Christians should continue to respect the people of Israel

OPINION:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14

One of the most quoted Bible verses during the buildup to Christmas is from a Jewish prophet who predicted the birth of the Messiah. Isaiah goes on in Chapter 9 to say, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

He further proclaims in that chapter: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, explains the genealogy of the Messiah. It begins with Abraham and explains that there were 14 generations from him to David, 14 from David to the exile in Babylon and 14 from the exile to Jesus.

The books of Luke and Acts explain how God invited the people of Israel, and then all the nations of the world, to follow Jesus. The first chapter of Luke tells us that God sent an angel to a Jewish young woman, “a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”

Chapter 1 continues with these words: “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’”

Mary was surprised, as she was a virgin. Verse 35 reads: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” The chapter continues, “For no word from God will ever fail.”

The coming of Christ was predicted in the Old Testament. It provides the context for the teachings of Jesus. He used it for his teachings as he was a rabbi. He followed the Jewish laws.

As a Christian, I read the Old Testament to understand the foundation of our faith. It helps me see what came before the time of Jesus, as well as the circumstances of what was happening at the time of his birth and throughout his ministry here on earth.

Jesus was raised by Jewish parents. When it was time for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, they took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. A man named Simeon took him in his arms and, according to the Book of Luke, said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations; a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

When Jesus was 12, his parents lost him at the temple in Jerusalem. When they found him, Mary confronted him, and he said, “Why were you searching for me?” He asked, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

As he began his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)

Understanding the Old Covenant helps me appreciate the significance of the New Covenant established through Jesus. On the first day of the Jewish Passover, the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Jesus sat at his last supper with his disciples. He spoke of the New Covenant.

The Book of Luke says: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

We read of this prediction in Jeremiah 31:31, “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.”

This New Covenant comes from the voluntary death of Jesus on the cross, which brings eternal forgiveness for our sins. It takes the place of temporary atonement for sins in the Old Covenant. It sets a new path for a relationship with God. In John 14:6, we read, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Jesus was raised by Jewish parents, followed Jewish laws, taught about Judaism, referenced the Jewish prophets and chose as his disciples 12 Jewish men to be his disciples, one of whom built his church.

Jesus spoke first to the people of Israel, calling them to follow him, and then to the rest of the world. Those of us who follow Christ should continue to respect the people of Israel as we follow his New Covenant.

• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.