Jesus, Jews & Gentiles

If it is not about Jesus, it’s not about anything

(Motto of the Fountain of Life)

SPS:  To explore Christocentric theology, the Jewishness of Jesus and the mission of the Jews.

INCLUSIVE THEOLOGY

Jesus is the heart and the object of Christian faith.  He is the Logos describing that unique act of God in which God from all eternity willed to become man in Jesus Christ for our good.  In accordance to His will He did become man in the fullness time for our good.  And, as evidenced by the Resurrection, He will remain human for eternity, again for our good.  

 As a member of the Trinity Jesus has a personal relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said in John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one is us.”  Here Jesus not only validates the existence of a personal relationship, but He expands it to become an inclusive personal relationship.    

And Since Jesus is one with the Father and one with the Spirit this work of the Son of God includes the work of the Father as its foundation and the work of the Holy Spirit as its result.  Their work is not separate or exclusive or isolated; rather their work is totally integrated and inclusive; and mankind has been an integral part of that work from all eternity.  One aspect of man’s inclusion into God’s work from all eternity is that God wills not be who He is - without us.  Brethren, you are included.

The first three articles of the Apostles Creed are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Permit me to paint a few points with a very broad brush.  Christian theologians of the 17^th and 18^th centuries proposed a one sided theology in which the primary examination of the New Testament was made thru the lens of the Holy Spirit.  This led to a focus on spiritual gifts and feelings but not upon relationships.   

That direction eventually strays away from the centrality of Jesus.  Conversely, theologians such as Augustine centered their primary examination of God through the lens of the Old Testament God the Creator.  This led to a focus on the supremacy of God, upon law and works and not upon relationship; and not upon the centrality of Jesus.  The two approaches never ignored Jesus, however they led to a perceived dualism in the nature of God - one god of the Old Testament demanding justice and punishment and one god of the New Testament offering mercy and grace.

Jesus is the relational focus of the Old and New Testaments, bringing them together.  He is the relational focus between God and men, bringing them together.  Jesus is the heart of Trinitarian Theology, which is Christocentric, relational and inclusive.  Spiritual gifts and works, for example, are not ignored, but are examined through the centrality of Jesus Christ.  The focus upon Jesus brings justice and grace into an inclusive relationship and removes any trace of dualism in God.      

Jesus Christ is not a result of the forces of history converging upon 1^st century Judea.  Rather, the whole of human history is the result of Jesus Christ.  From eternity past, the whole of human history was bound by the will of God to have its culmination point in Jesus.  Theologian Karl Barth says, “Everything that deserves to be called knowledge in the Christian sense lives from the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”  Christ is not just a being from whom certain benefits flow to man.  Jesus is life.  He is man’s salvation in all circumstances.

JEWISHNESS OF JESUS

It is interesting that in English and in most European languages, we do not refer to Him with the Jewish words Joshua Messiah, but rather; we know Him as Jesus Christ, which is from the Greek.  The common usage of Jesus Christ encompasses a Jewish name Joshua and a Jewish title The Messiah fusing them all into Jewish and Gentile application.  

 This name Jesus is laden with Jewish meaning.  The sense here is that Jesus is the name of a decidedly Jewish man, a decidedly non-gentile man.  Jesus, a Jew, is the man of Israel who reveals and sets forth, in a definite work, the nature and mission of Israel.   This proper name expresses the Person, election, calling and the work of the Man Jesus in whom the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of the nation Israel is revealed and actualized.

The title Christ is a Greek gentile word “chrestos.” The Gentile use of the title, applied to a Jewish person unleashes the calling and work of the elect Man of Israel from the restrictive narrowness of one nation, Israel, into the unfettered broadness of the gentile world.

Barth states that Israel “in olden times was to find its fulfillment in Jerusalem…And at the same time this fulfillment signifies the fulfillment of what was given to Israel, and the fulfillment and revelation of what this people was appointed to be for the history of the world.” 

