“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquianted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3 nasb
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How does a person truly know that they are saved?
There are several answers to that question, but the decisive point centers upon a love for Jesus Christ. To know Jesus personally is to love Him personally. This abiding love for Jesus carries its own testimony in the hearts of all true believers. It is this love for Jesus that becomes our guideposts to our journey of life. For believers a love for Jesus and faith in Jesus cannot be separated.
Peter clears this issue up:
…so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable … though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1Pe 1:7,8;
Did you catch it. The proof of your faith is that you love Jesus and you believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus is what distinguishes Biblical Christianity from every other religion on planet earth, and especially in regard to Judaism and Islam. However, we need to understand what believing in Jesus really means and what loving Jesus and living for Jesus really means.
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Let me explain what believing in and loving Jesus means to a believer:
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‘True believers have come to know Jesus Christ personally as their Lord and Savior, as the Son of God, as the only One who can save humankind, as the One who died for our sins, was crucified, buried, resurrected the third day, and ascended into heaven, as the One of whose blood has been sprinkled on our hearts, the One who is the center of our joy and rejoicing, the One of whom we anxiously await His second coming, and the One in whom we love with a love that is beyond words, a love that speaks of joy, that is inexpressible and is full of glory.’
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Now…
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How does a love for Jesus fit into the religions of Islam and of Judaism.
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I will only address the basic elements of Islam and Judaism, as are found in their holy writings, for Islam, the Qur’an, and for Judaism, the Talmuds.x
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Jesus in Islam…
The teachings about Jesus in Islam are far less pervasive that what you find in Judaism. In Islam, Jesus is given special respect as one of the five great messengers (prophets) of God.
Islam regards Adam as the first prophet and Muhammad as the last prophet. Muhammad’s title is called, ‘Seal of the Prophets.’ The five great prophets (messengers of God), are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. None of these are divine.
In Islam, with respect to Jesus, He is called the son of the Virgin, however, He is not divine, nor is Jesus the Son of God; He was not crucified, nor does He have anything to do with the salvation of humanity. The strange one is that Jesus is considered as the Messiah, but not in the same sense as is found in the gospels. Actually Jesus comes in second to Muhammad.
The point at hand is that Islam would never defame Jesus in any way, but their true knowledge of Jesus is limited. The good news is that many millions of Muslim are having their eyes opened and are turning to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Their greatest need is to hear the true gospel of Jesus Christ. On the temple mount in Jerusalem there is written inside their mosque, ‘God has no son.’
Many Muslims are finding that God does indeed has a Son. They are turning to Jesus by the multiplied thousands largely because a New Testament has been placed in their hands.
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Jesus in Judaism …
Jesus told Pilate that the Jewish leadership would be charged with the greater sin. What was their greater sin? It was not only the sin of their total rejection of Jesus Christ as Messiah, but it would include their continual rejection of Him.
Keep in mind that there are various movements and trends in Judaism, just as their are movements of Islam, as well as movements of Christianity. But here I need to draw on the writings of Talmudic Judaism. These writings remain the holiest books of Orthodox Judaism. Orthodox Jews consider themselves as the only true Jewish faith. But they do not speak for Conservative or Reform Jews.
Most people are not aware of how Jesus is treated in the Talmud. Here is a sample:
He [Onqelos] sent and brought up Jesus the Nazarene (Yeshu ha-notzri) out of his grave by necreomancy and asked him: ‘Who is important in that world?’
Jesus answered, ‘Israel.’
Onqelos: ‘What then about joining them?’
Jesus: ‘Seek their welface, seek not their harm. Whoever touches them is as though he touches the apple of God’s eye!’
Onqelos: ‘What is your punishment?’
Jesus: ‘With boiling excrement.’
There is much more to be said, but this gives the idea of how Talmudic Judaism sees Jesus. Mary is treated as a whore, and Jesus as the son of a Roman soldier. There are a number of code words for Jesus in the Talmudic writings. None of them are pleasant.
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What is the plus side in all this? The plus side is similar to what is happening in Islam. Many Jews are discovering Jesus for who He really is. Many people of Judaism and Islam are realizing that they’ve been lied to about Jesus Christ. However, there is a final stage to be reached in Judaism. It began in Jerusalem, it has to end in Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s warfare is not ended. Her sorrow is yet to come.
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We’ve been to Jerusalem – We’ve been to the Eastern Gate.
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I went to the section of the wailing wall where only men are allowed. Betty and I have walked the streets of the old city of Jerusalem. We’ve been to Masada. We’ve been on a boat in the Sea of Galilee when a storm came upon us. We’ve seen the land of Israel and Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and many other places. It is a land that has been reclaimed and rediscovered. But it is a land still in anguish.
The Orthodox Jews believe that the Shekinah (divine presence) is in the wailing wall. This is why they weep there. When I stood before the wailing wall there was only deadness there. But I do remember one thing that stirred my heart deeply. It spoke to me of the Jewish plight. As I talked with our Jewish tour guide about Jesus, he said to me, ‘I don’t have to be saved. I am a Jew.’
How sad. And to know that their day of weeping is not over. Yet it is written in God’s book that these children of Israel will one day reach out to Jesus. It will be in a moment of deep crisis. Today many are finding Jesus in the quietness of their own heart. But the day will come when the Jewish leadership will call upon the Lord Jesus Himself. Howx
Jesus said:
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'” (Mat 23:37-39)
So perhaps the great question of all the ages still remains...
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Will the Father say to all people,
What have you done with My Son?
Did you treat Him as holy?
Did you love Him?
Or, did you trample Him underfoot as nothing of worth?
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How about you.
Do you love Jesus? x
While you are thinking on these things, take time to listen to The Isaac, as they sing, ‘Stand Still.’
I dedicate this song to Israel.
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May the Lord richly bless you in a discovery of all His will for your life.
In Christ,
Buddy
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