Christians see Jesus as the Savior, Messiah and Son of God.  Jews see Jesus as a heretic.  During his earthly ministry, the Apostles and his followers saw him as a Jewish reformer.  Nearly two millennia later, Christians see Jesus as Savior, Son of God and a Christian, sometimes forgetting his Jewish roots.  Many of Jesus' actions are only understood when we view Jesus as Jewish.  For example, in the Gospel of John, at 20:17, the newly Resurrected Jesus tells Mary not to give him a hug ("touch me not" in KJV), but soon after tells Thomas to touch his side ("thrust your fingers into my wound").  Why the difference?  Jesus, as a Jewish High Priest, must keep himself ritually pure by touching no earthly thing or person (Mary included) before attending to his official duties of ascending to his Father in Heaven.  After his duties in Heaven were concluded, he could then tell Thomas to put his fingers in his wound and, presumably, get a nice hug from Mary.

<p>Christians see Jesus as the Savior, Messiah and Son of God.&nbsp; Jews see Jesus as a heretic.&nbsp; During his earthly ministry, the Apostles and his followers saw him as a Jewish reformer.&nbsp; Nearly two millennia later, Christians see Jesus as Savior, Son of God and a Christian, sometimes forgetting his Jewish roots.&nbsp; Many of Jesus' actions are only understood when we view Jesus as Jewish.&nbsp; For example, in the Gospel of John, at 20:17, the newly Resurrected Jesus tells Mary not to give him a hug ("touch me not" in KJV), but soon after tells Thomas to touch his side ("thrust your fingers into my wound").&nbsp; Why the difference?&nbsp; Jesus, as a Jewish High Priest, must keep himself ritually pure by touching no earthly thing or person (Mary included) before attending to his official duties of ascending to his Father in Heaven.&nbsp; After his duties in Heaven were concluded, he could then tell Thomas to put his fingers in his wound and, presumably, get a nice hug from Mary.</p>

Issues of faith and spirituality that matter to LDS, Mormons, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Religion Today

Martin Tanner's Religion Today show broadcast Sunday July 12, 2020 - topic:  Jesus as Jew, Christian, Reformer and Messiah

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