Challenging: "Jesus was mentally ill" (and other unproven, unfounded allegations)

Jews for Judaism, an "anti-missionary" group, has a website that exists solely to debunk Yeshua (Jesus), and to make Christianity and Messianic Judaism sound like evil cults that force Jews to convert. While we are not defending Christianity's Tora-less "Jesus" nor looking to "convert Jews", we will fight till the end of days for YHWH's TRUTH - which includes His Messiah, Yeshua! Jews for Judaism keeps knocking itself out to disprove Yeshua in any way possible, including offering as "proof" New Testament scriptures taken completely out of context.

Jews for Judaism/Rabbinical Judaism's Challenge:

Question: Is it true that Jesus' family, including his mother, believed that he was mentally ill?

Answer: According to the author of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 3:19-21, 31), during the period when he was preaching, Jesus' relatives, his mother and his brothers, believed that he was mentally ill. The author of the Gospel of John comments that "neither did his brothers believe in him" (John 7:5). Jesus, in turn, rejected them (Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 8:19-21). Apparently, Mary, the mother of Jesus, forgot the visits of angels, magi, and shepherds. The prophecies of Anna and Simeon completely slipped her mind. Most of all Mary seems to have forgotten her own impregnation by the Holy Spirit. It is more than likely that she had nothing to forget because these episodes never happened. When Jesus started to preach they had a legitimate concern as to his mental condition. This incident, rather than later claims that his family believed in his message, shows that no miracles surrounded his birth.

Jews for Judaism/Rabbinical Judaism's Challenge:

Question: Can you give a reason why Jews say Isaiah 9:6 does not refer to Jesus?

Answer: Christian theologians argue that the name "A wonderful counselor is the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the ruler of peace" refers to Jesus, who they allege combined human and divine qualities. They mistakenly believe that such a name can only be applied to God Himself. Moreover, the Christians incorrectly translate the verbs in verse 5 in the future tense, instead of the past, as the Hebrew original reads. Thus, the Christians render verse 5 as: "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

While admitting that "wonderful counselor" and "ruler of peace" can be applied to a man, Christian theologians argue that the phrases "mighty God" and "everlasting Father" cannot be incorporated as part of a man's name. Thus, they contend that Isaiah teaches that the Messiah has to be not only a man, but God as well. That this entire reasoning is incorrect may be seen from the name Elihu, "My God is He," which refers to an ordinary human being (Job 32:1, 1 Samuel 1:l, 1 Chronicles 12:21, 26:7, 27:18). A similar Christian misunderstanding of Scripture may be seen in their claims revolving around the name Immanuel, "God is with us." The simple fact is that it is quite common in the Bible for human beings to be given names that have the purpose of declaring or reflecting a particular attribute of God, e.g., Eliab, Eliada, Elzaphan, Eliakim, Elisha, Eleazar, Tavel, Gedaliah.

The fact remains that Jesus did not literally or figuratively fulfill any of Isaiah's words. A wonderful counselor does not advise his followers that if they have faith they can be agents of destruction (Matthew 21:19-21; Mark 11:14, 20-23). A mighty God does not take orders from anyone (Luke2:51, Hebrews 5:8), for no one is greater than he is (Matthew 12:31-32; John 5:30, 14:28). Moreover, he does not ask or need to be saved by anyone (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42), for he cannot die by any means (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46, John 19:30). He who is called the Son of God the Father (John 1:18, 3:16) cannot himself be called everlasting Father. One cannot play simultaneously the role of the son and the Father; it is an obvious self-contradiction. He who advocates family strife (Matthew 10:34-35, Luke 12:49-53) and killing enemies (Luke 19:27) cannot be called a ruler of peace.

Dissecting more of Jews for Judaism's comments:

• A wonderful counselor does not advise his followers that if they have faith they can be agents of destruction (Matthew 21:19-21; Mark 11:14, 20-23).

Jews for Judaism should try reading the New Testament in context, as opposed to picking and choosing scripture they hope will support their man-made thoughts and ideas. Yeshua was NOT teaching destruction; He was trying to show His disciples what happens to sinners. The barren fig tree represented sinners who are not producing fruit for God. Those who don't produce fruit will in the end be cut down....

