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From David Brickner
➤ Read David’s thoughts on living out our love for the gospel
"Life from the Dead"
Once a theologian was waxing eloquent about Christ’s passion. He spoke of it as a mere story, a symbol of hope for renewal and rebirth. A young reporter from Christianity Today magazine challenged him with a simple question, “Sir, if you were a newspaper reporter standing outside of the tomb on the third day after Christ’s crucifixion, what would you report to your newspaper?” The theologian cleared his throat and answered, “Young man, did you say you were a reporter from Christianity Today or Christianity yesterday?”
Thank God, the cross and empty tomb are not merely symbols! They are historical realities. When we talk about the cross and the tomb we are not reminiscing about yesterday’s Christianity; we are talking about today’s Christianity.
Yes, the world is changing. Cultures shift and change, and we must find new ways to engage people with the gospel. In fact, Jews for Jesus is intentionally learning about our changing culture even as you read this—we want to get a handle on the questions that younger people are asking. The next step will be finding the intersection between those questions and the answers God has provided. Questions may change, and the dynamics of how we interact with people of different generations and varying circumstances may change, but one thing does not change—and that is the gospel.
The Person, power and purpose that raised the Lord Jesus from the dead is alive and vibrant and at work in the church right now. Yes, worldliness and weaknesses afflict us, and dogma and disagreements sometimes conflict us. Yet, as the bride of our crucified and risen Messiah, we beam a message to a desperate world. There is hope. There are answers. God provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him.
That power, that purpose, that message of hope is absent from the synagogues, even though the hope of resurrection is rooted in the Old Testament. (Download the Resurrection Chart here.) In fact, any hope for a literal afterlife is considered irrelevant by the majority of Jewish people today. During my studies at Moody Bible Institute, I took part in door-to-door evangelism in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. One day I called upon an older woman who happened to be married to a local rabbi. I asked, “Where do you suppose you will go when you die?” Without blinking an eye she replied, “Down the street to the cemetery.”
My people, the Jewish people, are without God and without hope in this world. Yet the church, believers in Jesus who gather together around the cross and the empty tomb, has a message of hope and life. Through proclaiming our hope, we can be agents of God’s transforming power when it comes to the destiny of thousands of Jewish people who don’t yet know Him.
I’m so thankful to God for this transformation in my life and that of my family. My father’s family were traditional Jews, strongly affiliated with the Jewish community. One day a Christian couple told them about Jesus. When no one in the family responded, this couple prayed every day for my father and his family—for seven years!
Despite an apparent lack of results, after those seven years my father, his brother and my grandparents became believers—all within a period of weeks. My grandfather’s body was ravaged with cancer when he came to faith, and he died soon after. At the funeral my great-grandmother mourned the loss of her son as she cried out in Yiddish, “O my Nathan, he’s in the ground, he’s in the ground. O my Nathan, he’s in the ground.” My grief-stricken grandmother, who was only weeks old in her new faith, was able to put her arm around her mother-in-law and whisper, “No mamma, Nathan is not in the ground. He’s in heaven with the Lord.” That, my dear friends, is the difference Christ makes—all the difference in the world.
It’s true that you need to be culturally sensitive when witnessing to Jewish people, but truth has a way of cutting through cultural barriers.
We hear testimonies of many Jewish believers in Jesus and, time after time, one of the steps in their path to faith is the bright light of a testimony from a friend or coworker who is not Jewish. It’s true that you need to be culturally sensitive when witnessing to Jewish people, but truth has a way of cutting through cultural barriers.
For example, the cross has been a symbol of persecution to the Jewish people for centuries because of the atrocities committed in the name of the Crucified One. Some Jewish people have gone so far as to say, “I could never bring myself to walk into a building with a cross in front of it. That would be like spitting on the grave of my ancestors.” And yet, God has moved in the hearts of many Jewish people to the point where they have accepted a friend’s invitation to church, and it’s been a step along the way to salvation. What people say may differ from what they do, once the power of prayer is at work in their lives.
Please, never be afraid or ashamed to invite Jewish friends to your church. They may decline, and you should not feel hurt if they do. Just remember, your pastor and your friends at church have much to offer your unbelieving friends—give them the chance to do so.
