I worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob so I love the Jews like He does. They know more about the Messiah than I ever will, but I know him as my personal savior. I have been grafted into the tree of God’s blessing. Someday, I am going to walk in the New Jerusalem with Moses, David, Isaiah, Jonah, and millions more. Therefore it is a pleasure to share my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ with the children of Israel.
For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be His own treasure, out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6 JPS Tanakh 1917)
Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them; for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deuteronomy 31:6 JPS Tanakh 1917)
For the LORD will not forsake His people for His great name’s sake; because it hath pleased the LORD to make you a people unto Himself. (1 Samuel 12:22 JPS Tanakh 1917)
But the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither hath He cast them from His presence until now. (2 Kings 13:23 JPS Tanakh 1917)
And the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent to them by His messengers, sending betimes and often; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling-place; (2 Chronicles 36:15 JPS Tanakh 1917)
Most Jews do not read their own scriptures. Their religious observances keep them very busy. Very few read anything more than the required Haftarah reading on the Sabbath. Most read Psalms 95 to 99, and 29 during the Kabbalat Shabbat to welcome in the Sabbath. Some read all of Moses’ writing in the Torah. Very few Jews have any knowledge of the history or the prophets in the Hebrew Bible called the Tanakh. I love to challenge them to read their own prophets, especially these 3 chapters…
- Daniel 9 – Daniel’s prayer for another rescue of the people in a time of desolation, which is answered by Gabriel that an Anointed One will come but he will be killed, appearing to accomplish nothing.
- Isaiah 52-53 – Rescue for Jerusalem (a second exodus from Egypt) and future restoration by a suffering servant who will die for the sins of the people
- Micah 5 – A ruler of Israel will arise from Bethlehem Ephrathah (David’s birthplace) of the tribe of Judah to overthrow the enemy and restore the remnant Jews to their rightful place at the head of the nations.
It usually comes as a shock to most Jews that Christians believe the writings of Moses. After a few hours of conversation, they will usually ask, why aren’t you a Jew? That is when I love to ask them to read the 4 gospels in Hebrew. Here is an easy to use online resource:
- Mattai (Matthew) – Written by a despised tax collector whose life is changed by association with Jesus. He writes from the perspective of Jesus of Nazareth as the prophesied Messiah who fulfills the promises given to the fathers.
- Markos (Mark) – Written by a Jewish disciple that accompanied Jesus. He writes from the perspective of Jesus of Nazareth is “the Messiah, the Son of God” as the prophesied suffering servant.
- Lukos (Luke) – Written by a Greek physician who researched the events from many eye-witnesses. He writes from the perspective of the Son of God who came to sacrifice himself for the sins of the people and was resurrected to change the world.
- Yohhanan (John) – Written by a disciple who had a close personal relationship with Jesus. He writes from the perspective of the Jesus as God, the Creator, the great “I AM” of Exodus, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
You don’t have to know all the answers. You don’t have to be a world-class apologist. You don’t even have to have the gift of an evangelist. You just have to be sincerely excited about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God. They have provoked me to anger with their vanities. I will move them to jealousy with those who are not a people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. (Deuteronomy 32:31 WEB)
I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. (Romans 11:11 WEB)
That’s me. Not a people. A foolish nation. A saved Gentile. But, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ and my love for his chosen people can move them to jealousy.
If this ever becomes a chore or a battle, then it is probably not the Lord that is motivating you.