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Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today
Are you settling for half the story? Highlighting connections that have been hidden from non-Jewish eyes, Rabbi Jason Sobel will connect the dots between the Old and New Testament, helping you see the Bible with clarity as God intended.
Most people—even people of faith—do not understand how the Bible fits together. Too many Christians accept half an inheritance, content to embrace merely the New Testament, while Jewish people may often experience the same by embracing only the Old Testament. But God has an intricate plan and purpose for both the Old and the New.
In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel reveals the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. Known for his emphatic declaration “but there’s more!” he guides us in seeing the passion and purpose of the Messiah. Mysteries of the
Uncovers connections between the Old and New TestamentsConnects the dots for readers with details about Jesus, the Torah, and biblical charactersWritten with the unique perspective of a rabbi with an evangelical theological degreeNo matter how many times you have read the Bible, Mysteries of the Messiah will bring fresh perspective and insight. God’s Word, written by many people over thousands of years, is not a random selection of people and stories. Rabbi Jason Sobel connects the dots and helps us see with clarity what God intended.
Most people—even people of faith—do not understand how the Bible fits together. Too many Christians accept half an inheritance, content to embrace merely the New Testament, while Jewish people may often experience the same by embracing only the Old Testament. But God has an intricate plan and purpose for both the Old and the New.
In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel reveals the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. Known for his emphatic declaration “but there’s more!” he guides us in seeing the passion and purpose of the Messiah. Mysteries of the
Uncovers connections between the Old and New TestamentsConnects the dots for readers with details about Jesus, the Torah, and biblical charactersWritten with the unique perspective of a rabbi with an evangelical theological degreeNo matter how many times you have read the Bible, Mysteries of the Messiah will bring fresh perspective and insight. God’s Word, written by many people over thousands of years, is not a random selection of people and stories. Rabbi Jason Sobel connects the dots and helps us see with clarity what God intended.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2021
757 people are currently reading
1588 people want to read
About the author
Jason Sobel
16 books72 followersRabbi Jason Sobel is a thought leader, spiritual guide, and Jewish follower of Yeshua (Jesus). He is cofounder of Fusion with Rabbi Jason, a ministry dedicated to sharing teachings and resources that reconnect ancient Jewish wisdom with the teachings of the New Testament.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 19, 2022
This book purports to show the concept of the Messiah from the Jewish perspective. Many of the revelations disclosed in the book relate to numerology which I find unconvincing. To the extent that the author relates Old Testament stories and characters to the Christ, the book has some benefit. I give it 2.5 stars, but round up to 3 stars based on some of the chapters.
The author identifies Jonathan Cahn as a mentor. Cahn wrote the introduction. If you like Cahn’s book, The Harbinger, you will like this book. I found them both to be sophistical and had to force myself to finish them.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author identifies Jonathan Cahn as a mentor. Cahn wrote the introduction. If you like Cahn’s book, The Harbinger, you will like this book. I found them both to be sophistical and had to force myself to finish them.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2021
Having recently completed an in-depth study of Genesis with my BSF group, I found this book fascinating and eye opening, I've also heard my pastor speak of studying Greek and Hebrew and reading the bible in the original language. This book gave me a greater understanding of using the language Jesus was speaking, and his disciples, and applying it to scripture.
The mysteries, and as Rabbi Sobel reveals some of them that are hidden in plain sight: Hebrew word for Father, has a Numerical Number of 3, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since a tree caused the Fall, the son of God had to die on a tree.
There are so many words of wisdom here, I will be reading this one more than once!
I received this book through Read With Audra, and was not required to give a positive review.
The mysteries, and as Rabbi Sobel reveals some of them that are hidden in plain sight: Hebrew word for Father, has a Numerical Number of 3, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since a tree caused the Fall, the son of God had to die on a tree.
There are so many words of wisdom here, I will be reading this one more than once!
I received this book through Read With Audra, and was not required to give a positive review.
June 30, 2021
Best book I’ve read all year! While all the other books I’ve read (and will continue to read) this year have been purely for entertainment, this book has brought clarity and an even greater understanding of what my Savior, Jesus, has done for me.
In this book, Rabbi Jason Sobel helps readers, especially Christian readers, really grasp the Jewishness of Jesus. It is clear that the author has done much research of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and helps readers see the continuity of both parts of the Bible. As a Christian, I tend to focus more on the New Testament, but this book has given me greater insight to how the Old Testament (really the whole Bible) points to Jesus as the Messiah.
I think the part of this book that made the biggest impression on me is the information relating to the numerical values of words and phrases throughout the Scriptures. I wasn’t even aware that the Hebrew alphabet (and the Greek, too) has a numerical value assigned to it. This was so fascinating to me!
I underlined something on every page (sometimes whole passages) and this is one book that I know I will refer back to frequently! Whether you are Jewish or Christian, I think this book will give you some profound insights into the scriptures.
In this book, Rabbi Jason Sobel helps readers, especially Christian readers, really grasp the Jewishness of Jesus. It is clear that the author has done much research of both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and helps readers see the continuity of both parts of the Bible. As a Christian, I tend to focus more on the New Testament, but this book has given me greater insight to how the Old Testament (really the whole Bible) points to Jesus as the Messiah.
I think the part of this book that made the biggest impression on me is the information relating to the numerical values of words and phrases throughout the Scriptures. I wasn’t even aware that the Hebrew alphabet (and the Greek, too) has a numerical value assigned to it. This was so fascinating to me!
I underlined something on every page (sometimes whole passages) and this is one book that I know I will refer back to frequently! Whether you are Jewish or Christian, I think this book will give you some profound insights into the scriptures.
