SHARING MESSIAH

SHARING MESSIAH WITH JEWISH PEOPLE (click here for Discipling Seminar)

CONTENTS:

SECTION 1

WHY WITNESS?

HOW DO WE DO IT?

SECTION 2

MISCONCEPTIONS

INSIGHTS

COMMUNICATION

SECTION 3

OBJECTIONS

OBJECTIONS OF THE ORTHODOX

SECTION 4

HELPFUL HINTS

DO'S AND DONT'S

We are the light of the world!

To begin with, in order to effectively witness to anyone, we need to feel a desire to do so. In order to feel a desire, we need to have a valid reason. So---what are our reasons for witnessing to Jews?

God is ... ...Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9b)

Without Yeshua, the Jews, just like anyone else, will perish.

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

There is only one way for both Gentile and Jew.

For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:9-10)

That ONE WAY is YESHUA (JESUS)!

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

This does not mean an abstract faith, but a definite faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. Not that He will come, but that He has come.

"if you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Yeshua Hamashiach has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Yeshua Hamashiach is come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:2-3)

The power to bring both Jew and Gentile to Messiah is in the gospel.

For I am not ashamed of the good news of Messiah: for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes; for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile). (Romans 1:16)

The good news must be preached to every creature.

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

Because faith comes by hearing.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14)

The word of God can't help anyone unless it is heard! And it needs to be heard in a way that it can be understood.

But mainly, we have a reason to witness to the Jewish people because:

We owe them a debt of gratitude for bringing us the Scriptures.

Unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)

We owe them a debt of gratitude for bringing us the Good News.

Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it. Acts 28:28

...inasmuch as I (Paul, a Jew) am an apostle to the Gentiles... (Romans 11:13)

We owe them a debt of gratitude for termporarily being enemies for our sakes.

Concerning the Good News they are enemies for your sakes... (Romans 11:28a)

God loves them!

...but concerning the election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. (Romans 11:28b)

He wants to provoke them to jealousy.

But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

(Romans 11:11)

That through our mercy they might be saved.

For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so have these also now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they may also obtain mercy. (Romans 11:30-31)

This will enrich the Body of Messiah.

Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be, but life from the dead? (Romans 11:12,15)

This should be enough reason for any Believer to want to share the Good News with the Jewish people. And, the exciting thing is that we are living in an unprecedented time. Today, we can do it! The blindness which for so many years has covered the eyes of the Jewish people is now lifting. Jewish people are beginning to open up to the Good News of the Messiah Yeshua! Now is the time to fulfill our commission to the Jewish people.

Then, our Lord will come for His Bride, a Bride made up of both Jews and Gentiles. His goal is:

That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Messiah through the Good News. (Ephesians 3:6)

HOW?

All Believers have the ability to witness to any human being - whether Jewish or Gentile. In fact, not only do we have the ability, we have the responsibility.

The power to be witnesses comes from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Power for Salvation comes from the Good News (Romans 1:16), preached from the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23-25) and brought to regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

As you can see, it starts and ends with God. But, in order to do its work, the Good News must be preached! (Romans 10:14) Without a preacher, no one can hear or believe.

Who are the preachers? WE ARE! Every member of the Body of Messiah. God has not committed the Good News into the hands of angels, but into the hands of His people (Mark 16:15). That does not mean that we are all called to a pulpit ministry. Preaching simply means spreading the word; "gossiping" the Good News.

The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:3-9) gives us more insight about witnessing than any Evangelism Program ever taught. Yeshua Himself gave the interpretation. The Sower is the Son of Man (Matthew 13:37) and His ministers (Mark 16:15-20) who work together with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). The Seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). The Wayside, the Stony Ground, the Thorny Ground, and the Fruitful Ground represent those who hear the Word.

There is a definite reason for preaching to be likened to sowing; for those who hear to be likened to soil. Yeshua was speaking to His disciples, men who were familiar with soils and seed. They knew that in order for seed to grow, the ground had to first be prepared, cultivated and tilled. He wanted to teach them (and us) how to reap a plentiful harvest of souls.

We know that the type of soil determines the growth (the Seed of the Word is always good). Some will bear fruit, and some won't. But, what we sometimes miss is that God expects us to do something about the condition of the soil! We are His "gardeners". Can the ground plow itself? Can soil cultivate itself? Can it remove its own rocks and thorns? NO. This is the task that God has committed to us.

