Jesus

The Times carried an advertisement (Dec. 11) from the so-called "Jews for Jesus" with the headline, "The Messiah has come and his name is Y'SHUA'." Now, although that was undoubtedly the Hebrew name of "Jesus," and although he most certainly was a Jew (and, possibly, even a "Messiah"), the implication of the rest of the ad--that these circumstances of his Jewish birth somehow elected him to the status of God--is totally misleading and offensive. The Jewish messianic tradition into which "Jesus" was born defined the Messiah as a priestly king , not as a supernatural being.

PHOENIX — Those were quite the exciting games Tuesday, two rowdy Arizona crowds on the edge of their seats and at the top of their lungs in creating a hostile environment for the visiting team from Los Angeles. Beat L.A.? Maybe another year. The NHL's Coyotes? Done, thanks to the Kings. The Diamondbacks? They might be just about done, thanks to the Dodgers, and to an increasingly unlikely cast of characters. "I've got to go clean my hair now," Ivan De Jesus said.

I was offended by Jonathan Kirsch's book review of Bart Ehrman's "Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium" (Feb. 5), which suggests that blasphemy or deicide is rendered charming by a chatty, lighthearted tone--or intriguing, when laid out as a well-plotted mystery. To Christians, some of whom may even read The Times, Jesus was and is the living God. Additionally, Catholics (some of them read The Times, too) see him as person and a living, real presence in the Eucharist. Review the book, of course, but with sensitivity, please, to the things others hold sacred.

WASHINGTON — Police and federal agents pulled the car over in a suburb north of Denver. An FBI agent showed his badge. The driver appeared not startled at all. "My friend," he said, "I have been waiting for you. " And with that, Jesus Audel Miramontes-Varela stepped out of his white 2002 BMW X5 and into the arms of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Over the next several days at his ranch in Colorado and an FBI safe house in Albuquerque, the Mexican cartel chieftain — who had reputedly fed one of his victims to lions in Mexico — was transformed into one of the FBI's top informants on the Southwest border.

Jesus is everywhere. There are plenty of books about his presence in the holy scriptures of Christianity's sister faiths (in the Talmud, in the Koran) and about secret traditions brought to light by the Gnostic gospels. There are also plenty on more provocative views of his life and death on a cross, if he really did die on a cross -- think of books such as "The Passover Plot," "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and that really successful novel by that guy whose name I can't seem to recall right now. There is yet another tradition about Jesus: During his life, he went to India, Tibet and Kashmir.

Corey's letter, which speaks against the "Jews for Jesus" and their claims regarding Y'SHUA seems a bit outdated--by almost 2,000 years. Corey accurately states that Jesus could not be accepted as the Messiah according to Jewish Messianic tradition; it is precisely because of this "tradition" that Jesus, the Messiah, was not recognized when he arrived on the scene. In that day, and in the 20 centuries since, men have followed the traditions of man rather than accept the simple truths of God's Word.

Regarding Robert Eisenman's concern for the stone ossuary bearing Jesus' name being "too pat, too perfect" (Commentary, Oct. 29): It doesn't matter to believers. Believers know that salvation and truth rest on another stone; namely Jesus, the rock of our salvation. If it is true, then it is confirmation of what we already know, and if not, then it is just more diversion from the devil. Jim Allen Orange

Regarding Letters ("Jesus Was a Jew, Not an Anti-Semite," Jan. 30): I would like to dispel the myth once and for all that Jesus was or could possibly be a Jew. Jesus was no more a Jew than Moses was a Christian. First, Jesus was born of a "virgin" and therefore had no earthly father. This made Joseph and Mary his earthly guardians--and nothing more. There never was or could be any genetic blood or biological link whatsoever. Jesus lived among Jews, but he was not of them. LILY JAMIL United Kingdom When Jesus, or others quoted in the word of God, referred to "the Jews," this was not in reference to the Jewish population in general, which would be written "jews."

In response to "The Blunt Hard-Liner at Pope John Paul's Side," on Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Commentary, Aug. 6): What would Jesus say about homosexuality, abortions, politicians supporting abortions or gay marriages? It would be the same answer as he gives regarding adultery, sexual intercourse outside of marriage or murder. Love the sinner but hate the sin. Richard G. Pitchford San Pedro

I was rather surprised that The Times published such a scurrilous note as Lawrence A. Levey's rebuke for your having accepted the Jews for Jesus ad (Letters, Jan. 8). What an intemperate heaping up of wild charges against that organization! One can dismiss his diatribe as an outburst of emotional resentment that many Jews today are drawn to Jesus of Nazareth as "bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh." On one point, however, I must challenge his deliberate distortion of the obvious.