July 17, 2021
"Mysteries of the Messiah" looked at how different words add up to certain numbers and how words with the same number point to Jesus as Messiah. The idea is that each letter in Hebrew and Greek has a corresponding number and you can add up the letters in a word or phrase to get the corresponding number. The author feels that it's perfectly valid to connect words and phrases with the same number and these will point to theological truths. He didn't convince me of this as the connection is never derived simply from the words.
He also taught some rather odd ideas from various Jewish traditions. For example, he believes that the Fall happened on day 6 (apparently, of creation week, even though God says that everything was very good on that day). Also, he teaches about a donkey that would have been hundreds of years old, a ram over a thousand years old, the tradition that Isaac was actually killed and was dead for a while before being resurrected, and the belief that Israel shared the same land boundaries as the Garden of Eden (though that old ram was apparently living in the Garden of Eden until needed as a sacrifice instead of Isaac).
However, he did cover some information that is more widely taught. I've read similar information in other (much better) books talking about finding symbolism pointing to the Messiah in the feasts or providing cultural background to various verses in Genesis. The author talked about a couple prophecies that were fulfilled by Yeshua and how his life was reflected in the Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost. He talked about how there were similar events in the life of Yeshua and in the lives of Joseph, Moses, and David and events symbolic of Yeshua's mission in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ruth. He also talked about creation (where he rather freely changed the common translations of various words to translations that better fit his ideas).
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
He also taught some rather odd ideas from various Jewish traditions. For example, he believes that the Fall happened on day 6 (apparently, of creation week, even though God says that everything was very good on that day). Also, he teaches about a donkey that would have been hundreds of years old, a ram over a thousand years old, the tradition that Isaac was actually killed and was dead for a while before being resurrected, and the belief that Israel shared the same land boundaries as the Garden of Eden (though that old ram was apparently living in the Garden of Eden until needed as a sacrifice instead of Isaac).
However, he did cover some information that is more widely taught. I've read similar information in other (much better) books talking about finding symbolism pointing to the Messiah in the feasts or providing cultural background to various verses in Genesis. The author talked about a couple prophecies that were fulfilled by Yeshua and how his life was reflected in the Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost. He talked about how there were similar events in the life of Yeshua and in the lives of Joseph, Moses, and David and events symbolic of Yeshua's mission in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Ruth. He also talked about creation (where he rather freely changed the common translations of various words to translations that better fit his ideas).
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 18, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up
Some solid insights presented clearly and simply by Rabbi Sobel with a great message. Huge respect for his ministry and his thorough study of the Word.
However, I feel like there could have been more to this book, and perhaps less laser-focus on numerology. Numbers certainly have theological value and a place in our study, but some of the connections the Rabbi makes here aren’t as compelling as they could be. I would have enjoyed further digging into other aspects of Christology.
Some solid insights presented clearly and simply by Rabbi Sobel with a great message. Huge respect for his ministry and his thorough study of the Word.
However, I feel like there could have been more to this book, and perhaps less laser-focus on numerology. Numbers certainly have theological value and a place in our study, but some of the connections the Rabbi makes here aren’t as compelling as they could be. I would have enjoyed further digging into other aspects of Christology.
August 15, 2022
I was really excited to read this book after reading and loving “The Rock, The Road, and The Rabbi.” This was fine, but I felt some of the connections to be tenuous at best and in need of a bit more fleshing out to really make the connections—more inferring required than expected. Less proved simply less at times.
Elements of it were absolutely fascinating, for sure, but others were just okay for me.
Elements of it were absolutely fascinating, for sure, but others were just okay for me.
April 6, 2022
Excellent help to connect the Old and New Testaments! I’ve learned a lot as I read this book.
April 14, 2023
I thought it was fascinating.
July 18, 2021
When I saw this book was available to review, I was intrigued by the title. The book highlights connections from scripture from Genesis to today, because “God’s Word, written by many people over thousands of year, is not a random selection of people and stories.” It explores the Jewishness of Jesus, and connects the Old Testament to the New Testament. There are 12 chapters in this book that go through the connections to Jesus in creation, patriarchs, Joseph, Moses, Passover, Pentecost, Ruth, and David.
For me, this was not a super quick and easy read. There is not necessarily anything wrong with that, but I found myself slowed down at times by the “numbers”. For example, “Bet (2) is also the first letter of the Hebrew words meaning ‘to bless’ (barak) and ‘firstborn’ (bechor), which both have a value of 222. The Son, Ben (2) is the second person of the Godhead, and this word begins with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Son (Ben) and God’s Firstborn, Bechor (222), are both central to experiencing blessing, barak (222)… Everything points to Jesus.” I appreciated the writer’s intelligence and background knowledge. He obviously took a lot of time to research this book. These portions of the book just slowed me down a little because it was a lot to think about, and not as interesting to me.
That being said, I did enjoy reading about the many connections between the Messiah and the Old Testament. So often, we think of Jesus as only being present in the New Testament, when he is actually present before creation. Rabbi Sobel also demonstrated how there are connections and foreshadowing of Jesus in the characters in the Old Testament. For example, when talking about the connections between Joseph and Jesus, he said, “Before casting him (Joseph) into the empty pit, they stripped Joseph of the special tunic his father had given him…Jesus, like Joseph, was stripped of his tunic (ketonet passim)…In the same way, the Romans stripped Jesus of His clothing (Matt. 27:28), cast lots for the garments, and divided His clothing among themselves…”
Overall, I would recommend picking up a copy of this book if you are interested in reading about how the Bible fits together, with Jesus being part of every book. Just recognize that this book is a little heavy, and may take you a little while to get through as you soak in all of the information being presented.
