Category Archives: Judaism

September 7, 2023 · 12:00 PM

Same gospel—new tools!

I hope you have enjoyed a lovely summer! Much has changed over my twenty-six years as president of Chosen People Ministries. One of the best examples is the rapid growth of digital tools for evangelism and discipleship. They have opened many new doors I could not have foreseen when I first started in ministry—nor could Leopold Cohn when he founded this mission in 1894!

To be clear, our message has stayed the same. We proclaim the gospel of Jesus the Messiah as “the power of God for salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). But methods can and should change. From gospel tracts to televised ads to social media, we are ready and able to use whatever creative ways the Lord allows to spread the timeless gospel message.

Producing digital resources has been a critical part of our work for several years, and we see this avenue of gospel communication continuing to expand. As I write this letter, our digital media team is diligently working on several innovative projects designed to glorify Jesus in a distinctly Jewish way.

Here are some of the highlights:

Evangelistic Tools

Millions of people have viewed video testimonies of Jewish believers since we first released them on our I Found Shalom website (IFoundShalom.com). This site has proven to be a powerful resource for Jewish seekers to meet Jewish people who believe in Jesus. We continue to add more Jewish testimonies online as the Lord has been using them to turn Jewish hearts to Jesus the Messiah!

We are now taking our gospel storytelling one step further. We call this new effort The Seeker, a dramatized online series based on some I Found Shalom testimonies. This new cinematic format will speak powerfully to old and young alike. Like I Found Shalom, our hope and prayer for The Seeker is to inspire many Jewish people to ponder the all-important question, “Could Jesus be the Messiah?”

Producing a series of three twenty-minute online video-based stories is a time-consuming and expensive process. But the fruit we have seen through I Found Shalom tells me these powerful stories, attractively presented, could reach a new generation of Jewish people.

A few months ago, we launched a new Hebrew-language evangelistic website called La‘Omek, which is Hebrew for “going deeper.” This online platform offers digital booklets addressing significant issues young Israelis regularly experience. Let me list a few of these themes:

  • healthy relationships
  • loneliness
  • depression
  • anxiety

Many younger Israelis are grappling with life’s great questions and are remarkably open to spiritual matters. These booklets offer them support grounded in the timeless truths of the gospel. Thousands of Hebrew speakers have downloaded our materials already! This high level of response greatly surprised us, and it was challenging to follow up with all the Israelis who downloaded a booklet or contacted us through live online chat. It is a wonderful—although not easy—problem to have.

Please pray this digital tool will open doors for Israelis to come to one of our events, meet with one of our staff in person, and ultimately place their trust in Jesus as their Messiah.

One of our younger workers heard from a woman twice her age who was having relationship problems and had downloaded the booklet to get some help. I was in Tel Aviv then and asked our staff member what problem this woman was trying to solve. She told me this woman had broken up with her boyfriend, and he was having trouble letting go. She was searching for answers on the web and responded to one of our online digital ads.

This young staff member was not sure what to do or say but knew she could turn to God for guidance. She rightfully offered some quick advice, a Bible verse or two, and then prayed for this woman who was not yet a believer. The dialogue ended well, and the young staff member realized God could use her even when she did not have all the answers!

Please pray for this woman who is hurting, for God to heal her and, most importantly, bring her into the relationship-above-all-relationships with Jesus the Messiah, who loves her and died for her sins. We anticipate many other conversations, live chats, and emails like this to lead to in-person ministry over the next year.

Israeli Travelers

Over the past several years, our strategic ministry among post-army traveling Israelis has grown to include more than a half dozen countries! We operate youth hostels in popular destinations like New Zealand and Japan. Our welcoming staff and volunteers are attentive to the incredible opportunities God gives us to begin spiritual conversations with these traveling Israelis.

These conversations arise naturally over a Sabbath meal or board game. This ministry to post-army Israeli young adults encouraged us to build an international network of Christian hosts to provide a similar hospitality ministry in their homes. If you are interested in hosting Israelis, learn more at hostisraelis.com.

Of course, this outreach fosters in-person interactions between hosts and guests, but this network also involves some essential digital tools. In collaboration with our Chosen People Ministries global family of ministries, we created websites and apps to connect travelers with hosts.

Many of our hosts remain in contact with their former guests and even visit them in Israel. If an Israeli traveler is interested in learning more about what we believe, our staff in Israel are always available to follow up with them upon their return. We also point them to the Scriptures and Hebrew gospel resources like our Isaiah 53 Explained book and our new website La‘Omek.

Educational Tools

Another area of ministry we are expanding is our resources for children. Teaching the next generation about the role of Israel in God’s purposes and the importance of bringing the gospel to His chosen people is essential. We are creating new tools to help families, churches, and congregations understand these crucial topics.

Our first effort is an animated clip about the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33–44) or, in Hebrew, Sukkot. This project creatively illustrates the biblical and Jesus-centered fulfillment of this holiday. The video we will release this month will be a fun, engaging lesson to help your kids (and you, too!) better understand this fall festival. We plan to do an entire series of videos on the Jewish holidays. One staff member wrote, “I cannot wait to watch this video with our young kids!” This month’s newsletter will tell you more about our Sukkot video and other children’s ministry resources.

The Chosen People Bible Institute

Another brand new digital initiative we are offering this fall is our Chosen People Bible Institute. Through this online opportunity to see the Bible through Jewish eyes, students of all ages can take classes on Jewish evangelism, the life of Paul, and Messianic apologetics, which will help learners answer the tough questions our Jewish friends are asking us about Jesus. Our online instructors are experienced Chosen People Ministries staff who will provide high-quality and lively instruction on topics you deeply care about!

All our courses will emphasize the Jewish cultural backgrounds of the Old and New Testaments. The Chosen People Bible Institute is a significant step forward in deepening the faith of Jewish and Gentile believers. It offers an excellent opportunity to learn how to witness to Jewish people. Two courses are already available at cpbi.chosenpeople.com, but stay tuned as more are coming, and you will want to sign up for our classes as soon as they are released!

PARTNER WITH US!

I have spoken to many Jewish people who want to post their testimony online because the Lord used a video testimony to bring them to the Messiah. I think of one young man—let’s call him Jacob—who received one testimony from a friend but could not stop watching a dozen more. He eventually received Jesus as his Savior.

Another young Jewish man, Samuel, responded to a digital ad, downloaded a copy of Isaiah 53 Explained to his computer, and read it. This well-developed argument from the Word of God changed his life. He is maturing in his faith, and one of the ways he is growing is by working through some of Chosen People Ministries’ online discipleship studies.

