Jesus The Jew Series

If David had made a religion out of his faith, he would have drawn up some theses after his first victory over the Philistines. “When enemies come against you, go up and meet them because the Lord will give the victory.” However, this would have been wrong – religion and not relationship. What God wants is that we keep inquiring of him – remain connected to him – listening to his ongoing instructions – which change from circumstance to circumstance. When the Philistines came the second time, God changed the strategy. David was to circle around them and only attack after hearing the sound of marching in the tree tops. God is not a set of principles but a God of relationship which unfolds in the history with his people.

Therefore, we appreciate that God chose the Jews first as his special people and then – in due course – reached out – through them – to all people. This is the kind of God we worship. We have a history with him – a relationship.

I come to a close. Jesus was a Jew and the message of salvation is Jewish – coming out of God’s history with the Jews and now with us – the Gentiles. This is not to shock us but help us understand our faith. Take hold of him. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah – the Christ – our Passover lamb. Amen.

Rev Tony Higton.

Cf. Peter von der Osten-Sacken: Martin Luther und die Juden.

Romans 1:1-6: “ … Christ Jesus … [God’s] Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead … Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace … to call people from among all the Gentiles [all those that are not Jews] to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ … ”

Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article VI: “According to the inmost self they delight in the law of God (cf. Romans 7:23) … ”