Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. John 4:22

   Jesus said salvation came from the Jews. He was saying two things. One, the Jewish way of salvation was the right way to God, and two, He was the Jew from whom another branch of salvation came from. Through Jesus’ new way of approaching God, we can worship God anywhere in the world, and not only in Jerusalem. The Samaritan woman was aware that the Messiah was coming and when He came, He would explain everything to her. She was right, because Jesus began explaining her life to her, and the way of life to her as well. To make it more interesting, Jesus told her that He was the Messiah.

“The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4:25,26

   After a long conversation with Jesus, the woman left the well and went to her village where she told others that Jesus may be the Messiah and that He told her things about her life which no normal stranger could possibly know. Because Jesus revealed her past to her, she knew that only God could have shown those things to Him. Soon, the intrigued villagers came and met with Jesus and became His believers. They believed He was the Messiah because of what He said to them, and not only because of the woman’s testimony.

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42

   Jesus was a Jew and our salvation comes from Him. Indirectly we are indebted to other Jews who were His first disciples since they spread the gospel around the world. Finally that gospel came to you and me. We also owe thanks to God and the Jews for the Old Testament which is about seventy percent of the Christian Bible. There is a lot of meat in the Old Testament. Jews and Christians read the same Old Testament. We really have a lot of similarities in our faith. 

   Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17. 

   Jesus fulfilled many verses of the Old Testament. These can be found in the first five books of the Bible (The law) and in several other books (The prophets). For example Numbers 21:6-9 writes about a bronze snake on a pole. That refers to Jesus who later took Satan, the snake to a cross which is akin to a pole. The book of Numbers is in the Torah, the law. Isaiah, a prophet in Isaiah 7:14 speaks of Mary who will give birth to Jesus who became God with us.

“Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” Luke 2:41,42

   Mary and Joseph were Jews and they kept the Passover by going to Jerusalem annually. This time they took Jesus along with them because they wanted to bring Him up as a Jew and follow their custom. By accident they began the journey back to Nazareth and realized they left Jesus behind in Jerusalem. They quickly returned to Jerusalem and found Him talking to the temple teachers. All those who heard His questions and answers were astounded by what He said. He really knew His God and the scriptures, even at that early age.

   Jesus kept the Jewish festivals and holy days. We know He kept the Passover late into His life, since that was when He last ate a celebratory meal with His disciples before His death. 

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.” Luke 4:16

  Jesus kept the Shabbat (Sabbath) holy in line with the fourth commandment God gave Moses. He would go to the local synagogue on Saturday along with other Jews, to observe the rest day. This time He read from Isaiah 61:1,2. He taught them the scriptures. 

  Jesus lived as a practicing Jew. All Christians including me owe Jesus, a Jew, a huge debt of gratitude for our salvation. As a Jew, Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, and instructed His disciples and us to do the same. We pray to the same heavenly Father as the Jews. We really are one family.  Israel is the Holy Land for the Jews first, and also for Christians, since all of Jesus’ public ministry took place within Israel. 

   We should support all Jews and Israel especially when much of the world is against them. Since October 7th, 2023 when Hamas murderously attacked Israel and killed over 1 200 Israelis, and kidnapped hundreds, instead of supporting and sympathizing with Israel and the Jews, the world’s values have been inverted. Right is being portrayed as wrong, and vice versa. Those who supported Israel in Moses’ time in the desert supported God. Today’s Jews are no different to those Jews. Anyone who is against the Jews today is against God.

Michael Hume. The Holy Spirit teaches you everything.  Copyright belongs to author.