Was Jesus Palestinian or Jewish?

by Dr. Tim Orr

A few hours ago, my Iranian Muslim friend texted me to wish me a Merry Christmas and mentioned that Jesus was Palestinian, not Jewish. His belief might be due to confusion about Bethlehem's location in the West Bank, now part of the Palestinian territories. However, during Jesus' time, there were no modern nationalities or borders, and the region was part of the Roman Empire.

It's more likely that my friend's assertion aims to separate Jesus from the people of Israel and his Jewish identity. This perspective portrays Jesus as a political freedom fighter against Israel rather than the Messiah who came to save the world from sin.

Sometimes, such beliefs stem from a dislike of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Some individuals, like Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, have even referred to Jesus as the first Palestinian "shaheed" or martyr, which is an inappropriate term, given the context.

In reality, during Jesus' time, being Jewish meant having a Jewish mother or formally converting to Judaism. Jesus was born to a Jewish mother in Judah, grew up in a Jewish home in Galilee, and taught in Jerusalem. He referred to His Jewish identity and had Jewish heritage, with connections to King David and Abraham.

Jesus lived a Jewish lifestyle, followed Jewish laws, observed Jewish customs, and taught in Jewish places of worship. He emphasized the importance of the Jewish Law, observed Jewish festivals, and was referred to as the King of the Jews.

While Jesus came as the Jewish Messiah, His message of salvation extended to people of all backgrounds and nationalities. He is a Savior for everyone, not just for the Jewish people. So, if someone from Palestine or any other background identifies with Jesus because of his message of hope and compassion, that's a positive thing. Jesus welcomes all who come to Him, but it's important not to separate Him from His Jewish roots.