I would never have conceived of this type of digital ministry fifteen years ago. We serve a God who is not limited by time and space. He is eternal, above all, and beyond all.

Thank God we can reach people today in person and through modern digital tools. We could only do this because you stand with us, encouraging us to look ahead and adapt to the times. I cannot thank you enough for your support and prayers.

As you know, there was a time when Christians began using television and radio for the sake of the gospel! We want to use whatever tools are available to speak to current and future generations about Jesus. I pray the Lord will raise a new generation who will learn to use new and creative means to proclaim God’s glory.

Please join me in embracing the future by using these new tools to preach the good news to Jews and Gentiles!

Leave a comment

Filed under Digital Media, evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

August 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Building for the Future

I recently returned from an exciting, long-awaited conference in Jerusalem. More than 300 of our staff, board members, and families from around the world converged on God’s holy city, Jerusalem, to encourage and inspire one another in our crucial evangelistic work among Jewish people. Our conference theme was “Building for the Future,” based upon Nehemiah 2:17–18. After hearing the testimonies of our workers around the globe, I am happy to tell you the future of the Lord’s work among the Jewish people is bright!

After all, proclaiming the gospel among Jewish people is the only form of evangelism with a guarantee. As Paul wrote, there is “a remnant according to God’s gracious choice” (Romans 11:5). We see this remnant growing today—especially in Israel!

Our conference was a wonderful occasion to strengthen our global relationships. We heard updates on our work in fourteen of the twenty countries comprising our Chosen People Global Ministries network. The Chosen People Ministries attendees came from various nations, cultures, and languages. We confirmed our commitments to one another and our sacred task echoed in Paul’s words, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Romans 10:1).

Our theme of building for the future came from the book of Nehemiah. The Bible often compares the building of the church with the construction of a building! Many ancient cities—Jerusalem included—had walls built around them for protection. As God used Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, we see the Lord working through our global family of ministries building the modern Messianic Jewish community. Paul also mentioned the movement of Jewish people coming to the Lord in Romans 11:25–29 as a sign of the last days!

Though Nehemiah faced opposition, his little ragtag team succeeded in rebuilding the wall in a staggering fifty-two days (Neh 6:15). In Jewish ministry, we also endure opposition, both from individuals and the spiritual forces Paul described in Ephesians chapter 6.

To build successfully, we must build according to His plans detailed in Scripture and with trust in the One who has called us to this ministry!

After hearing the many incredible testimonies from our partners across the globe, I can confidently confirm God is at work. We see people coming to faith and growing in discipleship.

Again, I cannot tell you how encouraged I am by what I see God doing today!

BUILDING GLOBALLY FOR THE FUTURE

May I tell you a few stories?

Last November, in partnership with a young couple in Japan and one of our Israeli staff who has a great heart for reaching traveling Israelis in Japan, we began a guesthouse in Tokyo. In less than a year, they welcomed 120 Israeli guests.

This couple stays in contact—sometimes daily—with several of their guests. While in Israel for the conference, they even hosted a reunion event in Tel Aviv, where they continued to build upon the relationships formed with Israelis they met in Japan.

Another outreach we recently launched is our Host Israelis Global Network. We are asking believers to open their homes to traveling Israelis. We already host thousands of Israelis backpacking after their two or three years in the Israeli army at our youth hostels around the globe, which are great tools for this ministry. But the bread and butter (bagel and cream cheese?) of this ministry is Jesus-loving believers hosting these young adults in their homes and showing them the love of the Messiah in both word and deed.

If you are interested in hosting Israeli travelers in your home, go to http://www.hostisraelis.com. You can find out more by watching an introductory video and reading reports of how God is using everyday believers to bring the good news to Israeli travelers.

UKRAINE UPDATE

We also heard updates from our staff leading the outreach and relief efforts for suffering Ukrainians, both within Ukraine and within Israel. Since the start of the crisis, our partners in Poland have helped distribute hundreds of tons of food in addition to hygiene products, medicine, and other necessities. Some of our partners and volunteers have traveled very close to the eastern front war zones, and we praise God for keeping them safe.

We also support hundreds of displaced brothers and sisters who fled from eastern Ukraine to western cities, like Lviv. We provide food, rent money, medicines, and more for these dear people, many of whom were part of Messianic congregations Chosen People Ministries planted or supported in Ukraine over the last four decades.

As one of our staff said, “We do not bring food only; we are bringing hope.” We long for people to see the love of Jesus through us. Even in these dark, heartbreaking situations, God is at work. Ukrainian Messianic congregations in our network are growing, and dozens of people have come to faith. We have brought thousands of Bibles into the country, even in the midst of war.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE IN ISRAEL

Our ministry in Israel has grown tremendously over the past thirty years. At first, we had only a few Israeli staff members, but now our team includes about thirty workers, and all of them are Israelis! I believe the Messianic community in Israel has a bright and vibrant future. We witnessed it for ourselves as we interacted with these dear Israeli brothers and sisters.

One of the highlights of our Israel conference was a visit to our Tel Aviv Messianic centers—both our current rented center and the commercial space we recently purchased. Our outreach there includes three or four events (concerts, dinners, lectures on practical and biblical topics) per month, along with Bible studies, small groups, and one-on-one ministry.

After visiting our current center, we visited our future one. The new center is two-and-a-half times the size of the present, rented center. We will have room for our children’s programs, Bible studies, and training classes. Thee first floor will house a conference room, a coffee bar, and ample space for Israelis to sit, relax, and chat. The second floor will be our main auditorium, where we will host larger events like worship nights, concerts, and cultural programs.

A PERSONAL INVITATION FOR YOU!

I would like to invite you to become a partner in supporting our new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. Please pray the renovation process goes quickly and smoothly so we can open the new center for ministry as soon as possible.

If you want to see the new center for yourself, we invite you to join our dedication tour this December 6–15, during the week Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication! We will light a menorah in the sanctuary of our new facility, tour this beautiful country, worship together, pray, and hear about what God is doing through our staff. I know you will love this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

We will explore Israel during the beautiful season of Hanukkah, when the country is lit with menorahs from north to south and east to west. It will be really spectacular, so join us! We might not be completely done with the build-out of the new center, but we should be well on our way. To learn more and register, go to http://www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour.

As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support. We are so glad we are joining what God is doing in Israel to build the future of Jewish evangelism together!

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

August 2, 2023 · 4:35 PM

Messianic Jewish Music: A Testament to God’s Faithfulness

We see the dramatic rise of new Messianic music today and musicians, especially in Israel, including Joshua Aaron, SOLU, MIQEDEM, and others who are writing Israeli-style Messianic music, unlike the older, more eastern European tunes. The older style gave powerful testimony to a generation of post-Holocaust Jewish people, confirming you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. At the same time, these new Israeli sounds make it clear Israelis who believe in Jesus are not only still Jewish but, by culture and nationality, proudly Israeli.

