In my testimony “From Jew to Completed Jew” I spoke of searching to find the truth about Yeshua from childhood. I would imagine that this desire, which I believe God placed in my heart, is probably not the case with most Jews. So, how should a believer share the Good News that Yeshua is indeed the long awaited Jewish Messiah with Jewish people?
The Christian couple who told me about Jesus, and prayed with me that night in 1983 to receive Him as my Lord and Savior, showed me so much love before that night. They knew that someone very close to me had taken her own life. They knew that I was so sad and very fragile.
They loved me with their words, but they showed that love was genuine by their actions. They cooked food, watched our kids, and made themselves available to us during those very dark days before the funeral. It was the night of the funeral that I broke down in front of them, telling them that I just didn’t understand how God could allow something like this to happen.
During college, the Gospel had been shared with me on two occasions. Both times I rejected the Gospel message, and told both groups of Christians that I was Jewish. I told them that they should not talk to Jews about Jesus.
When I think of that now, it seems humorous – Yeshua, whom they called Raboni (Rabbi) should not be shared with Jews? And who were the first Christians? They were not a bunch of Italians! They were Jews!
So, getting back to sharing Jesus with Jewish people, it seems that most people don’t even want to try. As a Jewish Christian, I feel that I should give encouragement, and perhaps some pointers to those of you who want very much to know how to share our Lord with Jewish people.
Become friends first
My people are pretty smart. They know if you really care about them. Nothing will turn them off faster than if they think you are looking at them as a project. Get to know them and show interest in them and what they believe. Many people are surprised to find out that most Jews are secular. A lot of Jews do not even know much about the Old Testament. A lot don’t even believe that God is real!
Most Jews are very proud of their history and traditions. When I was schooled in the synagogue, my teacher spoke of the persecution we suffered through the centuries, and how we were always scapegoats. I have learned most of the Old Testament as a Jewish Christian!
Use the Bible
There is so much power in the Word of God. Most Jews have no knowledge of the New Testament, and very little of the Old Testament! Remember what the Bible says about God’s Word:
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Talk with your friend about the Old Testament. Even though most Jews have not studied it, it will mean a lot to them that you love it. The Scriptures should always be our reference when witnessing to Jews or to anyone!
Present Yeshua as a Person
Do not get discouraged if your Jewish friend rejects Christianity. Most Jews view Christianity as persecution — and to a point, they are right! They don’t understand the difference between the RCC and Evangelical Christians. It’s best to present Jesus the Messiah to a Jewish person. Better yet, call Him Yeshua the Messiah!
There are Jews who think that Jesus was once a nice Jewish boy, but then He converted. I know that sounds ridiculous to those of us who have been redeemed, but please remember that most Jews have been hardened to the Gospel. In Romans 11, Paul so eloquently explains why there was a partial hardening. It was for the sake of the Gentiles, until the fullness of them have come into the Kingdom.
They will not give up their Jewishness
Make sure that your friend knows that you are not asking them to “convert.” Reassure them that you are simply attempting to help them see the Jewish Messiah.
Watch your terminology
Practice not using certain words and replace them with better ones for Jewish people. Use Messiah instead of Christ. When speaking of the Cross – use tree instead. When referring to Jesus, use Yeshua. These changes will make a big difference in how your witnessing progresses with your Jewish friend.
Affirm your friend’s Jewishness
Speak of the Jewish holidays. Ask questions about the some of the holidays. It will endear the friend to you that you are interested in these things. Make sure they know that believing in Yeshua does not mean giving up their Jewish identity.
Speak about your love for Israel. So many people in the world are anti-Semitic. It will mean so much to your Jewish friend to know that you love Israel!
Share your Testimony
It will mean a lot to your Jewish friend, to hear that you had to come to faith in Yeshua too! Your personal testimony is a powerful tool in witnessing to everyone!
Look for a need they might have, to pray for them. When there is something serious going on in someone’s life, rarely do they turn down prayer.
Introduce your friend to a Jewish believer
If it is possible, introduce the friend to another Jew who has believed in Yeshua for salvation.
I tell people all the time to feel free to share my testimony with Jewish friends, and even to give them my email if they want to converse with me.
Studying the Gospels
If your friend seems even a little bit interested, suggest that they study the Gospels for himself/herself. Again, there is incredible power in the Word of God.
The Messianic Prophecies
I’ve never met a Jewish person who had any idea of the hundreds of Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament being fulfilled to the letter in the New Testament. That is powerful stuff!!