Do we fully understand the significance of the admonition Jesus gave His disciples (and us) that day? He said: "Those by the wayside... Satan comes and immediately takes away the Word ... lest they hear and be converted." He was trying to explain that it is impossible to throw seed upon ground which has never been cultivated or prepared and expect to reap a harvest. How can we expect a hard and unprepared heart to receive the Good News? And yet, we can't understand why strangers don't immediately get saved when we accost them and announce, "If you want to go to heaven, just say you're a sinner. Jesus died for you. Hallelujah."

"The Wayside" is ground that is hard; it has no depth, no nourishment, and is constantly trodden under foot. Birds steal the seed since it cannot penetrate the ground to take root. If we want the seed to take root, deep root, we must carefully cultivate the soil. We must plow the hard ground (overcome suspicion, objections, lack of interest). We must pull the thorns (deal with worldliness, lust of the flesh, greed). We must clear away stones and rocks (deal with instability, lack of commitment, easy believism, etc. which has no root).

Our "gardening tools" are love, wisdom, truth, prayer, training and knowledge of the Scriptures. Our weapons are the "whole armor of God." (Ephesians 6:11-18)

Proper gardening might well make the difference between a seed taking root or dying. For each soil, each plant, there are the same basics, yet each has slightly different requirements. So it is for each person we witness to. Every race, every culture, every individual has a special need. May we who are called to be ministers of the Good News spend as much time and labor on God's field as we do on our own lawns.

MISCONCEPTIONS

In order to help you, we want to clear up some common misconceptions and fears that people have about witnessing to Jewish people.

The Jewish people know that Yeshua (Jesus) is their Messiah and they have rejected Him.

Most Jewish people haven't the slightest idea that He even claimed to be the Messiah.

Jewish people know the Old Testament so well. I couldn't possibly instruct them from it.

Many Jews don't know the Old Testament at all (with the exception of the Orthodox or students of the Scriptures in Yeshivas). Prayer books are used in the synagogues instead of the Scriptures themselves. Many of the Messianic prophecies have been removed from the Torah and Haftorah portions that are read in the synagogues each week. (The Torah is the Law - the 5 books of Moses. The Haftorah is the prophets). The scholars study the Talmud and "Oral Law" and regard these as equal or greater than the written Scriptures of the Old Testament.

They should realize from the Scriptures that Yeshua (Jesus) is their Messiah.

Since they are not encouraged to read the Tenach (Old Testament), or taught how to understand it, they haven't the slightest idea what it teaches.

Many of them have been taught that only the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) are really the Word of God. Some don't even accept that. They need to be shown the promises and prophecies in their own Bibles!

I don't know enough about Jewish history to converse with them

On the one hand, you know more than most of them do because you are familiar with the Scriptures which contain most of Israel's history. On the other hand, you are probably not too familiar with the part of Israel's history that isn't contained in the Bible.

You are probably also not familiar with their culture, traditions, or national holidays. But, this can be an asset. It presents an opportunity for you to ask and listen. Your friend will be pleased that you are truly interested.

Jews look down on Gentiles.

Some do, just as some Gentiles look down on Jews. However, the main attitude of Jews toward non-Jews is tolerance, but fear and suspicion towards those who try to "convert" them. They cannot forget the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Pogroms and especially the Holocaust. Love and empathy can overcome this in most cases. Their attitude towards Messianic Jews will usually be more severe than their attitude toward Gentile Christians.

They are so devout that it would be presumptuous for me to tell them about God.

Only the Orthodox are devout. Most Jews believe in God, but do not know where to find Him. They feel awe toward Him and feel that He is very far away and removed from everyday life.

Most Jews are atheists.

Of course this is not true. There are Jewish atheists just as there are atheists in every group of people. However, the traditional Jewish faith instills a belief in the One True God. It just does not show where to find Him.

Jews have all the money.

Some have money and some do not. Some are rich and some are poor. Despite popular belief that the Jews control all the money, a recent survey of millionaires in our country showed only 6% to be Jewish. The rest were not.

If I witness to them, I will lose their friendship.

You might, although Jewish people are usually very tolerant of other people's beliefs (unless they are forced upon them which is something that should never happen). But, even if you should lose their friendship, it is worth it. Their souls are more important than your friendship. Besides, our calling is to make disciples. This supersedes making friends.

