Maranatha Baptist Church

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Studies In Evangelism – “To the Jew first…”

Pastor Jim Magnus

We are encouraged by the Scriptures at several locations to have a heart for Jewish evangelism. Paul said in Romans 10:1 that his…”heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” In II Peter 3:9 we read that God is…”not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The pattern and formula for New Testament evangelism is “…to the Jew first…” (Romans 1:16; cf. Acts 1:8)

This is not to say that all Christians should be pounding on the doors of Jewish households. Nor is it intended that every church designate a portion of its missions to Jewish evangelism. It is definitely a call to Christians to have a heart for the Jew and to have a working knowledge of how to share the Gospel with those of the Jewish faith.

It is probable that Christians are more fearful of sharing Christ with Jews than with those of a cultic or nominal Christian background. The only reason for this fear is that we simply do not know our Bibles well enough. We have not cultivated a biblical love for the Jew. God’s Word tells us “…perfect love casteth out fear.”(I John 4:18)

There are many approaches in the Scriptures that demonstrate Jewish evangelism. A good place to start is to learn from the Master, Jesus Christ. It was Jesus that said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

You have most likely heard messages on the several phrases Jesus spoke from the cross. The words, “Eli, Eli…that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) have left many Christians wondering what He really meant. It is often preached that at this point of His suffering Jesus was bearing the full weight of our sins. Since God cannot look upon sin He had to turn His back upon His Son. There is no biblical statement verifying this explanation. What if our Savior’s whole reason for making this statement was to direct the Jewish heart back into the Scriptures? By speaking these words any searching Jew should have thought of Psalm 22.

By turning to Psalm 22 you will find a ready passage to use in Jewish evangelism. The words of anguish are actually cried out from one who has a holy confidence in God’s faithfulness. Indeed the Psalmist’s conclusion is seen in verse three of that Psalm; “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” For those who stood at the cross remembering the words of this Psalm they would be moved to shame by the words of verses 7 and 8. Verses 14 – 17 clearly speak of His death on the cross, speaking of His pierced hands and feet and the fact that no bones were broken. Verse 18 testifies to the parting of His garments by the casting of lots, a Roman form of dice.

Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus was able and willing at the point of His greatest suffering to take time to direct the Jewish onlookers back into the very text of Scripture that would explain what was happening before their very eyes? At that same moment Jesus was giving you and me a means to be able to share Christ with the Jews of today. Won’t you pray and ask God if He would give you the courage to speak to Jews in behalf of the Messiah, Jesus. “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ…” (II Corinthians 5:20)