Who He Is

"They are Jesus"

THEY ARE JESUS. The way they think, the way they react, their mannerisms are all like Jesus. The way they approach worship is Jesus. What is important to them in it, the Truth they hold to, their confidence is Jesus. This isn’t a spiritual comparison, though that is there, too. It’s a cultural one.

We’ve been blind. We’ve made Him like us, and them as outcasts. We’ve taken Jesus’ words to the religious leaders, the apostle Paul’s words to the Gentiles, and viewed them with our Gentile thinking. But Jesus is of the Jews. He is a Jew. He is Jew. He formed them from Abraham. He was born a son of David. He was dedicated in the Jews’ temple. He worshiped their covenant holidays. How they are is who He is.

He died at Roman hands because He was a Jew. Pilate labeled Him, tongue-in-cheek, “King of the Jews”. They buried Him as they buried Jews.

We observe the Jews and really don’t get the Jews. We barely listen to their teachings, content in our blue-eyed image of the Word. But our Savior, Jesus, is more like them than us in His tastes, His likes and dislikes. I see “Coffee With Jesus” remarks now and then and always think, “No ….” They didn’t drink coffee in His day. “But, Suzanne, surely He’s had coffee by now!” I’ll bet His taste or distaste for it goes back to His youth.

When hanging on the cross, He took care of His mother, giving her to His beloved apostle, John. She was in the upper room at Pentecost. She and His earthly Father, Joseph, raised Him, a Jew (Luke 2:22,41). Jumping ahead, Jews, gathered in the Jewish capital city, celebrated a Jewish holiday, and the Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire. Peter, a Jew, then preached a sermon to a crowd of Jews, WHO HEARD THEIR NOISE, and 3,000 Jews were saved.

The thinking of Jesus’ words in the Gospels is Jewish. We read them with our individual mindsets, but there is an element of revelation that will bless you if you’ll see them as Jew. The press of the crowds is much like what happens in today’s synagogues. The desire to touch Him is very Jew. The methods of healing, from lepers to blind men to funeral resurrections, are Jew. We see this as history in our understanding, but it’s far greater than that. Jesus is alive. Savior. Jew.

And moving among His people. Who know God is their salvation and heaven is their reward. Who know God is righteousness, redemption, and reconciliation. One rebbe said, “Prayer is not the recitation of words but the awareness of standing before God.” Another, “The essence of prayer intention is to draw down the Light of the Infinite into creation.” They say since G_d created them, they will love one another. He is love, so they are love.

Of antisemitism, a Jew writes, “Antisemitism isn’t a call to change who we are. It’s not about trying to fit into society or becoming more closed off. It’s a call to reveal more of Hashem’s godliness in the world.” Hashem. Jesus.

And approached by a man in fragile health, the Rebbe quoted Exodus 15:26: “None of the illnesses I placed upon Egypt shall I place upon you, for I am Hashem your healer.” God heals. Jesus. Acts 10:38.

They are Jesus. A people who were freed from Egypt to worship Him in the wilderness, to be Him in the Promised Land, to become the temple of God where shechinah abides. Husbands and wives, who dedicate their sons as they enter the IDF in public prayer. Who lay hands on their sons and daughters as they become one, with worship and celebration. Who teach their children values thousands of years old and a way of thought that mirrors Jesus.

John 4:19-22
(19) “The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
(20) Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
(21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
(22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

Photo by MIGUEL BAIXAULI on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com