Perhaps one of our Jews for Jesus missionaries is going to be at your church or a church in your area presenting “Christ in the Passover.” Was there a “Christ in the Passover” itinerary that came with this newsletter? If so, that means we will be in a church near you. Don’t miss the opportunity to invite a Jewish friend! One of the most common things we hear from Christians who have attended our presentations is, “You know, I just wasn’t sure if I should invite my Jewish friend. Now I really wish I had!” Please don’t be among those to regret a missed opportunity. The worst that can happen (your friend refuses) is far outweighed by the best that can happen. And the best that can happen is summed up by that empty tomb.
There is an empty tomb in Israel’s future. The Lord asked of the prophet Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?”* I have abiding confidence that they will. The future of the Jewish people is bright with promise because God has declared the end from the beginning.
God promised a revival, no, a resurrection that will once again shake the world. “For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). Life from the dead! That is our hope. That is what God has declared for the future.
*For an interesting perspective on this chapter of Ezekiel, see our extensive chart on resurrection by Rich Robinson.
David Brickner is also an author, public speaker and avid hiker. Find out more about David, his writings, speaking schedule and possible availability to speak at your church.
➤ Watch David’s video updateregarding a recent salvation story, as well as prayer requests for upcoming Passover celebrations"RealTime Video Update" by Jews for Jesus
Watch David’s update regarding a recent salvation story, as well as prayer requests for upcoming Passover celebrations
Top Stories:
Salvation in South Dakota
"Salvation story!"
Amy Moore reports,
“Sandy* and Rick* are a Jewish couple who came to a Christ in the Passover presentation I did two years ago in South Dakota. Tonight they came to my meeting with their son, and I found out that since I last saw them, they have both prayed to receive Jesus as their Messiah! And tonight I got to pray with their son, Seth,* to do the same! Seth is in a doctoral program at the University of Chicago and knows some of my friends, so I'm going to try to get him connected. Pray for Seth as he learns what it means to follow Yeshua!”
Our Passover tours ended Friday night, March 25. Please pray for the many Jewish people who have heard the gospel in the last few weeks, that God will nurture those seeds as He did with Sandy and Rick. And please remember, any time you see that we are coming to a congregation near you, it’s a great opportunity to bring a friend of any background to come and hear the Good News of Jesus in an engaging and thought-provoking way.
*not their real names
Watch David’s update regarding a recent salvation story, as well as prayer requests for upcoming Passover celebrations
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmkI1trUnnE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Top Stories:
Salvation in South Dakota
"Salvation story!"
Amy Moore reports,
“Sandy* and Rick* are a Jewish couple who came to a Christ in the Passover presentation I did two years ago in South Dakota. Tonight they came to my meeting with their son, and I found out that since I last saw them, they have both prayed to receive Jesus as their Messiah! And tonight I got to pray with their son, Seth,* to do the same! Seth is in a doctoral program at the University of Chicago and knows some of my friends, so I'm going to try to get him connected. Pray for Seth as he learns what it means to follow Yeshua!”
Our Passover tours ended Friday night, March 25. Please pray for the many Jewish people who have heard the gospel in the last few weeks, that God will nurture those seeds as He did with Sandy and Rick. And please remember, any time you see that we are coming to a congregation near you, it’s a great opportunity to bring a friend of any background to come and hear the Good News of Jesus in an engaging and thought-provoking way.
*not their real names
Passover is Coming
"Moody Students Rock!"
Vlad Mitnitsky (who heads up our evangelism team in Tel Aviv) reports, “The Israel branch conducted four days of outreach with a team of 36 students from Moody Bible Institute. They were a terrific group, ready to reach out with us through placards, surveys (of which they conducted at least 183 at the Tel Aviv University) and literature distribution. They brought in 87 new contacts—including 77 Jews and nine Gentiles who don’t know the Lord. (Only in Israel, out of 87 contacts, just one was a Christian!)
Israel branch director Dan Sered adds, “Yoel and I spent a day training the group, then we divided them into four teams of nine people each. Two teams did evangelism alongside our missionaries, while another team worked behind the scenes in the office and at the Moishe Rosen Center (helping us with mailings, painting, cleaning, organizing etc....). The fourth team we sent to partner with friends at another local ministry called ‘Abundant Life.’ They minister to prostitutes and trafficked women. The teams rotated so everyone got to serve in all three ways. The entire team was a huge help and blessing for us!”