Many Messianic congregations worldwide have embraced this new form of music, and it is an authentic part of our worship life and witness to how you can be Jewish and believe in Jesus. What a joyful Jewish testimony for the Lord!

MESSIANIC JEWISH MUSIC FOR ALL

Rabbi Stuart Dauermann1 is one of the early fathers of Messianic music who continues to lead worship and write today. I asked my dear friend Stuart about his pilgrimage in Messianic music and wanted to tell you some of his thoughts.

I am so grateful to Stuart for his treasure trove of musical contributions to the corporate life and testimony of today’s growing Messianic Jewish community. Singing songs expressing our love for the Lord is always a sign of a vital and growing movement of the Spirit.

Our Messianic Jewish music is so essential to our identity as Messianic Jewish people and for our witness. If the number one objection Jewish people have about believing in Jesus is they would no longer be Jewish, then our music might be the loudest and sweetest testimony to proving we keep our Jewish identity. At our core, we are always who God made us (1 Corinthians 7:18), even more so when we recognize He created a covenant people whom He called for His specific purposes.

Every Jewish believer in Jesus we meet is a testament to God’s covenant faithfulness. When we lift our voices and sing Messianic songs within our hearts, we not only affirm we are Jewish followers of Jesus but also identify with and love our people.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter, and please continue praying the Lord will put a new song in the hearts of Jewish people worldwide. You can help make this happen by praying and standing with Your Mission to the Jewish People.

AN INTERVIEW WITH STUART DAUERMANN

How do you define Messianic Music?

I used to define Messianic music as Jewish in flavor and apostolic in doctrine. I no longer define it that way because it left out the element of communal location. I now favor this definition: “Messianic music is music that is Jewish in flavor, apostolic in doctrine, and expressive of the covenantal and social location of Messianic Jews as part of the remnant within Israel and not outside of it.”

How did you begin writing Messianic music?

I attended an American Board of Missions to the Jews (Chosen People Ministries’ older name) meeting in New York City, where the leaders sought to communicate in Jewish ways to Jewish people. However, as I told the director there, the music in the meetings sounded very un-Jewish. The music actually implied that Jewish people who believe in Jesus lose their identity as Jews. Since I was going to music school then, he challenged me to write some better music. So I did!

What might the future of Messianic music look like?

Messianic music will lose its power and lose its way if those responsible for it themselves lose clarity on their identity as Jewish believers in Jesus. The music must not only be biblically and theologically sound but must also be an authentic expression of Jewish faith in Jesus the Messiah. To achieve this, over the past thirty-five years, I have increasingly written music based on Jewish liturgy, which itself expresses the voice and soul of the Jewish people. Only by hitting the right biblical, theological, communal, and cultural notes will it be possible for Messianic music to be spiritually enriching and something not only lively but alive.

1 Dauermann earned music theory and music education degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He later completed a PhD in Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary.

1 Comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

July 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Transforming the Landscape of Our Work among Israelis

Shalom in the great name of Jesus our Messiah. My wife Zhava and I are spending quite a bit of time in Israel coordinating and participating in a host of fruitful activities. It is impossible to express my excitement about all the Lord is doing in Israel right now . . . but I will try!

God is moving among second-generation Israeli young believers who are actively proclaiming the gospel among their friends, and many are coming to faith in Jesus the Messiah!

I can only describe this movement as a second-generation movement of the Holy Spirit. Their parents and pastors have done a great job leading this next generation to the Lord and providing opportunities for their discipleship.

Your Mission to the Jewish People is also playing a part in the discipleship of these zealous young adults. We are working alongside these godly parents in preparing their kids for the challenges of mandatory military service and the social and spiritual issues they face in the Holy Land today. These sons and daughters of Israel work both in the secular world and in full-time ministry. They use their vocations to help their fellow Israelis come to know the Lord. They are leaders in their congregations, ministries, businesses, and the military!

THE LIVING WATERS MENTORING PROJECT

Chosen People Ministries created the Living Waters mentoring project in response to the growth of this young adult movement in Israel. Living Waters focuses on the present and immediate needs of ministry, but even more so, Living Waters casts its gaze toward the future through mentoring young leaders. We are helping to train a new generation of young adults who are even now leading the next generation of the Israeli believing community into greater spiritual maturity and service.

The growth of this second-generation movement is transforming the landscape of the Lord’s work in Israel!

Let me briefly explain what we do at Living Waters. Each year, we gather about forty younger leaders along with their spouses and children (if they have any) and provide a retreat for them, which includes Bible teaching, fellowship, and practical ministry training. We also help meet some of the everyday needs of walking with the Lord and serving Him through their congregations. Additionally, we connect these young adults with one another and encourage peer-to-peer friendships as well as partnerships with Israelis in different parts of the country.

Just a decade ago, at some of our early Living Waters retreats, everyone from all over Israel seemed to know one another. But today, the movement has grown to the point where most young leaders are meeting one another for the first time! This trend is another visible sign of the expansion of the Israeli believing community.

By connecting these young leaders to one another, we are creating an atmosphere for fellowship and ministry partnerships to bless the entire body of Messiah for years to come. We have already seen this happen as our Messianic Jewish testimonies project, Ifoundshalom.com, grew out of relationships built at Living Waters.

The pastors who recommend their young people attend Living Waters are delighted with the program. Additionally, most of the pastors of those who attend Living Waters view the program as an opportunity to enhance their own ministries. They recognize we are helping them train their future congregational leaders.

It is wonderful to see relationships built between young leaders and those who come to teach and mentor them. As a result, doors have opened for further ministry, funds have been raised, additional training received, and new relationships and connections developed from the discipleship experienced through Living Waters.

Israeli leaders need friends and mentors outside of Israel to pray for them and help gather resources, funds, and training to continue their work in Israel.

We take great joy in helping deepen these relationships between our American-based mentors/speakers and the Israeli participants.

THE NEW TEL AVIV MESSIANIC CENTER

Another response to this growing movement in Israel is the expansion of ministry space in Tel Aviv—the city with the largest concentration of Israelis in the country. We recently purchased a commercial space to use as a Messianic outreach center. This new space is two-and-a-half times larger than what we currently rent, and this center will be one of the few facilities owned by believers in Tel Aviv and the surrounding suburbs. It is another sign of God’s favor on the growing Messianic movement in the Holy Land!