If I witness to them, they will think I am crazy.

They might. Any unbeliever we witness to might think we are a bit odd, but we do not need to be overly concerned about what people think as long as we are pleasing God. Of course, this does not give us the right to act in a rude or unbecoming manner.

Jewish people are so self-sufficient. How can I tell them anything?

They are not self-sufficient. They just appear to be. They are actually a needy, fearful people as are any people who have been persecuted. They are hungry for God. They have developed a protective "shell" to cover up their fears and doubts. Sometimes, they even fool themselves

INSIGHTS:

About God: Jewish people believe that God is One - an absolute, literal ONE. They do not accept the Trinity (many think that we believe in three Gods) or the fact that God has a Son. They regard God with extreme awe, yet God is not usually foremost in their lives. They think of Him as very far away and too lofty to be bothered with their everyday needs. They don't know that they can have a personal relationship with Him.

About the Messiah: Most Jews believe in the "concept" of a Messiah, but they don't know when He will come, who He will be, or exactly what He'll do. Many orthodox Jews believe He could come at any time. Others have begun to look upon the Messiah as a myth. Some are so disillusioned waiting for Him to come, that they've given up and stopped believing. There is also a group of Jewish people who believe that the Messiah is a great Rabbi who lives on the earth today (not necessarily supernatural).

About Yeshua: The only thing that almost all Jewish people agree on is that you cannot believe in Yeshua (Jesus) and remain a Jew. Other opinions range from believing Him to be a good man, a Great Prophet, a Brilliant Teacher, a humanitarian, a man before His time, and tragically misunderstood, to believing Him to be an impostor, a liar or an apostate.

About death: Like most others, the Jewish people fear death. It is a big unknown. Many Jews want to believe in a hereafter, but they really feel that this life is all there is. Even many Orthodox Jews feel this way. For the most part, they regard Heaven and Hell as myths. Those who do believe in them feel that if you are a good person, you will go to Heaven. Most Rabbis cannot agree on the subject. They really do not understand what the Bible says so they have developed their own philosophies.

About Christians: Almost all Jewish people believe that anyone who is not Jewish is a Christian. They lump all non-Jews together in the same category. They do not see or know a difference between a nominal Christian and truly born again Gentile believer in Messiah. They believe Hitler was a Christian - after all, he claimed to be.

COMMUNICATION:

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews... I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 1 Corinthians 9:20, 22b

On any mission field, the first thing that must be learned is the language and the culture. The Jewish people are a mission field in our own back yard. Although they share in the American culture, they also have a Jewish culture.

Even though we do not need to learn to speak Hebrew or Yiddish in order to witness to them, we still need to learn a new "language." We need to understand their sensitivities, hang-ups, culture, etc. We need to learn the "language" of the Jewish heart. Otherwise, we will not get through to them.

The following is a list of terminology to use instead of the standard "churchy" expressions. These are words that the Jewish people can relate to.

A word of caution: As you witness, try to explain the relationships of each "new" word to each "old" word. That way, if you use the words that you are more accustomed to, no harm will be done. Furthermore, you will be laying the groundwork for better communication lines between your Jewish friends and other believers.

Christ: The English form of the Greek word Cristos meaning the anointed one. Jews think this is the surname of Jesus and do not realize that it is a title meaning Messiah. Because Jews have been persecuted in the name of Christ for so many centuries, they can only relate to this word negatively.

Messiah: The English form of the Hebrew word Mashiach meaning the anointed one. As you can see, it is not a compromise. Whereas the word Christ will offend the Jewish people, Messiah is a word they can relate to as something their people are allowed to believe in.

Jesus: Although this isn't terribly offensive, it still is misunderstood. It is a Greek form of the name Joshua. It is distinctly non-Jewish to the Jewish people.

Yeshua: This is the same word, but it is in Hebrew. Yeshua never was called Jesus while He lived on Earth because He spoke Hebrew, not English.

Converted: Although we understand that everybody must be converted from their sin, Jewish people understand this as being converted from being a Jew to being a Gentile. They see this as an utter denial of their heritage.

Completed, Fulfilled, or Messianic: This is not a compromise. It is the only way to convey to the Jewish people of our generation what it would mean for them to accept Yeshua as their Messiah. They would be fulfilling their heritage, not denying it.

