Evangelizing Jewish People
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We have discussed many different religions throughout this series and we have come to what I desire to be the last one. That is, how to evangelize Jewish people.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
I think of all the religions, Judaism seems to be the one that we often feel the most intimated when it comes to witnessing to a Jewish person. I read a recent article that only 1-2% of all Jews living in the United States are Messianic Jews (meaning that they believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah).
How devote in their faith is the Jewish population in the United States?
According to a 2021 Pew Research Center study, about 12% of Jewish Americans attend synagogue at least once a week, and 20% attend once or twice a month. About 27% of Jewish Americans attend a few times a year, and half attend seldom or never.
I can tell you that when I lived in Chicago, I worked with two men from Israel. Let’s just say that they did not care at all about their faith and only wanted to leverage the ‘benefits’ of being Jewish (meaning they all always look after and help one another in any situation, especially matters of money). They still had the scrolls on the door and would celebrate the holidays or feasts if family was in the states.
I also want to note here, that I have read many articles online on Reddit and forums regarding the Jewish take on people attempting to share the gospel with them. In Israel, the mentality is get away, leave, and never come back. Also that they only want you to give them support through their needs, financially, or prayer only.
I think as Christians we need to understand how the Jewish mind interprets scripture and how they interpret the Messiah.
Let’s start first at the beginning.
It should be clear that we are using the same canon of scripture for the Hebrew Text as the Jewish people.
Wait a minute!
What is the forbidden scripture of the Jews?
Isaiah 53. It is even removed in some of the Hebrew scriptures but if it is present, it is never read.
So there are some questions we must ask and understand before attempting to lead a Jew to Christ. Like Muslims, this is a long term investment of your time.
If the Jews were looking for a Messiah, then why did they reject Jesus as the Messiah?
Because Jesus did not fulfill their interpretation of the Messiah.
In fact, if Alexander the Great would have been Jewish, he would have fulfilled the Jewish interpretation of the Messiah more than Jesus.
What were the Jewish people looking for in the Messiah?
A conquering King.
Who were the Magi seeking?
The King of the Jews.
They were not looking for a lowly servant and it is demonstrated by the gifts that they gave to Christ. It is demonstrated by the long costly journey they took to get to the place where Jesus would be found.
What major historical event took place in 586 BC?
The fall of Jerusalem to Babylon.
In 586 BC, a significant event occurred: the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon[1][2]. This marked the end of the kingdom of Judah and was a pivotal moment in Jewish history. The Babylonians, under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, conquered the city, leading to the destruction of the temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon[1][2]. This event had been prophesied by Ezekiel, who had been warning the exiles in Babylon for six years prior that Jerusalem would fall[2]. The fall of Jerusalem came after a period of decline in Judah following the death of King Josiah in 609 BC, with subsequent rulers failing to maintain his religious reforms[3]. This event was part of a larger period of political upheaval in the region, which included Babylon's rise to power and its subsequent conquests[1][3].
[1] James E. Smith, The Minor Prophets, Old Testament Survey Series (Joplin, MO: College Press, 1994), 474.
[2] Douglas Connelly, The Bible for Blockheads: A User-Friendly Look at the Good Book, Rev. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007), 214–215.
[3] Daniel Webber, The Coming of the Warrior-King: Zephaniah Simply Explained, Welwyn Commentary Series (Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 2004), 16.
How would this event trigger the events of the Magi seeking Jesus?
Daniel would become a captive in Babylon.
Daniel’s unwavering faith under captivity granted him great favor with Nebuchadnezzar.
Look in Daniel 2:48:
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
What significance does Daniel’s role play in the coming of the Messiah?
He is the leader of a university like system in Babylon where he leads and teaches the wise men. Daniel’s influence in this university would be key to many Magi in Babylon learning the prophecies and scriptures.
It is important to note that these magi were astrologers, men who were studying the stars, interpreting dreams, and possessing a knowledge of occult sciences.
