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Trek 2008 - Crib Sheets - My Savior Was Jewish
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Trek 2008 – Crib Sheets – My Savior Was Jewish
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:4-6 NIV
People often ask what I say to people I meet on the road. My answer – if I’ve properly prepared spiritually, I don’t say anything. I ask questions, listen, and respond with the word of God and the words of the Holy Spirit.
Having said that, there are some common things I hear on the road. To be better prepared for what I’ve come to expect to hear, I’ve searched the scriptures and prayed about answers. This is the second in a series where I’ll share with you some of what I hear on the road and how the Holy Spirit has led me to respond. I call them Crib Sheets.
I meet many Jewish brethren across America. In my early encounters, once they heard I was a Christian, their eyes glazed over, they squirmed uncomfortably as if expecting a sales pitch, and seemed to be looking for an escape route.
I tried sharing that my husband’s grandmother was Jewish but most didn’t seem interested. One man laughed and said, “Every Gentile I know claims to have a Jewish grandmother somewhere.”
One day, I heard myself self respond excitedly, “You’re Jewish. You are one of God’s chosen people. My Savior was Jewish. He would be more comfortable with your worship style than mine.”
At that, a woman’s face lit up. It was if my heartfelt statement honored her.
“You’re right,” she said thoughtfully. “Jesus was Jewish. I guess there would be similarities in how we worship. I hadn’t thought about that.”
Listening
I nodded and said, “Tell me about how you worship.”
She went on to describe her synagogue and their practices. I listened, asking encouraging questions, until she began repeating herself. I always know people are done with their story when they repeat themselves.
“You sound as if you are active in your synagogue.” I said.
“Yes,” she agreed. “We enjoy it. I don’t completely follow everything, particularly about what to eat, but we do the best we can.”
I laughed. “What you call the Bible, we call the Old Testament. My faith teaches that by accepting Messiah has come, I am an adopted member of your faith. Technically those laws apply to me as well. Unfortunately, I don’t follow all of them either. None of us needs pork.”
She laughed.
God’s Word
“Do you personally read the Torah or other parts of the Bible?” I asked.
“Not much,” she said. “I hear it at synagogue but my Hebrew is pretty rusty. Some of our readings are in English so that helps.”
“I love my Bible,” I said. “I read it every day. I love the book of Isaiah because it tells me about Messiah. I want to weep when I hear the predictions of what was to happen to Messiah. Have you read Isaiah 53?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Probably. I’m not good at remembering books and chapters.”
“Isaiah 53 is my favorite chapter in that book. Many Jewish people have never read it. It calls Messiah a Man of Sorrows. It predicts he was going to be pierced for my mistakes. It predicts He will die and come back to life. I never get tired of reading it.”
“I’ll have to read it,” she said.
Testimony
“Jesus is my savior,” I said. “I love Him and believe He is the Messiah Isaiah 53 is predicting. My girlfriend is married to a Messianic Rabbi. Jem doesn’t call himself a Christian. He wants to be called what His savior was called – a Jew. He says he is a Jewish man who has accepted that Messiah has come. He has taught me how important the traditions are to the Jewish people and says he needs to worship in the traditional Jewish style. The only difference is that his services also read from the New Testament.”
Assignments
“Interesting,” she said. “We probably wouldn’t call him Jewish. I’ve never attended a Messianic service. We are still waiting on Messiah.”
“I know,” I said. “Would you want to know it if He had already come and the scriptures had been fulfilled?”
“I guess so,” she said hesitantly.
“May I give you an assignment?”
“I guess,” she said.
“Read Isaiah 53 and ask God if Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. You have nothing to lose by asking God the question. Your faith and mine teach that He will answer.”
“I’ll do that,” she agreed.
I’ve used a similar technique dozens of times. I speak honestly and respectfully. I truly am honored to listen to and learn from my Jewish brothers and sisters. I do identify with them because my savior was Jewish and I learn something about the Jewish faith in every encounter.
One woman laughed and said, “Your Jesus is one of ours that made a name for Himself.” She went on to tell me her collection of Jesus jokes.
I listened and laughed at the appropriate time.
“I hope you are not offended,” she said. “Most of my Christian friends aren’t.”
“No,” I said. “I love Jesus and believe my sense of humor comes from Him. I joke about everyone I love.”
The Result
My job is to be obedient. The results are up to God. I haven’t heard back from any of these encounters but at least now, a conversation happens and people seem to engage. I pray that they will read Isaiah 53. I don’t know how anyone could read it and not recognize Jesus as Messiah.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.
This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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