Jesus loved His Jewish brethren. Do you recall these verses…?
- “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel'” (Mt. 15:24).
- “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Mt. 23:37).
- “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes'” (Luke 19:41-42).
These passages leave no doubt that Jesus loved – and still loves – His Jewish people, even in their unbelief. The Spirit of Christ dwelt powerfully in Paul. This is how Paul spoke of the Jewish people…
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew” (Romans 11:1-2a).
“As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28-29).
Since Jesus is the King of the Jews and their calling is irrevocable, Christians the world over have just been given the opportunity of a lifetime to make the heart of Christ glad. I dare say that this generation has never had a better chance to make Jesus smile.
I am referring to the chance we now have to stand with, pray for, and assist the nation of Israel as it seeks to recover from the painful wounds received from its sworn enemies. The nation of Israel includes the Jewish people in the “Diaspora,” the 10,000,000 Jewish people living outside of the borders of Israel. Below are a few humble suggestions for taking advantage of the “opportunity of a lifetime” that this terrible war has presented us with…
1 – Mail out Thanksgiving cards to Jewish friends, neighbors, and professionals. Tell them that, as a Christian, you are thankful for the Torah (first 5 books of the O.T. as they understand that word). Tell them you are thankful for the words of the prophets, which have helped you to place your faith in God and also to understand that the God of Israel and His chosen people will triumph in the end. Tell them you stand with Israel at this momentous time in their history. If you have contributed anything to the ministries I mention below, tell them you contributed to the practical needs of Israel’s most needy. Send cards (more personal than emails) to your local synagogues and provide your return address.
2 – Donate to the needs of Israel. Two ministries I trust greatly are these: “One for Israel” and ICEJ (International Christian Embassy Jerusalem) www.icej.org. These two organizations are located in Israel, and they have the experience and discernment to know how and where to dispense your funds biblically & wisely.
3 – Above all, pray! For the grieving families of the slain … for the hostages and their families … for wisdom to be given to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the military staff … for the success of the military in destroying the enemies of Israel … for the safety of Israel’s military and the many Messianic Jews serving in the IDF … for God to use this war to draw many souls (Israeli and Gazan) to Himself!
Remember, my dear brothers and sisters, that you were born “for such a time as this” and that one reason you were saved is to make the Jewish people jealous to know their ancient God again as they perceive you do! In Rom. 11:11 it says:
“I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.”
May God bless all who heed this call.
* If anyone may ever need help to minister to a Jewish person, feel free to contact me (Asher Mandel) at is53@att.net.