A “New Perspective” on the Gospel, the King Jesus Gospel 2

As “Exhibit A” that something is wrong with our understanding of the gospel, Scot McKnight in his new book The King Jesus Gospel relates this story:

I received this email form a reader with this question: “I know you’re probably busy. If you have the time, I have a question about the gospel. I noticed that the gospel writers often include in their gospel the announcement that Jesus is the Messiah. My question is, ‘What is good news about the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the descendant of David?’  . . . Thanks for your time!” I read the letter three times and shook my head in disbelief each time, and I did so because I wonder how we have gotten ourselves to a point where we can wonder what Jesus’ being Messiah has to do with the gospel. But that emailer is not alone (24).

Of course there can be many reasons which cause a person not to know the significance of Jesus’ Davidic identity. However, I know that for many of my years growing up in the church, until graduate school, I was not aware of the significance that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. Truth is, for many, Jesus could have been born Chinese.