Jesus did not fulfill the Jewish messianic prophecies

 

Orthodox rabbis argue that Jesus did not fulfill the Jewish prophecies and criteria for the Messiah, and therefore, cannot be considered the Messiah. Here are some reasons why:

1. Messiah's mission: The Messiah is expected to usher in a era of global peace, prosperity, and redemption, as described in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3-4. Jesus' mission, however, was focused on spiritual redemption, and he did not bring about the expected political and social changes.
2. Descendant of King David: The Messiah must be a direct descendant of King David, as promised in Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 2 Samuel 7:12-13. Jesus' genealogy, as presented in the New Testament, is disputed by rabbis, who question its accuracy and validity.
3. Torah observance: The Messiah must be a Torah-observant Jew, upholding and promoting the commandments and traditions. Jesus, however, often challenged and relaxed Torah commandments, which rabbis see as a disqualification.
4. Global recognition: The Messiah is expected to be recognized and accepted by the entire world, as stated in Isaiah 11:10 and 42:6. Jesus' message and teachings, however, were largely rejected by his contemporaries, and even today, he is not universally accepted as the Messiah.
5. Miraculous signs: The Messiah is expected to perform miraculous signs and wonders, as described in Isaiah 35:5-6 and Jeremiah 31:8. While Jesus performed miracles, rabbis argue that these were not the specific signs predicted in scripture.
6. Redemption from exile: The Messiah is expected to redeem the Jewish people from exile and restore them to their homeland, as promised in Deuteronomy 30:3-5 and Isaiah 11:12. Jesus, however, did not bring about a physical redemption from exile.
7. Resurrection: The Messiah is not expected to die, let alone be resurrected. Jesus' death and resurrection, while central to Christianity, are not seen as fulfilling Jewish prophecies or criteria.

In conclusion, orthodox rabbis argue that Jesus did not meet the criteria and fulfill the prophecies expected of the Jewish Messiah. While Jesus may have been a charismatic leader and spiritual guide, he did not usher in the expected era of peace, redemption, and Torah observance, and therefore, cannot be considered the Messiah.