The Jewish Roots of Christianity – Part 1
I started this journey by asking, What is truth? There were so many varying views on every subject imaginable, it puzzled me. I saw a fragmented Christianity — hundreds of denominations with major doctrinal differences.
I went from denomination to denomination in search of the real deal — the type of community portrayed in the New Testament writings of the Bible — a first century church that was strong, passionate and truly caring. I was searching for my people — the community I knew I belonged to but could not describe… yet.
While I met some wonderful people along the way, I found a religious system void of depth and richness. So I turned to the Jewish people.
I had pondered the Jewishness of the Bible for many years. I wondered how the Bible had gotten into the hands of non-Jewish people. I would read the Jewish writings and then listen to Gentile (non-Jewish) preachers. I did not hear from their mouths what I was reading in the Bible. I did not see in their churches what was described in the Bible. It was as if there was an entirely different interpretation of the Bible’s writings being presented and an entire religious institution that had been shaped by these misinterpretations.
Where was the Jewish history? Where was the Jewish culture? Where were the modern Jewish prophets?
Was it possible that the Bible had been used to create a counterfeit religious system, one that ultimately abolished the need for the Jewish people and ironically, positioned them as the enemies of the New Testament? (Nothing could be further from the truth.)
If you are a Christian, never forget that the New Testament is the result of Jewish blood.
The Jewish Messiah portrayed in the New Testament and described in the Old Testament prophecies, is in stark contrast to the ‘Gentile’ Messiah depicted by nearly every Christian denomination.
Here are some important things to know about the Jewish Messiah:
*The name ‘Jesus’ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word ‘Yeshua’
*The word ‘Yeshua’ can be translated as ‘the one who saves’
*Jesus was a Jewish man born to Jewish parents
*Jesus’ father (Joseph) came from the tribe of Judah
*Jesus’ mother (Mary) came from the tribe of Levi
*Jesus was a Nazarite (a Jewish holy man)
*Jesus was the cousin of the Jewish prophet, John the Baptist
*Jesus chose twelve Jewish men as His disciples, who became the Apostles
(NOTE: A disciple is a student or follow of the teacher; an apostle is a messenger)
*Jesus did not start a ‘new’ religion called Christianity. His followers were not labeled ‘Christians’ until many years after Jesus was crucified.
*Jesus taught His followers the writings of the Old Testament. This was the only ‘Bible’ in existence when Jesus was alive on the Earth two thousand years ago. The New Testament was not written until many years after Jesus was crucified. Thus, all of Jesus’ teachings (doctrine) come directly from the Old Testament writings.
-Selah
(Selah is a Hebrew word found in many of the psalms (songs or poems) of the Old Testament. It is used as a ‘pause’ within the structure of the psalm. I will be using it to ‘pause’ in this series, which lets you know there is more to come.)