In the person of the Jew there stands a witness before our eyes regarding the covenants with the Fathers.  Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Jesus Christ is the reality of this covenant.  Jesus is the foundation of all reality.  The reality of the covenant fulfillment is the basis, the meaning and goal of creation, that is, of everything.  The prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of the nation Israel is identical with God’s will and work, as surely as it has been set forth and fulfilled in the prophetic, priestly and kingly mission of Jesus Christ.  

Israel as representing God’s sovereignty on earth – becomes visible as a type.  But finally – and this concerns us – this mission of Israel as the type is fulfilled in the appearance and sovereignty of the antitype, Jesus of Nazareth; it is fulfilled out of this people through His belonging to this people.

The Mission Continues – thru Jesus

Is Israel’s mission thereby superseded?  No.  Barth points out that Israel is elect and God’s election holds for eternity.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate elect of God and the ultimate fulfillment of Israel.  This designation of Israel, in the form of its election and calling holds good and unalterable.  Barth indicates that this designation “is to this day visible in the Church, which is in fact essentially a Church composed of Jews and gentiles.”  The inclusiveness of the Church indicates that the Church exists for the sake of the world.

What does it mean that Israel is elect and God’s election holds for eternity?  If the mission of Israel is fulfilled in the coming and work of Jesus Christ, then Jonathan Edwards may help in understanding this.  Edwards pointed out that that Christ is unchangeable in His office as Mediator and Savior of His Church and people.  The office of Mediator never ceases nor is it ever replaced.  Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man. 

 1 Timothy 2:5 shows, “There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”  He is an everlasting Mediator and Savior.  The Old Testament priests died and were replaced.  But Christ, who lives forever, is a priest forever (Hebrews 7:23-24).  

Edwards continues that Jesus’ kingly office is also everlasting.  David and Solomon were powerful kings, but they died and were replaced.  But for Jesus, as Hebrews 1:8 indicates, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.”  Daniel 7:13-14 show that though all other kingdoms will be demolished, the Kingdom of Jesus will stand forever. 

The mission of Israel was to provide the world with the Messiah, a Mediator, a Savior, and a King.  That mission was accomplished at the Golgotha event by the racial son of Israel, Jesus.  If Jesus were only human like David or Solomon, the mission would have ended at the Cross.  But the Golgotha event is not a static point in history.  It is living, efficacious and eternally continuing through the prophetic Messiah of Israel, Christ Jesus.  Israel is intimately and eternally conjoined to Jesus Christ through race and prophecy.  Edwards points out that Jesus’ mission is eternal.  Therefore through their relationship with Jesus and only through Jesus, Israel’s mission, election, and calling are eternal.

THE MISSION – IT’S GLORY

Paul teaches in Romans 1:20 that the heavens declare the glory of God.  This is so because just by the virtue of its existence, the mission of the universe is preordained to bear witness to God.  It can bear witness to none other.   

That witness to the world continues without interruption.  And the heavens’ mission to proclaim God yields glory for the creation.  “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:  for one star differs from another star in glory” 1 Corinthians 15:41.  

 In a very like manner, the mission of the Jews was to provide the world with the Messiah, a Mediator, a Savior, and a King.   Throughout the pages of the Old Testament the Jews bore witness of the Messiah to the world.  They can bear witness to none other and still be Jews.  And the world recognizes that an intimate and eternal association exists between the Jews and the Old Testament.  They cannot be separated, they exist together in history.  The world may ignore the Old Testament but it cannot ignore the existence of the Jews.   

Therefore, the very existence of Israel in the world is the continuation of the historic mission of the Jews to bear witness to God, because the existence of Israel and the Jews point to the Old Testament.  If the heavens receive glory for bearing witness to God, how much more is the glory of the Jews for doing the same in a more specific way, for possessing the very oracles of God?

THE MISSION – NOT HIDDEN

Including the name Pontius Pilate in the Apostles’ Creed illustrates the fact that this Passion took place upon a stage upon which the Jewish and Roman worlds collided.  This Jewish man Jesus lived His life in real time in the center of real life.  The events of His life were not hidden, as Paul attested in his defense before King Agrippa in Acts 26:26.  Christians do not to seek escape from this life since Christ also lived it with its unloveliness and frightfulness. 

