Issue 8, May 2008
I ran across a most interesting Blog a few days ago on the millennialist website Grace Through Faith. The article by an unnamed author tells about Seven Men Named Jesus, the Jesus of Judaism, Islam’s Issa, Mormonism’s polygamist, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ incarnate angel, the Master Teacher of modern Christianity, the Ascended Master of the New Age movement and finally the Jesus of the Bible. I borrow generously from that article. 

 

The Jesus of Judaism.

 

Many Jews view Jesus as a mere historical figure, the illegitimate son of Miriam (Mary) who probably later married Yosef. Some speculate that the family belonged to a Jewish sect called the Essenes. There are those who still maintain the Essene way.

 

According to Judaism, Jesus lived in the first century of what they call the Christian Era (CE). They do not use AD, a Latin term meaning the year of our Lord. This Jesus and his disciples led many people from main stream Judaism into a cult. The cult was first called Netzirim, people of the branch (Isaiah 11). Later, beginning in Syrian Antioch, those in the movement were called Christians (Acts 11:25-27), a word that sounds like the Greek for fools. These “fools” believed Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah. To this day, many Jews point to the sad reality that some Christians persecuted Jews unmercifully over the centuries.

 

The Jesus of Islam.

 

Muslims do believe that Issa (Jesus) was sent down as a Prophet of Allah (God), but he is not God or Lord, nor the son of God. Muslims do not believe that Jesus (Issa) died or was ever crucified. They believe that he was raised to heaven, remains there, and will descend at the appointed time to end all wars, and bring peace to the world. Like

 

Jesus, Muhammad is also a Prophet and Messenger, but Muhammed is the last Prophet, and there is none after him.  Hence, Islam is the last religion, complete, with the Holy Qur'an as the unchanged and perfect word of God for over 1400 years.

 

The Jesus of Mormonism

 

Mormon teachings about Jesus seem to agree with historical Christianity: “We commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.” However, one must dig a bit deeper to learn what they teach.

 

According to Mormon theology, Jesus was born in Jerusalem (Book of Mormon, Alma 7:9,10) and is of the Tribe of Benjamin. He is the brother of all spirits born in heaven and the spirit brother of Lucifer. Jesus was married and had wives. Thus, in Heaven, Jesus will continue to be married to his wives forever.

 

The Jesus of Jehovah's Witnesses

 

He's a son of Jehovah and captain of the Lord's Host. In the Bible, he also appears as the Archangel Michael. When it came time for the savior to be born, Michael the Archangel became a human, in the form of Jesus.  Jesus grew and kept all the laws of God and never sinned.  Finally, when Jesus died, it was not on a cross, but on a torture stake, where he bore the sins of mankind -- but this did not include Adam's sins.  Jesus rose from the dead as a spirit, not physically (his body was dissolved and taken by God) and during his visitations to people on earth, he manifested a temporary physical body for them to see and touch.  Thus began the true Christian church of Jehovah's followers.

 

Jesus, The Master Teacher

 

He's a first century man who lived an exemplary life of such gentleness and grace that it was almost as if he was God. He'll see that everyone who joins their denominations gets accepted into heaven whether they've accepted him as their Savior or not. Some adherents of liberal theology also claim that he'll see that everyone who was sincere in whatever religion they practiced will get to heaven. An example of such views is the Unity Church that considers Jesus the master teacher and "way show-er," citing Jesus' frequent calls to emulate him rather than worship him, and the ability of others to be like him, such as in John 10:34 and John 14:12. Jesus is not worshiped as God, but regarded as someone who had achieved a complete connection with God the Father.

 

The New Age Jesus

 

They try to fill in the history missing in the Bible to account for his great powers and miracles. So they have stories of Jesus who traveled to spiritual centers in India and Egypt, and Tibet. He studied under spiritual masters in India. Jesus is known to them as Issa (the same as Muslims). He became a master Hindu yogi, experiencing self-realization through Kundalini yoga. He later studied and mastered Vedic and Buddhist teaching. He then attained God- consciousness. He was initiated in the Hermetic mystery school in Heliopolis, approved by a world council. When he returned to his native people in Israel, He taught a Hindu world view that was veiled in terms that the Hebrews would understand.

 

There are others. Every major religion and cult around today wants to have some good things to say about a man named Jesus, even if they have to redefine him to suit their beliefs.

 

Jesus Of The Bible

 

Jesus of the Bible claimed to be God in the form of man (John 10:30 and 14:9). Men who knew Him agreed. Paul taught the Deity of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-16. So did John (John 1:1). The writer of the Book of Hebrews also agreed (Hebr 1:3) and included a quote from Psalm 45:6-7 that shows God Himself addressing Jesus as God (Hebrews 1:8).

 

Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? He will indeed and on the last day we will all have to stand before Him.

 

 

By Dr. Al Franzmeier