Matthew 21: 19. And he saw a certain fig tree by the road and came to it and he did not find anything on it except only leaves. And he said to it, Let there never again be fruit on you forever! And at once, that fig tree withered. 20. And the disciples saw and marveled and were saying, "How quickly the fig tree withered." 21. Y'shua answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, that if you have faith and no doubt, not only this miracle of the fig tree will you do but even if you say to this mountain "Be removed and fall into the sea!" it will happen. 22. And everything you ask for in prayer and believe, you will receive.

NOTE: The fig is first mentioned in Genesis 3:7. The Law of First Mention provides a remez (hint) of the symbolic meaning of the fig tree. It is connected to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and relates to judgment between good and evil. The fig tree represents the Beit Din (House of Judges), or the Sanhedrin which in that generation were found wanting and without fruit (see the parables of the fig tree, Matthew 24:32; and Luke 13:7. In Luke 10, seventy are sent out, correlating with the seventy elders of Israel in Shemot/Exodus 24. Oftentimes the Olive Tree which represents Israel, is erroneously confused with symbol of the Fig Tree.

Dissecting more of Jews for Judaism's comments:

• A mighty God does not take orders from anyone (Luke 2:51, Hebrews 5:8), for no one is greater than he is (Matthew 12:31-32; John 5:30, 14:28).

Let's take a look at Luke 2:51 and Hebrews 5:8:

Luke 2:51 - And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he continued in subjection to them; and his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Hebrews 5:8 - Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

Again, the context was overlooked in these scriptures. Check out what they say prior to, and after the verses chosen by Jews for Judaism to "disprove" the fact that Yeshua was divine:

Luke 2: 41. And every year his people would go to Urishlim during the feast of the Paskha. 42. Then when he was twelve years old they went up as they were accustomed to the feast. 43. And after the days of the feast were completed, they returned. But the boy Y'shua remained in Urishlim and Yosip and his mother did not know. 44. For they were hoping that he was with the people in their company. And after they had gone on a one day journey, they searched for him among their relatives and among anyone who knew them. 45. And they did not find him, and they returned to Urishlim and were seeking him. 46. And after three days, they found him in the temple while sitting in the midst of the teachers. And he was listening to them and questioning them.

47. All those who were listening to him were amazed by his wisdom and by his answers. 48. And when they saw him they were amazed and his mother said to him, "My son, why have you acted such towards us, for behold I and your father were searching for you with much anxiety?" 49. He said to them, Why were you searching for me? Did you not realize it is necessary for me to be in the House of my Father? 50. But they did not understand the saying that he had told them. 51. And he went down with them and came to Nasrath and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. 52. And Y'shua would grow in his stature and in his wisdom and in favor with Elohim and man.

YHWH, "the Fatheer" sent His Messiah - someone humans could better identify with than, say, with a burning bush, or a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night as outlined in Genesis. (Wonder why Jews for Judaism don't have a problem believing THAT! Why is it easier to believe in a talking bush than a divine Messiah?) Because Yeshua was born to a human female whom God Himself supernaturally caused to become pregnant, Yeshua naturally had a mother. As such, he (in his human form) was being an obedient Son....

Hebrews 5: 5. So also the Mashiyach did not exalt himself to become a High Priest; but He (Master YHWH) (appointed him) who said to him, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. 6. As he said also in another place: You are a priest forever, after the likeness of Melchisedec. 7. Likewise, when he was clothed in flesh, he offered fervent prayers and pleadings with intense anxious tears, to him who was able to revive him from death; and he was heard. 8. And though he was a son, yet, from the fear and the sufferings he endured, he learned obedience. 9. And the result was that he was perfected and became the cause of eternal life to all them who obey him.

10. And he was named of Elohim, the High Priest after the likeness of Melchisedec. 11. Now, concerning this person, Melchisedec, we have much to discuss; but it is difficult to explain it because you are impeded in your hearing. 12. For you should be teachers, seeing that you have been long in the doctrine. But now you need to learn again the first lines of the very beginning of the Word of Elohim: and you have need of milk, and not of strong food. 13. For every one whose food is milk is unversed in the language of righteousness because he is a child. 14. But strong food belongs to the mature who, being investigators, have trained their faculties to discriminate good and evil.

