R. Both Mary and Joseph were ethnically Jewish and there is every indication they were practicing Jews as well. We have evidence of this particularly in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2. Here we see Joseph and Mary bringing Jesus to the temple on the 8th day after his birth to be circumcised and there are other references in this text to Leviticus 12 and the purification laws instituted around childbirth and how they fulfilled these. You also have a quotation of Exodus 13 in this passage. All of this points up the fact that Mary and Joseph are following the Jewish law in their lives. Later in the chapter is tells us that every year Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover. This was a pious act on their part as faithful Jews.
It is also obvious that Jesus was raised in the faith. He is well versed in the Jewish scriptures and practices, enough to be an effective critic during his ministry! While we don’t have much evidence of his life post birth and pre-baptism by John, we can safely assume based on the evidence from scripture that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life as a practicing Jew.
This reality tends to lead to questions like, “So, why are we Christian and not Jewish?” We are Christian because we believe that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah that the Jews were waiting for, God’s Chosen One who would come to restore humanity’s relationship with God. Thus, we are Christ followers.
Let me know if you have further questions by emailing me.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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