Saved: They do not understand what they need to be saved from, so explain the meaning of salvation to them. Most Jews do not know about the blood sacrifice that God required under the Old Covenant. They think that being "good" is enough to make them OK with God.

Atoned For: This is a Jewish concept. You will need to gently teach them what their own Bibles say about the need for atonement. Be very loving when you explain about the Blood Sacrifice because the concept is repugnant to most people in the modern world.

Church: The very thought of the word will make them uncomfortable, much the way the mention of a meeting-place for a cult would make us feel. Besides, we need to tell people about Yeshua, not just about church.

Congregation: In reality, we are incorrect when we call our meeting places churches. We are the Church. The Church is the people, the Body of Messiah. It would be more correct to call our meeting places synagogues, which means a gathering together.

Missionary: This word conjures up a picture of a wild-eyed religious fanatic out to steal Jewish children from their parents. If you think this is a bit paranoid, just consider how you would react to the idea of a Jehovah's Witness, a Moonie or a Hare Krishna accosting you and your children and trying to win you over to their beliefs. That is how Jewish people feel about missionaries.

Minister, Rabbi, Spiritual Leader: These are more acceptable terms. The word Minister, which means servant, is a more Scriptural term than missionary anyway. Rabbi literally means teacher, and Spiritual Leader is an apt description of one who teaches spiritual truths.

Jew or Jewess: This is an offense when spoken by a non-Jew as it has been used in an insulting manner for many centuries.

Jewish Person or Jewish Man or Jewish Woman: This is a much less offensive way of saying the same thing.

Christian: Most Jewish people think that this word is synonymous with Gentile or non-Jew. This word has many of the same connotations as Christ (see above). It is important that you show the person you are witnessing to the true meaning of Christianity. Through the ages, many Jewish people have been persecuted by those professing to be Christians.

Believer, or Messianic Jew, or Follower of Messiah: These are terms that have a more positive connotation. They show the relationship with the Messiah that is a part of being a true believer. If you are a Jewish believer in the Messiah, the best term to use is Messianic Jew - a Jewish person that believes in Yeshua as the Messiah.

Sin or Sinner: This is an issue that cannot be sidestepped. The Bible says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. However, most Jewish people think of 'sin' as being something extreme, such as murder. It is important to lay the groundwork for talking about the fact that we are all sinners; we have all fallen short of what God expected from us.

There really is no substitute word to be used here. It is important to explain the concept so that the word will have the same meaning to your listener as it does to you. The whole point of talking to someone about the Lord is to open a line of communication and give them the Word so that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) can draw them to the Father.

Cross or Crucifix: The symbol of death and persecution to the Jewish person. Many Jewish people were forced to kiss the Cross or die. Many died rather than forsake their heritage. Crusaders used the cross as a symbol while murdering Jews, Arabs, and others who did not believe their way.

Tree: Many Jewish people feel that the "Christians" blame them for the death of Jesus (perhaps because many do!). They need to understand that Yeshua came to die to pay the price for our sins. The message of the Cross should not be avoided. But it needs to be presented as the act that it was - God's ultimate willing sacrifice for the salvation of mankind!

Baptize: To the Jew, baptism is the symbol of converting from Judaism to another faith. They view it as the casting away of their heritage.

Mikveh or Immersion: The Mikveh is a Jewish custom that is basically the same as baptism. It is a purification ritual used in the process of conversion to Judaism. Explain that the custom of baptism comes from the Jewish custom of Mikveh. It is not foreign to Judaism.

These are just some examples of terms that can be used in order to establish better understanding between you and the Jewish person that you are witnessing to. This is not an attempt to deceive or to hide what you are saying. You are not lying or misrepresenting anything. All you are doing is trying to talk to the person in a way that he or she can better understand so that your message will be very clear.

OBJECTIONS

Yeshua (Jesus) was not the Jewish Messiah. The Jewish people are still waiting for their Messiah to come.

Many Jewish people do know that He has come and that He was and is Yeshua. The first people to acknowledge Him as Messiah were all Jewish. The first church was entirely Jewish. Explain how Yeshua fulfilled the ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah. Don't expect that your explanations will be immediately accepted or understood. It takes time for the Ruach (Spirit) to work and open a heart.

