Deutero Q

It can be easy to perceive of Jesus in unbiblical ways, allowing cultural accretions to confuse our understanding of Him.

For instance, the anglicized (at times blue-eyed and handsome), cinematic Christ of Hollywood bears little physical resemblance to the Middle Eastern Jesus about whom Scripture says, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2). The beauty of Jesus was—and is—the greatest beauty of all: the beauty of holiness.

I am recognizing, more and more, the importance of understanding Jesus against the backdrop of Judaism. In the words of a bumper sticker I once saw, “My boss is a Jewish carpenter.”

His very name, “Jesus,” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua,” (yeshua) meaning “God saves.” In accordance with Jewish law, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21). Every year His family went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover (Luke 2:41-43). Jesus also took part in the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7) and attended synagogue every Sabbath, “as was his custom” (Luke 4:16). Jesus was a rabbi who fulfilled the Hebrew (Old Testament) Scriptures. And of course the first believers in Jesus were Jews.

It seems to me that coming to terms with the “Jewishness” of Jesus is essential if we are to truly understand the Messiah of Scripture.