I am diligently raising funds, working with architects and contractors, and securing building permits. Please pray for this work, as it is going to be very challenging because some ultra-religious Jewish politicians have a more significant role in Israel’s current government and strongly oppose our efforts. I am hoping God will grant us favor with the officials so our permits to build will come quickly.

We plan to dedicate the new center this December during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah (which means “dedication” in Hebrew). If you want to join us on this unique and memorable tour, you can find all the details and register at http://www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour/.

Please pray about coming on the Israel trip of a lifetime!

A CHOSEN PEOPLE GLOBAL MINISTRIES REGATHERING

Another major event took place this past month in Israel as we gathered for fellowship with many on our worldwide staff at a hotel in Jerusalem. More than 300 of our Chosen People Global Ministries family were able to see each other face to face for the first time in many years. We worshiped, prayed together, and heard some great messages about the future of Jewish evangelism in Israel and worldwide. Everyone was inspired, encouraged, and energized to serve the Lord.

We also invited families to bring their children. We ended up engaging about fifty-five kids in our children’s program.

So, we not only envisioned the future but were able to see it right in front of us.

A NEW HEBREW-LANGUAGE EVANGELISTIC WEBSITE

I also spent time working with our Israel staff on our new online evangelistic website—LaOmek (the Hebrew word for “going deeper”). This new website offers digital booklets addressing various significant issues among younger Israelis, like healthy relationships and the challenges of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Thousands of Israelis have already downloaded our booklets. Our Israel staff is now busy following up with them!

The summer will also be busy around the globe as we conduct short-term evangelistic campaigns in Israel, New York City, London, and more!

I cannot thank you enough for your generous support of Chosen People Ministries and your prayers and encouragement. I have more to tell you about new outreach initiatives in the United States we are kicking off this fall, but I will save these updates for another time.

2 Comments

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

July 5, 2023 · 8:30 AM

How We Bring Hope to Ukrainian Refugees

With a heavy heart, I must report the war in Ukraine continues to devastate many lives in both Ukraine and Russia. Though the wave of Ukrainian refugees fleeing to places like Poland, Germany, and various nearby eastern European countries has slowed since March 2022, the needs inside and outside Ukraine remain dire. The demand for aid also persists in Israel, where multiple thousands of both Ukrainian and Russian refugees are entering the Holy Land month after month.

Ukraine is struggling to recover from a rough winter, during which many people needed more consistent heat and electricity. Through those cold and dark months, we did all we could to provide warm clothing, sleeping bags, food, and heaters. It is no exaggeration to say there were many who could not have endured the winter without the aid we provided through your help and generous support. The Lord used you powerfully to save lives, and ultimately souls, as we have also been able to bring the message of Jesus to so many suffering throughout Ukraine!

One of our most memorable and evangelistic projects was bringing in more than 1,000 pounds of matzah (unleavened bread) for Passover. This outreach helped both believing and not-yet-believing Jewish people celebrate this festival of God’s redemption (Leviticus 23:5–8). The Ukrainian Jewish community was so grateful for our support.

Ukraine, especially the eastern part, is still a very dangerous place. In many areas of the nation, warning sirens are routine—and people are still dying as a result of missile and drone attacks.

In addition to the physical threats, Ukrainians are facing a growing sense of hopelessness, fearing the war will never end. 

IN SEARCH OF HOPE

Ukrainians find themselves mired in a lingering struggle for the lives of their children and future as a nation. They are hunkering down for a protracted war, which one of our staff members called “a long road of suffering.” 

A major part of what we will continue to do in Ukraine is deliver hope to those who are growing despondent. Food and warm clothing serve the body, but hope is medicine for the soul! We know true and enduring hope only comes through a relationship with Jesus the Messiah, so please pray with us for Ukrainians to have hearts open to the gospel message. 

Every month, we financially support between 400 and 500 Messianic believers who fled eastern Ukraine. Many of them were part of congregations Chosen People Ministries planted during the last three or four decades. We love these brothers and sisters and want to do all we can to help them survive and one day return to some type of normal life. 

We provide between $50 and $100 per month to these dear Ukrainians. The money covers basic needs like food and medicine. Much of our aid goes to older people who depend on help from organizations like ours. They deeply appreciate it since, unfortunately, the government cannot assist them due to its focus on the war effort. 

One of the staff members coordinating this relief work said he could not fully express the heartfelt gratitude shared by those we have helped. The “we” includes you, as your faithful prayers and support are saving Ukrainian lives—physically and spiritually. 

Our prayer for Ukraine is for them to put their trust in the God of Israel and His Son, Jesus, the Messiah for all! 

FINDING HOPE IN ISRAEL

May I bring you up to date on what God is doing among the Ukrainian and Russian refugees fleeing to the Holy Land?

In 2022, more than 70,000 people from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus immigrated to Israel. I am proud of the heartfelt and faithful work our staff in Israel is doing to serve these new immigrants. Several of our team members came to Israel many years ago from former Soviet countries. They were among the more than 1.5 million Jewish people who came to Israel from this region following the fall of communism.

Our Israel team understands what the new immigrants are going through. Michael, the leader of our ministry in Israel, immigrated to the country from Ukraine in 1989. He and his wife came to faith in the Messiah through the love and outreach of believers in Israel who helped them settle into Israeli culture. They and many on our staff speak Russian, Ukrainian, or both as their first language(s). They understand how difficult it is to adjust to a new culture and tongue.

This common experience enables our staff to effectively minister to those now arriving from the war zones. We help them find housing, learn Hebrew, complete government paperwork, and find childcare when needed. We also organize multiple retreats for Ukrainian children and families.

Unfortunately, many of the fathers of these children had to remain in Ukraine to fight for their country. Sadly, some of these men are missing in action or have died. Supporting children who endure this trauma is a priority for us.

The sad situation of Anastasia* is typical of what the kids are going through!

Anastasia is twelve years old, and she came to Israel with her mom in July last year. Somehow, in August, she came to our camp. She was depressed, and she did not want to stay. But after the first day, she was drawn in and no longer wanted to leave. Anastasia found a friend and began to go with her to the local congregation, and her mother started attending too.

The recent family camp allowed broken families to bond and grow, which is vitally important. Ninety families attended, and afterward, at least one of these families is now attending an Israeli Russian-speaking congregation. At the end of May, we held another family retreat in Israel with many new Ukrainian immigrants. Though we had great conversations with the immigrants, most have not yet put their trust in the Lord. We are doing all we can to follow up and become part of their lives. 

We long to proclaim the gospel message to these precious souls devastated by war. Our love and care is an expression of His love. Kind actions often convey more than words ever could. Whatever the outcome, we seek to sow seeds of hope and follow the example of our Lord, who took the form of a servant and loved sacrificially (John 13:1–17; Philippians 2:5–11). 