God cannot possibly have a son!

The Hebrew Scriptures clearly reveal that God has always had a Son. Offer to show this to the person in their own Bible. Some excellent Scriptures are Proverbs 30:4, Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 9:5,6.

Christianity and its doctrines are totally foreign to Judaism.

Biblical Christianity is based on Biblical Judaism. True Biblical Christianity is the fulfillment of all the Jewish prophecies. Explain that the word "Christian" literally means "like the Messiah," and that "Christianity" literally means "following the Messiah." Judaism has always looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Believing in Him is the fulfillment of all Jewish hope.

But God is ONE! Christians worship three gods.

Yes, God is One. Christians worship the One True God just as the Jewish people do. The key, however, is the meaning of the word 'one' used in the Hebrew Scriptures. The word used in the Sh'ma (Deuteronomy 6:4) which says, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One!" is echod. Echod is not only used as the number one, but also means "two or more united as one, a unity." The same word was used of Adam and Eve when they became one flesh (bosor echod). Show the person from his or her own Bible the Scriptures which speak of the plurality yet oneness of God. Some Scriptures to use are Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:1, Genesis 3:22, Isaiah 9:5-6, and Psalm 139:7. Also, point out that the Hebrew word for God, Elohim, is a plural word. It is the same word used in Exodus 20:3 when it says "You shall have no other gods (elohim) before me."

How can a virgin have a child?

Naturally speaking, she can't. But, God promised to give a supernatural sign: a virgin would have a child. This was to be a miraculous sign to all of Israel. It certainly could not have been a sign if it was just a normal birth. Young women have babies all the time. It happened just as God predicted, just when God predicted, and just where God predicted. Offer to show these predictions to the person in his or her own Bible. Show him or her the following Scriptures and explain how they were fulfilled in the New Covenant (Testament): Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:5-6, Micah 5:1, Daniel 9:25-26.

Most Christians hate the Jewish people.

Real Christians, believers and followers of the Messiah, love the Jewish people. Those claiming to be Christians, who have persecuted the Jewish people are Christians in name only.

Explain that you love the Jewish people because they are Jewish, not in spite of it. You love the Jewish people because your Savior does, and because He chose to come as a Jew. Explain that cruel people have used the name of Yeshua (Jesus) to hurt Jews, but that Yeshua (Jesus) Himself taught only love.

How can I believe in a God that let 6 million people die?

What happened to the Jewish people grieved God just as it grieves every true believer. We should understand, however, that the miracle is that, in spite of all the anti-Semitism which has existed throughout the ages, the Jewish people still exist and the nation of Israel has been reborn. God did not let the Jewish people be annihilated. Also explain that no disaster or atrocity increases the death rate. Every human being dies. It is just a question of when.

Don't ever make light of the persecution that the Jewish people have suffered. Don't try to brush it off by saying that other people have been persecuted too. This is true, but it will not make them feel any less bitter. If your baby were murdered, would it comfort you to know that someone else's baby was also murdered?

Down through the ages, no other group has been consistently persecuted the way the Jews have. From Haman to Herod to Hitler, there have been many Jew-haters. They have been Satan's tool against the Jewish people. Sometimes, our best reaction to this issue is to show how deeply we are affected by this.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

If I accept Yeshua, I will be a traitor to my people.

Actually, the reverse is true. If the person accepts Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah, he or she will be acting in the most loyal and patriotic manner possible to the Jewish people and to Israel.

I don't want to be "converted". I want to remain a Jew.

Accepting Yeshua is not converting from Judaism. It is completing or fulfilling Judaism. By accepting the Jewish Messiah, you become not only physically Jewish, but also spiritually Jewish.

This is a good time to explain that both Jews and Gentiles need to be converted from Sin, from going their own way. Tell the person that you were also converted and that you are now of the spiritual seed of Abraham.

Okay. Let's say that I believe all this. If I were to accept Yeshua, my family would disown me and my friends would ostracize me.

Yes, this is possible. Tell the person that he or she has to be prepared for that to happen. However, in recent years, God has opened the hearts of the Jewish people and fewer families and friends are reacting this way. But, the important thing is to ask them who they are going to put first - God or their family and friends?

