Jesus and Israel
When you ask the question “who is Israel?” most Christians today would immediately say “the Jewish People” or the “Jews” or they might point you to “the state of Israel.”
If you then you were to ask them, “then who is a Jew?” you might get a varied number of responses.
For instance, a Jew can be one born a Jew, or Jew can be a Jew because of religion. The Israeli state and its Law of Return grants citizenship to any immigrant who is born of a Jewish mother, or is converted to Judaism.
Because the application of a Jewish mother, even a Jewish atheist can be considered a Jew. There are many secular Jews today.
Long before the state was created being a Jew largely meant adhering to rabbinic Judaism, the devotion to study of the Torah and observing all the laws and statues of 613 precepts.
Any converts from Gentile, or non-Jews, to Judaism meant acceptance of the Torah and the Oral law, the Rabbi’s interpretations of the written law, and they had to be circumcised.
History is full of examples of where non-Jewish Gentiles peoples became Jews. Today Jews still grapple with the question what makes one a Jew and who is a Jew?
It may surprise the reader to learn that the term “Jew” is nowhere to be found in the Torah, or first five books of the written law of God. In fact, the words the “the Jews” are not found in the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First and Second Samuel, and the book of First kings. Nor are Jews found in the books of First Chronicles, or the book of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.
The first mention in the Holy Bible referring to “the Jews” comes in Second Kings 16:6 after Israel was split into two separate kingdoms of the house of Israel, and the house of Judah; the house of Judah was henceforth known as “the Jews.”
2nd Kings 16:6
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.
So why the absence of the “Jews” from the first huge section (first 11 books) of the Bible history?
Because the people of Israel were not known in the Holy Bible text as being “Jews,” or “Jewish,” they were only known as “Israelites.”
The children of Israel were not Jews.
They were, in fact, Israelites, born of Israel, born of Isaac, born of Abraham.
So now the question turns to “who was Israel?”
Israel, was the name God gave to Jacob, and Jacob was not a Jew either. Jacob, or Israel, had twelve sons, and one daughter who became the children of Israel.
Now of Israel’s children, Israel had a son named Judah. The name Judah is much later where we get the term “the Jews”, from, because they are related to the tribe of Judah, and later the tribe of Benjamin, one of Judah’s eleven other Israelite brothers who joined Judah to form the house of Judah.
So, the tribe of Judah is where we have any connection to the Jewish origins. Judah is also the only tribe that holds the scepter. Judah is also the tribe out of which king David will come and through the lineage of David, Jesus the Christ.
Jesus was legally born under the lineage of his earthly father, Joseph of Bethlehem. Jesus was birthed by his mother Mary of Nazareth who also was born of Judah and a son of David, by Bathsheba 2nd Samuel 5:14 whose name appears in the genealogy of Mary, the mother of our Lord Luke 3:31, and the Holy Bible tells us Jesus was born of Mary who was a virgin espoused to Joseph. The true father of Jesus was not Joseph, but the Holy Spirit of God, the heavenly Father of Jesus.
Jesus was adopted by the law into David’s line through Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, but Jesus was the Son of God, of his Father Almighty YHWH.
Read the first chapter of the book of Mathew where have a legal genealogy of Jesus.
Next read about the blood lineage of Jesus' mother's line in Luke 3:31 and 2nd Samuel 5:14.
Mathew 1:1-23
¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Luke 3:23-38
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, 25 Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, 26 Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda, 27 Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, 28 Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, 29 Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, 30 Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, 31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson, 33 Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, 34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor, 35 Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala, 36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech, 37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
2nd Samuel 5:13-16 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
Mathew’s record of Jesus’ genealogical line begins at Abraham the father of Isaac, the father of Jacob who name was changed to “Israel.”
Then it traces Israel’s descent to king David, which the Christ comes through, to Joseph the father of Jesus.
Jesus was born of Israel, he is an Israelite, and Judahite, born the tribe of Judah, and the Davidic of line of king David.
According to Old Testament law, the inheritance of tribal line went through the male’s line, not the female. A female received inheritance of the male’s name and his tribe.
Note, that the Israelites later would have read the scriptures such as 2nd Samuel 7 referring to the “seed of David” as the earthy seed of David and his physical descendants, Yet God’s plan involves an intervention, a change, for the seed of David is not only according to flesh of men, but through Christ who is born of the Seed of God, of the Holy Spirit.
2nd Samuel 7:11-16
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also YHWH telleth thee that he will make thee an house. 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
Going back to Abraham, we see that YHWH promised Abraham he was about to be made a great nation.