 Pontius Pilate represents real life; that is history, in so far as human activity is organized upon on State lines.  Pontius Pilate represents State order and State power; which in Pilate reveals itself in its evil form, in all its human perversion and unrighteousness. 

 The State is exposed to be a monster, an animal, a beast.  See Revelation 13 where the State exercises its power as the Beast from the abyss.  The Passion of Christ unmasks the Beast.  The Revelation to John shows this Beast as judged and condemned.  In addition, the existence of Israel today is not hidden.  And by virtue of the fact that the Nation Israel exists today; that is a continual witness to the historicity of Rome.  In like manner the clear existence of Israel today bears continual witness to the reality of their racial son, a Jewish man Jesus.       

The Covenants Fulfilled – thru Jesus

By virtue of His becoming flesh (John 1:14) the covenants were fulfilled.  And this next point is important.  The covenants continue to be fulfilled in and through Jesus, and not through the past, present or future nation of Israel.  Continuing fulfillment through Christ, the elect of God, is how Israel’s election continues.  In fact, the Old Testament already supports the physical fulfillment of God’s promises to the nation Israel:  (Joshua 23:14:  Joshua declares:  “You know with all you heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled, not one has failed.”  1 Kings 8:56:  Solomon states:  “Praise be to the lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised.  Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.”)   

Their election also continues in the racial Israelites who are in the Church today and tomorrow.  In other words, the election of Israel as a type of Christ continues through Jesus Christ a racial son of Israel; and continues through Christ Jesus the antitype of Israel itself. 

DISPENSATION

The historical existence of Jesus Christ by virtue of His divinity reveals God’s decision upon every man.  It is based on the fact that by God’s dispensation Jesus stands for all and so all are bound and obligated to Jesus. 

 God’s dispensation here has three elements:

1.  Jesus, by God’s dispensation, stands for all.  (This is inclusive of all mankind)

2.  It is God’s wise dispensation, that there is cohesion of each man and of all men with Jesus.

3.  In virtue of God’s dispensation man is Christ’s property.

The sovereign, kingly dispensation in Jesus Christ is grounded on the fact that by God’s doing this one man stands for all.  It is grounded in the sovereign decision of God – namely, the lordship of Jesus Christ.  God’s eternal action to us is found in Christ, not in different peoples, nations or institutions which have their assigned time and work and move off the pages of history.

Here we find echoes of Romans 5:8 and 1 John 2:2:  “Before His eyes from eternity God keeps men, each man, in Him, in this One; and not only before His eyes but loved and elect and called and made His possession.”   

Here the election and calling are simultaneous.  Brethren we may debate the sequence of election events, however the above scriptures are presented from God’s timeless view and are absolutely true.   

CHRISTMAS INCARNATION AND HISTORY

The historical manifestation of Jesus Christ conceived of the Holy Spirit and incarnate through the Virgin Mary is illustrated by several descriptions.  He was conceived, born, suffered, crucified and buried.  Christmas is the sign and the Incarnation is the event.  They are separate yet related concepts.  Christmas is the Virgin Birth at Bethlehem, which was the sign “that ye may know.”  Conceived of the Holy Spirit simply put means that the man Jesus Christ has His origin in God.   Jesus owes His beginning in history to the fact that God in person became man. 

In the ebb and flow of human history a point stands out…God becomes man.  Being born of a human mother is significant.  He is a man like us.  He is not only physically like us men; He also assumes our human nature; that is your nature brethren; it is my nature.  Protestants teach that it is the nature we inherited from Adam.   

It is the nature in which we all die (1 Corinthians 15:22).  It is the nature which He redeems.  He is the same as us without any reservation.  Church Father Gregory of Nazianzus (d. 389) wrote, “For that which He has not assumed He has not healed.” That means that Jesus assumed the nature of Adam for the salvation of Adam’s descendants. 

The 1^st Century world depicted the male as the dominate contributor and driving force of human action and history.  Weakness and humility were not associated with the male’s cultural activity.  The significance of the Incarnation/Christmas event having a female represent humanity is this.  It demonstrates that mankind is to contribute nothing.  Here, the male, as the director of events for humanity is now placed into the background as the powerless figure.   