Never make light of this or tell the person that it won't happen. We must all be prepared to suffer for our faith. Remind him or her of God's greatest command to Israel: Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

OBJECTIONS OF THE ORTHODOX:

Faith in Jesus goes against the teachings of the Tenach (Old Testament) because it teaches people not to obey the Law of Moses and that the Law is abolished.

Actually, modern Judaism goes against the teaching of the Tenach and does away with the law by substituting the traditions of men for the Word of God. Faith in Jesus does not go against the teachings of the Tenach. It does not teach that the Law is abolished. It teaches that the Law is fulfilled. Explain that God promised the Jewish people a new covenant, not based on keeping the laws given to Moses, but based on their having the Law written on their hearts. Read Jeremiah 31:31-33 with the person. Explain that this does not mean the Law was abolished. Yeshua said: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17) Yeshua fulfilled the Law by living it perfectly as the only perfect human ever to live. Then, He died for us as a perfect sacrifice - once and for all! (Hebrews 10:10-17) The law is fulfilled in Messiah and He is the Mediator of a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6). The Old Covenant was weak because it depended on the righteousness of man. The New Covenant is strong because it depends on the righteousness of God!

Also, explain that no one has ever really kept the Law. The Law is more than the Ten Commandments. It is hundreds of statutes and ordinances given in the Torah. In order to keep the Law, you would have to keep every ordinance and commandment. James says that if you break one law, you have broken them all. (James 2:10-11)

If Yeshua was the Messiah, why didn't he bring peace?

If Israel as a whole had accepted Him as their Messiah, He would have ushered in the Kingdom of God and brought national & worldwide peace there and then. But, as the Scriptures in the Tenach (Old Testament) predicted, Israel rejected their Messiah and they will have to wait for His Second Coming for worldwide peace. One day He will come and reign in Israel. Meanwhile, He offers personal peace - peace that passes all understanding – to all who will believe in Him.

Many Orthodox Jews will quote Isaiah 2:4 and Isaiah 11:6 as proof that the Messiah has not yet come. "He shall judge between the nations, and shall rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

These same people might well ignore the Scriptures that refer to Him as first being rejected and despised. For the most part, they do not do this intentionally. It is the way that they have been taught. Read through Isaiah 53 carefully with them and ask them to prayerfully consider WHO this Scripture is referring to. Also, go over the contrasts of Isaiah 52:13, 14 and 15, as well as Isaiah 49:7. How could this have been fulfilled in one coming? Explain that the wonderful conditions of Isaiah 2:4 and Isaiah 11:6 will be fulfilled at the Second Coming, but it will not happen until there is nationwide repentance in Israel. They will say, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord." They will look for the coming of Messiah.

But, didn't Yeshua say, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword?"

Yes, He did say that in Matthew 10:34, but this is only a partial quote of the passage. The whole context is contained in Matthew 10:10-42. What Yeshua was speaking of when He said "a sword" was the persecution that the believers in the New Covenant would encounter from those who reject it and the Messiah. Because many Jewish people would reject their own Messiah, Yeshua - His very name and the issue of His being the Messiah - would bring enmity between friends and kinsmen; between father and daughter, daughter and mother, etc. But it was never His desire that this enmity should arise. He was merely stating what he knew would happen.

Explain how sorrowful Yeshua was that this would happen. Tell how He wept over Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34) Also explain that Yeshua spoke much of the real peace, the personal peace he offers to all who come to Him. (John 14:27)

If Yeshua was the Messiah, why did He die?

If He wasn't the real Messiah, He would not have died. He would have tried to gain earthly power without giving His life and blood as an atonement for our sins. (Read Isaiah 53). The Scriptures clearly state that The Messiah would die for man's sins.

But explain that He didn't stay dead. And the witness of His resurrection was the proof that gave His disciples the confidence to boldly proclaim Him, and to live fearlessly and joyfully.

Didn't Yeshua promise in Mark 9:1 and Mark 13:30 that the Kingdom of God would come in His generation?

Again, this is taking a Scripture out of context. Yeshua actually warned His disciples that the Kingdom of God would not be fulfilled until many things came to pass (Mark 13:3-37). In Mark 9:1 (also Luke 9:27 & Matthew 16:28), He was telling His disciples that a few of them would see the power of the Kingdom of God very shortly. This came to pass six days later at the Transfiguration, when three of Yeshua's disciples actually saw the Power of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is now within us, but one day, it will be upon the whole earth. We are to pray for God's Kingdom to come.

