Book review by Charles Gardner
Persecution of the Jews — at least from those supposedly following Jesus — would perhaps have been largely avoided if the Church had fully understood the Messianic promises of the Tenach (Old Testament).
Biblical illiteracy among Christians (certainly in the West) is a major contributing factor to its present backslidden state, which is why I heartily recommend RT Kendall’s book Why Jesus Died, published in 2011 by Monarch.
Sadly, the demise of many Christian bookshops in Britain is the reason I have only just come across this profoundly inspiring meditation on Isaiah 53, with a foreword by Jews for Jesus associate executive director Susan Perlman.
The much-loved preacher specifically addresses Jews at various points, but the whole work, in my opinion, is more of a challenge to a sleepy church that has either forgotten or deliberately cut herself off from her Hebraic roots.
Lack of understanding of the fundamental truth that the Messiah had to die — it wasn’t principally the fault of the Jews, or the Romans — is what, in large measure, led to the pogroms perpetrated against God’s chosen people over the centuries.
It is true, of course, that Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, handed Jesus over to be crucified, and that the Jewish chief priests consented to it. But Jesus died for our sins — so in that sense we all put him on the cross.
However, ultimately, it was God’s doing — as the Kentucky-born preacher so eloquently argues.
Isaiah wrote: Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… (Isaiah 53:10)
And in the case of verse 6 of the chapter, Kendall calls it “the Bible in a nutshell”, rather as John 3:16 is often described.
The verse reads as follows: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The author writes: “Isaiah 53:6 basically shows two things: that we are all sinners but God has shown his love by transferring the guilt of our sins to Jesus who has paid our debt.”
That many Jews still can’t see that this ancient prophecy is so clearly fulfilled in Jesus is a point of great frustration to many Christians. But as RT points out, it may seem obvious, but we all still need the Holy Spirit to give us the revelation we need on Scripture.
In summary, the passage under consideration speaks, not of a charismatic personality who would be immediately recognised for his dashing looks and regal qualities, but of a Messiah who was despised and rejected, afflicted, wounded and even cut off from the land of the living — despite the fact that he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. But he would be raised to life and justify many by his sacrifice.
In acknowledging the part played by Jews in Jesus’ death, the author asserts that God has not washed his hands of them. He is ashamed of anti-Semitism in the church, including that of Reformation founder Martin Luther himself, which he believes was fuelled by the verse, All the people answered: ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’ (Matthew 27:25)
Kendall’s view is that there is no clear evidence that they had authority to pass on a curse to successive generations of Jews.
“Although blindness came on Israel and God opened the door to Gentiles (Romans 11:7-12), the door has always been open to all people who would accept the gospel…I also believe with all my heart that the blindness now on Israel is about to be lifted, and that it won’t be merely dozens but hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of Jews who will be converted before the Second Coming of Jesus.”
This book is extremely edifying and enlightening, a ‘must read’ for all serious believers.
Susan Perlman calls it “a treasure trove of gems and practical applications” written with “such skill and biblical insight”.
And evangelist J John says of the title (Why Jesus Died): “This is the most important question to ask, and here is the most insightful and inspirational answer I have ever read.”
RT Kendall, now 82, was minister at the famous Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years and now lives in Tennessee, though he continues to make regular appearances on the TBN-UK television channel.