Here’s a report from one of the young women on the Moody team:
“I was surprised by how many students were willing to stop and talk about Jesus when our team was assigned to evangelize near the entrance of Tel Aviv University campus. We talked with people for hours! Yet many of the conversations grew discouraging as the day went on, and so many people flat-out rejected the idea of a living Savior. We continued, knowing that God is able to use even seemingly dead-end conversations. I asked God to give me a conversation that would reveal a spark to let me see Him at work.
“Soon after, I asked a young Muslim student if she had a second to talk about Jesus. She stopped, curious to hear what I knew about Him. I explained how we are separated from God, and how because He loved us, He made it possible to have a relationship with Him by living a perfect life and dying a perfect death in our place. When I told her that she was loved by God, she started crying. She hugged me and thanked me. I asked if this was something she wanted—if she wanted to follow Jesus. She said with eyes full of tears that she did want it, but that being Muslim, her family wouldn’t approve. She started quickly walking away, but I managed to hand her a Gospel of Matthew before she crossed the street.
“Soon after, I had a meaningful conversation with a Jewish student, who began with feelings of anger but then wanted to hear the gospel again (others have shared with her). I saw her she softened as I described God’s love for her.
She told me she had difficulty reading her copy of the New Testament because it was only in Hebrew, and her first language is English. After our conversation, she thanked me and began walking away, but then turned and said she had one more question. It wasn’t so much a question as great frustration over how Christians have treated Jews throughout history and even today. Again, she listened carefully to my response, and thanked me, in tears, as she left.
“I am so thankful for the chance to work with Jews for Jesus and to watch God work through such an incredible and faithful organization.”
And here’s a report from one of the young men:
“As a young Chinese man, I questioned how I would be able to spread the gospel in Tel Aviv. This was my initial thought when I met a 67-year-old woman sitting on a bench. She wasn’t interested in the gospel and seemed to view me with contempt. She said that she was an atheist but noted that her son was a Buddhist. I explained how I had been raised in the Buddhist tradition in China, and shared how Jesus loved me and saved me from my New Age beliefs. Suddenly this woman was interested in hearing more about my faith and listened to my entire testimony. When I shared with her how God loves us so much that He came down to earth through His Son Yeshua, a big smile spread across her face. She declared how much she enjoyed the story and was willing for us to pray for her in Jesus’ name. After the conversation, she couldn’t stop smiling. What a miracle!”
Please pray for the salvation of this woman, the two students, Muslim and Jewish, as well as the 86 others who gave their contact information during this four-day outreach!
"Moody Students Rock!"
Vlad Mitnitsky (who heads up our evangelism team in Tel Aviv) reports, “The Israel branch conducted four days of outreach with a team of 36 students from Moody Bible Institute. They were a terrific group, ready to reach out with us through placards, surveys (of which they conducted at least 183 at the Tel Aviv University) and literature distribution. They brought in 87 new contacts—including 77 Jews and nine Gentiles who don’t know the Lord. (Only in Israel, out of 87 contacts, just one was a Christian!)
Israel branch director Dan Sered adds, “Yoel and I spent a day training the group, then we divided them into four teams of nine people each. Two teams did evangelism alongside our missionaries, while another team worked behind the scenes in the office and at the Moishe Rosen Center (helping us with mailings, painting, cleaning, organizing etc....). The fourth team we sent to partner with friends at another local ministry called ‘Abundant Life.’ They minister to prostitutes and trafficked women. The teams rotated so everyone got to serve in all three ways. The entire team was a huge help and blessing for us!”
Here’s a report from one of the young women on the Moody team:
“I was surprised by how many students were willing to stop and talk about Jesus when our team was assigned to evangelize near the entrance of Tel Aviv University campus. We talked with people for hours! Yet many of the conversations grew discouraging as the day went on, and so many people flat-out rejected the idea of a living Savior. We continued, knowing that God is able to use even seemingly dead-end conversations. I asked God to give me a conversation that would reveal a spark to let me see Him at work.
