Neither do men put new wine into old wineskins: – Mat 9:17
A result of the current research into the historical Jesus that has been
accepted, nay, embraced, by the Church is the “discovery” of the Jewish
Jesus.
Simply put, the theory goes that contemporary Christianity has excised
Jesus away from His Jewish/Hebrew roots and portrayed Him in opposition to it.
The contention is that Jesus was a FULL Jew who lived in a fully Jewish culture
and lived a fully Jewish life; and the Church must acknowledge this fact. And
while we’re at that, they insist that His real name is Yashu’a,
NOT the anglicised “Jesus” that we keep using.
The “Jewish Jesus” doctrine has done much good in terms of re-presenting
a fresh, hitherto unconsidered facet of Christ. As an evangelical tool, it has
enabled the Gospel make inroads to Jews around the world who are more open to a
Mashiyach
(Messiah)
that is kindred to them.
Unfortunately – typical of everything we touch – extremism has crept
into this noble concept. Now we hear of Believers being asked to celebrate
Jewish feasts like Yom Kippur, pray exclusively in the name of Yeshu’a
Hamashiach, and tap into “the power of the tallith (Jewish prayer
shawl)”.
Not only are the proponents giving Believers the impression they’re
missing out in not acknowledging Jesus’ Hebrew Roots, but some even go to the
point of implying that not going Jewish is disobedience to God’s command.
But this craze is nothing more than erroneous nostalgia; because the
Torah-observant, Moses-honouring ‘Jesus’ that they’re trying to paint never
existed!
It’s incorrect to say that the Jesus of scripture had no problems with
the Jewish rituals and even “encouraged” their practice. From the very
beginnings of His ministry, He was already dismantling it and by the time His
Christianity became fully formed, it had cleanly cut itself from the umbilical
cord of Mosaic ritualism. The first Christians, who by the way were 100%
Jewish, NEVER celebrated the Day of Atonement and as a matter of fact, equated
it’s celebration with apostasy (see Hebrews 10).
Jesus came to die for all of humanity, and in Christianity “there is
neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian,
bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Col 3:11)
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not
miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN
gregelkan@h0tmail. com
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