Leave a comment

Filed under Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

June 27, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Ministry Update—2023

I am writing to you with a deep sense of gratitude to God and an expectation about what God is doing among young Israelis in the greater Tel Aviv area.

I would like to ask for your prayers for our new ministries in this region of more than four million Israelis!

First, young Israelis fill our outreach concerts to overflowing. Most are believers who bring their young friends, many of whom are currently serving in the army and are open to the gospel. We do not have enough room for everyone who wants to join us, which is a good problem to have but difficult to overcome in our current rented facility. Of course, this challenge is why we are purchasing a new center nearby. In the new center, we plan to keep doing almost exactly what we have been doing in the old one. Our outreach events, concerts, lectures, meals, and Bible studies are very effective! Until this new location is ready, we need God’s wisdom since there are times when we have to invite fewer people because our space is too small.

Second, we regularly face opposition from local anti-missionaries who try to keep Israelis from attending our concerts, Sabbath dinners, and Bible studies. If I were not a believer in Jesus, I would probably be doing the same. I grew up in a more traditional Jewish home and had strong feelings about Christians trying to convert Jewish people to what I then believed was a foreign religion. Of course, I was wrong and now know the truth because Jesus saved me and opened my mind and heart to the true meaning of the gospel message. We are not trying to turn Jewish people into Gentiles; we help Israelis receive the gift of salvation through Jesus the Messiah and draw closer to the living God of Israel.

Finally, we really need your prayers and support as we continue our outreach online. We have enjoyed an incredibly fruitful response to our Facebook, Google, and other digital ads. Indeed, a couple hundred Jewish Israeli seekers have responded during the last six weeks and requested a copy of our Isaiah 53 Explained Hebrew evangelistic book. Additionally, we are releasing a brand-new website very soon, and we could use your prayers and support as we take out ads to help make the site more visible. The name of the website is LaOmek, which is Hebrew for something deeper or more meaningful. This website is unique because it provides digital booklets based upon the current needs of younger Israelis who are lonely, having trouble with relationships, and so much more. We could not be more excited about what we are about to release because of the great results we have witnessed with the Isaiah 53 Explained Hebrew campaign!

Our new center in the greater Tel Aviv area is at the heart of our outreach strategy.

You will hear more frequently from me as we update you on how the Lord is providing for the facility and as we make progress on the build-out.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

June 1, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Building the Next Generation for Messiah

Jesus has an extraordinary love for children! 

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:13–14)

Our Messiah invited children to approach Him unashamedly! Children’s ministry is the Savior’s idea, which is why every camp and youth group is precious to the Lord! Your Mission to the Jewish People takes children’s ministry seriously. We have a variety of different ministries to children through our congregations, youth camps, retreats, and more—especially in the United States, Israel, and most recently, Ukraine! 

The camps are evangelistic and focus on discipleship as a way of building the next generation for the Messiah. 

THE HISTORY OF OUR CAMPING MINISTRY

Our camping efforts go back to the days of Chosen People Ministries’ founder, Leopold Cohn. He was passionate about reaching immigrant Jewish children from areas of great persecution throughout Eastern Europe. He served the children and their parents, meeting their practical and spiritual needs, which were many among the new Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe before the turn of the nineteenth century. 

Rabbi Cohn took the young refugees, who were fleeing antisemitism and persecution, out of the impoverished life of new immigrants living in an overcrowded city and gave them an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of creation, hopefully leading to a new appreciation of the Creator Himself. 

Several missionaries on our staff attended our camps as children. Several of our current leaders became camp counselors and even camp coordinators during their years of service with Chosen People Ministries. Our camps are part of the very heartbeat of our ministry among Jewish people—of all ages. We all understand children are usually more open to the gospel, and we try to take godly advantage of their curiosity and willingness to consider the good news in their youth. 

CAMPING LIFE

The day begins with times of worship and the Word, including cabin devotions, prayer, singing, daily teachings from the Scriptures, and even baptisms. Of course, we also fill each day with fun games and group activities, including swimming, horseback riding, boating, human foosball, ropes course, challah bread making, improv, arts and crafts, and archery. 

All our counselors and speakers are vetted and trained to shepherd the campers throughout the week in a godly manner. We endeavor to reinforce the training and teaching our campers receive at home and in their local congregations. We teach them about various aspects of Jewish culture and plan the whole week to help the campers connect with their Messiah, each other, and Jewish tradition. 

One camp counselor said, “I want these campers to walk away with courage in their faith, to be unafraid to go to their homes, schools, and friends and talk about who Yeshua is. I want them to know it is possible to be Jewish and also love Yeshua.” 

Many campers over the years deepen their spiritual walks. Others decide to follow Jesus for the first time while at camp and even get baptized. 

One eleven-year-old camper said, “Camp is a fun-loving community where people can relax and are not judged, and it gives you a closer connection with God. When I started coming here, I didn’t have a connection with God, but now I have a stronger connection.” 

An eight-year-old first-time camper said, “I learned about the gospel and how it changes people’s lives and that Messiah sacrificed everything for us just to forgive us for our sins.” 

These experiences are why we are committed to camping ministries. 

OUR CAMPS IN ISRAEL AND POLAND

Recently, Maxim, our camp director in Israel, flew a Russian-speaking ministry team from Israel to Wisla, Poland, where they organized a camp for fifty-six kids from eastern Ukraine. Here is what Maxim said: 

All the kids are undergoing difficult times in their lives. Most of them are resettled refugees. Some kids had their fathers killed in the war, some had parents at the front, and there were others whose parents stayed in the occupied territories. Though being so young, all of them have wounded souls. For them, this camp was an oasis in a scorching desert. We talked a lot about God, prayed, and studied the Bible. Out of fifty-six children, fifty were from unbelieving families. The Lord blessed this camp, and many children became very close to God. Some children accepted the Lord into their hearts at the camp, some took the first step, and some did not dare to take a step of faith. But the main thing is everyone heard and learned about the Savior Jesus! 

More recently, Maxim held a “family camp” serving ninety Ukrainian refugees in Israel, giving much-needed bonding time to parents and children. One family began attending a Messianic congregation after the camp, saying their lives had completely changed for the better. 

CAMP TESTIMONIES

Every camp is unique, creating a wide range of ministry opportunities. Allow me to share some of testimonies from our counselors: 

Counselor: “The pain, anxiety, and depression experienced by many of our campers during those isolating months of the pandemic was a real issue. We included a special session on mental health for our middle- and high-school-age campers called ‘God’s Heart for Your Head.’ We received the best feedback on this session all week long!” 