Genesis 12:1-3
¶ Now YHWH had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God promised to establish an everlasting covenant to him and his seed.
Genesis 7:4-7
¶ As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Genesis 22:15-18
¶ And the angel of YHWH called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith YHWH, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Jesus the Son of God, of the seed of Abraham, was the fulfillment of that blessing, “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
Jesus fulfills the promise to Abraham, and Jesus comes from the seed Abraham, the seed of Isaac, the seed of Jacob, the seed of Judah, the seed of David. Jesus is therefore, the perfect Israelite. Jesus is the perfect Judahite, or Jew.
Whereas historical Israel failed to meet God’s requirements, and tests, and failed to obey God’s laws, and failed to please God, Jesus is the perfect Israel.
Jesus lived a life without sin and was in perfect obedience to the law of YHWH. Jesus represents the perfect Israel himself.
Matthew 3:13-17
¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
God was well pleased with his Son.
Immediately after this baptism of Jesus, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil.
The “wilderness” is also where the children of Israel were once tested and spent 40 years in the wilderness having failed the tests.
Jesus, the seed of Israel, is tested himself to see whether he loves God with all his heart, soul, and strength.
Jesus undergoes a fast for 40 days, and passes all tests put to him by Satan. Jesus is therefore the perfect sinless Israelite, the perfect law keeper who overcomes all of Satan’s adversity. Whereas historical Israel failed, Jesus, the truly obedient Israel, succeeded.
Having passed the test of 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus is ready to enter into “the Promised land.” Like historical Israel, which God fought for to retain the land of Canaan, Jesus with God will fight the good fight to conquer the land of Israel for God and his glory. His conquest is not the land, but souls of the “lost sheep” of the house of Israel first, and the world.
Jesus preached, from that point on, of the coming kingdom of God, a kingdom to come with no end, and everlasting kingdom of the Spirit of God.
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus was also the perfect student of the law of YHWH, the perfect hearer, the perfect doer of the law, and the perfect teacher of the law of God.
Matthew 5:17-20
¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was not only the perfect Israelite, but the perfect sacrifice.
John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Jesus was the perfect Lamb without fault or blemish, or sin, a holy sinless sacrifice to God for the remission of sins of his people Israel and the world.
Jesus was crucified and put to death, his blood shed to atone for the sins of the world, but he conquered death, and the grave, and was raised from the dead on the third day. Afterward, he appeared to his disciples and gave them a commission.
Mark 16:14-16
¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Jesus also fulfilled the holy Scriptures.
Luke 24:44-48
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jesus’ message was now universal, whereas once it was only to the lost sheep of Israel, now the Gospel is to be sent to the whole entire world, to every creature.
Jesus is the Light to the world, where as historical Israel failed to be a light to the Gentiles, the nations, Jesus and his disciples are now a light to the nations.
John 1:1-13
¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:14-21
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
So, if Jesus is of the seed of Abraham, of the lineage of Israel, of the tribe of Judah which makes him a true Jew, then what is one who is in Christ, or one baptized into the body of Christ Jesus?
Romans 6:3-9
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Once we become in Christ, we are born of God, born in Christ, the seed of Jesus. If of the seed of Jesus, we are then heirs to the Promise of Abraham through Christ Jesus, children of the Israel of God, of the tribe of Judah, or true Judahites, or Jews!
Romans 8:14-17
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 2:28-3:2
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 1 ¶ What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Galatians 6:15-16
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 3: 26-29
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4:1-7
¶ Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
So, in Christ Jesus one, whether a Jew or Gentile, is a son of God, and an heir of the Israel of God, a partaker of promises made to Abraham by almighty God!
It’s not the children of the flesh, but the children of the Spirit, not those of the men’s traditions of the law, but those in faith in Christ Jesus!
O YHWH, Holy Heavenly Father, great thanks be to you and glory to your name; for your Son Jesus the Christ whom came to shed his precious blood for the sins of his people Israel and all others, who you God, loved as well as your great love for Israel, that you would share in the glory with the Gentiles, the glory you have in store for your chosen people Israel.
Thank you for choosing us, who are in Christ Jesus, to live everlasting in your light and love forever and ever!
We pray for all those not now in Christ that they would see your glory and join themselves to your Covenant, the New Covenant made with Israel in faith in Jesus the Christ, that they too could join in the glory of God and inheritance of the Israel of God.
In the name of Jesus, I give thanks and prayer.