I received a copy of this book through the Read with Audra blogging program, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
For me, this was not a super quick and easy read. There is not necessarily anything wrong with that, but I found myself slowed down at times by the “numbers”. For example, “Bet (2) is also the first letter of the Hebrew words meaning ‘to bless’ (barak) and ‘firstborn’ (bechor), which both have a value of 222. The Son, Ben (2) is the second person of the Godhead, and this word begins with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Son (Ben) and God’s Firstborn, Bechor (222), are both central to experiencing blessing, barak (222)… Everything points to Jesus.” I appreciated the writer’s intelligence and background knowledge. He obviously took a lot of time to research this book. These portions of the book just slowed me down a little because it was a lot to think about, and not as interesting to me.
That being said, I did enjoy reading about the many connections between the Messiah and the Old Testament. So often, we think of Jesus as only being present in the New Testament, when he is actually present before creation. Rabbi Sobel also demonstrated how there are connections and foreshadowing of Jesus in the characters in the Old Testament. For example, when talking about the connections between Joseph and Jesus, he said, “Before casting him (Joseph) into the empty pit, they stripped Joseph of the special tunic his father had given him…Jesus, like Joseph, was stripped of his tunic (ketonet passim)…In the same way, the Romans stripped Jesus of His clothing (Matt. 27:28), cast lots for the garments, and divided His clothing among themselves…”
Overall, I would recommend picking up a copy of this book if you are interested in reading about how the Bible fits together, with Jesus being part of every book. Just recognize that this book is a little heavy, and may take you a little while to get through as you soak in all of the information being presented.
I received a copy of this book through the Read with Audra blogging program, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2023
There is a groundswell amongst the church today that is increasingly recognising the importance of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. This is not to be confused with the sometimes blind Zionism movement that considers Israel should be supported at all costs regardless of what it does, but includes theologians who realise that Jesus was Jewish, Paul was Jewish and the vast majority of first century converts to The Way were Jewish converts to following Jesus as Messiah.
What has happened over the past 2,000 years is that the western church has “hidden” the Messiah from the Jews in a white, probably let’s face it, middle class, Jesus (my words not the authors), that they can not recognise as theirs. (Jesus after all came to save the whole of humanity starting first with the Jews, then the Gentiles).
What this book does is help to reveal that the OT from Genesis chapter 3 through to King David reveals Jesus in a most profound manner.
Anyone with faith in Jesus knows the parallel of the Passover Lamb to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. That is obvious to even the most casual observer. But did you realise that the whole structure and other well known parts of the OT narrative all miraculously point to Jesus in a way that only the Jewish observer is likely to realise.
Whilst there are things said and mentioned by Rabbi Sobel that I think are pushing the envelope a little too far for my westernised analytical brain, (he calls upon the traditions of Rabbinical and Jewish lore a fair bit), there is much in this book to inspire and encourage you to realise that God had and has a plan and is ultimately in control.
One key aspect of Rabbi Sobel’s arguments relate to the numerical aspects of both the original Hebrew and Greek languages that dominate the whole of the Bible. An aspect of English that we don’t appreciate because our numerical system is separate from our alphabet. The various passages in this book that reference the numerology of the Bible, whilst to my mind not determinative in themselves do show a structure and intentionality within the whole of scripture that could only exist because it is God Breathed. I am sure the typical Jewish reader will get much more excited about this aspect than the typical non-Jewish reader, but what is impressive it that it is there. And I am sure Rabbi Sobel could dig even deeper than he has done in this book should he wish to with his extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language!
If you have the slightest interest in anything to do with the OT, this is a highly recommended read. If you want to sit in awe at the greatness of our God, this is a highly recommended read, and if you want to rid yourself of the over-westernised version of Jesus we have all been brought up with, again this book will help in that quest!
Get to know God a little deeper with the help of a learned Jewish Rabbi and have a read!
What has happened over the past 2,000 years is that the western church has “hidden” the Messiah from the Jews in a white, probably let’s face it, middle class, Jesus (my words not the authors), that they can not recognise as theirs. (Jesus after all came to save the whole of humanity starting first with the Jews, then the Gentiles).
What this book does is help to reveal that the OT from Genesis chapter 3 through to King David reveals Jesus in a most profound manner.
Anyone with faith in Jesus knows the parallel of the Passover Lamb to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. That is obvious to even the most casual observer. But did you realise that the whole structure and other well known parts of the OT narrative all miraculously point to Jesus in a way that only the Jewish observer is likely to realise.
Whilst there are things said and mentioned by Rabbi Sobel that I think are pushing the envelope a little too far for my westernised analytical brain, (he calls upon the traditions of Rabbinical and Jewish lore a fair bit), there is much in this book to inspire and encourage you to realise that God had and has a plan and is ultimately in control.
One key aspect of Rabbi Sobel’s arguments relate to the numerical aspects of both the original Hebrew and Greek languages that dominate the whole of the Bible. An aspect of English that we don’t appreciate because our numerical system is separate from our alphabet. The various passages in this book that reference the numerology of the Bible, whilst to my mind not determinative in themselves do show a structure and intentionality within the whole of scripture that could only exist because it is God Breathed. I am sure the typical Jewish reader will get much more excited about this aspect than the typical non-Jewish reader, but what is impressive it that it is there. And I am sure Rabbi Sobel could dig even deeper than he has done in this book should he wish to with his extensive knowledge of the Hebrew language!
If you have the slightest interest in anything to do with the OT, this is a highly recommended read. If you want to sit in awe at the greatness of our God, this is a highly recommended read, and if you want to rid yourself of the over-westernised version of Jesus we have all been brought up with, again this book will help in that quest!