Camp director: “I have the privilege of discipling a young Jewish believer in his third year of college. I first met him when he showed up at camp as an energetic, sarcastic thirteen-year-old. It’s been so encouraging to come alongside him, see his faith grow every summer during camp, and even be used by the Lord to help shepherd him into this next phase of life. Talking with him now, he sees his time at camp worshiping, memorizing Scripture, and fellowshipping with other believers as vital in his current walk.” 

Recently, one of our camp leaders asked a group of eight-year-old boys at camp if they felt like God treasured them. One of the young boys from a Russian Jewish home spoke up. “When I was listening to the message, I felt like I wanted to cry in my heart and in my eyes.” 

The counselor continued to present the gospel to this boy, talking about Jesus dying for our sins and giving us the gift of eternal life, and the young boy responded by saying, “I’m starting to feel that same feeling in my heart again.” Then they prayed together, and he accepted Jesus as Messiah right then and there! 

Please pray for these children and this ongoing ministry to the next generation. 

TEL AVIV DREAMING!

We are purchasing a building in Tel Aviv because our lack of space has severely limited our ministry to children. At our current rented center, we have had fantastic opportunities to proclaim the gospel among young adults. Many of them, especially those in their late 20s and early 30s, now have children. 

We desperately want to provide children with Bible classes and other spiritual activities while the adults participate in worship services and Bible studies. In our new center, we can minister to Jewish children while the adults receive biblical instruction. 

Working alongside our staff with Jesus’ heart for children is a blessing. I hope you will continue to pray for these ministries as you learn more about what God is doing through Chosen People Ministries among children! 

Your support for the Tel Aviv building fund is deeply appreciated, and we are now almost 70 percent there! You will see some options on the enclosed card about giving to the establishment of this Jesus oasis in the midst of secular and fast-paced Tel Aviv. I hope you will consider helping! 

CARING FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR GLOBAL STAFF

At the end of this month, Chosen People Global Ministries is gathering in Israel. It has been many years since our staff, board members, and families could see one another’s faces without masks and draw close to their brothers and sisters in prayer and worship. 

We have been planning and saving for this event for four years. Along with the programs for adults, we encouraged missionaries and board members to bring their kids. This step is essential for the future of Your Mission to the Jewish People, as we want our children to get to know one another. Who knows—maybe we will even get some marriages out of this someday! Please pray for our ministry, for the seventy children and young adults of Chosen People Ministries staff members from the United States, Israel, Ukraine, and many other parts of the world to grow in their faith and commitment to Jesus this summer. 

Thank you for your faithfulness, support, and vision for reaching Jewish people with the gospel and for your help in shaping the lives of our staff children. 

We continue our founding rabbi’s vision to fulfill God’s call to bring the gospel to all—“to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). 

Thank you for your prayers and help in reaching children today and tomorrow for our Messiah Jesus! 

Leave a comment

Filed under Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

May 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Reaching Wandering Israelis after Military Service 

Thank you for taking a few moments to read our current issue of the Chosen People Ministries newsletter. Through our newsletters and other publications, we try to keep you up to date with what is happening within the Jewish community, the State of Israel, and with Your Mission to the Jewish People.

TEL AVIV UPDATE

We deeply appreciate your prayers and support. I want to update you on the new Messianic center in Greater Tel Aviv. We continue to work on two tracks. First, we are now in the fifth month of raising funds for this new facility in the greater Tel Aviv area, which is home to about four million Israelis! Second, we have started construction on the buildout of this commercial space in a brand-new building. We have to add walls, floors, heating and air conditioning, and bathrooms . . . well, you get the picture! This new space will house our Bible studies, weekly outreach events, a café, concerts, future congregational activities, and so much more.

We could not be more excited about the future as openness to the gospel, especially among younger Israelis, is moving like an unstoppable wave across the country. We are doing all we can to make our Messiah known and discipling those who come to faith.

Please pray and join us in building a future for the Messianic movement in Israel through your generous support. There is more information about how you can give toward the new facility at the end of the newsletter.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO TEL AVIV

Over the past few years, we continued to see the common cultural practice among Israelis of traveling the world after serving in the Israeli military. Thousands of young people explore other countries and cultures, and Your Mission to the Jewish People established youth hostels and teams of staff and volunteers to meet these wonderful young people. We show them the love of Jesus the Messiah through hospitality and by creating a home away from home during their travels. We are now meeting thousands of young Israelis outside of Israel and proclaiming the good news to them as they tour. Once back in Israel, we invite them to meet others with similar experiences and spend an evening or attend a reunion event at our current rented center in the greater Tel Aviv area.

We serve this wandering Israeli population in New Zealand, Japan, other parts of Asia, Australia, and the United States. We provide a place for them to stay or connect with Jewish believers in Jesus and Christians who love the Jewish people and invite them into their homes. We proclaim the gospel in both word and deed; and we generally do not say much about the gospel until they ask—which our Israeli guests often do! Of course, we provide Hebrew New Testaments and other resources for them to read if they are curious. We simply offer unconditional love, good food, a listening ear, and prayer as requested.

As you would imagine, while we extend this level of kindness, the younger Israelis want to learn more about our motivation. In a world so filled with anti-Israel (and often antisemitic) activities, we stand out to them because of our love, and they want to know why we care. We tell them about our belief in what the Bible teaches about God’s love for Israel and the Jewish people and, most of all, the love God offers through His Messiah—Jesus!

STORIES OF GOD’S WORK AMONG TRAVELING ISRAELIS

Beit Samurai (“House of the Servant”) in Tokyo, Japan, is our newest hostel. Our team there has already received dozens of Israeli visitors and reported several amazing stories. Here is just one of them:

Ori* and a friend of his stayed at Beit Samurai for a few days. He planned to go to New Zealand. He mentioned one of his friends in Israel was Messianic. Sensing his openness, one of our staff invited him to have lunch together before he headed to the airport. As we waited for our food, he suddenly asked, “So, how do you explain ‘Messianic’ and Yeshua to Jewish people?” Our team member was a bit stunned. Not only was he open—he was asking directly to hear the gospel.

After listening to our staff member’s testimony and hearing about encounters with Yeshua within the Messianic faith and community, Ori asked if there was a Messianic congregation he could attend. He also expressed a desire to read the Bible for himself. Our missionary invited him to attend services with him when he comes back to Japan. Since he is going to New Zealand, he also connected him with a Messianic congregation there.

This staff member gave Ori a copy of Isaiah 53 Explained, which he gratefully received. Through our Chosen People Ministries global network, staff put Ori in touch with Yitzhak,* a Messianic leader in Auckland, New Zealand. They connected right away. Ori asked for a copy of the New Testament to read, so Yitzhak gave him a Bible. The following week, Ori came back to Yitzhak with another Israeli. Yitzhak also told him the full gospel of Yeshua. This Israeli also decided to stay with Yitzhak for the next several days.

