Evidence for the Resurrection of Yeshua (Part 4)

~This is a continuation in the series forming the case for an actual, historical, literal Resurrection~

Following sightings of the Risen Christ by hundreds of people, the Church began to grow. The earliest members of the Church were, naturally, Jewish; Yeshua was a Jew, being the long awaited Messiah and all...

This next evidence is more circumstantial, but still is powerful evidence that a Man really did come back from the dead.

Abandoned Customs


Now, the Bible is not the only place where we know of Jewish customs, but it is the most comprehensive.  Often called "The Law of Moses", the Torah consists of 613 laws (including the Ten Commandments) separating the people of Israel from every other people-group in history.  The Torah is found within the first five books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch; for centuries, most if not all, Jewish leaders had them memorized.

There were ceremonial laws and there were moral laws.  With the exception of the moral laws, most of the laws themselves were not incredibly critical, or even special, though as we know now, they did help keep microorganisms at bay among other benefits.  Essentially, the laws served as a visual reminder of being God's Holy people, set apart from the rest of the World.  He had selected them by His good pleasure, and the Law kept them unique and worthy.  To this day, it is this fact that gives reason that many believe the Jews to be exceedingly arrogant.  Nonetheless, these laws held core social and religious significance to the Jewish people.  (Think of the U.S. Constitution for citizens the USA today.)

Moses was given the Law around 1400 B.C.  Therefore, these laws were forged into the identity of the Jewish nation for over 1400 years.

Fast-forward.  Following the Resurrection, 40 days passed where Jesus Himself taught the disciples about the Scriptures--practically speaking, it was an intense seminary course.  Following His Ascension and then Pentacost (Acts 1,2) there was tremendous growth of the Church.  The networking power of the Gospel was at full bloom by now.

Jesus Himself had 1) affirmed and subsequently commanded water Baptism for the remission of sins and 2) instituted the Lord's Supper the night before His death.  (Now, neither of these ceremonies themselves actually do anything to justify humans before a Holy God; rather, they are powerful symbolic acts for the Christian.  Justification was accomplished on the Cross.)

My question is this: if Yeshua (Jesus) was not the promised Messiah--prophesied in the Old Testament that He would die for the sins of all, why would thousands of early converted Jews abandon their core ritualistic traditions and start getting Baptized and taking Communion?  What could be so compelling about the Christian message that centuries of social and religious fabric would be ripped up and replaced by this New Garment of faith?

All of the Apostles were Jewish.  All of their followers were Jewish.  Churches were being planted all over Jewish Judea and the surrounding region.  Additionally, the Gospel was spreading like wild-fire throughout the Mediterranean  region where many dispersed Jews lived.

Within decades, thousands of miles had been traversed with the Good News of a 'red-neck' Jewish Man that had come back to life; and He offered you the same Deal.  To this day, the Message remains the same: believe and receive--or else, remain under wrath.