Ted's Response:

I do not view God, the Creator of the Universe, as "being Jewish." However, I do believe that Jesus, who was the physical manifestation of God on earth, was a genetic descendant of Judah. This can be seen in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:2,3; Luke 3:33).

Strictly speaking, the term "Jew" refers to someone from the tribe of Judah or from the ancient kingdom of Judah (although, more loosely, it also can include Benjamites and Levites, who merged with Judah). Judah was the fourth son of Jacob, whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 29:35, 32:28). Not all descendants of Jacob/Israel are Jews; technically, only those descended from Judah are Jewish.

There is no refuting the fact that the mortal man Jesus, when He walked on the earth, was a Jew. He was a descendant of King David (Matthew 1:1,6,17; Luke 1:32, 3:31) and was called the "Root of David" (Revelation 22:16). David also was a descendant of Judah and, therefore, a Jew. Long before He was Jewish, though, Jesus was the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 1:2,3).

When Jacob was blessing his twelve sons, who were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Jacob/Israel, He likened Judah (the father of the Jews) to a "lion" (Genesis 49:9). He also affirmed that the scepter (ruler's staff) would not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes, the one to whom the scepter belongs (49:10).

Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). After He returns to strike down the nations, He will rule them with an iron scepter (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 19:15). Therefore, Jesus is the Shiloh or Messiah to come.

Some may wonder if all of this means that Jesus will continue to be a "Jew" when He returns to rule the world. As a glorified human being, I would say yes, since nothing will have changed the fact that He is of the tribe of Judah. As the eternal God, I would say no, since God's supernatural nature cannot be put into any manmade box, racial or otherwise.

As for "Racial Purity," this was a doctrine of Hitler and the Nazis, who were depraved mortal men. When Jesus returns, He will be neither depraved nor mortal. He will accept people from all nations, tribes, people and languages (Revelation 7:9). If there is anyone who is not racially biased, it is Jesus, since He has made all who believe in Him to be equal in His sight.