Climax of the Jewish Story

Any good worldview tells a story which answers basic questions like, “Who are we?”  “Where do we come from?” “Where are we going?” and “How do we get there (How should I live now)?” 

Theologians in the past have attempted to separate Christianity from Judaism.  However, this doesn’t work very well since Christianity is not so much a stand-alone story as it is the climax of the Jewish story. 

Judaism tells the story of God and man

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  Judaism begins with the creator God who made all things - and they were good.  Man, however, messed everything up. 

Since that time, God has been working to renew creation.  He called Abraham and promised that through Abraham’s offspring He would bless the whole world.  He created a people whom He rescued from slavery through Moses and built them into a nation under David.  This people, Israel, was His representative to the world. 

Unfortunately, like Adam, Israel messed things up.  Instead of representing God to the world, they continually turned from God. 

Christianity builds on the Jewish story

Christianity makes the claim that the long-awaited Messiah (in Greek - Christ) has finally come.  Christianity says that through the Messiah everything has been set back on the right path again.  This makes no sense apart from the Jewish story. 

If there is no creator God, then there is no creation that was made good.  If there is no fall of man, then there is nothing wrong with the world and no need for it to be renewed.  If there is no God who is working to set things right, then the Christ proclaiming that the time for all things to renewed has come makes no sense. 

Just like any story or plot that you find in a movie or book, the first half cannot be changed without affecting the second half.  Each part builds on what came before it, and the climax only makes sense because of the way the plot has developed.  In the same way, you cannot separate Judaism from Christianity, because Christianity builds on Judaism.  Christianity is the climax of Judaism, and neither one makes sense without the other.