YHWH sent His "arm" (Isaiah 53:1) to walk among us to teach us His ways and how to treat each other - and then to martyr himself by becoming our "substitute" and redeemer. He had a human body and he suffered human frailties just like any other human - not because He HAD to, but because He chose to! He wanted to lead by example, to show us exactly how to obey YHWH's Torah - in a way that we could actually see and comprehend. He was totally obedient to "his Father" even unto death, because (1) he was in human form and therefore obedient to YHWH - to show us what obedience to Torah was all about; and (2) he KNEW this was his ultimate purpose and goal.

Matthew 12: 31. Because of this I say to you that all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven to the sons of men, but blasphemy that is against the Spirit will not be forgiven to the sons of men. 32. And anyone who says a word against the Son of man, he will be forgiven, But anyone who will speak against the Ruach haKodesh, he will not be forgiven - not in this world or in the world that is to come.

In response to Jews for Judaism's supposed "proof" that Yeshua was not divine, we offer this article explaining His divine qnoma.

How do we know Yeshua was divine? Because He came NOT to bring a "new religion" called "Christianity"; rather, he came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and do everything the Father told him to do!

Luke 4: 43. And Y'shua said to them that, It is necessary for me to preach to other cities the Kingdom of Elohim, for because this reason I have been sent.

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim. And his twelve were with him....

Acts 28: 23. And they appointed him a day; and many assembled, and came to him at his lodgings. And he explained to them respecting the Kingdom of Elohim, testifying and persuading them concerning Y'shua, out of the Torah of Moshe, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

So, while His death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! God isn't just in the business of "saving" people; as Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come! If "Jesus abolished Torah at the cross" as Christians assert, then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?

YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.

Yeshua Himself said he came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (Aramaic English New Testament)

Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and to do everything His Father commanded. He tore down the fences of man's legalism. Neither He nor His Apostles ever advocated against Torah!

John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world. 48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak.[4] (Aramaic English New Testament)

Matthew 28: - 18 Yeshua came and talked with them. He said, "All authority in heaven and one earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore, go and make people from all nations into talmidim (disciples), immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son, and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age." (Aramaic English New Testament)

It is quite impossible to properly appreciate the significance of the words 'all authority.' Yes, the entity of Yeshua is omnipotent. He has unlimited power of every kind. All power and authority! Just pause and think awhile about that staggering statement. Also remember that it extends to heaven, and earth and all creatures under the earth. At best we can only begin to understand what He is talking about; but one day we shall really know the detail!

Dissecting more of Jews for Judaism's comments:

• Moreover, he does not ask or need to be saved by anyone (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42), for he cannot die by any means (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46, John 19:30).

Matthew 26: 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46 and John 19:30 all talk about Yeshua's dying. What Jews for Judaism insist on overlooking is that Yeshua was divine: flesh and blood. He was SUPPOSED to die as a SIN OFFERING (like the original Passover lambs whose blood kept the Angel of Death from killing the firstborns)! This does not mean GOD died. (GOD cannot be born or die! Yeshua's human body could and did.) See Isaiah 53.

In Genesis 22 verse 7 and 8, Abraham prepared an altar for the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. Then the Scripture tells us Isaac said, Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, my son, GOD will provide for Himself the Lamb for a burnt offering. But a ram, not a lamb was offered as a substitute. (Traditional Jews like to insist that God always required a sacrificial LAMB for sin sacrifice!) Because of Abraham's obedience to GOD, He blessed him, and through him, his descendants, Jews and Gentiles; but in your seed, not 'seeds', who is Messiah YESHUA, all the nations of the earth shall be blest; Genesis 22, verse 18, and Galatians 3 verse 16. GOD revealed much to Abraham. He spoke with him, He ate with him, He walked with him. He revealed Himself as ADONAI, THE LORD, YHWH, YESHUA; Genesis 18. All prophecy is fulfilled and sealed in YESHUA our Messiah.

Yeshua was YHWH's "Son", and when His physical HUMAN body died, He was resurrected and went to be with the Father - but not before he was seen by at least 500 witnesses. No body was ever found within his tomb - one he couldn't possibly have escaped from, especially after being beaten half to death and losing much of his blood to scourging and being nailed to a cross, and THEN being pierced in the side by a soldier's sword. The tomb in which his body lay was guarded by two armed guards. So, how did he get out, if not supernaturally?

