Christian Jew

QUESTION: Can there be a Christian Jew?

ANSWER:

A Christian Jews is someone who practices Judaism and believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Some of these believers prefer to be called Hebrew or Messianic Christians. They believe Jesus was the Jewish Son of God born of the Virgin Mary. Christian Jews believe that He became the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Rabbi Leo Baeck is a leading philosopher-theologian and historian of religion. He rejects Christianity, but declares the need to present Jesus as a legitimate Jew. Rabbi Baeck points out that Jesus was a Jew, born among the Hebrew people and greatly recognized by other Jews of His time.

Christian Jews will call Jesus by the name of Y'shua, since mentioning Jesus can provoke anger from the ones who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Y'shua spoke as seeing the past, present, and future personally. He spoke with an authority about the things of God that others could not. This authority for Christian Jews stands as proof that Christ is the Messiah He claimed to be in His teachings. Y'shua had power to perform miracles and taught with illustrative stories. Y'shua was committed to be about His Father's business, as was spoken of when His family found Him speaking in the temple at the age of twelve. Y'shua had a great love for all people who wanted it. Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be tried, convicted, and crucified without a legal fight. The world was changed by His life's examples.

Christian Jews take seriously the relationship God has with His chosen people. With all the world's anti-Semitism, they understand the closeness God desires with His children. The teaching of Judaism becomes real in their lives as they feel a deep sense of direction to what God has done for them. Many state that the feast holidays have become more significant to them spiritually. This has brought meaning and purpose to them as Jewish descendants who are Christians.