Get to know God a little deeper with the help of a learned Jewish Rabbi and have a read!
July 19, 2021
We've all, as Christ-followers, heard about the huge number of Biblical prophecies about Jesus, in the Old Testament, that were fulfilled in His life. Have you ever connected the dots between the moments, acts, and miracles of Jesus' life; and the places in the Old Testament that either prefigured those or were direct prophecies? Rabbi Jason Sobel has, and as a Jewish Christ-follower, he has a unique and fascinating perspective in the ways that the Old Testament and the New Testament connect. Beginning in Genesis and moving all the way through Scriptures to Revelation, he brings new and exciting meaning to our understanding of Jesus, the Messiah.
Sobel uses the original Hebrew as he unpacks the connections between Old Testament prophecies and the way those were fulfilled in Jesus's birth, life, death, and resurrection. It's an incredibly exciting book to read, one that will encourage your faith and perhaps catch a glimpse of God's plans from the beginning to the end. Using Adam and Eve, the serpent, Abraham, Moses, Ruth and Boaz, David, and Jesus Himself, Sobel makes connections that might be clear to a Jewish person but that Gentile believers might have missed. Not any longer; and readers will rejoice as they can draw closer to Yeshua, the Messiah.
I found this book to be incredibly exciting. Our roots as Christians really do lie in the Torah, and we can learn so much as we dive into Hebrew Bible characters, the feasts, the Passover, even the accounts of Joseph and Moses in Egypt. And their deliverance and the prefigured Christ. I recommend Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today to you with great joy. You'll learn so much, you'll grow, and you'll love the Scriptures (both Old Testament and New) even more. Do pick up a copy of Rabbi Sobel's excellent book, and dive in yourself! You won't regret it, for sure.
I received a copy of this book through the Read with Audra program. All opinions are my own.
Sobel uses the original Hebrew as he unpacks the connections between Old Testament prophecies and the way those were fulfilled in Jesus's birth, life, death, and resurrection. It's an incredibly exciting book to read, one that will encourage your faith and perhaps catch a glimpse of God's plans from the beginning to the end. Using Adam and Eve, the serpent, Abraham, Moses, Ruth and Boaz, David, and Jesus Himself, Sobel makes connections that might be clear to a Jewish person but that Gentile believers might have missed. Not any longer; and readers will rejoice as they can draw closer to Yeshua, the Messiah.
I found this book to be incredibly exciting. Our roots as Christians really do lie in the Torah, and we can learn so much as we dive into Hebrew Bible characters, the feasts, the Passover, even the accounts of Joseph and Moses in Egypt. And their deliverance and the prefigured Christ. I recommend Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today to you with great joy. You'll learn so much, you'll grow, and you'll love the Scriptures (both Old Testament and New) even more. Do pick up a copy of Rabbi Sobel's excellent book, and dive in yourself! You won't regret it, for sure.
I received a copy of this book through the Read with Audra program. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2021
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mysteries of the Messiah is a very intriguing book. I'm not sure what I thought I was going to read, but this book is in-depth and intense. I found myself wondering if I am even smart enough to read and understand it. Fortunately, Rabbi Sobel is excellent at explaining. My conclusion is that this is a book that needs to be read with attention and perhaps reread. I know I plan to read it again.
Rabbi Jason Sobel quickly gained my attention in his opening paragraphs of "The Adventure Begins". Here's a quote to give you a taste.
"The Bible is one of my favorite mystery books. From the opening words of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation, God's Word is filled with tantalizing clutes, fascinating revelations, and an extraordinary plot. Many of the Bible's mysteries have nagged at our imaginations for centuries. There are odd characters, dysfunctional families, bloody battles, and curageious heroes yet incredible wisdom within the writings." Page ix
Rabbi Sobel then begins to connect the Old Testament to the New Testament with a desire to cause the reader to "experience an unraveling revelation that will cause your heart to burn with increased hope and blessing." It all points to Yeshua the Messiah. Jesus the Christ.
I had no idea that each letter of the Hebrew Bible has a corresponding number. Studying the numbers can help us understand deeper meanings behind the words and other words that have the corresponding number.
This is a book that I intend to read again more slowly and with focused attention. I think there is much in it that I didn't get in the first reading.
I highly recommend this book.
Mysteries of the Messiah is a very intriguing book. I'm not sure what I thought I was going to read, but this book is in-depth and intense. I found myself wondering if I am even smart enough to read and understand it. Fortunately, Rabbi Sobel is excellent at explaining. My conclusion is that this is a book that needs to be read with attention and perhaps reread. I know I plan to read it again.
Rabbi Jason Sobel quickly gained my attention in his opening paragraphs of "The Adventure Begins". Here's a quote to give you a taste.
"The Bible is one of my favorite mystery books. From the opening words of Genesis to the final chapter of Revelation, God's Word is filled with tantalizing clutes, fascinating revelations, and an extraordinary plot. Many of the Bible's mysteries have nagged at our imaginations for centuries. There are odd characters, dysfunctional families, bloody battles, and curageious heroes yet incredible wisdom within the writings." Page ix
Rabbi Sobel then begins to connect the Old Testament to the New Testament with a desire to cause the reader to "experience an unraveling revelation that will cause your heart to burn with increased hope and blessing." It all points to Yeshua the Messiah. Jesus the Christ.
I had no idea that each letter of the Hebrew Bible has a corresponding number. Studying the numbers can help us understand deeper meanings behind the words and other words that have the corresponding number.
This is a book that I intend to read again more slowly and with focused attention. I think there is much in it that I didn't get in the first reading.
