Why Jews don't see Easter the way Christians do

ABOUT a month before Easter this year, I received a poignant letter from a prominent Seattle-area evangelical Christian businessman, a passionate activist for Israel. He wrote to invite me for a kosher meal at his home — and to discuss Jesus.

He did not, he promised, intend to evangelize me, a believing Jew. Rather, as a leader in the growing movement of Christians and Jews allying on behalf of the Jewish state, he was puzzled about what we Jews believe about the Christian savior. He was, he said, "ashamed that I never engaged my friends in what is the most important aspect of their lives, their faith, simply because some Christians — not Jews — told me to never ask these questions of my Jewish friends, or risk deeply offending them."

With the approach of the most holy day on the Christian liturgical calendar, his questions deserve answers. As citizens of a largely Christian society, most Americans see Easter through Christian eyes: as a commemoration of Christ's death and resurrection, which won salvation for all mankind. My Christian friend was asking why Jews don't see Easter as he does.

In wondering, he is far from alone. The new political alliance of conservative Jews and Christians has aroused curiosities. Jews like me who work with evangelicals and other Christian conservatives are often asked, by friends and colleagues mustering their courage, how nice people like us could possibly reject the risen Christ.

How, indeed. The best answer may be that what distinguishes the two religions above all is that Jews never saw a need for the sacrifice recalled at Easter.

The apostle Paul, who originated the most distinctive ideas in Christianity, taught that salvation is not something you buy with deeds — in particular, not with the Torah's system of 613 commandments, whose practice he explained could now be discarded. Rather, salvation is God's gift. God gave the ultimate gift in the form of Jesus' saving death.

Later Christian theologians boasted of God's unmerited "grace" as if it were a unique feature of their religion, while Jews were stuck with a discouraging faith where you try to earn your way to heaven by performing commandments. This represents a misunderstanding of Judaism.

As the Bible's book of Ecclesiastes, attributed to King Solomon, advises, "Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God has already approved your deeds." At the same time, Solomon crystallized the heart of biblical religion: "Be in awe of God and keep his commandments, for that is man's whole duty." How were the two ideas reconcilable?

In the Jewish understanding, salvation came in the form of the covenant given to Moses on Mount Sinai — God's gift. The commandments a Jew performs do not "earn" salvation. They are merely the response that God asks to the fact that the Jew is already saved — "God has already approved your deeds." As a fundamental Jewish text, the Mishnah, puts it, "All of Israel has a share in the world to come." Non-Jewish peoples had their own covenant with God, received by Noah after the flood. It worked the same way.

What about the great Jerusalem temple, often depicted as a mechanism for "purchasing" forgiveness with sacrificed animals — before the building was destroyed 40 years after Jesus died? Surely, this made the need for Christ's sacrifice clear.

But Solomon also said that when the Jews were in exile, without a temple, they "should repent saying, 'We have sinned; we have been iniquitous; we have been wicked,' and they [will] return to you with all their heart and with all their soul — may you hear their prayer and their supplication from heaven and forgive your people who sinned against you."

In Judaism, repentance is always available to people, Jews and non-Jews, who wish to "get right" with God. The temple sacrifices were an aid to this, not a precondition. That was proved by the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The first temple lay in ruins for 70 years (before a new one was built). If God saw no need then for a sacrificial Christ, why would there ever be a need?

The offer of Christianity, for Jews, amounts to giving up the unique grammar of our relationship with God, the commandments, in return for a gift that we already had. This is why Easter is a day on which we should wish Christians all the blessings of their faith — a faith, however, that if we understand our own, we can never share.

.....whereas my faithfulness to my beliefs is a BAD thing?

Did I say that?

You want to test my knowledge of the gospels and epistles? Or of Christian history? Go on, quiz me.

The internet is full of information of half-truths on the gospels and epistles and Christian history. Your responses speak for themselves.

The internet is full of information of half-truths on the gospels and epistles and Christian history.

And of the Hebrew scriptures and Judaism.

I have read the Christian gospels and epistles many times. I've engaged in religious discussion with countless Christians on FR, many of whom have become friends. I'm sure that, though we have profound theological differences, they'd be happy to vouch for my knowledge of Christian scripture.

Your responses speak for themselves.

I should hope so!

Yep, it is apparent that you aren't interested in anything which doesn't support your preexisting beliefs.

You are very good at changing the subject.

How do you expect to engage Jews in conversation about religion when you have no idea how Jews read and understand the Hebrew scriptures?

I have fellowshipped with many, many Messanic Jews. And I have had many discussions with Jewish people about this subject matter, who are very open and eager to learn all they can about our Lord Jesus Christ. I don't know where you have been because Judiasm flows beautifully with the New Testament Scriptures.

You aren't looking for discussion; you are looking to give a sermon.

