Overview

Where does a relatively young movement turn for identity and direction when it straddles the fence between two competing major religions? Messianic Jews have done something that for centuries was considered untenable. Like Christians, they have embraced Jesus as the divine Messiah, but they have refused to surrender their place within the Jewish people. How compatible are these two sides of Messianic Jewish faith? Can Messianic Jews participate as full members in both the body of Messiah and the people of Israel? Can they be led by the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised while also following the rulings of the Jewish sages? Did Jesus affirm rabbinic authority, or does that authority now lie elsewhere within the new covenant? In this volume, Messianic Jewish rabbi Joshua Lessard and Messianic Jewish scholar Jennifer Rosner debate the path forward for Messianic Judaism as it grapples with being the child of divorced parents--the church and Israel. Both Lessard and Rosner are committed to the success of Messianic Judaism, though they put forth contrasting visions of what that means. The discussion herein is unique and provocative, not only for Messianic Jews, but for all who have wrestled at the crossroads of Torah, tradition, and Spirit.

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9781666700633

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Reviews

Reading this book is like listening to a fascinating debate between cousins I have always admired and learned from. The debate is over a question that divides the Messianic Jewish community: What role, if any, should Rabbinic Judaism have in Messianic Jewish life? Rabbi Lessard and Professor Rosner are leaders and deep thinkers. We Gentiles have much to learn from them. --Gerald McDermott, author of Israel Matters Rosner and Lessard explore the relationship between Torah observance and the role of the Holy Spirit, a burning question for Messianic Jews and all concerned with understanding the relationship between law and grace. Their respectful and attentive 'argument for the sake of heaven' demonstrates that the identity-defining questions of the first-century Jewish disciples of Jesus are just as important today. Their dialogue on key exegetical, hermeneutical, and theological issues is a delight to read. --Richard Harvey, author of Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology

"""Reading this book is like listening to a fascinating debate between cousins I have always admired and learned from. The debate is over a question that divides the Messianic Jewish community: What role, if any, should Rabbinic Judaism have in Messianic Jewish life? Rabbi Lessard and Professor Rosner are leaders and deep thinkers. We Gentiles have much to learn from them."" --Gerald McDermott, author of Israel Matters ""Rosner and Lessard explore the relationship between Torah observance and the role of the Holy Spirit, a burning question for Messianic Jews and all concerned with understanding the relationship between law and grace. Their respectful and attentive 'argument for the sake of heaven' demonstrates that the identity-defining questions of the first-century Jewish disciples of Jesus are just as important today. Their dialogue on key exegetical, hermeneutical, and theological issues is a delight to read."" --Richard Harvey, author of Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology"

Reading this book is like listening to a fascinating debate between cousins I have always admired and learned from. The debate is over a question that divides the Messianic Jewish community: What role, if any, should Rabbinic Judaism have in Messianic Jewish life? Rabbi Lessard and Professor Rosner are leaders and deep thinkers. We Gentiles have much to learn from them. --Gerald McDermott, author of Israel Matters Rosner and Lessard explore the relationship between Torah observance and the role of the Holy Spirit, a burning question for Messianic Jews and all concerned with understanding the relationship between law and grace. Their respectful and attentive 'argument for the sake of heaven' demonstrates that the identity-defining questions of the first-century Jewish disciples of Jesus are just as important today. Their dialogue on key exegetical, hermeneutical, and theological issues is a delight to read. --Richard Harvey, author of Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology

Author Information

Jennifer M. Rosner is Affiliate Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. You can find her online at www.jenrosner.com. Joshua M. Lessard is ordained as a Messianic Jewish rabbi through the IAMCS and leads Tree of Life Messianic Fellowship in Tallahassee, Florida.

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