In the April 2012 edition of Christianity Today, David Neff interviewed Amy-Jill Levine on the topic of “Jesus Through Jewish Eyes.” Levine is one of three dozen Jewish scholars who contributed to The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011). In addition to co-editing that work, she has written numerous volumes and teaches New Testament at Vanderbilt University. Her response to the question, “So, what was truly original about Jesus?” follows.
He’s the only person I can find in antiquity who says you have to love your enemy. But you have to look at the entire person to see his distinctiveness. Other people told parables. Other people referred to God as Father. Other people debated how to follow Torah. Other people lost their lives on Roman crosses. Other people proclaimed God’s justice will be breaking in, and that we can live as if we’ve got one foot in that world to come.
But the way Jesus puts it together makes him distinctive: the striking images that he gives, the loyalty he engendered from his followers such that they were willing to leave their homes and families to follow him and give up their lives for him . . . (p.54).
So What?
Easter is the ultimate celebratory day on the liturgical calendar in many Christian traditions. On this joy-filled day, I encourage you to pause and give your own answer to these important questions:
- What was truly original about Jesus? Why does that matter?
- Who is Jesus to you? (Try to fashion that response in 250 words or less for a general audience.)