Ha!Ha! You are funny!

And of the Hebrew scriptures and Judaism.

I don't question the Hebrew Scriptures. How did you come up with that assumption? I believe them. And I also believe the remainder of the Judeo/Christian Scriptures, which fulfills God's plan for the atonement of sin to both Jew and Gentile.

I have read the Christian gospels and epistles many times

Well, then, if this is so then you must know that even satan knows the scriptures.

I have fellowshipped with many, many Messanic Jews.

And this proves what, exactly? You'd find as much insight about actual Judaism talking to them as you would talking to Southern Baptists.

And I also believe the remainder of the Judeo/Christian Scriptures, which fulfills God's plan for the atonement of sin to both Jew and Gentile.

Good for you.

That still doesn't mean you know diddlysquat about Judaism and what actual Jews believe.

Well, then, if this is so then you must know that even satan knows the scriptures.

Yes, you've already accused me of being deceived by him, remember?

Do you know that the Jewish concept of Satan, and the Christian concept of Satan, are very different?

Of course you didn't.

I'll vouch for ya, Malakhi! Oops, maybe i don't count tho...as i no longer believe what the church teaches, either.

BTW, it would be helpful to know your denominational affiliation).

I have no denomination. I believe the Scriptures are the infallable Word of God, both Old and New Testament.

You don't have to be a scholar in Judiasm or Christianity to understand the scriptures. The heavens and universe and creation show God's glory and intellect. Do you think a God as glorious as we have would leave His plan for the human race doomed with no hope to perish and suffer in the wickedness all around the world, or do you think God has made a provision for sin? God is so pure and holy, that He cannot tolerate sin. Even Moses could not look upon Him. I gather, from your posts, that Jesus death and resurrection was in vein for you?

Have you ever considered that all the original 11 Jewish disciples must have all been totally insane because they all died horrible deaths from persecution for the truth of Jesus Christ? Would you die for a lie the way they did?

Are you able to offer me any reliable evidence to support your claim that eleven of the apostles were martyred?

All but John suffered violent horrendous deaths.

Now will you answer my question.

RE: "I don't know where you have been because Judiasm flows beautifully with the New Testament Scriptures. "

Only according to the Christian who really has little to no understanding of Hebrew scripture.

Please note that, based on Hebrew scripture, Jews believe:

1) that one person cannot die for the sins of another person.

2)blood sacrifice is not a requirement for the forgiveness of sin.

3)that Jesus did not satisfy the requirements to be the messiah.

4)that God hates human sacrifices.

5)that people are born pure, and not with original sin.

6)God is ONE and indivisible.

7)in The Satan but not the devil.

8)God does not become human, and humans do not become God.

9)"Jews for Jesus," "Messianic Jews," and "Hebrew Christians" are not Jews.

10)there are no Jewish Roots to Christianity, because the theology that supports it is antithetical to what the Bible says, and is diametrically opposite of what Judaism believes.

So much for flowing beautifully.

BTW...here's the link that will explain in a simple and straightforward manner, all the things i've just listed:

http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

Do your own homework, Daisy. Read the link that i provided for you. It covers 1 - 8 quite thoroughly.

1 ) Click on my link. http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

2) View the page...particularly the blue, left side, margin. Click on whichever topics interest you...and the answer, based on Jewish interpretation of scripture, will pop up.

3)Keep in mind that Christians report....and Jews report. You decide.

Micah 5:2

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans [a] of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins [b] are from of old,

from ancient times. [c] "

The Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would be divine.

How do you explain away the diety of Christ?

And how do you explain away Isaiah 53?

How do you explain away Isaiah 9:6?

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace

You don't have to be a scholar in Judiasm or Christianity to understand the scriptures.

Maybe not, but Jews and Christians disagree with one another, and Christians disagree among themselves about the "real meaning" of scripture. I think it is safe to say, based on what you said, that you are not Catholic or Orthodox Christian, so that helps me understand a little better how you approach scripture.

If you want, though, to understand how Jews understand scripture, you need to talk to Jews, or read what they write.

or do you think God has made a provision for sin?

Of course I do. I just don't happen to agree with you as to what the provisions are that He made.

I gather, from your posts, that Jesus death and resurrection was in vein for you?

I don't believe that Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead.

All but John suffered violent horrendous deaths. Now will you answer my question.

Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to provide some evidence of that, first. On what do you base the claim that they were martyred?

The Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would be divine.

No, they didn't.

All the passage from Micah asserts is that the messiah will be of the family of David.

And how do you explain away Isaiah 53?

Isaiah is a long book. But, if you read the entire thing, you will note that throughout, the "suffering servant" is repeatedly identified as ... Israel.

Surprised? For further confirmation, read Psalm 44, which uses the same imagery, much of the same language, and also clearly identifies the sufferer as Israel.

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