The Universal Christ
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1 ESV
“Jesus is just alright with me”
Born – Now it seems unremarkable when we assert that Yeshua (“Jesus”) was Jewish. What could be more obvious? Born in Bethlehem, in Judea, in the time of Herod, from Jewish parents, it is simply impossible to claim any other ethnic heritage for the anointed one. But that mere fact of history doesn’t fit the Church’s paradigm of the universal Christ. And it is the paradigm, not the historical record, that frames what the Church teaches about Jesus.
We are approaching that time of year when Christendom celebrates the birth of the universal Christ. The fact that this date is quite unlikely to have been the birth of Yeshua is entirely beside the point. The universal Christ could have been born on any date convenient for the paradigm. Why do I say this? Well, first, let’s look at some pictures.
These were all taken at the Catholic church in Nazareth. Do you notice something strange and common about them? In each picture, Mary and Jesus are portrayed as if they were ethnically part of the culture of the picture’s origin. The Indonesian Jesus looks Indonesian. The Greek Jesus looks Greek. The Korean Jesus looks Korean. The Dominican Jesus looks White. And by the way, among these paintings there is no Jewish Jesus. What does this tell us? Quite simply, Jesus is what the Church says he is! Because the Church desires to portray the Messiah as the world’s savior, it can ignore completely the actual record of the Jewish Messiah and assert, in theology and in art, that Jesus has no ethnic identity. He is whatever we need him to be according to our own cultural requirements. Without personal identity, He is just whatever we say He is – and the same is true for what He teaches. The universal Jesus teaches universal principles, not specific commandments.
The sad truth is that this Jesus is not human at all. No man is of universal ethnicity. This “Christian” Jesus never existed. But that doesn’t matter either, because the Jesus of the Church is an idea in the mind of the believer.
Now try celebrating that!
Topical Index: Christmas, universal Jesus, Nazareth, born, Matthew 2:1
Photos from The Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel
The sad truth is that this Jesus is not human at all. No man is of universal ethnicity. This “Christian” Jesus never existed. But that doesn’t matter either, because the Jesus of the Church is an idea in the mind of the believer.
Now try celebrating that!
Indeed … do I serve the Only Living God that dictates how He is to be served? Or do I serve a “Universal god” that adapts to what I want him to be?
What amazes me even more, is that over the centuries “Christians” were willing to defend their “culturally acceptable Jesus” against others’ concept of their “Jesus” – and how little time we spent in the Word to find out what “Messiah” means and what the “Messiah” was intended to come and do.
PS. To the others on this blog: We are enjoying Skip’s visit to South Africa. Thank you for continuing to pray for him.
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever amen.” I Timothy 1:17
I don’t understand why we are so afraid to show Yeshua as Jewish. I don’t see how that makes Him any less God or relatable (how can Gid even be relatable?). And it’s just … Strange, sad, weird that even in Jerusalem He isn’t portrayed as He came -a Jewish man.
And as a mom of two small boys whose families are firmly entrenched in Christendom and celebrating Christmas, it’s difficult to figure out how to deal with the holiday.
~~ The sad truth is that this Jesus is not human at all. ~~
Brother? Hello? He came unto His own.. Shall we read (once again) the genealogy of THE MESSIAH?
~ what do the scriptures say? ~ many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist ~ (2 John 1.7)
~ and the WORD became flesh and tabernacled among us ~ Christ was more “human” than you and I may ever hope to be! -and the only perfect (completely Jewish) ‘man’ ever to have lived!
I am not sure if I understand you right, but Skip is not saying that Yeshua is not human. He is stating that the Jesus of the Catholic Church [THIS Jesus] is not real. A real person has ethnicity. And Yeshua was/is as Jewish as they get.
Is the art is attempting to portray Jesus’s genuine existence as non-Jewish, or are they, in the fashion of art, trying to tell us something about the genuine Jewish Jesus and his relationship to other cultures?
Since the ONLY significant mosaic that is ABSENT is one from Israel (there is NO Jewish Jesus in this church), my guess is this is not about the “genuine Jewish Jesus” and his relationship to other cultures.
Guessing is an interesting past time, but Roman Catholic theology is rich in symbolism. It would be interesting to ask someone in that denomination to explain the symbolism of these pieces of art. Then the guessing may not be so much guessing, and it may be possible to then deal with the ding an sich. 🙂
If Jesus were a kosher Torah observant Jewish rabbi, then that would make Jesus a “Judaizer”. Sorry, Judaizers are not allowed in our church 😉
Yes, and Jesus was not a Judaizer, was He? Those guys all thought you had to become JEWISH to worship the God of Israel. Fortunately for me, God loves Gentiles – as Rahab shows us.
Skip do you realize that some will come to the conclusion you have ::””Totally Flipped Your Theological Hat???
OOPS????
