I read an interesting article on page 60 of the March 24, 08 TIME Magazine.
It was imbedded in an Article of 10 Ideas That Are Changing The World. The gist of the article is that main stream Christians are finally starting to attempt to read the Gospels through the eyes of a Jew. Not just any Jew, but none other than Jesus. They are saying things like if you get Jesus' Jewishness wrong you get Jesus wrong. He was foremost a Jew, culturally and spiritually. Jesus and Paul, the foremost people featured in the New Testament, were profoundly Jewish.
What I found interesting about this movement towards understanding Jesus' cultural and spiritual heritage is that Mormonism has acknowledged this from the very start. Many Christians almost discount the Old Testament, while Mormons are instructed by the teachings found there. Mormonism sees Jesus' teachings as a continuation of the true Jewish religion, not a departure from it.
As an exercise, read Paul's letter to the Romans. Try to feel the Jew Paul as he talks about God fulfilling his covenant with Israel. You get the idea he is speaking as a Jew to Jews. Of course he is. And without beating the reader over the head, I need to say again that Mormonism has long cherished the traditions and covenants made to Israel and celebrates the connectivity to these modern times and to Christianity.
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5 comments:
Yeah, the mainstream Christian view of Jesus has always confused me. They somehow blame the Jews for the death of Jesus. He was a Jew living among Jews.
But, one thing about the Mormon's view of Jesus that I always had a problem with is that picture that most Mormon's have of a blue-eyed & blond haired Jesus. Maybe it is accurate, but I imagine more of a palestinian looking Jesus.
But, you are right, the Mormons have always had the utmost respect for the Jews as a people and of course Jesus Christ.
Good point J, I was going to say the same thing, you beat me to the punch. Every picture I see hanging in Mormon households make him look like a Viking Warrior. I would almost picture him short, swarthy, with most likely curly short hair."Does not nature itself teach you that for a man to wear long hair is degrading to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her pride?" (1 Corinthians 11:14-15 RSV)
The several paintings we have displayed of the Savior in our home over the years have had neither blond hair nor blue eyes. They have all been painted with dark hair and mediterranean complexion. I will, however, admit to the shoulder length hair. Since photographs are not readily available, the question will have to remain moot.
Mom
i think jesus is a black man..
LOL
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