshua the Messiah is coming the second time to do just that. But the Jewish people in Israel, for the most part, have never heard that Christians believe Yeshua is coming back. The historic churches have tended to emphasize only that He came to earth, died and left. To hear that some people's lives are centered around the expected return of Yeshua the Messiah has come as somewhat of a shock to many Jews.

The Christian who is not expecting Him to return is simply telling the Jew that Yeshua cannot be the Messiah. He then will have to be someone else, because the Messiah promised in the Scriptures must come to rule the earth from the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem.

The next logical question is: If Yeshua really is the Messiah, when is He coming back? This is a valid question; it was asked by the Jews who followed Yeshua when He was in Israel nearly 2,000 years ago. Yeshua's answer is recorded in Luke 21 and Matthew 24. Before going into these chapters, let us imagine the place and the time of Yeshua's departure from the earth. It is New York today. Yeshua is standing, talking to twelve New Yorkers. He has told them that He is going to leave New York, but at the end of the age, He will come back. They ask Him when this will occur.

Yeshua answers the following: "New York is going to be destroyed. The huge skyscrapers will be demolished, without one stone being left on another. All of the residents of New York will be scattered throughout the world. Many will be killed and New York will be in alien hands. Then one day, New Yorkers will begin returning to New York, and the city will actually come back into their possession. When these things take place, know that I, Yeshua, will come back. In fact, I will return in that very generation."

If you were listening to that conversation, what would you think? You would probably say, "Well, He certainly made it clear and definite as to the time He is coming back." Now let us look at the words of Jesus:

And He answered and said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here shall be left upon another, which will not be torn down" (Matt. 24:2).

Then speaking of the Jews, He said,

And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Lk. 21:24).

This verse was literally fulfilled in June, 1967. And all prophecies concerning the Jews' return to the Land and subsequent turning back to God must be fulfilled. For Yeshua said,

...Not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished (Matt. 5:18).

And then will they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Lk. 21:27).

Yeshua went on to say that when the fig tree (a symbol of political Israel) put forth its leaves, summer would be nigh.

Even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door (Matt. 24:33; see also Luke 21:31,32).

Then, to re-emphasize the weight of His words, He added:

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matt. 24:34).

I will tell any Jew that I am looking for Yeshua's return in this generation.

For further information or to receive I Became as a Jew, you may call 1.800.856.7060. Or, email your request to maoz@onramp.net.

Back to I Became as a Jew Index Page