Posted by Jacob Leibowitz on August 07, 2006 at 08:07:15:
Posted by Jacob Leibowitz on August 07, 2006 at 09:46:28:
In Reply to: Re: Judeo/Christian = Jesus was a Jew and proud to be one. posted by Bible Probe on August 04, 2006 at 18:56:18:
I grew up believing that Jesus was anything but Jewish. I especially found offensive anyone who attempted to share with me their views on the Jewish-ness of Jesus. Over a 7-year period in my life, after hearing this same message over and over again by well meaning gentiles, I told them to get lost and leave me and my precious heritage and forefathers alone. I felt that their message of "Jesus is Messiah" extremely offensive to my entire family! However, one day near the end of that 7-year period mentioned above I was asked by an elderly man a very simple question. "Can you prove that Jesus is not the Messiah of Israel?" My immediate answer was the same as always: "If Jesus was the true Messiah, why did he not establish His Kingdom Reign in Israel?" "And, why did his followers kill my relatives in the holocaust?"
The elderly man just looked at me and sadly shook his hung head and said, "If you want to know if Jesus is Lord and the true Messiah, then ask him yourself-He is alive and seated next to his father in heaven and soon to come again to establish his kingdom."
Well, before I could say more he shook my hand and said that he would pray for me and once again said those haunting words, "ask Him yourself."
I was so mad and yet so perplexed, because no one had ever challenged me like this before. So, for the first time in my life, I prayed and used the name of Jesus. I actually asked him to show me if He was really the one who these crazy Jesus freaks said he was-True Messiah and Lord.
After this, many strange things happened in my life. I foolishly asked G-d for signs to prove it to me. Well, the Lord allowed me to witness several signs. So, after a 6-month period, I asked him for the last sign. Two days later someone who had just become a follower of the Messiah invited me to church. At first I said he was crazy. Then, I reasoned that if I go once and nothing happened, then I can forget about this matter forever and tell those crazy nuts to leave me alone. So, I went that Sunday to a church and listened to a message about Jesus the Messiah. Not only did I hear about his Jewish-ness, but I learned about how he became the Lamb that took away the sins of the world-and that He died for my sins too.
This is the part where I know that some of you might wonder about, but this is really what happened. I was sitting there listening to this speaker and all of a sudden it seemed like the speaker and I were the only two in the room. And, it was as if Jesus Himself was speaking directly to me-telling me that He loved me and that He died for all of my sins and that I could have my sins forgiven if I just believed in Him. Then, my mind became extremely focused and in and instance, it was as if this message became completely believable and I had no argument against it. And, this message was touching my heart and the LOVE of Jesus completely overwhelmed me. I had never even imagined such love existed in this world before that. His love was expressed to my heart and mind in such a unique way. It was not an opinion or and idea, but my living Messiah revealing His great love to me on that day. SO, I did believe and His love flooded my heart in a way that I cannot explain.
Arguing about who Jesus is will not accomplish much if His love is not revealed to an unbelieving heart. Jewish people have a right to be mad about how they have been treated in the past by gentiles. They have legitimate roadblocks to belief as a result. So, please be patient with Jewish people and listen more than talk if you want them to understand that Jesus was and is Jewish. They have a right to get some stuff off their chest about the matter before they will want to listen to you about it.
Intellectually, no one could ever convince me, but one moment in his presence was enough for me to invite Him into my life as Savior, Lord and Messiah.
In His Love, Jacob (According to my father, I am a Levite from the family of Aaron).
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