Explain the following: Mark 13:30 is part of Yeshua's teaching about the events of the latter days (or end times). The prophecy actually begins with verse 3 and ends with verse 37. Taken in proper context, Yeshua is not saying that the Kingdom of God would come in His generation. In fact, he is saying the opposite. He warns the disciples not to be deceived by false Messiahs and not to be impatient, because His Coming would be far away (vs. 5-8). All things would not be fulfilled until the prophecies of this chapter were fulfilled. When they were fulfilled, then it says this generation (the generation that witnesses the fulfillment of these prophecies) would not pass away until all these things are done (v. 30).

HELPFUL HINTS

Ask God to give you a real love for the person you are witnessing to. An unconditional love- that does good even if the person reacts badly.

Try to speak to him alone. If he has another Jewish friend with him, he might be embarrassed or afraid to admit an interest. If you have more than one friend with you, he might feel that you are ganging up on him. If you take a non-Believer with you, they will probably end up ganging up on you! Salvation is a personal thing.

Don't wear a large, conspicuous cross. Remember that it is a symbol of persecution to the Jewish people. In fact, "symbols" are better left off. We carry Yeshua in our hearts.

Ask to use his Bible. He is more apt to accept the authenticity of his own Bible (even though it is basically the same as our Old Testament).

Take an interest in any holidays or customs he might want to share with you. There is no reason for you to feel uncomfortable, or that you are compromising your faith. They are part of our heritage as believers. Yeshua celebrated the Jewish holidays too.

Be sympathetic to his problems and listen to him. However, don't let him use you as a constant sounding board. You want him to turn to Messiah - not to you.

Listen to him when he wants to express his religious convictions. If you don't listen to his beliefs, you have no right to expect him to listen to yours. Besides, hearing what he believes will give you additional insight in dealing with him.

Don't lead him to believe that if he accepts Yeshua his troubles will suddenly end. They won't. If he accepts Yeshua, it should be because he wants to turn to God, not just to have an easy way out.

Don't pressure him into anything, but don't be afraid to take the next step if he seems ready. You will need to be sensitive to the Spirit.

Don't let him think that you are a super-saint. You may be born-again and filled with the Spirit, but you are still human.

Don't ever complain or relate your deepest troubles to him. This is one of the worst things that a Believer can do while witnessing. If you need someone to confide in, go to a trusted fellow Believer.

Be ready to give a personal testimony if the Spirit leads. However, be brief! Don't share your deepest spiritual experiences with him. He is unable to receive it. However, do share a testimony of healing or a miracle that he can relate to (if the Spirit leads). This might touch his heart.

Be led by God. Don't Push. And don't delay.

DO'S AND DONTS

Do be pleasant and speak well of people.

Do use words that will be understood by him, not "churchy" terms.

Do show love and let him know that it is because of Yeshua, his Messiah.

Do be willing to admit when you don't have an answer.

Do be willing to find the answer.

Do be patient. It may go very slowly.

Do be willing to let God lead in everything.

Do PRAY, PRAY PRAY! And even fast if God so leads.

Don't talk down to a Jewish person (or anyone else).

Don't denigrate any religion or group of people. It is an extremely poor witness.

Don't tell Jewish jokes (or Polish jokes, or Black jokes, etc.).

Don't laugh at any Jewish customs or modes of worship.

Don't say: "Some of my best friends are Jewish."

Don't tell him over and over again how much you love him or the Jewish people. Show it to him.

Don't stereotype him.

Don't make an object of curiosity out of him or parade him amongst your Christian friends as a prize. He is a person.

Don't preach to him. Share with him.

Don't pressure him to accept Yeshua (Jesus). God does not force anyone. Neither can we.

However, don't be afraid to ask him if he would like to accept Yeshua.

Don't expect him to understand immediately what it took you a lifetime to learn.

Don't be impatient. Don't argue. Don't lose your temper. (If you do, apologize humbly).

Don't give up or stop praying for him.

Don't expect to "convert" him. Only God can give the increase.

Remember, God wants him to be saved even more than you do. He sent His Son to die for him. So have confidence that God will work in his life to open his heart.

God wants to use you and bless you through the experience. There is no greater blessing than to lead a soul to Yeshua.