Rediscovering the Jewish roots of the Gospels

In today's world, where Christianity is seen as distinct from Judaism, it's easy to overlook the profound Jewish roots of the New Testament. Yet, understanding the Gospels through a Jewish lens can transform our evangelism when speaking to Jewish people.

The Jewish identity of Jesus and His message

One of the most common objections to Jesus being the Messiah is that His message doesn’t seem Jewish. But Yeshua (Jesus) isn’t just Jewish; He is the Jewish King. The gospel is a message for all people but especially for Jewish people, as they were the recipients of God's promises. This good news remains as relevant for Jewish people today as it was in the first century, when 3,000 Jewish men received the Holy Spirit during the Jewish festival of Pentecost. Understanding that the gospel is rooted in Jewish culture will help you approach your Jewish friends with confidence, knowing that Jesus' message speaks directly to what it truly means to be Jewish.

The New Testament shows that Jesus' disciples were not Englishmen, but Judeans with distinctly Jewish names: Mattiyahoo (Matthew), Jaacov (James), and Jochanan (John). Their geography was not places like London, Oxford, or Manchester, but Jerusalem, Galilee, Caesarea, and Cana. These weren’t just names and places; they were part of a living Jewish story.

The Jewish nature of the gospel is further emphasised through the Jewish calendar. The weekly Sabbath reminds us of creation; Passover commemorates the Exodus and Israel’s national rescue; and fifty days later, Pentecost celebrates the harvest.

Moreover, the New Testament itself is Jewish literature. All of its books, except for Luke, were written by Jews. While Luke wasn't Jewish himself, he is often regarded as the historian who carefully documented the Jewish context of Jesus' life and ministry. The Old and New Testaments together tell a single, unified story. For example, Luke 2 shows that the story of Israel continues with the birth of Jesus.

At its core, the gospel is a Jewish message - a call to repentance and turning to the one true God, a call that resonates throughout all of Scripture. At Pentecost, Peter preached to 3,000 Jewish men who were “cut to the heart” and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2.37-38).

The gospel also represents Jewish theology. What have we done? We have sinned against God. What has God done? Jesus took the punishment for our sins. In Isaiah 53.11, the prophet foretold that God’s righteous servant would “bear their iniquities” and “make many to be accounted righteous.” Jesus, the innocent one, took on the punishment for the guilty, fulfilling this Jewish understanding of atonement. This is the heart of Jewish theology - the innocent suffers on behalf of the guilty, as typified in the temple sacrifices.

The gospel is deeply Jewish

Evidenced by His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus is the most Jewish person who ever lived. The gospel is deeply Jewish—not just in its origins, but in its message, its theology, and its continuing relevance to Jewish people. Jesus is the fulfilment of the promises made to Israel, and understanding His Jewish identity helps us see how the gospel is the natural continuation of the Jewish story. This understanding is crucial, especially when sharing the greatest news with your Jewish friends.