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Ask The Pastor
Monday, December 29, 2003
> Question:
>
> Pastor.........my grandson was watching Jesus of Nazareth over the
> Christmas holiday, and he wanted to know just what do the Jews
> believe differently from the Christians. Do you have a simple
> explanation for me to give my 12 year old grandson? He knows that
> Jesus was King of the Jews, but the Jews certainly believe
> differently than us.
>
> Thanks for your advice.
Carolyn,
This is a complicated question because there is no single belief
system among Jews. Not only do they have their denominations
just like the Christians, but a great may Jews are fully non-religious, and
another part are atheists. The greater part of the Jews in Israel are
simply secular or non-religious.
With this in mind it is difficult to give a simple explanation. But
here are some things that may help. Perhaps you can make them
digestible for your son.
(1) Christianity actually began as a Jewish religion. All the original
Christians were Jews. Jesus and the apostles were Jews. Our
entire Bible is a Hebrew document from Genesis to Revelation. This
means that the better you understand the Hebraic background of Christianity,
the better you will under the Bible itself.
(2) Because of Christianity's Hebrew background, we hold a lot in
common with religious Jews. We read the same Bible, with the
exception that Christians have the New Testament writings. Christians highly
esteem Moses, David and the prophets. In fact the only Bible the
early Christians had was what we call the Old Testament. They were
able to preach Jesus readily from Moses and the prophets.
(3) The dividing place for religious Jews and Christians, centers on
Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus actually divided Judaism into two
major parts. One part believed in Jesus and became apostolic
Christianity. The other part rejected Him, and became what we call Judaism.
But both groups have the same roots.
(4) Another area of interest is that there have always been Jews
who have come to Jesus. This is happening more and more in recent
years. According to Jewish scholars in Israel, the number one subject of
discussions among Jews in that country is Jesus. They are trying to
bring Jesus back into their history. But they are divided over how to
do this. Do they bring Him back as a prophet, or as a good man, or
as a sage? The troublesome area has to do with Jesus being the
Messiah.
(5) According to Rabbi Tovia in Jerusalem, more Jews have
converted to Christianity in the last 19 years than in the last 1900
years. (Tovia is against Christianity.) This tells us that something
is happening in the hearts of Jewish people concerning Jesus.
Today it is common to find Jewish synagogues that fully believe in Jesus as
Messiah. These synagogues are part of what is called the
Messianic Movement.
(6) Finally, your son may appreciate knowing that the Bible actually
teaches that in the final days of the church age, there will be a
point where the nation of Israel will turn to Jesus Christ as their
Redeemer and Messiah.
Hope this helps. Feel free to discuss any of this with me. Give your
laddie a good hug from an old timey preacher who loves Jesus
deeply.
The Lord bless you,
Buddy
Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask
the Pastor
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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