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Jesus was Jewish
By Melissa Martin
I did not know that Jesus was Jewish until Bible College. As a child,
an adolescent, and young adult, I attended various church services,
Vacation Bible school, youth group meetings, and Sunday services—but
neither preacher or teacher talked about a Jewish Jesus.
How did I miss Biblical and historical facts? Jesus was born Jewish.
His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph were Jewish. Jesus was raised in a
Jewish village. To me, Jesus was a Christian. However, Jesus’ followers
were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26)—only after his
death and resurrection.
Christ Actually: The Son of God for the Secular Age (Publisher: Viking,
2014) by James Carroll surmises that Christians have forgotten Jesus’
Jewishness.
According to Carroll, members of the Christian church must do three
things to recover the Jewishness of Jesus:
1. Christians must learn to read their sacred texts critically. Above
all, the texts must be understood as reflecting a conflict that
unfolded not between Jesus and “the Jews” in the year 30 or so, but a
conflict between two groups of Jews–rabbis and Jesus people.
2. Christians must measure everything they say and believe about Jesus
against the fact of his full, permanent character as an Orthodox Jew.
This would make anti-Jewish stereotyping impossible.
3. Christians should read and hear the anti-Jewish texts of the New
Testament as if they themselves are Jews. (Religion News Service at
www.religionnews.com/)
Jesus/Yeshua
Jesus was born in Israel (Bethlehem) among a Hebrew-speaking people.
His name in Hebrew is “Yeshua” and that name means “salvation” or “God
saves.”
“It is unfortunate that nearly two thousand years after He came, we
have a Jesus who is nearly devoid of any Jewish identity and a Church
that is almost completely severed from its Jewish roots.”
www.jewishvoice.org/.
Pro-Israel in the USA
In 2006, a Pew survey found that evangelical Christians were more
favorable toward Israel than the average American. Another survey
showed evangelical Christians back Israeli control of Jerusalem,
endorse Israeli settlements on the West Bank, and take Israel’s side in
a Middle Eastern disputes.
Jews for Jesus is a global nonprofit made up primarily of Jewish people
from different backgrounds who believe that Jesus is the Jewish
Messiah. Jews who embrace Jesus call themselves Nazarenes,
Hebrew-Christians, Jewish-Christians, Jewish believers, or Messianic
Jews. www.jewsforjesus.org/.
Hebrew Roots is a teaching ministry dedicated to Christianity. “Much of
the teaching taking place in the Christian Community today ignores the
fact that Y'shua is not only our promised Savior, He was also a first
century Jew. He was reared in the Jewish lifestyle of that day, as were
nearly all of those with whom He came in contact.” www.hebrewroots.net/.
Anti-Semitism in USA
Anti-semitic incidents surged 60 percent in 2017, according to a report
by The Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “There were 1,986 anti-Semitic
incidents reported across the United States in 2017, including physical
assaults, vandalism, and attacks on Jewish institutions.”—bomb threats,
cemetery desecrations, white supremacists marching in Charlottesville.
www.adl.org/.
Do white supremacist organizations not know that Jesus was Jewish? Are
members of hate groups Bible illiterate? Being lead astray by
megalomaniacs, hate-mongers, psychopaths.
According to a 2018 article on the Religion News website, Robert
Bowers, the man accused of gunning down 11 congregants in Pennsylvania
“was known to hate Jews” and he “wanted all Jews to die.”
Gentiles and Jews
There is no superiority in being born Jewish or Gentile. “And through
your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed--all
because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:18, New Living Translation)
As a believer, I benefit from studying the archaeology, geography,
sociology, religion, and customs of the ancient biblical world. Seeking
to explore the Jewish culture enriches my understanding of the
Scriptures, adding depth to passages, parables and idioms. Why? Because
Jesus was Jewish.
Anti-Semitism in Ohio
The Ohio/Kentucky/Allegheny Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation
League is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and covers Ohio, Kentucky,
West Virginia and the western half of Pennsylvania.
www.cleveland.adl.org/. Sign up to receive their email newsletter and
show your support.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and
therapist. She lives in Southern Ohio.
www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
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