Why is it important for Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah if you're not Jewish?

[iBrian]

It occurred to me last night - there's a lot of stock in Jesus being the Jewish Messiah - but, why does that matter if his teachings were for the gentiles, not the Jews, and therefore Jewish beliefs are not important? In other words, if Christians are not Jews, why would it matter whether Jesus fulfilled a Jewish prophecy or not? If Jesus had not been seen as a Jewish Messiah, but instead one for a Celtic or Egyptian or Greek or Norse religion, that would also have been acceptable?

Just thought I'd ask.

 

[RabbiO]

Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears to me your question is entirely premised on Jesus’ teachings actually being directed to non-Jews not to Jews. I obviously don’t have the depth of Christian knowledge of other members here, but I’m not sure you’ll find much support for that supposition.

 

[Longfellow]

It occurred to me last night - there's a lot of stock in Jesus being the Jewish Messiah - but, why does that matter if his teachings were for the gentiles, not the Jews, and therefore Jewish beliefs are not important? In other words, if Christians are not Jews, why would it matter whether Jesus fulfilled a Jewish prophecy or not? If Jesus had not been seen as a Jewish Messiah, but instead one for a Celtic or Egyptian or Greek or Norse religion, that would also have been acceptable?

Just thought I'd ask.

Maybe your question is, why does it or should it matter to non-Jewish Christians to think that he was the Messiah? One reason might be that the gospel stories seem to be saying that he was. Another might be because that’s what the title “Christ” means. If you’re asking, what actual difference does it make to non-Jewish people, I don’t think it does make any actual difference. In my own understanding of the Bible the only reason it ever mattered was for Jews to know that faithfulness to him was faithfulness to God.

 

[Faithfulservant]

It occurred to me last night - there's a lot of stock in Jesus being the Jewish Messiah - but, why does that matter if his teachings were for the gentiles, not the Jews, and therefore Jewish beliefs are not important? In other words, if Christians are not Jews, why would it matter whether Jesus fulfilled a Jewish prophecy or not? If Jesus had not been seen as a Jewish Messiah, but instead one for a Celtic or Egyptian or Greek or Norse religion, that would also have been acceptable?

Just thought I'd ask.

Jesus teachings were for His people the Jews. He stated He came for them. It wasnt until His resurrection that salvation was open for gentiles. John the Baptist was considered the last of the OT prophets.