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its important not to see judiasm as purely the legalistic "enemy" religion, that Jesus stands against with the universalistic mercy faith....grace is a concept not alien to Jews before Christ.
the idea that the Law, a way of trying to place reverence for God in to the everyday life of the people, was going to be changed radically goes back to the prohpets. Jerimiah notes that the people have ceased to live lives of authentic beleif through the Law, because it is external to them. He writes of a time when it will be written upon our hearts, and God can truely be our God. Paul picks up on this, and it is an important way to view Jesus, remembering that the original language and idea does come from before Christ's time.
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