WOW
Gerry
Interestingly, the Pope has just authored a new book entitled:
“Jesus of Nazareth – The Infancy Narratives”. It is a 176-page just in time for gift giving for the holidays in spite of the fact that in the book the Pope admits that the idea that Messiah was born on Dec 25 has no basis in historical fact. “We don’t even know which season he was born in. The whole idea of celebrating his birth during the darkest part of the year is probably linked to pagan traditions and the winter solstice.” (Pope Benedict) But having the Pope admit to its pagan origins won’t prevent billions of religious people from participating in a ritual the Catholic church foisted upon gullible,carnal and unconverted people throughout the ages. This preemptive admitting of a heresy without the need to act upon it’s obvious conclusion is, to me, an amazingly arrogant feat. It says yes, we admit we are wrong about Christmas, but we are going to perpetuate this pagan holiday in spite of the truth- because we can.
(the same thing the RCC said about the changing of the Sabbath to Sunday) It would be as ludicrous as broadcasting the group you represent are lawless, unrepentant murderers with plans to kill you and all your kin worldwide and yet you still bend over backwards to accommodate them. Oh wait, that too just happened (again) in the latest Gaza trilogy. Oy Vey!
This is ‘another Jesus’ than the Yeshua Scripture teaches, against which Paul warned.
This is the ‘Jesus’ that according to Constantine was born on the day Tammuz / Jupiter / Mithras was born, all of them being the son of the sun. Paganism replaced all ‘Jewish’ feasts. Who wanted to keep celebrating the feast OF THE LORD, lost his head. So we did exactly what antichrist will do: change law and feastdays.
Yeshua was most likely born in a sukkah on Sukkot (He dwelt or ‘tabernakeled’ among us; John 1:14). He fulfilled the springfeasts during His earthly life, and He will fulfill the fallfeast as well in future; the first level of fullfilment was already there when He was born.
This is not a ‘christian’ Jesus, but the very jewish Yeshua.
This mindset is professed by those who say, “this is what it means to me” and why many can read something in Scripture and let skilled preachers explain it away.
Think about it…Christmas is celebrated by “believers” and many unbelievers alike. Basically same customs, same decorations, same foods etc. OK, so the name of the holiday contains the title “Christ”, but is that what the holiday stands for in the minds of MOST people? It’s high time to be honest about it…Santa has a bigger reputation during Christmas than Yeshua Ha Mashiach. I used to resent His dismissal by the general population when the holiday came around, and as I considered this over the years, it increasingly started to make sense. Santa…gifts, food, decorations, lights with larger electric bills, multiple parties…without christmas the US economy would suffer a massive stroke!!Last year, I heard on a christian radio station that a person not celebrating christmas was not a christian. How absurd!!
Having married into 2 christian families, Jesus was hardly discussed during our christmas celebrations. It was about trees, decor, food, and presents. I realize this is hardly to be considered to be representative of the US population at large, however, working in retail for 25+ christmas seasons, I could also tell some stories of christians acting anything but! Not alot of peace during this time of the year for retail workers.
The Biblical feasts/holidays were prescribed for the people of God only with some instruction on how to observe them. In comparison, what is it about christmas that is Biblical? Or is it man’s attempt to create something, like adding to the Word? I do gather with family during this time, but the christmas myth has been exposed in my mind for some time now, along with the christian Jesus.
Yeshua Ha Mashiach, Jesus the Christ, King of the Jews is Savior to those engrafted into His nation, Israel.
“The sad truth is that this Jesus is not human at all.”
Hi Skip,
As you well know, I agree with your point above, but don’t think it must be sad 🙂
I think the four pictures are all very beautiful and most definitely convey a spiritual quality
Which I find very inspiring
The Hindu? mother with her baby Jesus holding the world in his hands with a cross on top
Is pretty funny when you think about it
I have a old calendar on my wall with pictures of the Madonna like the one above from Greece
And the one from the Dominican Republic makes me think of my previous job on Crossman Avenue
Where the president of the company was a big believer in the Magic Quadrant (4 rectangles in 1)
And the so called “green zone” in the upper right hand corner
Where the “visionary leaders” who can “execute” reside
I am one of those who will celebrate Christmas, knowing full well there is a 1/365 “chance” Christ was actually born on December 25th. This pagan(?) holiday, (the word has it’s roots in “holy day”) gives me and my family a ‘chance’ to remember and to rejoice in the birth of our Savior and very Jewish LORD.
In no way is “Christmas” a Biblical holiday. But ‘Christ Mass’- gives us an opportunity to remember and to return to and to rejoice *in Him*. And anywhere, and at any time, and any thing that causes me to “remember Him”- the ONE who gave His life’s blood for me is most welcome in my house. I will joyously sing the carols and the hymns, knowing full well that what I am singing about (actually Who I am singing about) is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
He was born in a barn in (the very Jewish town of) Bethlehem. Oh? And how does “anyone” know this? Friend, “it is written.” He was born of the virgin Mary. Oh? – And how does “anyone” know this? Friend, “it is written.”