I highly recommend this book.
July 21, 2021
In Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today, Rabbi Jason Sobel calls for Christian and Messianic Jews to come together in unity by recognizing and embracing the Jewish heritage of Jesus. As the subtitle indicates, Rabbi Sobel starts with the Genesis creation narrative and highlights the evidence of Yeshua even in the earliest parts of the Bible.
Often Mysteries of the Messiah read like a college term paper as it was highly analytical. At times, Rabbi Sobel expounded on his point to offer a life lesson or spiritual truth, but most of the information was factual about how the promised Messiah presented in those events. The numerical value of Hebrew letters was a new and interesting concept to me that came up frequently throughout the book. While I was not always convinced by Rabbi Sobel’s points, I found his explications very informative and worth consideration. He gave the best explanation of the Torah, Talmud, and Midrash that I have ever read. My favorite chapters were The Messiah, Our Passover (Chapter 8) and The Messiah in the Desert (Chapter 10).
I recommend Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today by Rabbi Jason Sobel to readers who desire to explore the Old Testament (and portions of the New Testament) in light of Messiah Yeshua. This book is precise and informative, appropriate for clergy and lay people alike.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Often Mysteries of the Messiah read like a college term paper as it was highly analytical. At times, Rabbi Sobel expounded on his point to offer a life lesson or spiritual truth, but most of the information was factual about how the promised Messiah presented in those events. The numerical value of Hebrew letters was a new and interesting concept to me that came up frequently throughout the book. While I was not always convinced by Rabbi Sobel’s points, I found his explications very informative and worth consideration. He gave the best explanation of the Torah, Talmud, and Midrash that I have ever read. My favorite chapters were The Messiah, Our Passover (Chapter 8) and The Messiah in the Desert (Chapter 10).
I recommend Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today by Rabbi Jason Sobel to readers who desire to explore the Old Testament (and portions of the New Testament) in light of Messiah Yeshua. This book is precise and informative, appropriate for clergy and lay people alike.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
January 16, 2024
I do not know what may be true of this book, but I can point out one lie, this is where you lost me… the author says that Abraham kills his son Isaac, and because of the obedience God resurrects him three days later, which the author claims was a foretelling of the story of Jesus. FALSE FALSE FALSE
Genesis 22:11-14
”When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”“
READ YOUR ACTUAL BIBLE KIDS. Then you too can point out the mistakes of the enemy, or, ya know, men who are fallible, incorrect, and just want to make some money with words.
The writing of the Bible was led by the spirit and is good for teaching and reproof. It was written by 40 people over 400 years and was put together by people who knew what they were doing…
Genesis 22:11-14
”When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”“
READ YOUR ACTUAL BIBLE KIDS. Then you too can point out the mistakes of the enemy, or, ya know, men who are fallible, incorrect, and just want to make some money with words.
The writing of the Bible was led by the spirit and is good for teaching and reproof. It was written by 40 people over 400 years and was put together by people who knew what they were doing…
July 28, 2021
When I was in class I took a class that taught not only Jewish history, but how it was linked to our bible and our Christianity, cotaught by a lay teacher, whi had rabbincal studies, and a priest, I felt like I truly learned more about my faith in that one class. This book reminds me of that class- it's an eye opener, to better understanding our faith AND our bible!
We often forget that Christianity is based in, and on, the Jewish faith. Sobel does a great job in showing where this Jewish foundation is, in the Old Testament, and how it;s numerology can also be found in our bible. Often we see the Old Testament and dividing from Jewish prophecies by the time the New Testament comes around, but Sobbel shows where that is wrong thinking. In fact, the prophesies are there, and very strongly too! I found myself thinking that this book is like studying genealogy- if you dont understand the roots you come from, you can't understand how far your family has come. This book opens up the roots of our Christian faith in a way we haven't seen before, and let's our faith grow by leps and bounds after finishing it!
While I had an ebook version, I would greatly recommend getting a paper version, to allow for note taking/highlighting, because trust me, you will want to earmark pages to share with friends and your pastor! In fact, I recommend giving a copy to your pastor, as it would be a great bible study class book! In fact, it may become your top Christmas gift to give this year!
We often forget that Christianity is based in, and on, the Jewish faith. Sobel does a great job in showing where this Jewish foundation is, in the Old Testament, and how it;s numerology can also be found in our bible. Often we see the Old Testament and dividing from Jewish prophecies by the time the New Testament comes around, but Sobbel shows where that is wrong thinking. In fact, the prophesies are there, and very strongly too! I found myself thinking that this book is like studying genealogy- if you dont understand the roots you come from, you can't understand how far your family has come. This book opens up the roots of our Christian faith in a way we haven't seen before, and let's our faith grow by leps and bounds after finishing it!
While I had an ebook version, I would greatly recommend getting a paper version, to allow for note taking/highlighting, because trust me, you will want to earmark pages to share with friends and your pastor! In fact, I recommend giving a copy to your pastor, as it would be a great bible study class book! In fact, it may become your top Christmas gift to give this year!
July 16, 2021
When given the opportunity to read Mysteries of the Messiah I jumped at the chance as it was described as a book that would unveil divine connections between the Old and New Testaments.
Wow! I have always know that numbers in the Scriptures have a lot of meaning but it wasn't until the first chapter of this book that I really saw how numbers mean a lot more. Rabbi Sobel explains how the Hebrew alphabet is not only represented by letters but also by numbers. In so doing many mysteries are revealed.
I have always loved to explore different languages and I have always learned that sometimes things are lost in the translations. Imagine reading any version of the Bible in English and then reading and understanding it in Hebrew, I am almost positive we would find some things are missed in the translation. However, I truly believe God speaks through His Scriptures in all languages.
