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Questioner: Joanna
Private: No
Subject: Jesus Question

Question: Dear Mr. John of AllFaith,

I have written to you on several occasions before, and have always received such a thoughtful, contemplative answer. I have had the pleasure of reading various passages and posts on your website. I must say that I respect your views on spirituality, and agree with much of them. I really value your opinion because it is rare that I come across such a person with your educational background combined with your ability to see God in other religions. I really do respect you and your opinions for this reason. And so once again I solicit your opinion.

Please allow me to tell you a bit about myself. I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran and then Southern Baptist as a teenager. In college I began investigating other religions. This journey confirmed what I had always believed to a certain extent, even as a child; that there is much manifestation of God in many philosophies of thought. I do study other philosophies, such as Hinduism, the philosophy of the Hare Krishnas, Sikhism, Buddhism, and even Islam. I didn’t, and still do not know exactly, the form or how exactly this is manifested, but believe this is true. I believe this is true because the character of Jesus Himself, as purported by His exact words, can also be seen in other modes of spirituality. I have borrowed much from these golden beauties and even put on the clothing of these philosophies, but have found that the philosophy of Jesus (not the philosophy of Paul or of the Christian church, past or present) is what resonates with me…for whatever reason. I could go on in this vein, but it wouldn’t serve the purpose to my question here.

My question to you is this: Jesus gives very clear instructions on how to live, and also adamant promises that are to be fulfilled. However, in most every situation, He is speaking to either His disciples or the Jewish people. Jesus came for the ‘lost sheep of Israel’ which was prophesied early in the Old Testament. On a couple occasions (I could quote verses if you need them), Jesus says that He is here for the Jews. So, I am wondering, as a white girl of non-Jewish descent, where do I fit in the picture? Are the instructions and promises themselves applicable to my life, and if not…where is my Jesus?

John, I truly would like your own personal opinion here…knowing all that you know about God and Jesus, etc., even if it involves other spiritualities/modes of thought. I don’t necessarily want the answer from the Christian Church. I have questioned everything I know from the Church and have realized many untruths and inconsistencies therein. Thank you for your wisdom and consideration. I appreciate you!

--Joanna

My reply:

Hi Joanna,

--- I really do respect you and your opinions for this reason. And so once again I solicit your opinion.

I am honored by your kind words and happy to share as I may.

According to the Bible the One God chose Abraham and gave him His Torah (Truth: same as the Indian concept of the One Veda -- from which the Four Vedas were drawn). Those who came after Abraham and Sarah (Isaac, Jacob etc, i.e. the Jewish people) were unable to take up Torah (Truth) properly and apply it to their hearts and lives, and so through Moses the One God revealed the 613 Commandments of the Jews along with a promise that one day he would send Moshiach (Messiah) who would bring Truth to all the world.

As we work our way through the Tanakh (the "Old Testament") we get more and more insights into these matters. We learn that the sacrifices and rules were actually attempts to "circumcise the hearts" of the Jewish people. God does not need burnt offerings etc. For instance:

Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

What God really wants from everyone is described by Micah:

Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

This central message is proclaimed throughout the sixty six books of the Bible.

Prophet Daniel revealed when Y'shua (Jesus) would make his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-26). Y'shua fulfilled this prophecy perfectly as the crowds shouted Hosanna to the king (Matt 21:9)!

Prophecy matters.

At the foretold time, Y'shua came first and foremost due to the promises of HaShem (God) to the Jews. Hence he told the woman, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt 15:24).

However... he also said:

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Note the timing of this: "because I lay down my life."

Y'shua the man came and taught the Jews as foretold. That was his primary mission.

Then:

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

See this? Once Y'shua had fulfilled his duties to his people the Master sent his followers to the Gentiles, especially following the events of 70 CE.

Now let's go back in time. Immediately after the flood of Noah's Day HaShem made the Rainbow Covenant with all humankind. Mankind disobeyed. Then HaShem turned to the Jews as His specially chosen people.

Y'shua's message began with those same specially chosen people and then was extended again to the Noahides or Gentiles in perfect symmetry. Hence we have the oft repeated phrase "To the Jew first, then to the Gentile" (Romans 1:16 etc). This is why HaShem is prophetically called "the God of [Noah's son] Shem" and why the sons of Japheth are told to serve in their House (Genesis 9:26,27). Our egos may not like it, but this how God set things up.

At Romans 11 Paul clarifies the relationship between the Jews and Gentiles. We Gentiles are grafted onto the Tree of Israel (the Jews) that together we might serve HaShem and that together we might prove that we are ALL unworthy of this service. Why?

Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

As we near the end of the Age we have all, Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs... we have all proven ourselves unworthy of God's Grace. None of us have ANYTHING to boast about (Ephesians 2:9). With this firmly demonstrated the One God will show His utterly undeserved mercy unto us all.

John 3:16 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.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

As Christians we are not "under the Law" and yet through studying it we see the heart of God revealed. Through the adventures of David and so many others we see that even in our failures God is faithful. The Tanakh is sooo very relevant to our lives even though we are not Jews. In the same way while Y'shua was speaking mainly to his fellow Jews for the most part, what did he ever say to them that is without meaning for us as well?

He said:

Mat 22:37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Is this applicable to us? Of course! Can we learn from the Sermon on the Mount? Absolutely. From his many parables? From his assurances? In every way! From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is for us all and Y'shua is the Master of us all... of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.

Understanding who is being addressed throughout the Bible is essential to understanding it. Understanding the various situations it describes is vital. Otherwise we might read a verse and completely misunderstand or misapply it. This need for accurate, contextual understanding is described this way:

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"Study to shew" actually means "apply yourself" not "study" specifically as we use the word today, but notice, "rightly dividing the word of truth" means exactly that. Don't take verses out of context but rather rightly divide them, understand what they actually mean and then apply their truths to your life.

In the same way, there are wonderful truths in other religions and other scriptures. The Bhagavad Gita for instance is pure inspiration and wise counsel when properly understood.

We are not to be fanatical and judgmental of others. God is infinitely greater than our petty sectarianism. We are to seek God and to rightly divide what we find in order to draw ever closer to the One who loves us best.

God is MORE

Hope this helps,

~ John of AllFaith

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