The Magi were a class of learned men originating from Persia, Babylonia, or Arabia who were renowned for their wisdom and expertise in various fields[1][2]. They were known for studying the stars, interpreting dreams, and possessing knowledge of occult sciences[1][2]. While some viewed them as magicians or enchanters, others recognized them as genuinely scientific and learned individuals[2]. In biblical context, the term "Magi" is most famously associated with the wise men who visited the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, bringing expensive gifts and honoring him as a newborn king[1][3]. These particular Magi were likely astrologers who followed a star, interpreting it as a sign of the Messiah's birth[2][3]. The term "Magi" also appears in other biblical passages, such as in the book of Acts, where it is applied to individuals with supposed supernatural knowledge or magical abilities[2][3].
[1] Henrietta C. Mears, What the Bible Is All About: Bible Handbook, Revised & Updated. (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2011), 805.
[2] Merrill C. Tenney, “Magi,” ed. Charles F. Pfeiffer, Howard F. Vos, and John Rea, The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (Moody Press, 1975).
[3] Robert A. Derrenbacker Jr., “Magi,” ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 843.
The exact distance is not known but I think these magi came from Babylon which would be modern day Iraq, about 55 miles south of south of Baghdad, and near the town of Al-Ḥillah.
On today's map, Babylon would be pretty close to Bagdad, Iraq, which means the magi would have travelled more than 900 miles to meet Jesus. By the time they got to Jerusalem, they were looking for a child, not a baby, which implies that they had been travelling for a long time.
Dr. Harmon was teaching about these Magi following the Shekhinah glory of God to where Jesus would be.
Imagine this:
The Shekhinah glory of God is not over a baby, it is over a child. Jesus at this time would be around 1-2 years old. This is not merely a baby in a manager like we see in the nativity scene. Rather Jesus could be walking or crawling around. This is the child that God’s glory hovers over.
Was Jesus really King of the Jews?
The Magi said they came to worship the King of the Jews, was Jesus really the King of the Jews?
What requirements would Jesus need to qualify as a King?
A royal ancestry.
Jesus would require that He is part of a royal lineage to lay claim on a throne.
Now it is true that Jesus is King, He is the King of glory and not only of the heavenly realm but also of the earthly realm.
Matthew’s gospel makes the genealogy of Jesus clear.
Where in Matthew does he list the genealogy of Christ?
Matthew Chapter 1.
Is it important that Matthew does not carry the genealogy all the way to Adam?
No, because who do the Jewish people care about in the Old Testament?
Abraham.
You can already link Abraham to Adam so there is no need to date Jesus back that far. But the connection to Abraham already solidifies Jesus as a true Jew and not one born as a half or partial Jew.
What royal link does Jesus have to make Him a King?
David. Jesus is from the lineage of David.
According to the articles provided, both Joseph and Mary were part of the lineage of David. Joseph's lineage is explicitly traced back to David through Solomon in Matthew's genealogy[1][2]. This genealogy establishes Joseph as a "son of David"[3]. Regarding Mary, one theory suggests that she may have been descended from a different branch of David's family, possibly through David's son Nathan[4]. However, it's important to note that this theory about Mary's lineage is described as common in some messianic Jewish circles, rather than a universally accepted fact[4]. The articles emphasize the importance of Jesus being connected to David's line, which is fulfilled through his legal father Joseph, even though Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit[3].
[1] John F. MacArthur, One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013).
[2] Johnston M. Cheney, Stanley A. Ellisen, and Johnston M. Cheney, Jesus Christ The Greatest Life: A Unique Blending of the Four Gospels (Eugene, OR: Paradise Publishing Inc., 1999), 23.
[3] Zhodi Angami, Tribals, Empire and God: A Tribal Reading of the Birth of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel (New York, NY: T&T Clark, 2017), 162.
[4] Robert J. Hutchinson, Searching for Jesus: New Discoveries in the Quest for Jesus of Nazareth—and How They Confirm the Gospel Accounts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2023).
