Christ for Jews: Chapter 1 - The Jewishness of Jesus
For centuries, the person of Jesus of Nazareth has been viewed in various ways—by Christians as the Messiah and the Son of God and by many Jews as either a respected teacher or, at times, a figure of controversy. What often gets lost in these discussions, however, is something fundamental: Jesus was Jewish. His identity, upbringing, teachings, and mission were deeply rooted in the traditions and Scriptures of Judaism. In fact, it’s impossible to fully understand who Jesus is or what He claimed without first recognizing that His Jewish heritage shaped everything about Him. This chapter will explore the Jewish identity of Jesus and how His life reflected His deep commitment to the Torah and the Hebrew Scriptures. It’s an invitation for Jewish readers to consider Jesus not as a figure disconnected from their faith but as someone who lived, breathed, and taught within the very context of Jewish tradition. A Child of the Covenant Jesus was born into a Jewish family in the first centur...