If you want to discover some of the mysteries of the Messiah, I would highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this book.
I would like to thank Audra Jennings and W Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, for my copy of Mysteries of the Messiah. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review. The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.
Wow! I have always know that numbers in the Scriptures have a lot of meaning but it wasn't until the first chapter of this book that I really saw how numbers mean a lot more. Rabbi Sobel explains how the Hebrew alphabet is not only represented by letters but also by numbers. In so doing many mysteries are revealed.
I have always loved to explore different languages and I have always learned that sometimes things are lost in the translations. Imagine reading any version of the Bible in English and then reading and understanding it in Hebrew, I am almost positive we would find some things are missed in the translation. However, I truly believe God speaks through His Scriptures in all languages.
If you want to discover some of the mysteries of the Messiah, I would highly recommend that you pick up a copy of this book.
I would like to thank Audra Jennings and W Publishing Group, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, for my copy of Mysteries of the Messiah. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review. The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.
July 18, 2021
This author often says, in reference to Bible study, “But there’s more”! He then goes on to share “the more” with us. Rabbi Jason Sobel describes this book as going from “standard definition” in understanding the Bible to “high definition”. I would agree. There’s SO much to be learned from this book.
A disclaimer here: I’m not quite sure that I’m qualified to review this book. I’ve never studied Hebrew or Greek, so I can’t even begin critique it with the same expertise as a person knowledgeable in those languages. But I’m happy to say that I came away with a deeper understanding of several concepts in regard to Jesus as the Messiah.
Here’s an example: I’ve never heard anyone teach on how the Hebrew and Greek letters also have numerical value. That teaching opened up an amazing concept as the author highlighted specific words and how the numerical ties verses/concepts together. The chapter entitled “The Messiah of Creation” is filled with amazing details I’d never heard explained before.
I’m going to be reading this book again and taking my time to focus and study all the information the author has given us. It will be well worth the time and deepen my faith.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
July 18, 2021
If you have read "The Rock, The Road and The Rabbi", co-authored by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel, then you are familiar with Rabbi Sobel's insight into Christianity from a Jewish perspective. (If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.) "Mysteries of the Messiah" offers a more in-depth theological look into the Scriptures as Rabbi Sobel opens our eyes to the wonder of God in His Word.
While the first several chapters read like a textbook, the rest of the book will delight you with the Rabbi's teaching. He opens your eyes to just how creative, orderly and wonderful God truly is. God's intricate plans and purposes for the world, His people and His Word begin to fall into place as we learn to read and study the Bible through the eyes of the original readers and see the world through a Jewish perspective.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from HarperCollins through Audra Jennings PR. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
While the first several chapters read like a textbook, the rest of the book will delight you with the Rabbi's teaching. He opens your eyes to just how creative, orderly and wonderful God truly is. God's intricate plans and purposes for the world, His people and His Word begin to fall into place as we learn to read and study the Bible through the eyes of the original readers and see the world through a Jewish perspective.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from HarperCollins through Audra Jennings PR. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
July 19, 2021
Focused reading with “aha” Moments
Not a light read, Mysteries of the Messiah has some academic sections that might be a struggle to get through. It takes concentration to digest the alpha and numeric associations in the Hebrew alphabet but necessary to make the author’s point. Hebrew words with similar meanings in different parts of Scripture is intriguing. But in the exploration of the presence of the Messiah from Genesis to Revelation, the comparison of Old Testament characters such as Joseph to Jesus, and the sacrifice of Isaac bound on a wood pile, to Jesus bound to a wooden cross, the book is full of connections.
Don’t be discouraged by some academic narratives. As you read, you will find, “aha” moments and encouragement as Rabbi Sobel gives a clear presentation that God thought about us in Genesis and the Messiah is woven throughout scripture until the final verse in Revelation. That is the real blessing to the reader-a guide to see the passion and purpose of the Messiah. in this book. Rabbi Sobel shows the whole Bible is a connected story so much greater than its separate parts. As he says, when you read the Old Testament with the New to see Jesus, you see in “high definition” and in full color.
Not a light read, Mysteries of the Messiah has some academic sections that might be a struggle to get through. It takes concentration to digest the alpha and numeric associations in the Hebrew alphabet but necessary to make the author’s point. Hebrew words with similar meanings in different parts of Scripture is intriguing. But in the exploration of the presence of the Messiah from Genesis to Revelation, the comparison of Old Testament characters such as Joseph to Jesus, and the sacrifice of Isaac bound on a wood pile, to Jesus bound to a wooden cross, the book is full of connections.
Don’t be discouraged by some academic narratives. As you read, you will find, “aha” moments and encouragement as Rabbi Sobel gives a clear presentation that God thought about us in Genesis and the Messiah is woven throughout scripture until the final verse in Revelation. That is the real blessing to the reader-a guide to see the passion and purpose of the Messiah. in this book. Rabbi Sobel shows the whole Bible is a connected story so much greater than its separate parts. As he says, when you read the Old Testament with the New to see Jesus, you see in “high definition” and in full color.
June 5, 2021
This was a great book. I loved it. I was looking for something that may have some Jewish traditions into what they believe about the Messiah. I kind of got that. The book had many great Jewish traditions in it. Both about and not about the Messiah. However, the author does this thing with numerical values of words that was completely irrelevant and annoying. I don’t even know that I honestly believed him every time he does it. It was so wild and so much of a stretch that I almost put the book down in the introduction! It’s a practice that I don’t believe is necessary to have insights into who the Messiah is, and more often to not leads to errors and stretches of the scriptures. Coincidentally I felt as though the author had some questionable logic due to this numerical values and words connections that he does repeatedly over and over throughout the book. I rolled my eyes every time. I got literally zero value from it. The rest of the book was great. He had some interesting insights that are worth pursuing in study. It’s just a shame he, in a way, discredits himself with such a clear erroneous method of interpretation as the numerical value system he uses.
