World Religions in a Nutshell (2 page)

Many Jews do believe that studying the Torah, praying, and doing good deeds will earn them a
better
place in Heaven, but they get a “Free Pass” as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Scripture has something to say about that kind of thinking:

“
And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” (Matthew 3:9)

The Messiah

So, what do Jewish people think about the Messiah today? Again, it depends on who you ask. Most Jewish people aren’t waiting with anticipation for a coming Messiah. The Orthodox Jews are still holding to that hope, but they fail to see the Messiah as divine, or as having to suffer as the Scriptures prophesied that He would. They believe that the Messiah is simply going to be a great political leader who brings peace to Israel and extends his rule over all the earth. One thing most Jewish people do agree on today is that Jesus is not that Messiah.

The other branches place their hope not in a person but in a “messianic age”—a Utopian age that mankind is progressing toward.

Jewish Customs

It is traditional for most Jews to celebrate certain life events, such as circumcision of male newborns, and a
bar mitzvah
(for boys) or
bat mitzvah
(for girls)—which is a coming-of-age ceremony at age 13. Many also observe the Sabbath as a weekly day of rest.

Most Jewish people observe at least some of the Jewish holidays, though it’s often to connect with their heritage more than for religious reasons. The most solemn are the High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is when Jews fast and pray for the forgiveness of their sins.

The most popular of all the holidays is Passover, which remembers the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. During the week of Passover they eat
matzo
, which is unleavened bread, and hold a
Seder
, or Passover meal.

How to Reach a Jewish Person

First, here are some tips on what
not
to do as you’re talking with a Jewish person:

^■
Don’t be intimidated by thinking that all Jewish people are well acquainted with the Scriptures. Although they do give the Old Testament respect, there’s a very good chance you know the Bible better than they do.

^■
Unless it’s in a phrase like “Orthodox Jews,” using the word “Jews” can sound anti-Semitic. It’s best to refer to “Jewish people” instead.

^■
Since they view Jewishness as a way of life, avoid using the term “convert,” which implies leaving behind their Jewishness. Instead, talk about becoming a “follower of Jesus.”

^■
While it’s fine to mention “Y’shua” as the Hebrew name of Jesus, people will not realize that you are referring to the historical person Jesus of Nazareth unless you also use the name “Jesus.”

^■
The term “Savior” is not understood by Jewish people, so instead speak of a Redeemer and use the word “Messiah.” Because of the Passover
Seder
, the concept of “redemption” is more familiar, so use that term rather than
“
salvation.” You can explain that as God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, so He wants to free us from the slavery to sin in our lives.

It shouldn’t surprise us that Jewish people are difficult to reach with the gospel. One reason is that many of them equate Christianity with Roman Catholicism. And why shouldn’t they? When they watch the news at Christmas or Easter, who is upheld as “the head of the Christian Church”? The pope. They therefore believe that Christians bow down to graven images and that they worship Mary and many other saints. To them, Christianity is a false religion, and should be kept at arm’s length because it directly violates the First and Second Commandments.

Many Jews even equate Christianity with Adolf Hitler
—despite the fact that biblical Christianity is soaked in love of humanity, while Hitler’s philosophy was saturated in the blood of pure hatred. Hitler infiltrated the church by installing his own leaders and Nazi “pastors,” then used the church structure to mock the Bible and teach that Jews were “children of the devil.” So in the eyes of many Jews, the evil of Nazism came directly through the Christian church.

As a result, when we approach Jewish people with a New Testament in our hand, or a cross around our neck and sweetly say, “I would like to talk to you about Jesus,” to them we might as well be saying, “Hi, I represent an institution that is filled with pedophiles, bows down to idols, worships false gods, and was responsible for the murder of six million Jews.” No wonder they are reluctant to talk with us.

So, how do we reach a Jewish person? Well, there are many different ways you could try. Paul said he reasoned with the Jews both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, so you could show them how Jesus fulfills the Jewish prophecies of the coming
Messiah. (For just a few of the many fulfilled prophecies, see the “Messianic Prophecies” chart on the following page.) But sadly, many Jews don’t care about this evidence because they don’t have much
regard for the Scriptures. And, if you have someone who esteems the Old Testament, he may argue that you’re just “reading Jesus into the Scriptures.”

Another approach is to try to answer all of the person’s objections to Christianity. For example, how we as Christians
can believe in the Trinity and yet believe in only one God, not three, or that Jesus will set up His earthly kingdom at His
second
coming, not His first. All this information is good, but be forewarned: if you are speaking to someone who has a proud heart, this may stir up a zesty argument.

That’s why when we talk with a Jewish person about God, we must start with the Law of Moses. It’s really very simple, so don’t complicate it. Find out if the person is proud
or humble by asking the question, “Would you consider yourself to be a good person?” If he says “yes,” then take him through the Ten Commandments, just like Jesus did with the rich young ruler (see Mark 10:17). Let those ten great cannons humble him and show him that he’ll be guilty
on Judgment Day and will need God’s forgiveness, which can be found only in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

If his heart is humble, then unashamedly reveal the love of God displayed on the cross—that God Himself provided a Lamb for our atonement. Then trust in His great faithfulness to bring the person to everlasting life that is in Jesus alone.

Witnessing to a Jewish Person

You:
Hello. Nice day.
²

Jeremiah:
Yes, it is.

You:
Where are you from?

Jeremiah:
New York.

You:
I love New York. Amazing place. My name is Ray.

Jeremiah:
I’m Jeremiah.

You:
Nice to meet you, Jeremiah

Jeremiah:
Nice to meet you, too.

You:
I have a question for you, Jeremiah. What do you think happens after someone dies? Do you think there’s a Heaven? Do people get reincarnated?

Jeremiah:
I don’t know.

You:
Do you think about it?

Jeremiah:
Sometimes. I’m Jewish.

[You need not panic and begin trying to prove that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Your aim at this point is simply to bring the knowledge of sin, using the Law, so that he will see that he needs God’s mercy.]

You:
So you think Heaven exists?

Jeremiah:
I hope so.

[A statement like this should put you at ease. Jeremiah is human. He thinks about the issues of life and death. His “I hope so” reveals that he’s not angry or anti-God.]

You:
Do you think that you are good enough to go there?

Jeremiah:
Yes, I believe so. [See Proverbs 20:6.]

You:
Have you kept the Law of Moses?

[The reason a Jew thinks that he is a good person is found in Romans 10:3. It says of the Jews,
 “
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” The opening of the spiritual nature of the Law will show him God’s standard of righteousness. Jews have the Law of Moses, but like the Pharisees they twist it or ignore it, therefore making it void to themselves.]

Jeremiah:
Sort of.

[If he says that he has broken the Commandments, ask which ones. Then still go through the Law. You need to personalize his sin, as Paul did in Romans 2:21–24.]