That which God showcases is the 1^st Century female role representing the weakness of man.  From that symbolic weakness Mary responds to Gabriel.  Luke records her saying these beautifully humble words, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according as to your word.”  

 Nonetheless, by virtue of physical conception and birth humanity is not totally excluded because Jesus takes his humanity from the very human Virgin.  God becoming human, made flesh, has tremendous importance. 

VICARIOUS DEATH AND BURIAL

The Western Church has inclined towards theologia cruces, theology of the Cross; that is toward things surrounding the Good Friday event.  The Eastern Church has inclined towards theologia gloriae, theology of glory; that is toward things surrounding the Easter event.   

However, Good Friday cannot exist without Easter and Easter without Good Friday.  The humiliation of Christ is decidedly visible in the process of suffering crucifixion under Pontus Pilate, dying, being buried and descending into hell.

Jesus exaltation is accomplished in the mystery of Easter.  Barth indicates that “...this glorifying is certainly a self-glorifying of God; it is His honor that triumphs there:  ‘God goes up with a shout.’  But the real mystery of Easter is not that God is glorified in it, but that man is exalted, raised to the right hand of God and permitted to triumph over sin death and the devil.”   Barth’s phrasing of this truth caught me off guard in its power.   

God knitting man into Easter expands an event surrounding Christ’s personal glory into an integration surrounding Christ’s subsuming man into relationship with Himself. According to the Trinitarian distinction of the personal and the universal application of grace, this statement pertains to all of mankind.  It is very inclusive and relational.  Through this inclusion we sense the importance to all mankind of the vicarious life of Christ, lived for our benefit.

Judged:  The death of Jesus Christ accomplished His law.  By this we mean that in the death of Jesus Christ, the Persons of God have acted as the Judge and the Defendant as required by law.  They have passed the verdict, which was carried out upon the Defendant.   The judgment which belonged to us was placed upon Jesus freeing us from it.

Crucified:  Crucified means rejected; handed over to the death of the cross inflicted by authority upon the guilty.  Without Christ, this is the righteous action of God on the human creature.  What befell Christ is what ought to befall us; Christ bore it for us freeing us from it.

Dead:  Without Christ, death is the end of all planning and striving; it is where all thoughts perish, Psalms 146:4.  Dying means exhausting the last of our power or efforts.  Without Christ, death is the last action that can happen in the creaturely existence.  But Christ has died for us freeing us from this final sting of death and freeing us unto limitless possibilities.

Buried:  The greatest names of any generation or culture will be forgotten by later generations.  That is what being buried means.  Without Christ, in the grave all humans fall into forgottenness; and that is the judgment on man.  That is God’s answer to sin:  Without Christ, there is nothing else to be done with sinful man, except to bury him and forget him.  But, Jesus was buried for us freeing us from forgottenness.  

Descended into hell:  Hades in the Old Testament sense is where man continues to exist only as a non-being, as a shadow…the dead can no longer praise God, they can no longer see His face…It is a state of exclusion from God.  In Jesus God comes in our place, descends into hell and takes our punishment upon Himself, freeing us from it. 

Brethren, this is all Good News.  And it only gets better because the good news does not end here with freedom from judgment, punishment, death and burial.  It goes even beyond the final resolution of sins.  He is risen.  

 That means that He takes us with Him into life eternal.  And that is Fantastic News.  Rev. Todd Crouch has pointed out how fantastic this news is in this very thought provoking and powerful statement.  “God loves us more than he loves Himself.”   

Brethren, God died for our sins.  From all the evidence of the Bible, Rev. Crouch has spoken truthfully. 

For more information on the calling and mission of the Jews please refer to the Fountain of Life Blog page articles:  February 2013 - The Apostles’ Creed part 4 of 6 and July 2014 - The Oracles of God.

May the blessings of God our Father and of His Son, our Lord Jesus, be with you all.

George Relic, Assistant Pastor.

Fountain of Life, Washington, PA

A congregation of Grace Communion International