I have taken this directly from Chosen People Ministries. If you go to this source, you will find much more detail of these prophecies. This is beautifully presented, and should be printed out for reference when witnessing to your Jewish friend: [1]
Studying Messianic prophecy
Another good way to study is to review Old Testament Messianic prophecy-which paints a picture of the Messiah-and then look to the New Testament for the fulfillment of those prophecies. Remember, your Jewish friend is beginning his study with little background, even in the Old Testament. Begin with some of the major Messianic prophecies.
Try to point out the context of the passages and allow your friend to discover many of the truths for himself. Ask questions as you go over the text. Let your friend read the passage and see if he can answer some questions you ask of the text. “To what does the prophet refer?” “Who fits that description?” These questions will help your Jewish friend grapple with the text and come to his own conclusions.
Encourage your friend to use his own Jewish Bible if he has one. Be aware, though, that the order of the books is different, and some verses are numbered slightly differently as well (we will note it when there is a difference).
We will now briefly outline some major Messianic prophecies. Try not to present too many of them at once. Your Jewish friend will need some time to “digest” the information before you go on!
1. The origin and birthplace of the Messiah
Prophecy: Micah 5:2 (5:1 in the Jewish Bible)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem . . . .”
2. The birth, ministry, and victory of Messiah
Prophecy: Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Fulfillment: Galatians 4:4; Matthew 27:62-63; 1 John 3:8
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman ” (Galatians 4:4).
3. A descendant of Abraham
Prophecy: Genesis 12:1-3
“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'”
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of Abraham.”
He sent out 72 of His disciples to preach the Gospel, a number which many believe parallels the list of nations in Genesis 10. Finally, when Jesus called Saul of Tarsus to be an Apostle, His specific commission to Saul (renamed Paul) was to “bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:5,15).
4. From the tribe of Judah
Prophecy – Genesis 49:10
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
Fulfillment – Luke 3:33
“the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.”
5. From the house of David
Prophecy – 2 Samuel 7:12-13
“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Fulfillment – Luke 3:31
6. Born of a virgin
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18, 22-23
7. God in the Flesh
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:6-7 (9:5-6 in Hebrew)
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1; John 1:14
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
8. A prophet like Moses
Prophecy: Deuteronomy 18:15
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren.”
Fulfillment: John 6:14
“Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly “the Prophet” who is to come into the world.'”
9. The humility of Messiah
Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Fulfillment: John 12:12-14
“a great multitude when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The King of Israel!’ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written.”
10. The crucifixion of Messiah
Prophecy: Psalm 22
Fulfillment: Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 1922:18; John 19:23-24).
As David prefigured Messiah in so many ways, he also prefigured Him in his own suffering at the hands of evildoers. Psalm 22 clearly shows that Jesus is the crucified One of whom David wrote.
11. The Suffering Servant
Prophecy: Isaiah 53
Fulfillment: John 1:1; Matthew 8:16-17; 26:62-63; 27:12-14, 38, 57-60; Mark 15:27-28; Luke 23:33; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3
Your Jewish friend might think, when he reads this passage, that he is reading from the New Testament. He may be surprised to see this in his own Bible!
This is perhaps the strongest of the Messianic prophecies.
The prophecy actually begins in chapter 52 verse 13. It describes the priestly ministry of the Messiah Who would die as an innocent offering for the sins of the Jewish people. The prophecy has numerous points of fulfillment recorded in the Gospel accounts of the death of the Messiah. He was “like a lamb led to the slaughter,” an innocent sufferer who died on behalf of others.
This prophecy should affect your Jewish friend if he is really seeking the Lord. He might go back to a rabbi and hear that the prophecy refers to the nation of Israel, but the text does not support this interpretation. Notice verses 5 and 8, where the servant suffers for “our sins” and the “sins of my people.” Someone is suffering for the sins of another group. In Isaiah, the “group” can only be Israel. Therefore, the one suffering for Israel has to be one other than Israel. It can only be Messiah. The earliest rabbinic authorities ascribed this passage to the Messiah. [1]
These are just a few of the Messianic Prophecies fulfilled in the New Testament. You may visit my source, Chosen People Ministries for a complete list of the Messianic Prophecies.
Don’t forget to pray for your Jewish friend every day. Ask the Lord to open their eyes and hearts to the truth of His Word!!
Shalom in Yeshua!
MARANATHA