How to Share the Gospel with a Jewish Person
Puerto Maldonado The challenge is to engage the Jewish fellow in a conversation. Typically, when you approach him with a tract or bring up your faith in a conversation, he shuts you down with a curt, “I’m Jewish.” And makes it clear that he is not interested in your Christian faith.
He identifies Christianity with Roman Catholicism and its persecution of the Jews through all of its history. Millions of Jews have been slaughtered at the hands of Rome – some of the Crusades were launched specifically against both Jews and independent Bible believers – historic Baptists by various names. The symbolism of the cross and the name “Jesus” (an English word) brings to mind images of oppression, harassment, persecution, rape, and murder.
Therefore . . .
When he identifies himself as Jewish and his body language goes negative, say:
Sir, I am NOT a Roman Catholic. I don’t believe in a blond, blue-eyed Jesus. My faith is in the Rabbi Yeshua, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Do you believe in Abraham, and the promises that God made to him? God promised to bless all families of the earth through him – by sending a Messiah to take away the sins of his people. The prophet Micah (5:2) prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The prophet Isaiah (7:14) prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. The prophet Daniel (9:25) prophesied that the Messiah would present himself to his people exactly 483 years – to the day – from the command of a Persian king to rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
There is only one person in history who could possibly fulfill these and hundreds of other prophecies – that is the Rabbi Yeshua.
Here’s the most important question for a Jew: Do you believe in the laws given by God to Moses? The 10 commandments? Are you innocent or guilty if God judges you by his law?
. . . Just like with anyone else, go through the law, followed by the Gospel. For more on this, review my other articles on evangelism, including A Simple Framework and A Very Short Gospel Presentation.
And press for repentance toward God and faith toward Yeshua – the Lord Jesus Christ.
An additional point to make if you can go to Scripture – the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Jeremiah 31:31-34 describes the New Covenant that God will make with Israel. See also Ezekiel 36:24-28. Romans 11, especially verses 11,25-27 describes how the Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree of Israel.
Yeshua describes the new birth to Nicodemus in John 3, which is available to every individual, Jew or Gentile. Romans 10:9-13 and Gal 3:26-29 shows there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek.
Additional prophecy of note for the whole nation of Israel: Compare Zechariah 12:9-10 with Revelation 1:7.
– Dr. Dave