July 21, 2021
Let me begin by saying that this isn't a book to quickly read and set aside; instead, it should be read slowly, with a pen and paper nearby. Mysteries of the Messiah offers a unique look at the connection between the Old and New Testaments, and it is full of intriguing information that I've never seen before. The author is Rabbi Jason Sobel, and he assures readers that "Uncovering the mysteries of the Messiah, the divine connection God has woven throughout Scripture, is a lifetime adventure that will never disappoint." Thankfully, Rabbi Sobel offers assistance for our journey, as he uses the Hebrew and Greek alphabet, and their relationship to numbers, to shine a light on this 'divine connection'.
Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today is a fascinating resource that is both enlightening and inspiring. I recommend it to all who want to learn more about the presence of Jesus in both the Old and New Testaments, and deepen their personal relationship with Him!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via I Read with Audra. There was no obligation for a positive review, and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.
Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today is a fascinating resource that is both enlightening and inspiring. I recommend it to all who want to learn more about the presence of Jesus in both the Old and New Testaments, and deepen their personal relationship with Him!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via I Read with Audra. There was no obligation for a positive review, and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.
July 29, 2021
Mysteries of the Messiah: Unveiling Divine Connections from Genesis to Today by Rabbi Jason Sobel is an in-depth study on the Old vs New Testament and what connects them, which helps both Jew and Christian to recognize the importance and significance of those connections. I struggled when he covered letters represented in numbers as a part of that connection. This wasn’t like numerology, but rather something more specific to the Hebrew language. And because of that, I felt a bit lost initially. However, the author does his best to explain the Hebrew words, meanings, numbers and idea behind them. The comparison of things like the tree in the Garden of Eden and the Cross, he has some interesting ideas to think about and further explore. This is definitely a book where I’ll have to re-read sections to get a better understand of the author’s examples. The entire book offers multiple examples of events and people from the Old Testament and how they connect to the Messiah of the New Testament. For those that have the time and love doing the research, you'll enjoy digging deep with this book. I received a copy from the publisher. However, the opinions in this review are my own.
August 2, 2021
This was an interesting book that brought out a lot of Jewish history and tradition to show connections between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible or what's also known as the Jewish Bible with the Christian New Testament. He pointed out where events happened on feast days in the New Testament and what the feasts meant and how they connected. He also talked a lot about numerology and how letters and words have numbers in the Hebrew alphabet and how words and phrases connect to each other based on the same numbers that add up, which I hadn't really heard about before and sometimes it made sense to me and sometimes it felt like a bit of a stretch. Mostly he was pointing out how the Jewish Bible points to Jesus as the Messiah in many different verses, either with certain words they use, the foreshadowing they do that parallels events in the Old and New Testaments or numerology that connects words and phrases to each other. Overall, I found it very interesting and I learned more about the Jewish roots to my faith. I recommend it!
I received this book free from Read with Audra and Thomas Nelson. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
I received this book free from Read with Audra and Thomas Nelson. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2021
This book is a deep dive into the mysteries of the Bible, all of which point to Jesus as the true Messiah/Savior. In some places, it seemed that the mystical/divine connections were perhaps a little stretched, but there is no doubt that there are so many such connections, they can't all be conjured up.
Rabbi Sobel bases many of his deductions on numerical valuations of Hebrew letters and where, when and how they occur. I didn't even know that Hebrew letters have numerical values, so this in and of itself was a revelation! I also lack knowledge of how Hebrew is written, and what is to be understood because of how it is written, i.e. the open or closed mem. All this was fascinating to me, in addition to the symbolism of different events, and how Old and New Testament events mirror each other or were foreshadowed. It may even help cement your faith.
Whether you are a Jew, Christian or neither, or whether you are seeking Jesus or simply want more knowledge or understanding about the Bible, I recommend this as a very interesting journey through holy scripture.
Rabbi Sobel bases many of his deductions on numerical valuations of Hebrew letters and where, when and how they occur. I didn't even know that Hebrew letters have numerical values, so this in and of itself was a revelation! I also lack knowledge of how Hebrew is written, and what is to be understood because of how it is written, i.e. the open or closed mem. All this was fascinating to me, in addition to the symbolism of different events, and how Old and New Testament events mirror each other or were foreshadowed. It may even help cement your faith.
Whether you are a Jew, Christian or neither, or whether you are seeking Jesus or simply want more knowledge or understanding about the Bible, I recommend this as a very interesting journey through holy scripture.
July 15, 2021
A basic knowledge of some of the “main” biblical stories would be very helpful when going into this book. Since Rabbi Sobel goes into verses in great detail — often using Hebrew or even numerology to explain his theories — it could be overwhelming and confusing to someone who is new to scripture.
Speaking of numbers, there is so much biblical symbolism explained in this book! Rabbi Sobel boils it down in easy-to-understand terms, yet it’s mind-boggling to consider the incredible depth of meaning contained in the Bible. Learning some of the Jewish traditions and cultural norms behind the Bible stories really gave me food for thought. I plan to take more time to delve into Mysteries of the Messiah so I can better understand its lessons.
Mysteries of the Messiah is a fascinating read. It bridges the divide between the Old and New Testaments in a user-friendly way. It would make an excellent Bible study or small-group book read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions shared are mine.