Dissecting more of Jews for Judaism's comments:

• He who advocates family strife (Matthew 10:34-35, Luke 12:49-53) and killing enemies (Luke 19:27) cannot be called a ruler of peace.

Let's examine this Scripture in context (see also Matthew 10):

Matthew 10: 34. Do not think that I have come to bring calm on earth. I have not come to bring calm, rather a sword. 35. For I have come to divide a man from his father, and a girl from her mother. And a daughter-in-law from her mother-in-law. 36. And the adversaries of a man will be his household.[1] 37. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38. And anyone that does not take up his staff [2] and come and follow me is not worthy of me. 39. Whoever finds his soul will lose it, and whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it. 40. Whoever accepts you, accepts me, and whoever that accepts me, whom I send accepts him. 41. Whoever accepts a prophet in the name of a prophet a reward of a prophet will he receive. And whoever accepts a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, a reward of a righteous man will receive. 42. And anyone who gives only a cup of cold water to drink to one of these little ones, in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you that he will not lose his reward. (AENT)

[1] Refers to Micah 7.

[2] Take up your staff and follow means to exercise your personal authority. A staff is a symbol of authority that is used for mobility and protection (see B'midbar/Numbers 17:16-25; 8-13 in some versions). Christian versions insert "cross" here which does not appear in either Aramaic or Greek texts.

Those with the Ruach haKodesh residing within can understand these verses with no problem. What Yeshua is trying to tell them is that we can prepare for and accept hostility from family and friends, once we accept that Yeshua is our Redeemer. He is not literally talking about purposely causing problems; he is saying that once someone accepts him, there WILL be strife.

At first glance it would seem Yeshua wanted to bring war onto the earth, but upon closer examination we can see that He was merely referring to the Prophet Micah who wrote:

Micah 7: 1 Woe to me! for I have become like the leavings of summer fruit, like the gleanings when the vintage is finished - there isn't a cluster worth eating, no early-ripened fig that appeals to me. 2 The godly have been destroyed from the land, there is no one upright among humankind. They all lie in wait for blood, each hunts his brother with a net. 3 Their hands do evil well. The prince makes his request, the judge grants it for a price, and the great man expresses his evil desires - thus they weave it together. 4 The best of them is a briar, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The time of your watchmen - of your punishment - has come; now they will be confused.

5 Don't trust in your neighbor; don't put confidence in a close friend; shut the gates of your mouth even from [your wife], lying there with you in bed. 6 For a son insults his father, a daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a person's enemies are the members of his own household. 7 But as for me, I will look to ADONAI, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Enemies of mine, don't gloat over me! Although I have fallen, I will rise; though I live in the dark, ADONAI is my light. 9 I will endure ADONAI's rage, because I sinned against him; until he pleads my cause and judges in my favor. Then he will bring me out to the light, and I will see his justice. 10 My enemies will see it too, and shame will cover those who said to me, "Where is ADONAI your God?" I will gloat over them, as they are trampled underfoot like mud in the streets.

11 That will be the day for rebuilding your walls, a day for expanding your territory, 12 a day when [your] people will come [back] to you from Ashur and from the cities of Egypt, from Egypt and from as far as the Euphrates River, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 The earth will be desolate for those living in it, as a result of their deeds. 14 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, who live alone, like a forest in the middle of a fertile pasture. Let them feed in Bashan and Gil'ad, as they did in days of old.

15 "As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them wonders." 16 The nations will see and be put to shame, in spite of all their power. They will cover their mouths with their hands, and their ears will be deafened. 17 They will lick the dust like snakes; they will emerge from their fortresses trembling like reptiles that crawl about on the earth; they will come with fear to ADONAI our God, afraid because of you. 18 Who is a God like you, pardoning the sin and overlooking the crimes of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in grace. 19 He will again have compassion on us, he will subdue our iniquities. You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will show truth to Ya'akov and grace to Avraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors since days of long ago. (Stern's Complete Jewish Bible)

To determine what the Messiah should be and do, we must look beyond Tradition to the Sacred Scriptures themselves. What matters is not what the Rabbis said, but what YHWH said.