Why was it important that Jesus was Jewish?

Answer 1

A:

Different reasons can be given for Jesus to be born inot the Jewish faith, depending on your perspective. One reason would be that since the Jews already worshipped God the father, it made sense for him to send down his son as a Jew, to fulfil the Old Testament. Another reason would be that since Christianity evolved out of Judaism he had to be portrayed as a Jew, and that if it had evolved out of a different religion, then Jesus would be portrayed as a member of that faith.

Answer 2

Jesus was born a Jew because the Jewish Nation was formed as a lineage through which the Messiah would come. 'Salvation originates with the Jews' (John 4:22) in that Messiah would have to be part of this Jewish nation to fulfill prophecy. Then, obedience to this foretold Messiah would be the only way for ANYone to gain salvation.(1 Timothy 2:5-6)(Acts 4:11, 12)(Matthew 7:21-23)(John 17:3).

History: Humans were originally created perfect, with the opportunity to live forever on earth(Genesis 2:16-17)(Genesis 3:1-6)(Genesis 3:19/Psalm 146:4). Death never would have entered our picture, if humanity had never sinned(Romans 6:23). When perfect Adam sinned, misusing his 'free will', he passed this imperfection on to all his descendants, and "death spread to ALL men, because they had all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Mankind had nothing but sin and death to look forward to, forever.(Romans 5:14)

This would have been 'it' for all mankind on earth, but God 'so loved the world' that he immediately devised a way by which faithful mankind could one day attain perfection and everlasting life, again, as was God's purpose originally. (Isaiah 55:8-11). He promised a 'messiah'(a Christ) to come and provide a ransom sacrifice for the sin of Adam(1 Corinthians 15:22)(John 3:16). Adam (a perfect man) disobeyed God and died imperfect, Jesus(a perfect man) remained loyal till death and died perfect(Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:46) and because of this, we now have a choice of 'fathers' to follow.(Romans 6:16)

Abraham(God's friend (James 2:23)was so faithful, that God chose his descendants (the Israelites through Jacob-Exodus 3:6; 1Chronicles 29:18; Matthew 22:32) to be his 'chosen people', those through whom the savior could be born in earth, who could demonstrate God's way to the world, and have a wonderful hope for the future IF they continued to obey divine commands.(Isaiah 1:18-20)

The Mosaic Law (the Law given to the nation of Israel through Moses) was written as guidance, protection and separation of God's chosen people from the world of the time, as a constant reminder that people needed a savior because of their sinful state(since no one could KEEP the Law perfectly), and as a way to bring the needed Messiah through a provable lineage (Luke 3:23-38), particularly the line of Judah(Genesis 49:10).

All the laws pointed to the coming Messiah(Acts 10:43)(Acts 13:27-30) as the ONLY way for a human to gain everlasting life(John 3:16). For instance,

***the animal sacrifices pre-figured Messiah 'pouring out his blood' for the sins of mankind (Exodus 24:4-8; Hebrews 9:18-20),and

***the rituals of the priests at the Temple pre-figured what Jesus would one day accomplish for real (Hebrews 9:1-14)(Hebrews 7:26-28).

These Laws would stay in force over the people until Messiah actually CAME. Once Messiah had fulfilled his role here on earth, the law 'leading to Christ' would be fulfilled and ended(Colossians 2:13, 14), and the law 'written on the hearts' would take over (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13), a 'new covenant' . Though given every opportunity, the Jews as a nation never acknowledged Jesus as God's Messiah, and were eventually deleted as God's representative people(2 Corinthians 3:14)(Galatians 3:24-25)(Matthew 23:37-39)But Jesus had come through Judah, the line of David, as promised.(John 1:41, 45, 49)

Answer 3

Jesus birth as a Jew of the lineage of David fulfilled God's promises in the Old Testament, so his being Jewish answers the question "Will God keep His promises?" with a resounding Yes.