This can't be correct: Cloris Leachman and Tara Reid topline a period horror-thriller about a young boy who becomes convinced the Manson family has moved into the cornfield in back of his house? And it's not some mad parody but, rather, an earnest effort, which makes it even more weird. The absolute best part of "The Fields" is simply that, letting the very idea of this cast and this story marinate in the brainpan for a moment before coming to the obvious common-sense conclusion: This cannot possibly work out. And indeed the film, directed by Tom Mattera and David Mazzoni from a screenplay by B. Harrison Smith, is flat and lifeless, not even the odd object promised by its unlikely cast, who play it straight and with little energy.

A federal judge in Texas has ordered the JetBlue Airways pilot accused of disrupting a Las Vegas-bound New York flight with rants about religion and terrorists to undergo a psychiatric exam. The order signed by U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson in Amarillo on Wednesday will send pilot Clayton Osbon to an unidentified medical facility for federal prisoners. There, he'll undergo tests to determine if he was legally sane on March 27 when passengers subdued him after he allegedly sprinted through the plane shouting about Jesus and Al Qaeda . The exam also will determine if Osbon, 49, is competent to stand trial, court staff told The Times.

ART Join sculptors Scott Hove and Joe Sorren for an opening reception at La Luz de Jesus gallery. Their two shows titled, "My Own Private Apocalypse," and "When Rain Comes," respectively, display work that captures the unique, rebellious spirits of both artists. La Luz de Jesus Gallery, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. 8 to 11 p.m. Fri. Free. (323) 666-7667; http://www.laluzdejesus.com.

NEW YORK - Oh, to be ignorant again. At least that's what Tim Rice is thinking as he looks back on his 26-year-old self. "It's a great advantage not to have a clue as to what you're up to," he says. "My son Donald, who has just finished his first film, said something I wish I'd said: 'You should make the most of your inexperience because you'll never get it back.' And it's true. " What has put Rice in such a ruminative mood are the Broadway revivals this season of his two early shows with Andrew Lloyd Webber,"Jesus Christ Superstar" (1970)

PHOENIX -- Utility infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. has a torn oblique muscle in his left side, an MRI exam he underwent earlier in the week has revealed. Manager Don Mattingly said there was no timetable for his return. De Jesus, who was injured taking a swing in a game on Saturday night, was the Dodgers' minor league player of the year in 2008. He appeared to be on the verge of a breaking into the majors the following year, but broke his leg during spring training. Now 24, De Jesus is battling for the final spot on the bench.

Ivan DeJesus strained his left oblique abdominal muscle, harming the infielder's chances of being on the Dodgers' opening-day roster as a key bench player. "It's hard to compete [for a job] when you can't be out there," Manager Don Mattingly said Sunday before the Dodgers were to play the Angels at Camelback Ranch, weather permitting. DeJesus, 24, inured himself while swinging during an at-bat Saturday night in the Dodgers' game against the San Francisco Giants. He's scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday to evaluate the damage.

Lent 2012 offers observant Catholics and other Christians a unique opportunity to honor the sacrifices of Jesus Christ by first honoring his mother, Mary. Because of a quirky series of calender coincidences, Christians can use this year's Lent to also follow in the footsteps of St. Louis-Marie de Montfort. He was a French priest known for his deep commitment to Mary, and came up with a series of short prayers and spiritual practices to honor her called the Total Consecration . This year, the Catholic calendar lines up so that both Lent and the Total Consecration start on the same day. The next time that happens will be 2075, Father Ryan Wayne Erlenbush told The Times.

For an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Shmuley Boteach has a deeply unorthodox streak. The bestselling author and TV host has written books on "Kosher Sex," "Dating Secrets of the 10 Commandments" and his relationship with the late pop star Michael Jackson. But nothing he has done in a career as one of America's best-known rabbis has caused quite the stir of his latest book. Even before its publication this month, Boteach came under withering attack in his own Orthodox community, with critics accusing him of exploiting controversy to boost sales and some going so far as to accuse him of heresy.