Kathleen Gotto
Several years ago while sitting in an aisle seat and waiting for my plane to take off, a flight attendant stopped, looked at me in puzzlement, and asked if I was confused. When I asked him what he meant, he pointed to the Star of David and gold cross pendants that I wore around my neck. I smiled, and simply said, “Jesus was a Jew.” That seemed to take him aback.
Thinking about that encounter, I thought about the bigger picture of how little Jewish and Christian believers may understand each others’ religions. Since there are different sects or denominations in both religions, I can only speak from the viewpoint of evangelical Christians, who hold the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (or Testaments) as the inerrant and inviolate Word of God/Yahweh.
Evangelical Christians, specifically, and the world at large, have much to be thankful for with the incredible and redemptive gifts which Yahweh gave to mankind. By His decree, He set apart sanctified Jewish scribes to diligently and painstakingly labor over every jot and tittle of the Law. Yahweh’s Word had to be preserved for all generations. Surely the Ruach HaKodesh, God’s Holy Spirit, empowered the scribes through the ages to faithfully deliver His commandments to and for humanity. For the scribes’ reverent and diligent labor, we would do well to be eternally grateful.
Another gift bestowed upon the world by our Creator is the Jewish Rabbi, Yahshua, or as the Septuagint refers to Him, Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One. It is without dispute that Yahshua was a historical figure of great importance, a Jewish Rabbi who knew and understood the Torah and all the Law. While Christians also recognize Him as the long-awaited Messiah (and the only One who fulfilled all the Law), Jewish people are still awaiting the Messiah’s appearance. Jewish believers look for His first appearance and Christians are looking for His second appearance. Despite such differences, both devout Christians and devout Jews who look for redemption that only comes from the Messiah, are joined in the belief that Yahweh did not set the world adrift without hope.
There has been misunderstanding and discrimination of Jews down through the ages, and that is untenable in light of how God set this people group aside for His divine purposes. Since Christians have just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, it would be prudent to remember the words of Rabbi Saul/Paul about the Jews in his letter to Romans at Chapter 11:11-12: 11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! And for this Christian, that is why the Mogen David and the Cross are of equal importance and deserve equal prominence, and can be worn together without restraint or confusion. Hallelujah!