Wandering Jew or Jesus Lied?

Question

Christians: As I understand it, either there is a 2000 year old Jew cursed to wanted the Earth until Jesus's return, or the Bible says that Jesus was a liar. There don't seem to be any other choices.

So how do you reconcile that with your faith? Do you believe there's a 2000 year old wandering around that nobody's seen? Or that Jesus lied about returning? Or something else?

Or, were you unaware of the idea of the Wandering Jew and the role he performs in your religion?

I could be completely wrong of course - but Jesus did say he would return during the lifetime of people he was speaking to. Now, either he was lying, or the Bible is wrong, or one of those people is still alive (referred to commonly as the Wandering Jew, IIRC).

The Bible passage that references Jesus' return in the lifetime of the people he was talkming to is, I think, Matthew 16:28: "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

> You're obviously completely ignorant.

To the answerers saying something like the above: It's quite possible I am ignorant. Hence asking a question. It's not called "Yahoo Statements".

@mancub: You said:

"never question [...] things you don't understand"

So your response to my question would be that you don't try to deal with the apparent problem, just assume there isn't one? No wonder people consider religions to be backwards.

Answer 1

You quote a myth that has its beginnings with a misinertpretation of the sermon on the mount.
There are two parts of the sermon one that said that Jerusalem would be destroyed, the temple destroyed and the second His return.
He said that those listening would see these things happen, referring to the City of jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. This occurred in 70 AD and many who heard Him were indeed still alive when this happened.
The second part Has no such prophecy about His return.
This is spawned in the Preterist myth. Part fulfilled in the destruction of Jesusalem so they thought the second coming was co-terminal. You take an old harried, worn out Straw man myth and try to rake it up to trip up unwary new believers.
Jesus said I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE no man cometh to the Father but by Me, Notice He said He was the TRUTH and I believe it. You will have to outline your charge a little better that your general misapplied fallacy to achieve any currency here.
The origin of this myth started with misunderstanding of Matt 16:28 and John 21:20-23. This was fulfilled when 3 disciples saw Jesus being transfigured on the Mount just before His Ascension.

Answer 2

What's there to reconcile? You're obviously completely ignorant.

the Wondering Jew doesn't have any link to Christianity other than being a tale about Jesus. The Wondering Jew isn't mentioned in the Bible.

The Wondering Jew is simply a legend that has showed up in independent literature. The first known mentioning was on a German pamphlet in 1602 which had a list of supposed appearances up to that time.

On top of all that, you have yet more wrong. According to the legend the Wandering Jew has been seen many times:

Hamburg in 1547
Spain in 1575
Vienna in 1599
Lübeck in 1601
Prague in 1602
Lübeck in 1603
Bavaria, 1604
Ypres, 1623
Brussels, 1640
Leipsic, 1642
Paris, 1644
Stamford, 1658
Astrakhan, 1672
Munich, 1721
Altbach, 1766
Brussels, 1774
Newcastle, 1790
The last sighting was here in America in the year 1868, when he was reported to have visited a Mormon named O'Grady (see "Desert News," Sept. 23, 1868).

The Wandering Jew is literary folklore, not the Word of God.

Now that we've dealt with your ignorance, there's one more thing. You obviously despise Christianity. This is apparent. Your tone and attitude in the question are proof of that. Not only that but you seem almost desperate to prove Jesus a liar. The question is why. Why are you so intolerant of Christianity?

Answer 3

The Bible says that they would be dispersed among the gentiles and they have been. They are just now fulfilling the prophecies to return. They have all gone back except the Jews in the west but according to prophecy they also will return. I don't think the bible calls it a curse, but it is certainly part of God's plan, and Jesus is not a liar.

Answer 4

I think this is based on something or another where jesus said he'd return within the lifespan of someone in the group he was talking to.

thus asserting that either jesus was wrong or at least one of the people is still alive. or something like that.

meh. personally I'm not christian, so I have no issue with the idea of him simply having been wrong.

or the church misunderstanding something.

or the church deliberately warping it.

but on the other hand, I also could handle the idea of there being a case of someone being incarnate and near-immortal in such a way this could happen as well.

honestly I don't see that as being that strong of an argument one way or the other.

Answer 5

This is a superstition. There is no evidence in any of the Gospels that Jesus ever cursed the Jews, or a particular Jew, or even considered HIMSELF to be other than a Jew.

Answer 6

Pearl L, wandering may be Hell for you but for me it would be nothing but heaven. there is nothing more pleasant than being able to wander forever, exploring, encountering new and wondrous things and events and meeting new and interesting people and creatures wherever I roam. So, it just goes to show you that one person's idea of hell is another's concept of heaven, isn't it? Just as one person's trash is another's treasure. Too many Christians are so convinced that Hell is ONE specific thing that they fail to understand what heaven and hell truly ARE. They are states of mind not states of existence, and God is also a state of mind, as well. We each worship that being that WE each conceive of as being utmost in OUR own imaginative concepts of greatness. Hence, what YOU conceive of as God, others may conceive of as evil incarnate, and vice-versa. That is to say, because I despise spending time with Christians, giving praise and worship to the being that they consider to be God, for ME, to endure that WOULD be Hell. I know that it is a hard concept to wrap your mind around, nevertheless, it IS true. So Pearl, do not be so quick to make a call about a subject of which you are NOT fully informed, for you will almost always be incorrect in your assessment. Brightest Blessings, Raji the Green Witch

Answer 7

I've been a Christian for 40 years, Deacon, Elder, Sunday School teacher. What troubles me so about this discussion is the fire-breathing, hate-breathing, rip-apart, name-calling "Christian" responders that have stepped up to defend Bible doctrine. No doubt these are the same people who speak about love and mercy and patience, reaching out to the unsaved with kindness and correcting with a gentle Godly hand.

An unsaved person asked a question. So let's show him our true loving nature by calling him ignorant, stupid and mixed up. Then let's raise our hands to heaven and say, "Lord, I defended your name". Let's raise our hands the same way the Southern Baptist used to do in the 1940's on Sunday morning and then use those same hands to hang a ***** on Sunday night.

Someone asked a question. They might not have the spiritual insight that you have. Use the question as an opportunity to witness, not condemn. Our mandate is to bring souls to Christ, not drive them away.

Answer 8

Sometimes I feel 2,000 years old until I finish my coffee. And when I ditched college for two years to travel my father called me the wandering Jew. But I did not know I play a role in anyone's religion, unless you count the xtian neighbor who I suspect would looove to convert us....


better go finish my coffee now....

Answer 9

You are ignoring the prophetic book of revelations. One standing there did see the return as a prophesy, ergo, it is no lie.

However, if you read the curse of Cain, about him being cursed from the earth, you could make the arguement that he is wandering still.....

Answer 10

I am blissfully unaware of a wandering jew. I am happy knowing Jesus will return. Simple as that!