So…when you meet and interact with someone who is not a “Christ-follower,” what do they think about Jesus? Do you know? The other “Major Religions.” Also, those who I will say “claim” to be a “Christian” but who actually have a belief about Jesus (Yeshua) that is vastly different from what you might think. What “do” they think about Jesus…I think you should know…because when you know, you are better equipped to avoid falling into falsehoods…your “Armor” fits better.
Now I actually hope the ‘thumbnail sketches” I give you here about how Jesus/Yeshua is seen in other religions; and in a later series about “cultic false-Christians” will be more than enough for you, you need to know about them, but in my humble opinion…they don’t deserve much further, deeper research, just enough knowledge to know if you mention Jesus to them….what thoughts initially pop into their heads. Now, who does the Bible and Jesus Himself say He is…now THAT deserves to spark your Berean interest, and we’ll do a series on that between the “other” religions we’re discussing here, and the “psuedo-Christian” ones we’ll look at AFTER we do the most important series; The Diety of Jesus.
Now, fascinatingly, literally EVERY major religious movement considers Jesus to be an important figure…they all make some effort to account for His existence. Let’s take the one CLOSEST to us first; our “brothers” who share the same YAHWEH but who have been temporarily blinded to Yeshua Hamashiach – in a snapshot, what does Judaism think of Jesus?
JUDAISM
While we recognize Judaism pre-existed (and actually gave birth to) Christianity; Judaism has also had now more than two-thousand years to consider and respond to the claims of Christ. A lot has been written about Jesus from a Jewish perspective, most interesting is the early Jews who described Jesus in the centuries immediately following His crucifixion. Ancient Jewish believers (as recorded by the Talmud and another ancient Jewish manuscript called the Toledot Yeshu – The Life Story of Jesus from a Jewish (and negative) point of view – argued as heretical, but studied and used by the Jews) described Jesus in the following ways:
- Jesus Was Mary’s Son
Ancient Jews acknowledged Jesus existed and had a mother named Mary. They denied Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus, but they did recognize Mary was promised to a man named “Yohanan” (Joseph).
- Jesus Was a Teacher with many Disciples
Both ancient and modern Jews typically accept Jesus was a rabbi and popular teacher (although they would deny He is the Messiah).
- Jesus Was Respected
While Jesus is often derided by modern Jews, this actually was not the case in the earliest of times, except of course, for the High Priest and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem because Jesus directly threatened their “power.” In fact, little negative material related to Jesus can be found in 1st and 2nd century Jewish literature. Jesus was largely recognized as a popular teacher who was revered by His followers and respected by his opponents. But as Christianity spread and the Divinity of Jesus was proclaimed throughout the known world, that’s when greater Jewish opposition rose. By 1000AD, many Jews were facing stiff persecution and they blamed their situation on the rise of Christianity and the person of Jesus.
- Jesus Was a Miracle Worker
Ancient Jews also acknowledged Jesus had supernatural powers and performed miracles. They typically denied, however, Jesus’ power came from God. Instead, they often claimed Jesus wielded the power of the Devil (similar to the record of opposition found in the New Testament):
- A short reading from the Toledot Yeshu: “The insurgents with him replied that if Yeshu was the Messiah he should give them a convincing sign. They therefore, brought to him a lame man, who had never walked. Yeshu spoke over the man the letters of the Ineffable Name, and the leper was healed. Thereupon, they worshipped him as the Messiah, Son of the Highest… Yeshu spoke up, addressing Queen Helene (about who she is, and the years here are MUCH debated, but I include it for context): “Madam, I am the Messiah and I revive the dead.” A dead body was brought in; he pronounced the letters of the Ineffable Name and the corpse came to life. The Queen was greatly moved and said: ‘This is a true sign.’ …the Sages came before the Queen, complaining that Yeshu practiced sorcery and was leading everyone astray… He spoke the Ineffable Name over the birds of clay and they flew into the air. He spoke the same letters over a millstone that had been placed upon the waters. He sat in it and it floated like a boat. When they saw this the people marveled.”
- Jesus Claimed to Be the Messiah
While ancient Jews denied Jesus was the Messiah, they did acknowledge Jesus made this claim publicly:
- Again, a short except from the Toledot Yeshu: “Yeshu proclaimed, ‘I am the Messiah; and concerning me Isaiah prophesied and said, ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ “
- Jesus was Crucified on the Cross
Another important historical claim of the New Testament (the Crucifixion of Jesus) is acknowledged by ancient Jewish records. While the Talmud and Toledot Yeshu affirm the execution of Jesus, they both deny Jesus was resurrected
- Jesus’ Followers Reported He Rose from the Dead But while ancient Jews denied the Resurrection, they did acknowledge two important facts. The ancient Jews affirmed that the earliest disciples of Jesus claimed Jesus rose from the grave, and these writers also acknowledged the tomb of Jesus was initially found empty. But then the Toledot Yeshu attempts to explain the empty grave by saying that the gardener removed Jesus’ body, listen to the story:
“They buried him outside the city. On the first day of the week his bold followers came to Queen Helene with the report that he who was slain was truly the Messiah and that he was not in his grave; he had ascended to heaven as he prophesied. Diligent search was made and he was not found in the grave where he had been buried… A gardener had taken him from the grave and had brought him into his garden and buried him in the sand over which the waters flowed into the garden… Queen Helene demanded, on threat of a severe penalty, that the body of Yeshu be shown to her within a period of three days. There was a great distress. When the keeper of the garden saw Rabbi Tanhuma walking in the field and lamenting over the ultimatum of the Queen, the gardener related to the Rabbi what he had done, claiming he did it in order that Yeshu’s followers should not steal the body and then claim that he had ascended into heaven. The Sages then removed the body, tied it to the tail end of a horse and transported it to the Queen, with the words, ‘This is Yeshu who is said to have ascended to heaven.’” (The Toledot Yeshu)
…and there you have, straight from Jewish teachings, who they felt He was, and what “they say” happened to Yeshua.
Many may argue with my use of the Toledot Yeshu, as Christians consider it heretical…however, we ARE studying/Musing, over what our Jewish bretheren think …so it is pertinent.
{Excepts pulled from: Cold-Case Christianity, J Warner Wallace – Who is Jesus}
One Pilgrim's Journey 