Communicating the Christ
“Jesus the Jew,” from Christianity: A History, British Broadcasting Company (2010)
Yes, I’m that one—the one who wishes everybody a “Merry Christmas” during that special time of year, trusting that Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, and Christians all appreciate my warm and joyous spirit.
Then I watched “Jesus the Jew,” the first episode in a BBC series called Christianity: A History. Let’s just say, I’m rethinking the way I express my merriment about Christ to others.
The episode, is hosted and narrated by Howard Jacobson, a renowned Jewish writer who sheds light on the longstanding conflict between Jews and Christians. He explains the Jewish origin of Christianity and asserts that Jesus wanted to renew Judaism — not start a new religion.
Jacobson also cites Christian misinterpretations of the Bible, including the original meaning of the term “Messiah.” Contrary to the traditional Christian definition, it doesn’t mean God or even Son of God but one who prepares the way for God. While Jews respect Jesus for his teachings, they do not believe he was the Messiah in any sense of the word — let alone the Christian sense. According to Jewish interpretation of Old Testament writings, Jesus did not fulfill prophecy.
What’s more, Jacobson discusses what he considers inaccuracies in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth. For example, because Nazareth was a Jewish city it would not make sense that Mary and Joseph (Jews) would have been forced to return to Bethlehem. Jacobson posits that this was an invention of the author.
Something that especially struck me was Jacobson’s analysis of Christians’ depictions of Jews as enemies. Judas is seen as a Jewish demon and all Jews are seen as monstrous crucifiers of Jesus — thus they have been made outcasts throughout history. It’s the snowball of Biblical misinterpretation resulting in continual condemnation of Jews by Christians that has given “Christ” a negative connotation for Jews. In fact, they have a hard time accepting Jesus as anything because he has come to represent that which opposes Judaism — and yet Jesus was a Jew.
Even more interesting to me was a question posed later in the episode: If the crucifixion was necessary to prove Jesus was the Messiah, could Judas have worked with Jesus to fulfill prophecy?
This documentary illumines history as Jacobson visits holy landmarks, interviews scholars, and presents new views of the Scriptures. While I don’t agree with all the opinions presented, I was forced to consider my own perspective of Christ Jesus and the way it affects others. Specifically, when I use the word “Christ,” what does it mean to the listener? While, as a Christian Scientist, I might use the term to indicate Truth or God’s holy message to humanity, to Jews it may only indicate the hate with which they’ve been treated by Christians.
So, as I ponder how to better communicate the love and joy I feel due to a scientific understanding of the Christ, I remember that Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “Human language can repeat only an infinitesimal part of what exists.” 1 While I’m determined to find a happy medium between “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays,” I know that words cannot express the Christ. What matters is spiritualization of thought and action—a language everyone understands.
Notes:
Topics: Interfaith | Tags: Biblical interpretation, Messiah
Thanks,Megan, very thought-provoking! And Thanks, Nina, for steering me to this, from our discussion on “The Abundant Life”! Jesus wasn’t a Christian and didn’t come to start the Christian Religion. Mortal men started the religion and filled it with his sayings and works and named it “Christianity.” Mrs. Eddy discovered the Science that lay behind Jesus’ healing works, and since she was raised in a Christian household, reading the Bible and going to a Christian Church……what else would she call it but “Christian” Science….???? But, as Nina says, she also calls it Divine Science and Divine Metaphysics. I guess you could say that Christian Science really has a Jewish background…..but none of that really matters when you put it all into Divine Metaphysics – which can easily be translated into ANY religion – Jewish, Muslem, Hindu. This Divine Science of Healing is for Everyone of Any Religion and does not have to be based on the Christian Jesus or Christianity. As Mrs. Eddy is quoted as saying one time, It wouldn’t matter if Jesus had never come, this Science would still be Truth and would still have been discovered.
I am sometimes moved to tears thinking of all the longing and labor that people have invested on the side of goodness through the centuries. The vast majority of it is largely invisible and took place in hearts and prayers in private moments of self control and self sacrifice. The gravity of history is deeply humbling to me, and I know I am thinking of only the tip of the iceberg.
