For many of us who believe that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh - we know that Jesus was born Jewish > bodily .... fulfilling prophecy that salvation is of the Jews. Spiritually, as we know from Paul, there is no Jew or Gentile in Spirit/in Christ, so I think we can assume from Scripture that Jesus is not now Jewish ... He is the Lord from Heaven, not an ethnic Lord.
I, too, believe that Jesus is GOD manifest in the flesh, and..... that Jesus carried humanity right up into the heavenlies through the unity of His person.
Gal 3:28 is constantly being used to say that there is no longer any distinctions among believers, however Paul was not speaking of the end of diversity, but that one believer does not 'rank' higher than another based on one's ethnic, social, or gender status.
He was basically telling the Galatian Gentiles that circumcised Jews had no superior rank above them. At that time many believing Jews considered themselves superior to Gentiles because they were of the literal bloodline and covenant of Abraham. Likewise, males were deemed superior over women and masters were superior over slaves. The cross is the great equalizer. (cf. Col 3:11)
But...look around. GOD obviously likes diversity.
Now, you've got to admit that, 'Cookie Cutter', identical stamped out Christians, all repeating the same cliches, are annoying.
In the Messianic Hebrew Roots movement or also known as going back to one's Hebraic Roots or the ancient paths, the "problem" of Jesus and the new covenant .... has to be reworked for Jesus to retain His Jewishness in order for adherents to maintain a Torah [Mosaic Law] lifestyle [to be like Jesus]. This adds a complexity to the Gospel that is not there, but rather, in reality ... denies the new covenant in Christ.
There is much that is wrong in Messianic Judaism and many within the movement have gone to extremes. Indeed, the integration of 'the Law of Moses' by obligation, with Church practices is in error. However, understanding and memorializing the 'appointed times for Israel' for continuity is not. I agree that it does add complexity when it is imposed and many are doing that, but on the other hand there are those who 'freely' take an interest in these things and they should not be deprived the liberty of doing so. And....if a Jew, who comes to Christ, desires to preserve his ethnicity and history, family relationships(if even possible at that point), etc., there should be the freedom to do so. The Jews in Acts 15, did not demand that Gentiles become Jews. What right do Gentile Christians have to demand that Jews become Gentiles. Oh...I know, it is said ,"We're not insisting that they become Gentiles, we're insisting that they become Christians". That's just another way of demanding that Jews forsake any vestige of Jewishness and adopt the Gentilized Christianity of the last nearly two-thousand years, along with all its distinctly Gentile culture.
To adopt the Mosaic Law as binding on believers, indeed, would demean the work of the cross, but not all Messianics are doing that.
If I may also add, the Jews spoke Greek as their primary language [historical evidence], which is why the NT was written in Greek. They also spoke Hebrew and Aramaic - also shown within the NT. So we know that Jesus was called "Iesous" [transliterated from the Hebrew] - the Greeks could not pronounce "Yeshua" [His Hebrew Name]. We can see by internal evidence that Jesus was called Iesous. But that is another topic for another day
I agree to some extent, however:
The angel that spoke to Mary said to call His name Yeshoshua/Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins.
The use of the Hebrew is more meaningful since it means 'the salvation of Jehovah'. Through the use of the Greek/English transliteration many have lost this concept. This is one instance where returning to the Jewishness is of value for understanding.
When the angels stated that Jesus was going to return as He left, they were not referring to His ethnicity, but that He would return to the Mt of Olives on the clouds of Glory as the Lord of all
Right, they were not emphasizing His ethnicity, however it is contained in the phrase 'this same Yeshus/Jesus', much like Deut 6:4 does not emphasize YHVH's diversity, but it is contained in the word 'echad'.
If you believe(which I do) that Jesus will literally return to the Mt of Olives, do you also believe that He will at that time sit on His glorious throne? (Mat 25:31) And who's throne will He be taking at that time?
Is it not the Davidic throne, Jewish?
The 12 tribes as listed in Revelation would probably be best explained as allegorical >>> as we do not know which tribes those would be. Unless you believe that in Heaven, in our incorruptible bodies, will we all retain our ethnic "roots"? And if this is so, then which gate will the Gentiles enter Jerusalem?
You can probably already tell, that I don't go in for what I consider 'excessive' allegorization, though scripture does contain allegory and symbolism.
I believe we will retain a knowing continuity with our past history, which in my case, is Gentile origin.
I have great confidence that GOD has worked out the details of how persons enter the New Jerusalem.
As far as ethnic roots are concerned, Jesus promised the Apostles that in the 'palingenesia'/restoration, that they would sit on twelve thrones, and rule as judges over the twelve tribes of Israel.
Some may shove that in the 'Allegorical drawer', but I take it literally.
Finally, I wanted to show how Jesus appeared to John in Revelation - it is obvious from the text that Jesus was not "Jewish" in appearance ....
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks
one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.[/QUOTE]
These scriptures are obviously in harmony with what is described in Daniel concerning 'the Ancient of Days', which goes right back to the Jewish roots and continuity of the whole 'saga' of GOD's redemption for mankind.
Also, it seems to me that this is a 'visionary' experience that John is having, with as you might say, 'allegory' or 'symbolism' included, similar to Rev 5, where there is a 'Lamb as slain in the midst of the throne', representing Jesus. Rev 1:16 speaks of a 'sharp twoedged sword' coming out of His mouth. I take that as symbolism.
The bottom line for me is this. I believe that Jesus died and arose the third day in the same body that died on the cross. Forty days later that same body ascended into heaven(a geographical location within the created universe), and that body, though glorified and elevated beyond what it was on earth, is nevetheless the same body with continuity. Jesus, in that same glorified body, will return someday as rightful heir of the Davidic throne in Jerusalem, and will rule over a saved National Israel, from where His dominion will extend to the uttermost parts of the earth.
One day my body will be raised either from its present living state or from corruption in the grave. My new glorified body will possess a continuity with the body that I now have. Jesus' body was not anihilated in the grave and then given a completely different one. It was the same one, with different qualities. Phil 3:21 promises us the same thing. So does Ro 8:23.
Jesus came to redeem all that was lost.