“Soon after, I asked a young Muslim student if she had a second to talk about Jesus. She stopped, curious to hear what I knew about Him. I explained how we are separated from God, and how because He loved us, He made it possible to have a relationship with Him by living a perfect life and dying a perfect death in our place. When I told her that she was loved by God, she started crying. She hugged me and thanked me. I asked if this was something she wanted—if she wanted to follow Jesus. She said with eyes full of tears that she did want it, but that being Muslim, her family wouldn’t approve. She started quickly walking away, but I managed to hand her a Gospel of Matthew before she crossed the street.
“Soon after, I had a meaningful conversation with a Jewish student, who began with feelings of anger but then wanted to hear the gospel again (others have shared with her). I saw her she softened as I described God’s love for her.
She told me she had difficulty reading her copy of the New Testament because it was only in Hebrew, and her first language is English. After our conversation, she thanked me and began walking away, but then turned and said she had one more question. It wasn’t so much a question as great frustration over how Christians have treated Jews throughout history and even today. Again, she listened carefully to my response, and thanked me, in tears, as she left.
“I am so thankful for the chance to work with Jews for Jesus and to watch God work through such an incredible and faithful organization.”
And here’s a report from one of the young men:
“As a young Chinese man, I questioned how I would be able to spread the gospel in Tel Aviv. This was my initial thought when I met a 67-year-old woman sitting on a bench. She wasn’t interested in the gospel and seemed to view me with contempt. She said that she was an atheist but noted that her son was a Buddhist. I explained how I had been raised in the Buddhist tradition in China, and shared how Jesus loved me and saved me from my New Age beliefs. Suddenly this woman was interested in hearing more about my faith and listened to my entire testimony. When I shared with her how God loves us so much that He came down to earth through His Son Yeshua, a big smile spread across her face. She declared how much she enjoyed the story and was willing for us to pray for her in Jesus’ name. After the conversation, she couldn’t stop smiling. What a miracle!”
Please pray for the salvation of this woman, the two students, Muslim and Jewish, as well as the 86 others who gave their contact information during this four-day outreach!
Visit our Judaica page to learn more about Passover!
Your financial support, prayers and willingness to spread the Word make the work of Jews for Jesus possible. Please consider giving now to help share the gospel and introduce Jewish people to their Messiah. Thank you!
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About RealTime
RealTime delivers breaking news and views on Jewish evangelism, as well as inspiring perspectives from executive director David Brickner. Check back often for the latest updates. You'll find reasons to praise—and opportunities for prayer.
Jews for Jesus
Passover
"Why is this night different from all other nights?"
One of the most significant Jewish holidays, Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, recalls and rejoices over the Israelites' redemption from slavery in Egypt. The symbolic elements of the feast cause us not only to look back and remember what the Lord did for our people in the past; they also foreshadow a greater redemption through Jesus, the Passover Lamb. Jewish people around the world have celebrated Passover for thousands of years; however, most do not understand the ultimate significance of the festival.
In this section, you'll find several articles and explanations of the meaning of this traditional Jewish feast that Jesus celebrated with his disciples.
Check out some of the articles and resources below.
You are also welcome to attend one of our Passover celebrations in your area.
EventsChrist in the Passover
Support Jewish EvangelismOne of the most significant Jewish holidays, Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, recalls and rejoices over the Israelites' redemption from slavery in Egypt. The symbolic elements of the feast cause us not only to look back and remember what the Lord did for our people in the past; they also foreshadow a greater redemption through Jesus, the Passover Lamb. Jewish people around the world have celebrated Passover for thousands of years; however, most do not understand the ultimate significance of the festival.
In this section, you'll find several articles and explanations of the meaning of this traditional Jewish feast that Jesus celebrated with his disciples.
Check out some of the articles and resources below.
You are also welcome to attend one of our Passover celebrations in your area.
EventsChrist in the Passover
Your financial support, prayers and willingness to spread the Word make the work of Jews for Jesus possible. Please consider giving now to help share the gospel and introduce Jewish people to their Messiah. Thank you!
Make My Gift
Follow Jews for Jesus
About RealTime
RealTime delivers breaking news and views on Jewish evangelism, as well as inspiring perspectives from executive director David Brickner. Check back often for the latest updates. You'll find reasons to praise—and opportunities for prayer.
Jews for Jesus
60 Haight Street
San Francisco, California 94102, United States
Phone 415-864-2600
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