For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [Gentile]. Romans 1:6 ESV

Edith Was Right

Edith Schaeffer, wife of the late Christian philosopher and apologist Francis Schaeffer, published a book many years ago titled Christianity is Jewish. The title and subject of the book sent a sense of surprise, and some shock, through both Christian and Jewish circles. It was something I had never really considered but could not deny historically.

Schaeffer and her husband founded L'abri (shelter), an evangelical Christian organization in Switzerland in 1955. They hosted many Bible studies that were geared to college aged students.

I recall one story she wrote of a group of Jewish students, one of which was particularly openly hostile toward Christianity. He rejected the New Testament gospels being adamant that Jesus was not the Messiah. At one point Edith read to the group from Isaiah Chapter 53 which speaks of an individual who carried our sorrows and was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his stripes we are healed. Edith stopped and asked “Who is this speaking of?” The antagonistic Jewish student pretty much snorted and said, “That's easy. It's Jesus Christ.” The room was stunned to silence by the comment as was the student who uttered it.

It may come as a surprise to many but Jesus was not a 'Christian Gentile' as some believe. He was a Jew born and raised in Israel with a Royal lineage back through David to Abraham (Matthew 1:17) and a physical Jewish lineage through the Jewess Mary all the way through David to Adam (Luke 3:23-37). 

The very day of His resurrection Christ met two disciples, one named Cleopas, walking on the road to the town of Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). Jesus joined them but Luke in his gospel writes their eyes were kept from recognizing Him (verse 16). As they walked Jesus asked them what they were discussing.

They told Him of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in word and deed before God and all the people. They also spoke of a strange report by two women saying early that morning the tomb where the body of Jesus had lain was empty. Jesus said, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (vs 25-27).

Every time I read this how I wish Cleopas had written that conversation down! How insightful it would have been. Jesus joined them at their house and revealed himself to them as he broke bread with them. At that moment they recognized Him and He vanished from their midst. They said afterward of His words, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He spoke to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

Jesus did not start a new religion but fulfilled it as completely Jewish. The first believers in Christ were Jews! We Gentiles by God's grace were included later. The Jewish Christians were at first critical that Gentiles, through the Jewish Christian Peter, were receiving inclusion into the faith (Acts 11:2-3). And later the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome that we Gentiles have been grafted into the tree of Judaism as 'wild branches.' But less we become proud and arrogant over it Paul reminds us we must not forget the branches do not nourish the root but the root nourishes the branches (Romans 11:17-18). We gentiles do not practice a new religion but we serve and worship, by God's gracious benefaction, the Jewish Messiah that fulfilled Moses and the Prophets predictions.

As wild branches we give praise, worship, and thanks to the Master Horticulturist for His skill and love in grafting us into the verdant, lithesome, and treasured tree of Judaism. As God twice promised Abraham that through him all the nations of the Earth would be blessed (Genesis 18:18, 22:18) those promises have proved true and include all peoples, races, and languages (Revelation 7:9). Edith was right. Christianity in its being and practice remains to this day completely Jewish, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. What wondrous news and promises of Grace upon Grace to Israel and every nation of the Earth.

Ken