Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
January 29, 1995
Zechariah 8:20-23
WHAT ABOUT THE JEWS?
I. Christians and Jews.
A. This Sunday is probably first time a rabbi will preach here.
1) Deacons had doubts.
2) Is Christ honored by it?
B. In past, doubts have led to death.
1) Long history of persecution of Jews.
a) Anti-semitic comments in our own church.
b) Jews said to be different, and not just in beliefs.
2) Childhood visits to Dachau, later visits to Israel.
a) This week is 50th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz.
3) Vacation in Rottenburg, remnants of Jewish cemetery.
a) Jews restricted to certain streets.
b) All Jews driven out in 12th century.
c) The Bible was claimed as authorizing it.
II. The place of Jews.
A. Abraham chosen to be a light to the world.
1) Not chosen because he was superior, but as a sign to all.
a) In the end, the chosen come from the four corners of
the earth. Mark 13:27
2) Blessings were dependent on obedience.
3) Yet he was accepted on his faith, before he did a thing. Rom 4:2f
B. Judaism is a faith, not a genealogy.
1) It has been reduced to having a Jewish mother.
2) New Testament:
a) Jews are those who choose to believe. Rom 2:28f
b) Gentiles can also be Abraham's heirs. Gal 3:7
C. The survival of the Jews is a miracle.
One missionary came to a King in what is now Eastern Europe.
The pagan King was impressed by the ethical teaching in the
gospel, and he had no problem with the miracles of Jesus.
But he still wasn't convinced.
He asked the missionary:
"How can you prove to me that the Bible is true?
What is one fact you can point to that cannot be contested?"
The missionary replied with two words: "The Jew."
#2194
III. God continues to work through the Jews as a people.
A. God's promises to them have not been completed.
1) Their Messiah (Jesus) has appeared.
2) But they have not received salvation as a people yet. Rom 11:25
3) And their Kingdom has not been restored on this earth.
B. They are still "elect" as a people, though many do not believe.
1) Their conversion is a sign of Jesus' return.
2) Right now we see many coming to faith in Jesus as the
Messiah. (Drew "the Jew")
Marlene Novick was born in a Jewish family that was not
religious.
She was interested in Christianity but never had it explained
to her adequately.
Some Christians even told her that her Jewish faith was
adequate.
Once she had a vision of a rock and knew it meant she would
have the stability in her life she desired if she committed
herself to Jesus, but she put the vision out of her mind.
Looking for an apartment, she noticed one that was advertised
for "Christians Only."
She asked if a Jew would be acceptable and the woman excitedly
said yes - she had a life's goal of sharing her Christian
faith with a Jewish person.
Marlene prayed to receive Jesus in her heart. #2028
C. Not all prophecies are fulfilled in the church.
1) Dual fulfillment of "land" prophecies, emphasized by
Bible Christians for 150 years.
2) Both Israel and the Church together bring about total
fulfillment.
IV. The seeds of hostility.
A. The main problem is the Jews' refusal to accept Jesus.
1) It is not a new problem: Paul wrestled with it. (Rom 9-11)
B. The rift has led to much conflict.
1) Early Jews were great persecutors of Christians.
a) The example of Paul himself.
b) Persecution throughout book of Acts.
c) Their opposition to the church in Thessalonica. 1 Th 2:14-16
2) When Christians became powerful, they returned the favor.
a) They fulfilled the "prophecy of blood." Matt 27:25
b) Down through the ages, millions have died.
1> Expulsion from Italy and Germany after Plague.
2> Pogroms in Russia and Poland.
3> Adolf Hitler and Holocaust.
4> Terror attacks by PLO and KKK.
3) Many Jews distrust, even hate, Christians.
In the book "The Fire of Your Life," Maggie Ross recounts
the story of Emma, a survivor of the Holocaust.
Regularly at 4 p.m. each day Emma stood outside a Manhattan
church and screamed insults at Jesus.
Finally the pastor, Bishop Kilmer Myers, went outside and
said to Emma, "Why don't you go inside and tell him?"
She disappeared into the church.
An hour went by, and the bishop, worried, decided to look
in on her.
He found Emma, prostrate before the cross, absolutely still.
Reaching down, he touched her shoulder.
She looked up with tears in her eyes and said quietly,
"After all, he was a Jew, too."
#2059
C. Christians must repent of the atrocities.
1) Polish Church only recently has.
2) Evangelical German Christians were silent back then.
V. God still loves the Jews.
A. Zechariah 8 still in place.
B. Witness to Jews through patience, example and love.
C. Affirm what we have in common.
1) Be humble - we might learn something.
2) Don't compromise gospel. Jesus is only way.
