Yes, of course, Jesus was a Jew. But, maybe this leaves you wondering if Jesus was Jewish, then why do we call ourselves Christians? What does that mean for Judaism? And what about the Messianic movement?
If you have considered these thoughts, you are in good company. These questions and many more have swirled in my mind as well. While God’s Word never wavers and is clear, it can still be all-consuming and overwhelming.
Jesus nearly ceases to amaze me! He still brings a bit of mystery with His awe-inspiring and truly remarkable stories. Stories that always keep us coming back for more, yearning for truth, longing to learn of His ways, and gaining wisdom, discernment, and insight.
So, my friend, I invite you to dig in! Grab your Bible, and let’s unpack some of these questions and see if we can discover if Jesus was really a Jew and what that means for us as His faithful Christian followers.
Jesus' Jewish Background
In the day of Jesus, people were considered to be Jewish based on two factors: if they were born of a Jewish mother or converted to the religion of Judaism. So, either they traced their lineage back to the ancient Hebrews or converted to Judaism and became a new believer based on family values, beliefs, opinions, etc.
Jesus was a Jew by descent. Being in the lineage of Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1), He was born in Judah to Joseph and Mary, a Jewish father and mother (Matthew 1:6 and 2:1-2). He was raised in a Jewish home and was taught the scriptures and Jewish laws (Luke 2:40). Hebrews 7:14 also tells us that the Lord descended from Judah, meaning the son of Jacob, where the word Jew derived.
As Jesus grew, He often taught in the synagogues and the temple. His teachings abided by the Torah and the commandments and upheld all the Jewish customs. Jesus was considered a rabbi, even called the King of the Jews (John 19:21). As a Jew, He observed Passover and the Feast of the Tabernacles (Jon 2:12 and John 7:2), both Jewish traditions.
Prophecy of Jesus's Origin
The Old Testament prophesied a Jewish Savior. One was chosen by God for a special purpose: to restore and redeem Israel (Isaiah 9:6 and 53). Jesus came to save the Jewish people, bring them righteousness, and offer peace. After all, during this time, Israel was run by a corrupt government that brought about much civil unrest. The people were taxed to a point where they could barely make ends meet, and there was little to no freedom, especially regarding the ways and how to worship properly.
So, the Jews captured God’s heart, and He called them His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:1-2, Galatians 3:29).
However, if Jesus' death and resurrection came for all people, securing salvation for anyone who trusts and believes in Him (John 3:16), it easily brings into question why the Jewish people denied Him as the Son of God.
Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas, the Jewish and Roman leaders and religious high priests, among many other governs at that time, were dealing with their own spiritual battles. They were fighting over who was a better Jew and how to worship in the correct form and manner. Let’s just say that in many cases, it was not very “professional” of them.
There were also many false prophets trying to sway people with flirty words of hope. So, it would be rather obvious that the political and governmental realm mocked and ridiculed Jesus, calling Him a blasphemer for calling Himself the Son of God, and many Jewish people followed suit. They were simply led astray, most likely feeling pretty confused during this time. This caused a greater divide between the Gentiles and Jews.
Yet, God still had a plan and purpose for His people, like He always does. Jesus being a Jew and teaching spiritual law according to the Torah allowed Him to get to the “hearts” of the people and transform lives! This is why we see the conversion of many of His followers who came into contact with Him and encountered Who He really was, placing their trust and hope in Him alone!
History of Christianity and Judaism
So, while we are not culturally or ethically considered Jews, we are still considered to be part of God’s family through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9). The same goes for any culture that places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
After the resurrection of Jesus, the Jewish disciples were given the gift of the Holy Spirit to live within them (Acts 2:4). This allowed the disciples to go forth and spread the good news of Jesus. This marks the beginning of the Christian faith.
According to the gospels, each account shares the birth, life, and death of Jesus and how He built the foundation for Christianity.
The main difference here is defined and seen as the Jewish people that denied Christ, believing He was merely a man, but not the Son of God. Meanwhile, Jewish Christians believed Jesus to be the Son of God.
Then, the well-known apostle Paul announced Christianity as an actual religion and made it his mission to go out and spread the gospel throughout the Roman empire. Being set apart and called by God gave him the heart to preach among the Jews and Gentiles alike (Galatians 1:15-16), establishing churches in large cities, and traveling against all odds with bravery and other trusted companions to preach the gospel of salvation.
The Messianic Movement
Around the year 325, a group of bishops and religious leaders gathered together by Roman Emperor Constantine to sort out and decipher if Jesus was the real Son of God and to compile the gospels that make up the Bible. This constitutes the New Testament (the Canon). However, this lacked any knowledge of the Jewish sect.
Religious division among the people has always been a way for the enemy to wreak havoc and cause civil unrest. So, instead of coming together to try to gain understanding and seek to see how Jesus is a man of God who came to save all people, many Christian leaders at the time severed ties and chose to see the Jews who proclaimed Judaism as non-believers, but still as chosen people that God will somehow redeem.
Yet, once Israel became a nation in 1948, many of the Jewish leaders saw that as a sign from God that history was in the making and prophesy was being fulfilled. Therefore, this led the way for Christian influence to seep back in. It was almost like a renewal and a reigniting of the New Testament and faith in Jesus as Lord, blending Judaism and Christianity.
So, while it has been a transition for about the last fifty years, it appears that more and more Jewish people are coming to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Huge praise!
It might also be worth mentioning that being Jewish didn’t necessarily mean they proclaimed Judaism or lived a life that aligned with Jewish law. Similar to Christianity. One may call themselves a Christian, but their lifestyle (and fruits) may show otherwise (Matthew 7:15-20).
This is why religion is not what gets us into the kingdom of heaven. We know that man alone will never “do” or worship enough (or in the proper manner) to be able to gain eternity and live in His grace and presence. We know it comes from faith alone in His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
So, where do we go from here as believers and knowing that Jesus was a Jew? It is a bold reminder to constantly pray for God’s chosen people and those who don’t fully know Christ as Lord. It is also a call for us to live in peace with one another and love as Christ did.
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