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Rays of Messiah's Glory: Christ in the Old Testament
Rays of Messiah's Christ in the Old Testament
274 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
7 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
David Baron
503 books13 followersDavid Baron (1857 – 1926) was a Jewish convert to the Christian faith. He, together with co-founder Charles Andrew Schönberger (1841 – 1924), began the Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel missionary organization, in London, with the purpose of converting Jews to Hebrew Christianity. Schönberger founded a branch mission in Berlin in 1921. In addition to writing several books, Baron also contributed articles to the periodical The Scattered Nation. He was a leader in the Hebrew Christian movements of the Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) period in Europe.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 23, 2025
"Rays of Messiah's Glory" are illuminations from the Old Testament revealing the identity, nature, and mission of the coming Messiah, the old covenant foreshadowing the new. David Baron wrote in 1886.
He writes for both Christian and Jewish audiences. His arguments are sound, very convincing. His writing is beautiful, worshipful.
He begins with an overview of Jewish belief and disbelief in the concept of "Messiah". It seems that before the nineteenth century, there was widespread belief in a coming Messiah. The Talmud declares, "All the prophets have only prophesied concerning the days of Messiah". (Sanhedrin xxxiv. col.2). The Targums are "intensely Messianic". And Mr. Baron says almost every respectable Jewish commentator, "although not recognizing Jesus as the Messiah", believes that a personal Messiah is taught in the Old Testament scriptures.
Because the Messiah fulfills two starkly different roles in scripture, that of suffering servant and that of triumphant king, there has also been since the third or fourth century, a belief in two Messiahs. Finally, there have been more than forty false messiahs.
But there are many very specific prophesies concerning Messiah that falsify all claims to Messiahship, except one. Jesus so specifically fulfilled prophecy concerning the suffering servant who died for us, but arose from the dead, we can expect him to fulfill that also pertaining to the triumphant king. He who arose from death is coming again to reign upon earth. The two Messiahs are one. Jesus is Lord!
The main body of this work is devoted to a description of the various aspects, titles, and representations of the Messiah; such as priest, king, cornerstone, servant, savior, and branch. He is simultaneously priest and king. He is the high priest who leads men to God, but at the same time he is this very God to whom he leads us. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jn.14:6. He is the branch of David and the branch of Jehovah. He is the branch as servant and branch as man. And each of these different aspects of a branch corresponds to a different gospel. In Matthew, he is the Jewish Messiah; in Mark, he is God's servant; in Luke, he is savior of all men; and in John, he is God with us, lifegiver and light.
As man, Jesus experienced all that men experience. He suffered and was tempted as all men are, yet without sin, because the Spirit of God within him could not sin. But the pain and temptation were real. Jesus stood where Adam fell. In Adam, all die. In Christ, all are made alive, if we proclaim him Lord and Savior. 1 Co.15:22
Mose, that great character in, and writer of the Pentateuch, prefigured Jesus in many ways; potentially yielding understanding of the Promised One.
As Moses was sent by God to lead enslaved Jews out of Egypt, so Jesus was sent to lead men enslaved to sin out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1Pe.2:9. As God through Moses gave people the Law, God through Jesus gives a new Law, love God and love your neighbor, your brother. As Moses led the people through the wilderness, Jesus leads us, if we choose to follow, into an eternal promised land.
Among the most messianic of prophesies are Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, written 1000 B.C. and 700 B.C. Both predict Messiah's sacrificial death by crucifixion long before the Romans brought this means of execution to the Holy Land.
So powerfully does Isaiah 53 mirror the Savior's death and resurrection that many have come to faith in Jesus. A concerted effort has been made to shield the Jews from this passage. Nevertheless, sometimes truth finds a way. It is, after all, in the Jewish Bible.
It has also been suggested that Isaiah 53 does not speak of Messiah, but of the Jewish nation. Jewish suffering has indeed been very great. But the subject of this passage is without sin and dies vicariously for the sins of others. He is also clearly an individual.
Reading David Baron is like praying in the Spirit and with the mind!
He writes for both Christian and Jewish audiences. His arguments are sound, very convincing. His writing is beautiful, worshipful.
