Title: Jesus Was Jewish – And That’s the Whole Point
Let’s start with a historical bombshell that really shouldn’t be a bombshell: Jesus was a Jew.
Not "kind of," not "once upon a time," not "Jew-ish" – Jesus of Nazareth was a born, raised, circumcised, Torah-studying Jew, through and through. He went to synagogue, celebrated Jewish festivals, and taught from the Hebrew Scriptures. His followers called him "Rabbi." The Last Supper? A Passover meal. It’s right there in the Gospel footnotes. Shocking, I know.
So Why Does This Matter?
Because somewhere along the theological timeline, Jesus got rebranded – sometimes literally – with blue eyes, flowing blond locks, and a suspiciously non-Middle Eastern vibe. We often see a version of Jesus that looks more like a California surf instructor than a Galilean carpenter under Roman occupation.
But stripping Jesus of his Jewish identity doesn’t just miss the historical mark – it warps the entire context of his teachings, his mission, and the religious tensions of the time. The New Testament isn't a story of a man against Judaism; it’s a story of a Jew speaking into Judaism, debating and challenging it from within, not trying to erase it.
Christianity and Judaism: A Complicated Cousinhood
Yes, Christianity eventually became its own thing. And yes, theological debates (and empires with power complexes) made that split messy, painful, and often violent. But the early Christian movement was 100% Jewish in origin. Paul, Peter, Mary Magdalene – all Jews.
In fact, the idea that Jews and Christians are “forever united,” as some tweets boldly proclaim, is not just an optimistic sentiment – it’s a reminder of shared roots. Christianity didn't sprout in isolation; it grew out of Judaism like a new branch, not a separate tree.
Why Do Some People Struggle With This?
Perhaps because it's uncomfortable. Jesus as a clean, Westernized figure is easier to swallow in certain cultures than Jesus the brown-skinned, Hebrew-speaking, temple-attending rebel. But history doesn’t care about your aesthetic preferences. It cares about truth.
So next time someone tells you Jesus was a Christian, gently remind them: Christianity didn’t exist yet. Jesus wasn’t trying to start a new religion – he was trying to fulfill and reinterpret the one he lived and breathed. That’s what made his teachings so radical.
TL;DR: Jesus was Jewish. Embrace it, understand it, and appreciate it. Because without Judaism, there is no Jesus.
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