Why We Need the Son of G-d

According to Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of "Biblical Literacy", while we as Jews do not believe in "Original Sin" as taught by Christians, we do believe in what took place in Gan Edan (Garden of Eden), and the loss of "Chayim Olam," eternal life. When Adam and Chava (Eve) ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil something in them did change, their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, and hid themselves. While they did not die in one physical day (earth time) they did die in one spiritual day (G-d's time). At that time, mankind underwent a "supernatural" change. We no longer wanted a relationship with G-d because we knew He would see all of our faults and we could not stand that. This is why Adam and Chava hid from Him in Gan Edan and this is why mankind today cannot stand to know G-d and want to destroy our people, they are literally trying to extinguish the light of G-d , because it convicts the soul of its polluted nature.

It is Chayim Olam that G-d wants to restore to mankind, but only to those who will teshuvah (return to Him). G-d knew the nature of mankind would be evil after eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This is why He prevented us from eating of Aytz Chayim (the tree of life) by driving us out of Gan Edan. He also knew that eventually man would want to return to Him, as was the case for Noach (Noah).

The blood of bulls and goats can never restore Chayim Olam to our nephesh (soul) . The sacrifices offered in the wilderness and in the temple sanctified us unto G-d in the fleshly way but they also pointed out the g’ulah (the redemption of HaShem through Moshiach). Therefore we conclude that if we are to be restored to HaShem in the same way our father Adam was, before losing Chayim Olam, it must be by some other sacrifice than that of earthly life.

Where would G-d come up with such a sacrifice? It would have to be created in some way and should include a man who never sinned. But how can this be?

G-d selected Noach to be the source of mankind’s gene pool because he exhibited righteous tendencies by obeying HaShem. He knew that man would once again refuse to obey Him, but, He also knew that one would chose HaShem over all else. G-d chose Avram because he obeyed HaShem’s commands, leaving the safety of family and friends to go to a place that he "knew not". He also knew that Avraham’s descendants would keep His covenant. The difficult commandments G-d gave Israel was for the purpose of setting them aside as special and holy unto the L-rd. He was still looking for something special. A man who would demonstrate repentance and obedience after His own heart, and King David was chosen to be the source of the family line for the Messiah, as it is written, "There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for my Moshiach (anointed/messiah)." Psalm 132:17

From the family of king David G-d chose to bring HaMoshiach and g’ulah. Because David is ish (an earthly man), how can he be the ancestor of HaMoshiach v’hag’ulah (the Messiah and the redeemer) for mankind? By creating a child from the flesh via a female of these people, who were chosen because of their tendency to obey the mitzvot (commandments) of HaShem, and having HaRuach HaShem be the father, the child’s spirit was not of man but of HaShem. In this way G-d was able to produce a man who was perfect in obedience and who had ruach chayim (a living spirit and hence eternal life) tabernacling in him. This child was then executed without cause for g’ulah, causing eternal life and HaShem to tabernacle within those who believe and accept the sacrifice.

Now comes another difficulty. If Moshiach was sacrificed for mankind, how then can He also be the eternal king of the world who reigns on the throne of His ancestor David from Jerusalem? In response we submit Psalm 16:10 in which David said, "For You will not leave my soul in the grave; neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." We have evidence of the dead being revived in the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 17:20-22) when Eliyahu hanovi (Elijah the prophet) laid upon a dead child and prayed and G-d restored the child’s life. If HaShem would do this for the child, how much more would He do it for HaMoshiach?

Therefore we can see that Moshiach will have to be from the family of David, without sin, a sin sicrifice for mankind, and in whom HaShem tabernacled. He will also have to be raised from the dead after His execution and then come to us as Moshaiach ben David (Messiah son of David) to reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem.

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Foot Notes

Original Sin: See the note at the bottom of page 10 of "Biblical Literacy" by R. Telushkin.

G-d's Day: Psalm 90:1 "A Prayer of Moses the man of God. LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You have formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. 3) You turned man to destruction; and said, Return, you children of men. 4) For a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

Light of the world: Isaiah 42:6 "I the LORD have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;"

Return unto me: Gen 3: 22 "And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23) Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Compare with Isaiah 44:21 "Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant: I have formed you; You are my servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of me. 22) I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed you. 23) Sing, O you heavens; for the LORD has done it: shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." and Malachai 3:7 "Even from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, says the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return?"

Blood of bulls and goats: Psalm 51:16 "For you do not want sacrifice; otherwise I would give it to you: You do not delight in burnt offering. 17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You wilt not despise." and Hebrews 10:4 "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

G'ulah: Hebrews 9: 11 "But Messiah being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal g’ulah (redemption) for us."

They will keep: Gen 18:19 "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he has spoken of him."

Sacrifice: Isaiah 53:10 "… But it pleased HaShem to crush him …" He must no die for his own sins, otherwise his death would bo of no greater meaning or service than any of the other tzadikim (righteious sages).