Speaking of numbers, there is so much biblical symbolism explained in this book! Rabbi Sobel boils it down in easy-to-understand terms, yet it’s mind-boggling to consider the incredible depth of meaning contained in the Bible. Learning some of the Jewish traditions and cultural norms behind the Bible stories really gave me food for thought. I plan to take more time to delve into Mysteries of the Messiah so I can better understand its lessons.
Mysteries of the Messiah is a fascinating read. It bridges the divide between the Old and New Testaments in a user-friendly way. It would make an excellent Bible study or small-group book read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions shared are mine.
July 20, 2021
I appreciate that the author started off with a biography, telling how he came to faith in Jesus. It really put the entire book in perspective for me. After that it’s not about the human side of his story but about the Jesus side. And linking the Old and New Testaments the way he does with numbers is quite interesting. Sobel taught many unknown things about the Jewish culture that also helped to link things in my brain.
Don’t let all the numbers stop you. I’m not a numbers person but a word person, yet I learned a lot and had many defining moments. As the Rabbi says, you will see Jesus in high definition and full color. And I found it interesting that he is one of the consultants for The Chosen, giving him even more credibility.
If you want to learn more about Jesus in the Old and New Testament, then I suggest getting a copy of Mysteries of the Messiah, grabbing a notebook and pencil, and digging in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Don’t let all the numbers stop you. I’m not a numbers person but a word person, yet I learned a lot and had many defining moments. As the Rabbi says, you will see Jesus in high definition and full color. And I found it interesting that he is one of the consultants for The Chosen, giving him even more credibility.
If you want to learn more about Jesus in the Old and New Testament, then I suggest getting a copy of Mysteries of the Messiah, grabbing a notebook and pencil, and digging in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
May 28, 2021
I selected this book in hopes of gaining a deeper understanding of Old Testament references that would, through Jewish eyes, find their fulfillment in Jesus. My hopes were partially fulfilled. I particularly found the explanation of Abram’s covenant with God confirmed with the passing brazier between the sacrifices and the comparison of the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper with the seder of that day to be interesting.
What undermines my confidence in this work is its continual reference to numbers. The author posits that letters in Hebrew have numerical coefficients that demonstrate, to the knowledgeable Jewish reader, an association between otherwise distinct verses that share common numbers. This sounds unbelievable to me and to an intelligent Jewish friend whom I consulted.
Read this book for the verbal narratives, but view the numerical comparisons with skepticism.
I received a free copy of this book through the Amazon Vine Program.
What undermines my confidence in this work is its continual reference to numbers. The author posits that letters in Hebrew have numerical coefficients that demonstrate, to the knowledgeable Jewish reader, an association between otherwise distinct verses that share common numbers. This sounds unbelievable to me and to an intelligent Jewish friend whom I consulted.
Read this book for the verbal narratives, but view the numerical comparisons with skepticism.
I received a free copy of this book through the Amazon Vine Program.
July 7, 2021
If you love biblical numerology, you're going to LOVE this book! But if you're like me, numbers begin to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher in your head, mawaw-waw-wawam. But there is plenty in here besides the numbers. It's worth the price of the book for Chapter 9 alone - the chapter explaining Pentecost before and Pentecost after Jesus and how they are connected.
What interested me about the book in the first place was understanding more about the Jewishness (is that a word?) of Jesus. As one who grew up with the paintings of a blue-eyed, light-skinned, light-haired Jesus, I wanted to see Him more authentically. And learning that the author is also a consultant for the series "The Chosen" was a clincher.
The book delivered on that point, connecting Jesus more to His Jewish heritage. It's not a light read - even aside from slogging through the numbers - but it's a thoughtful one. Well worth the time if you want to see Jesus differently than Da Vinci.
What interested me about the book in the first place was understanding more about the Jewishness (is that a word?) of Jesus. As one who grew up with the paintings of a blue-eyed, light-skinned, light-haired Jesus, I wanted to see Him more authentically. And learning that the author is also a consultant for the series "The Chosen" was a clincher.
The book delivered on that point, connecting Jesus more to His Jewish heritage. It's not a light read - even aside from slogging through the numbers - but it's a thoughtful one. Well worth the time if you want to see Jesus differently than Da Vinci.
November 17, 2023
So, you are in for a treat when you read Rabbi Jason Sobel's work. I learned a lot and was challenged to find more resources that contain the explanation behind the original language, especially Hebrew from the Old Testament. So many numbers that it almost became too much, and I am a numbers guy. But how can you not believe that the God of order works in an orderly way in all that He does and creates in an orderly fashion. Numbers do matter to the Bible and its correct interpretation. Pointing to the Messiah it is almost unbelievable how people cannot trust that what they are reading in the Old Testament does indeed give us Jesus and that possibly we are in the last stages of this current period before He comes back. Certainly, nobody knows but this book gives me the encouragement to continue to study, learn, renew my mind and then relate to others sharing with them the hope I have in Yeshua.
February 17, 2021
For the most part, it was an interesting [and useful] perspective trying to find links between the Judaic Tanakh (aka Old Testament) and the Christian New Testament. Over all, I found the links made with an accompanying commentary on the cultural context for events to be the most helpful. The numerology components were more hit or miss. Where the symbolism/meaning of numbers were discussed along with citations on where they appear were interesting; I found the use of a numerical equivalent for one phrase to indirectly reference/connect another phrase in other places to be a bit of a stretch in many cases, especially when referencing different languages and/or phrases instead of single words. Unfortunately there is a significant amount of that in the book and it made it a tough slog at times.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#MysteriesoftheMessiah #NetGalley
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#MysteriesoftheMessiah #NetGalley
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