All three major world religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam – are expecting their messiah to come.
Judaism isn't certain who it will be.
Christianity expects Jesus to return.
And Islam anticipates someone known as the Mahdi, though adherents also anticipate Jesus coming back around the same time to let Christians know they should all convert to Islam.
As much of the Christian world prepares to celebrate Christmas, we ought to be thinking more and more about His return.
I sense it is near – very near.
When He came the last time, he came proclaiming Himself as the Messiah to the Jews. While all of His followers were Jewish and no non-Jews joined them for years after His death, most Jews rejected Him.
Why?
He wasn't what they were expecting.
Though He certainly fulfilled many of the prophecies about the Messiah, they were expecting something else – that He would free them from their domination by Rome and lead the nation into a glorious earthly kingdom right then. Instead, Jesus willingly went to the cross to save them from their sins, promising to return to fulfill all the prophecies at a later, undisclosed time.
While many followers of Jesus, or Yeshua, as He was known to the Jews, expect Him to return soon, I wonder sometimes if they will recognize Him when He does.
Are they expecting a Jew?
Or are they expecting a gentile Jesus?
Is it possible that, just as the Jews rejected Yeshua because He wasn't what they were expecting, many Christians will do the same?
I really wonder some times.
Do Christians realize they are followers of a man who proclaimed to be the Jewish Messiah – the king of the Jews?
They should. Even some of the Christmas carols proclaim it. In "The First Noel," a favorite this time of the year, Christians the world over sing: "Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel. Born is the king of Israel."
But do they think about what they are singing? Do they embrace it? Are they really expecting the king of Israel to return – and accept the position He never held before going to the cross?
That's the subject, among others, of a new book coming out soon – "When Jew Rules the World" by Joel Richardson. I've written about it before, which is unusual for me to do, as the book will not be officially released for more than two months. I do so now because I'm very excited about it. I consider it a breakthrough book. There's also a companion movie already out called "End Times Eyewitness," written and directed by the author, which covers some of the same ground. As the producer, I highly recommend it. (Do I need to say it would make a great Christmas gift?)
Is Jesus really who He claimed to be?
That's the question everyone should consider today as the world prepares to celebrate – and, in some cases, ignore – His birth.
I believe what you say in response to that question is the most important decision you will ever make in your life.
Jesus lived 2,000 years ago, never traveled outside His own small country, died a horrifying death around the age of 33 and, along with a dozen apostles, turned the world upside down. His life reset the calendar, and He's without question the most famous and influential person in history.
If He really was who He said he was – the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace and the King of the Jews – it should be a matter of the most serious concern to everyone on Earth.
If He wasn't, then He was just a very good deceiver.
That's what I hope every believer and non-believer will consider as Christmas approaches. As a devoted follower of Jesus, I would say it's worth the study because your eternal destiny is at stake. And time is short for everyone – whether His return is imminent or not.
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