To my heart, I am grateful for every step that anyone has taken in the direction of love, willing to trust God more than the eyes of fear. As Bob said, we all owe an unthinkable debt of gratitude to the countless people in every cultural group, who have gone before us, doing the best they could, using the spiritual guideposts in the best way they knew how. These people have brought us to the place of progress we now occupy.
Still, we see through a glass darkly. And we are the ones who continue the heart’s labor of opening the way for greater progress on earth – not by creeds but by honesty and faith, following God to the best of our ability.
I’m not familiar with the film you saw, but as someone who is Jewish, practices Judaism, and uses the generic truths discovered in CS, I can tell you that no matter what you think you know based on what you saw in the film, it may just be impossible for you to actually step into the shoes of a Jew and know what you think you now know. Thousands of years of Jew hunting and butchering has basically left the Jewish psyche permanently incapable of getting past anything that starts with the word Christ or Christian, etc. It’s a scaring that runs deeper than any documentary or lifetime of documentaries can undo. Trust me. I’ve spent my lifetime at it both in the secular and religious communities. Living the Truth, demonstrating Truth, that’s the only, as you hinted. Christianity, as it’s been presented the last 1700 years or so, is a non starter with Jews and maybe with other non Christians, I don’t know you’ll have to ask. Personally, I speak Truth to error all of the time. But I don’t use the buzz words, not even with those who aren’t Jewish. What a shame though. I’m sure Jesus had a great message, though who can be sure that he said all that was attributed to him. Still, though, Mrs. Eddy helps us weed through any inaccuracies. Jesus came at a tough time. The Jewish people had been offered- and accepted – a monumental task: Bring monotheism to the world. They did the best they knew how at the time – from the Exodus from Egypt with Moses trying to whip them into shape, til the end of the second temple when Jesus tried to warn them one last time. A firm foundation of Yeshiva study was founded, but mortal mind was too much for them and they managed to lose two temples in nearly a thousand years. Actually, it’s a testament to the resiliency of Truth that observant Jews still manage to live “in the world but not of the world” as they say, constantly working to raise consciousness. It’s also a testament to the resiliency of Moses’ Torah. If you think about it, without the nearly 6,000 years of developing and practicing Jewish thought, including Jesus and the work of honest, hard working Christians, there would be no Mary Baker Eddy, the “key.” I’m grateful to tears for all the hard work done over the centuries, and for the key!
Bob I’m so moved by your comment! I too was born a Jew. I was verbally assaulted all the time when I was very young. I grew up with prejudice, and fearful family memories of the Holocaust. I still feel startled when CS-ists use the word “Christ” as a synonym for “Truth” because I know how narrow — even how arrogant — it can sound to non-Christian ears.
But . . . a big BUT . . . I guess the point to me is that divine Science offers us all complete rebirth, complete newness of life, beyond all terror and tragedy. I don’t believe there’s any such thing as being “permanently incapable” of any good and joyful thing. Including comfortable relationships with people who use the words Christ and Christian, intending no harm.
Also, I want to urge you to think again about this statement: “it may just be impossible for you to actually step into the shoes of a Jew and know what you think you now know.” We’re One. The “divine Us.” We CAN understand each other’s pain -- then move beyond it together. I can tell from what you’ve said that you’re personally living this new and beautiful story!
Have you read this blog? http://time4thinkers.com/my-holocaust/ It speaks so profoundly to these issues.
Hi Bob,
Thank you so much for your insightful comments. I know this documentary only scratched the surface of the scar imprinted on Jews over centuries. I so appreciate your clarification and input. I don’t pretend to know what it feels like or that a film could give me that kind of understanding. I was simply reporting and commenting on the content of the film. What it did do was cause me to evaluate my own actions and awareness of others. I was awakened to the fact that words like “Christ” and “Christian” could cause severe negativity—even pain. Something (I’m embarrassed to say) I was not completely aware of before. I deeply value your thoughts on Mary Baker Eddy and the way that she helps us “weed through any inaccuracies.” I share your gratitude for the centuries of hard work that paved the way for Mary Baker Eddy to share the key with us! Again, thank you so much for your illuminating perspective!
Hi Megan, I really appreciate the openess to listening and understanding others that you express here.
I hope the words “Christian Scientist” will always bring to thought compassion and kindness and such a willingness to dig deep for understanding.