He begins with an overview of Jewish belief and disbelief in the concept of "Messiah". It seems that before the nineteenth century, there was widespread belief in a coming Messiah. The Talmud declares, "All the prophets have only prophesied concerning the days of Messiah". (Sanhedrin xxxiv. col.2). The Targums are "intensely Messianic". And Mr. Baron says almost every respectable Jewish commentator, "although not recognizing Jesus as the Messiah", believes that a personal Messiah is taught in the Old Testament scriptures.
Because the Messiah fulfills two starkly different roles in scripture, that of suffering servant and that of triumphant king, there has also been since the third or fourth century, a belief in two Messiahs. Finally, there have been more than forty false messiahs.
But there are many very specific prophesies concerning Messiah that falsify all claims to Messiahship, except one. Jesus so specifically fulfilled prophecy concerning the suffering servant who died for us, but arose from the dead, we can expect him to fulfill that also pertaining to the triumphant king. He who arose from death is coming again to reign upon earth. The two Messiahs are one. Jesus is Lord!
The main body of this work is devoted to a description of the various aspects, titles, and representations of the Messiah; such as priest, king, cornerstone, servant, savior, and branch. He is simultaneously priest and king. He is the high priest who leads men to God, but at the same time he is this very God to whom he leads us. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jn.14:6. He is the branch of David and the branch of Jehovah. He is the branch as servant and branch as man. And each of these different aspects of a branch corresponds to a different gospel. In Matthew, he is the Jewish Messiah; in Mark, he is God's servant; in Luke, he is savior of all men; and in John, he is God with us, lifegiver and light.
As man, Jesus experienced all that men experience. He suffered and was tempted as all men are, yet without sin, because the Spirit of God within him could not sin. But the pain and temptation were real. Jesus stood where Adam fell. In Adam, all die. In Christ, all are made alive, if we proclaim him Lord and Savior. 1 Co.15:22
Mose, that great character in, and writer of the Pentateuch, prefigured Jesus in many ways; potentially yielding understanding of the Promised One.
As Moses was sent by God to lead enslaved Jews out of Egypt, so Jesus was sent to lead men enslaved to sin out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1Pe.2:9. As God through Moses gave people the Law, God through Jesus gives a new Law, love God and love your neighbor, your brother. As Moses led the people through the wilderness, Jesus leads us, if we choose to follow, into an eternal promised land.
Among the most messianic of prophesies are Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, written 1000 B.C. and 700 B.C. Both predict Messiah's sacrificial death by crucifixion long before the Romans brought this means of execution to the Holy Land.
So powerfully does Isaiah 53 mirror the Savior's death and resurrection that many have come to faith in Jesus. A concerted effort has been made to shield the Jews from this passage. Nevertheless, sometimes truth finds a way. It is, after all, in the Jewish Bible.
It has also been suggested that Isaiah 53 does not speak of Messiah, but of the Jewish nation. Jewish suffering has indeed been very great. But the subject of this passage is without sin and dies vicariously for the sins of others. He is also clearly an individual.
Reading David Baron is like praying in the Spirit and with the mind!
December 16, 2019
Baron was a converted Jew who was a popular writer and speaker at the close of the 19th century. It is not clear, but he must have been involved in evangelizing Jews as a primary ministry. He is very conversant with the writings of the rabbis and brings these in to illustrate many of his points.
Essentially, the author takes the major messianic passages of the OT and show how Jesus fulfilled them. One could say that he is following through on the “types of Christ” in the OT, but there is also a discussion of the prophetic passages like Isaiah 53, which Jews have had to “reinterpret” since it seems to so clearly speak of the crucifixion.
The best part of this book is its devotional depth. It is very clear that Baron is a close follower of Christ and that he, like Paul, wants his brethren after the flesh to come to know the Lord. I don’t think this book would appeal to everyone, but those that do read will benefit.
Essentially, the author takes the major messianic passages of the OT and show how Jesus fulfilled them. One could say that he is following through on the “types of Christ” in the OT, but there is also a discussion of the prophetic passages like Isaiah 53, which Jews have had to “reinterpret” since it seems to so clearly speak of the crucifixion.
The best part of this book is its devotional depth. It is very clear that Baron is a close follower of Christ and that he, like Paul, wants his brethren after the flesh to come to know the Lord. I don’t think this book would appeal to everyone, but those that do read will benefit.
September 10, 2011
An excellent work on the Messiah in the Old Testament. David Baron is an expert in Jewish Scripture.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews