How rediscovering the Jewishness of Jesus reshapes Christian theology, discipleship, and our reading of the gospel. In this deeply insightful and honest conversation, Mike and Tim sit down with Dr. Jennifer Rosner, a Messianic Jewish theologian and author of Finding Messiah: A Journey into the Jewishness of the Gospel. As part one of the Finding Messiah Series, this episode explores the core question: what happens when we stop seeing Judaism as Christianity’s foil and begin to recognize it as its foundation?
Dr. Rosner shares her personal story of growing up in a culturally Jewish home, discovering Jesus through evangelical campus ministries, and the years-long journey toward reconciling those identities. Through her eyes, listeners gain a fresh perspective on why a gospel detached from Israel’s story is not just incomplete, but distorted.
Key Takeaways: • Why “unhooking” Christianity from the Old Testament undermines the gospel – and why Jesus can’t be understood apart from his Jewish context. • The dangerous theological legacy of pitting grace against the law and Christianity against Judaism. • How the early church framed Christianity as a rejection of Judaism – and why that matters today. • The power of embodied faith and how Jewish spiritual practices shape a more holistic discipleship. • How love of enemy, central to Jesus' teaching, differentiates and expands on traditional Judaism while fulfilling its mission.
Guest Highlight: Dr. Jennifer Rosner – A Messianic Jewish theologian, affiliate assistant professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of Finding Messiah. Jen shares her unique journey of finding Jesus within her Jewish identity and invites both Jews and Christians to dismantle the inherited boundaries that separate them.
Resources Mentioned: • Finding Messiah: A Journey into the Jewishness of the Gospel by Jennifer Rosner – Buy the Book • Dr. Jennifer Rosner’s website – jenrosner.com • Romans 11 – The metaphor of grafting Gentiles into the olive tree of Israel • Isaiah Prophecies on Nations Worshipping with Israel – [Isaiah 2, 19, 66] • Dallas Willard – On discipleship, embodiment, and grace • AJ Levine – Jewish New Testament scholar referenced for her work in interfaith dialogue
Explore what happens when we move beyond caricatures of Judaism and rediscover the gospel’s deep connection with God’s covenant with Israel. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow Voxology Podcast to journey with us deeper into the questions that matter.
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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
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