Our network of hostels and homes welcoming traveling Israelis also expanded to Taiwan in 2020. During the past three years, we have built Beit Simcha (“House of Joy”), a hosting network in ten cities around Taiwan, connecting many families and teams from different churches to participate in the Israeli backpacker ministry. God is wonderfully using the network as His cords and bonds of love to draw Israelis to Messiah (Hosea 11:4). In one home alone, we hosted 140 Israeli backpackers and families. Many continued to visit other Beit Simcha homes and kept hearing the gospel while traveling around Taiwan. We have heard numerous testimonies from Beit Simcha partners.

Planet Zula in New Zealand, however, is one of our oldest and busiest hostels. It is still the center of a vibrant ministry. A few months ago, our staff there sent us this story:

During one of our weekly Monday evening Bible studies, one of our Israeli guests joined us. We always have lively discussions, and he jumped right in and asked amazing questions. Afterward, he and our Israeli volunteer dug deeply into the Hebrew Bible for hours. The next morning, when he came to say goodbye, his face was shining as he told us he now had a completely new understanding of the New Testament. He realized how the Old and New Testaments fit together—and demonstrated by interlocking his hands. He expressed his desire to read the New Testament and took one of the free copies we offer.

Hosting traveling Israelis has proved a fruitful ministry for several years—and shows no signs of slowing down! On the contrary, we plan to continue expanding this hospitality network to other places. 

*Names changed.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

May 1, 2023 · 12:20 PM

Bringing the Light of the Gospel to Tel Aviv

We are now moving ahead rapidly with the new Tel Aviv Messianic Center. The plans are complete, the permits are coming through, and the workers are beginning to build out the empty 4,000-square-foot concrete shell. Our general contractor is an Israeli believer, and it is comforting to know we have someone leading the charge who is both good at his job and prays as he works!

Once finished, the building will be beautiful. The auditorium, or sanctuary, can hold about 130 people. In addition, we will be able to set up tables and chairs for 100 people to enjoy fellowship dinners, holiday celebrations, and our monthly Sabbath dinners. We will also have ample space for Bible studies and children’s rooms.

Our current rented center, which is less than half the size of the new space, is known for its excellent coffee bar, where most gospel conversations take place during events. The new café layout will have an enlarged area where dozens of young people will be able to sit, drink coffee (an Israeli pastime), and talk about the Lord! When we move into the new center, it will be an even more prominent place to gather and talk with espresso in hand.

Like the older rental, our new center will also provide a follow-up location for Israelis who have traveled around the globe after their army service. These young travelers go abroad and return to Israel after their overseas adventures. We envision the new center as a place of many happy reunions for those who traveled to faraway places like New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, and even the United States, where they met Chosen People Ministries staff and godly volunteers who hosted them in their homes. We will continue the conversations they started while they were traveling. Our team is always ready to reach them with the gospel!

DEDICATION TOUR OF NEW CENTER

I recently returned from Israel, where I had the joy of walking through our new building site with the architect, contractor, and our leader in Israel. As we previewed the empty space, we imagined the voices of children singing and laughing and adults passionately worshiping the Lord while quietly praying for the salvation of friends and loved ones.

I prayed over the new center and would appreciate your joining me in asking the Lord to fill this new place with His Spirit and glory! Let me remind you we are planning a new center dedication tour to Israel in December, which coincides with the Festival of Dedication—Hanukkah!

The tour will include eight days on the ground. On one of those days, we will light the Hanukkah menorah in the new center and dedicate this facility to the Lord. You will find more information by going to www.chosenpeople.com/dedicationtour/. It is not too early to register, as we only have room for thirty-nine people.

The plan for the tour is to arrive in Israel on December 6 and leave on December 15. Hanukkah begins the night of December 7, but we want to be ready for the festivities and allow some time to get over our jet lag! We will enjoy the warm, golden glow of lit menorahs rising over the entire nation of Israel as millions of Israelis celebrate the same feast Jesus observed (John 10). It will be a little chilly and not very crowded at that time of year in Tel Aviv, and we will all be in a celebratory mood as we praise God for the new center and for all He is doing among Israelis.

MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

Thank you for your support and prayers. We are now more than 65 percent toward our goal of raising $6,500,000 to pay for the building, renovation, furniture, etc. We know the Lord will provide the additional $2,500,000 because He is merciful, generous, mighty, and loves His chosen people more than we ever could!

God made promises to the Jewish people, which He will certainly fulfill. We believe this new center is one tool the Lord will use to turn the nation to the Messiah.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

I know you are familiar with the Great Commission, but let me clarify how our outreach to the Jewish people is a central component of our fulfilling the Great Commission. After all, we would never want Jewish evangelism—reaching Israelis and Jewish people like me living outside the land—to become the great omission of the Great Commission!

Matthew records Jesus telling His disciples,

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:18–20)

There is a link between the Lord’s command to go and make disciples of all the nations, the Great Commission, and what I refer to as the great mandate found in Romans 11:11. Paul wrote, “I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.”

These two great gospel threads flow seamlessly in the apostle Paul’s writings, and I hope it will be the same for you.

Paul also reminds us the salvation of the Jewish people is a vital part of God’s divine strategy to reclaim His world and place it under the dominion of His Son! According to Paul, the salvation of Israel in the last days is the final human step leading to the second coming of Christ. The Messianic Jewish apostle wrote in Romans 11,

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(Romans 11:25–29)

Jewish evangelism is the gateway leading to blessings for the nations.

Paul previously told the Gentiles the turning of Israel and the return of Christ would bring about God’s blessings for the Gentiles. “Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! . . . For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead” (Romans 11:12, 15)?

God chose the Jewish people for a unique role, and one day, this assignment for Israel will become even more evident as the end-time remnant of Jewish people repents, and the Lord returns (Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 9:6–7; Acts 3:19ff.).

Gentile believers have a critical role in the second coming of Messiah, especially by sharing the gospel with Jewish people!

Another critical passage revealing God’s heart for the Jewish people is Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Jewish evangelism must never become one of the side jobs of the churches. Paul reminded the Romans to prioritize Jewish evangelism when the gospel was just beginning to spread in the early church. Therefore, including the Jewish people in our evangelistic planning is critical.

God chose the Jewish people to be a bridge of redemption to the world by providing the Scriptures and the Savior Himself, who was born of a Jewish virgin. The Jewish people brought the message of eternal life to the Gentiles. He now calls upon the Gentiles to bring the message back to the original messengers!

