The idea of a "Messianic Jew" may be new for you. In that case, this is the perfect book to pick up. There is no better introduction to Messianic Judaism than Finding Messiah.
Why bother learning about this when there are so many other pressing topics, you may ask?
Here's one image that could be helpful in answering that important question:
Braided river image courtesy of Amanda B., New Zealand
The bride of Christ is depicted in Revelation 19 as having a voice that sounds like "many waters." I like to think of this as a "braided river" with some streams loud and noisy; others more quiet, still and deep; and others trickling along merrily. (I’ll let you decide which kind of stream your tradition is! All are important, though, in contributing to the “voice like many waters”)
Where are the Messianic Jews in this picture?
They are like a stream that went underground 1600+ years ago, and now - suddenly - have sprung up again! As Fr. Peter liked to say, this was “totally unexpected” … well, except to those few who were looking for the answer to prophecies long unfulfilled. In his book The Mystery of the Olive Tree, Johannes Fichtenbauer relates this remarkable story:
In 1998, a group of three Messianic Jewish leaders … went to meet with Cardinal Josef Ratzinger in the Vatican … When the Messianic representatives shared their personal testimonies of how they came to accept Jesus as their Messiah, the Cardinal listened carefully.
After a long pause, of thoughtful silence, he finally said: ‘The Church will not be complete unless it exists out of both the Church out of the Jews and the Church out of the Gentiles (ecclesia ex Judais & ecclesia ex Gentibus).’
He continued with another important statement. ‘We theologians always knew that one day you (referring to the Messianic brothers) would need to appear. None of us could imagine how this would happen.’
The Messianic Jews are now weaving their waves into the braided river of the Body of Messiah. What is the sound of their waters?
Jen Rosner is one important voice. Raised Jewish, she converted to non-denominational Protestantism in college. It was through her academic studies that she began to wrestle with what it meant to be a Jew, and a follower of Jesus. This journey led her to Jerusalem, where she met a “brawny, quiet man” with a long beard. As Jen tells her own personal story of discovery and romance, she frames it in the midst of critical theological topics such as Sabbath, the Holy Spirit, and Paul’s writings about “law vs. gospel.” The reader is drawn in by her captivating narrative, then confronted by the Messianic Jewish perspective on topics long thought put to rest in traditional Christian circles, then comforted by the return to the story. It is a great read!
It is important for us Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox to take seriously what God is doing in these days. This book is a fantastic way to dip your toes in this new stream!
(And if dipping your toes whets your appetite, other books by Jen - who is now a professor at five different academic institutions including Fuller - then invite a deeper dive … particularly Healing the Schism.)