Shall we continue? (Is this trip necessary?) Was the birth of the Messiah foretold? Is it written? – thousands of years before He came into this world, was the birth of the Messiah, the place, the manner, the people, the reason, – you name it. How many (unknown or ignored?) prophesies are there concerning Him? Wise men came from the East to worship Him and they brought unto Him gifts,- gold, frankincense and myrrh. Why these particular gifts? And (of course) do wise men still seek Him today? And what is the direct promise of God? (May I repeat this?) What is the direct, “very personal” promise of God? ~ You will seek Me and you will find Me, when you seek for Me with all your heart ~ (Jeremiah 29.13) How (again, and again and again- have you noticed a pattern here?) does “anyone” know this? To whom is are these words from the pages of the word of God written? Are they to the Jew only? Or are they (as the scriptures state) for “whosoever will?” -Yes, I’m talkin’ to you. (slap, slap- please wake up.) Is a “rude” awakening necessary? (don’t be rude, Carl).
Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus (who is the) Christ, the Anointed ONE, is one of three things. Either He is Who He says He is- LORD, or He is a flat-out Liar, or He is an unparalled Lunatic. This Man says He is God. Are we going to believe His words? Why do we not believe? I am flat-out amazed that we don’t. Why is He (still) rejected, when He has promised- ~ I am come that they might have life- and have it more abundantly? ~
Again, (and again, and again, and again)- What do the scriptures say? (Maybe I’ll get a tat..) What do the scriptures say? ~ These are they that testify concerning ME ~ We shall not know the Incarnate Word unless we know the written Word, and this, dear friend is why Him Who is the Living Word has said, (we do pay attention to His words- right?)- “you do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.”
Oh? Remember: how did God create this green planet? By speaking. He spoke the word: “Let it be” or “may it be so” (yes.. “amen”) and when God speaks- friends.. – what happens next? LIFE occurs.
~ And as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the sons of God even to them who believe in His Name ~ It this true? I highly suggest, (and that is all that I can do) that we “welcome the Word”- that we live our lives “by the Book.” – Why would this be?
~ For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart ~ (Hebrews 4.12)
Oh, the gifts we have been given! (We “have been” given), for ~ He has given unto us- “all things that pertain unto life (life -today) and godliness.”
Ages ago, Christ, our Near-Kinsman Redeemer was refused and rejected (not by all, but by many). Again (and again, and again), we must ask, “Who” was born on “that day” ( maybe He was born on Thanksgiving Day) in Bethlehem?
If John the Baptizer were present on “that day” as a fully grown man, would he say with the wise men- ~ Behold the (very Jewish) Perfect-Propitiating-Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? ~
And do I have to wait until Christmas day to open this Gift? lol! Not at all! For “every day” with Jesus, IS sweeter than the day before!- and it just keeps gettin’ better! It truly is- “The Gift That Keeps On Giving!”- Hosanna to the King! – This is Yeshua HaMashiach, King of the Jews!! and LORD of “ALL.”
LORD of every thought and action,
LORD to send and LORD to stay;
LORD in speaking, writing, giving,
LORD in all things to obey;
-Now and evermore to be
A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose “greatest passion is compassion,” whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Hmmm
Just for fun, maybe we can apply the Rabbi’s comment above with a little tweek
And find some hidden meaning in the pictures above
According to Rabbi Heschel:
“A religious [wo]man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time”
The pictures above focus our mind on the little man who is God
There is an Indian church around the corner from my condo where they the worship the “man-God”
I’m not sure what that means exactly, but sometimes they refer to him as Om Sai
Not to be confused with Hombre (Paul Newman)
Or the last lines of Jesus Raza in The Professionals, which lament
Because there was “passion without compassion,” the revolution lost its meaning
BTW Abraham Heschel and Jesus Raza were both popular back in the ’60s
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/abrahamjos114462.html#bsqdP14yuT2h8HFO.99
I read a little book called “transported by the Lion of Judah” (Elmer?) In this book was the true story of a minister who during one of her traveling and preaching destinations she became ill and was hospitalized. She was in a double bed room with a elderly woman that was very close to dyeing. As I remember, she thought she must be there to pray for this woman and her salvation. Her prayers became her focus and diligently kept praying when the Lord interrupted her prayer and told her to stop. Then He instructed her how to pray for this woman. He said “just pray that she would recognize me” so she continued in that way and the next day the woman spoke to her asking who that handsome young man was who had come to visit her? (She assumed it was her son) The minister said no, that was not my son, He must have come to visit you. Jesus came back to her a second time, Anyway, she finally recognized Him! I’m not sure what He was wearing or what He said, but she was so happy and she died in peace shortly afterward:) I am pretty sure He will come to ravish our hearts, and there will be no mistake it is Him!! He alone reserves the sovereign rights to His unveiling.