Reaching Jewish people for Jesus should be an intentional strategy for every Christian and every local church because God loves His chosen people and because the second coming of Christ depends on Jewish evangelism. God calls us to live today in light of tomorrow, as Jesus could return soon—and then our evangelistic work will be done.

Thanks for caring about the salvation of the Jewish people. May the Lord give us many fantastic opportunities to reach our Jewish friends and families for the Lord. Thanks for standing with us!

1 Comment

Filed under evangelism, Holocaust Survivors, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

April 15, 2023 · 8:30 AM

Yeshua the Messiah: A Prophet Greater than Moses

Thanks for taking a moment to catch up with Your Mission to the Jewish People, especially during the Passover and Easter season when the connection between the Old and the New Testaments is so clear. During this time of year, we see the death and resurrection of Jesus foreshadowed in the Old and gloriously fulfilled in the New!

In this issue, we explore the relationship between two of our greatest Jewish biblical heroes—Moses and Jesus. It is fascinating to consider how these two centerpieces of our faith spoke about one another: Jesus referred back to Moses, while Moses pointed ahead to Messiah. Indeed, the Bible describes both Moses and Jesus as prophets. The tremendous messianic prediction in Deuteronomy 18 is probably familiar:

The Lord said to me, “They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” (Deut 18:17–19)

This prophet will speak God’s last word for humanity; therefore, we must obey him!

THE IMPORTANCE OF MOSES FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE

I grew up in a traditional Jewish home in New York City. My religious training was Orthodox, and I knew Moses was the most important Jewish person who ever lived. He was greater than David, the prophets, and even Abraham! God gave the Law on Mount Sinai through Moses, and in almost every version of modern Judaism, Moses is the central figure of the Jewish faith. For Jewish people, no one is more important than Moses.

We learn, especially those raised Orthodox, the Messiah will come and be a great leader, but he will not necessarily be more significant than Moses himself. You might ask if Jewish people believe Moses is more important than a future Messiah. In the down-to-earth, everyday understanding of Judaism, the vote would be very close!

Because of this view, the following words of the writer of Hebrews may have struck a discordant note, even back then, in the hearts and minds of whoever read this brief treatise:

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. (Heb 3:1–6)

Judaism also tells many stories about the greatness of Moses; he is Moshe Rabbeinu, our most excellent teacher of all time—or so most Jewish people think! According to the very words of Moses himself, however, there is more to his story of redemption.

JESUS’ SUPERIORITY TO MOSES IN THE NEW COVENANT

The writer of Hebrews argued more explicitly than the passage in Deuteronomy for the superiority of Jesus and the New Covenant He inaugurated. Hebrews 3:1–6 describes how Jesus would in all ways be superior to Moses, especially verse 3: “For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house” (Heb 3:3).

Hebrews 11 also reveals this point of Jesus’ superiority. The author took us on a tour of the “Heroes of Faith,” biographical snapshots of previous giants of the faith. The author focused on their faithfulness and achievements, underscoring the entire premise of the book of Hebrews.

The argument of Hebrews is simply this: Jesus is superior to all those who came before Him. He is better than the angels, Moses, the Levitical priests, and even the high priest. He also provides a better rest, a better sacrifice, a better covenant, and a better hope!

However, by asserting Yeshua is better, the author does not suggest the angels, the patriarchs, Moses, the Levites, and the Old Testament are no longer valuable! Instead, it means Yeshua is God’s ultimate revelation for the world’s blessing:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb 1:1–3)

The apostle John also records Jesus mentioning Moses while speaking to Jewish people who were still trying to make up their minds about Him and His claims:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:39–40, 45–47)

Jesus certainly believes Moses wrote about Him and urges His listeners to consider Moses’ words. These passages in Hebrews and John summarize the relationship between Jesus and the Hebrew Scriptures, and how the New Covenant fulfills the Old Testament. The Old Covenant and the great saints listed in Hebrews were part of the plan of God, which ultimately led to the glorious fulfillment in the Messiah Himself.

JESUS, THE PERFECT LEADER

I. M. Haldeman, a fiery Baptist preacher who pastored the First Baptist Church of Manhattan for forty years and was a great friend of Chosen People Ministries, wrote about the uniqueness of Moses and how he foreshadowed the Messiah Jesus:

The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. . . . He was educated in the court, and dwelt in the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted for the city, and wandered in

the wilderness. He was tempted with the pleasures of sin, and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backward in speech, and talked with God. He had the rod of a shepherd, and the power of the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassador from Heaven. He was the giver of the Law, and the forerunner of Grace. He died alone on mount Moab, and appeared with Christ in Judea.1

I would love to have heard this powerful and passionate pastor preach these words! What a beautiful description of the greatness of Moses’ character.

Moses himself told us someone like himself would appear one day as the ultimate leader of the Jewish people. Though Moses was a great political, religious, and military leader,

this meek and humble prophet pointed to an even greater Jewish leader—the Messiah Jesus. Though he may not have had a complete understanding, Moses pointed to a greater prophet—God Himself enwrapped in flesh, proclaiming a greater exodus through His finished work on Calvary. Jesus offers a greater revelation of divine truth to Jewish people and Gentiles and invites us all to obey His words.

Jesus is God’s final word of grace, salvation, and hope for a dark and sinful world.

Yeshua is the perfect leader. Moses himself understood the limits of his humanity. He was superb but far from perfect. He brought the Israelites closer to God, and he brought God closer to the Israelites. But Yeshua brought a better and permanent salvation through His once-for-all sacrifice for sin and triumphant resurrection from the dead. He also provided an eternally durable and glorious New Covenant for Israel and the nations of the world (Jeremiah 31:31–35).

The Passover prophetically portrays this New Covenant, which foreshadows the work of Messiah as the perfect lamb whose blood was shed and smeared over the doorposts of our hearts, enabling us to enter the very presence of God Himself forever (John 1:29).

Moses was a great leader whom God used to reveal His plan and purposes for the Jewish people, but he pointed to someone greater than himself. We now know this greater One has come, and His name is Yeshua, the Savior of the world. We celebrate this salvation during Passover and Easter by remembering the exodus led by Moses, who paved the way for eternal salvation for all who believe in Jesus.

The One greater than Moses has come, and His name is Jesus the Messiah!

Have a blessed Passover and Easter season. Remember to pray for and spread the good news to those who first brought the message of salvation to you—the Jewish people!

1 Quoted in Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings in Exodus (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1981), 16.

Leave a comment

Filed under evangelism, Holidays & Festivals, Israel, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Jewish Holidays, Jews and Christians, Judaism, Messianic Jewish, Passover

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,