Christian Zionism 3/5 Christian Zionism and Jews

Christian Zionism and Jews

Here I want to focus more on individual people, rather than on the bigger picture, although we will go briefly there as well. Looking at individuals, the first truth we need to grapple with is

Jewish sin

At present Israel is not paradise! – Israelis are hurting and sinning and need Jesus! There is divorce, suicide, abortion, unrequited love, drug addiction etc there. If we say “you are fine as you are, this is all there is” then they would reply, ‘you have no idea what life is like here!’ it is not all bad by any means, but it is not paradise.

I often fear for those who love Israel, and want to be accepted and loved in return, and who therefore avoid the stumbling block, Jesus. 1Peter 2:7-8 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, " ⁸ and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."

When we were in Israel, I can remember on several occasions Israelis saying; “anti-Semites think we are somehow less than human, and some Christians seem to think we are somehow more than human (we are super intelligent, have a special radar etc.), but both views de-humanize us! We are just human! Good, bad, tall, short, fat, skinny. In this context, I should note however that Jewish sin is horrific. It is truly bad. Do you know how bad it is?? It is exactly as bad as Gentile sin! Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.

We need to admit the reality of Jewish and Israeli sin. If an Israeli baby is aborted, is that somehow less awful than if a Gentile baby is aborted? If an Israeli murders someone, do the family feel less loss, less grief, “well, at least it was an Israeli who did it”?? That is clearly crazy talk! Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.

We can debate about whether Jesus was using dramatic license when describing the conversation between the rich man and Abraham in Luke 16:23-26

[In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴ So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' ²⁵ "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.']

but I often imagine a similar conversation between Christians and their Jewish/Israeli friends – from Hell they cry out to them; why didn’t you tell us about Jesus and how to be saved? How could you not share that when you knew where we were destined?? And the Christians reply, “but we wanted your friendship and were afraid lest we offend you” and from Hell they reply; “how is it friendship to know Jesus and not share him, to know you were safe, but not to warn us??”

So, Jews/Israelis and the rest of us are all in a bad way! To quote from a well-known Jewish writer; Romans 7:24 “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Jewish sin is just as fatal as Gentile sin, and should cause us just as much anguish!

Romans 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, ⁴ the people of Israel.

We need to recognize the reality and seriousness of Jewish sin, and focus anew on the reality of

Jewish hope

To continue the reference from Paul; Romans 7:24-4 Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! … Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

John 3:14-18 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. ¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

The Gospel is good news!! It says God loves us, Jews and Gentiles, and sent Jesus to pay our price – it is something we should be desperate to share!! The Jewish people need their messiah!

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Our focus must be on Salvation!!! “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jews need Jesus!! Jews need to be saved!

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The Gospel is good news for everyone! Jew and Gentile!

Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

 ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Acts 15:7-9 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Jesus is not only the way, he is also the truth and the life! Paul does not say his heart’s desire for Jews to live in Israel, rather Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

Don’t sell Jews short!! They need and long for God, not just a piece of real-estate! Look at the focus of Jewish longings in the Bible!

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 27:4-8 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple… ⁸ My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Would we rather our Jewish friends made aliya, or knew Jesus? To put it more bluntly, would we rather they attended a gay mardi-gras in Tel Aviv, or a church in Brisbane? May God forgive us if it is the former!! Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. Luke 19:41-42 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴² 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.”

Do we share the tears of Jesus, or do we heal the wound of his people lightly, saying peace peace when there is no peace? Do we say, Jerusalem today is great, lots of medical advances, or do we weep for its sin and plead with Jesus for its people? Jeremiah 8:11 (also 6:14) They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace.

Let us not be like that! Rather let our prayer be;

Isaiah 62:1-7 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. ² The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. ³ You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. ⁴ No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. ⁵ As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. ⁶ I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, ⁷ and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

A final point is that the drama is not yet concluded. There remains deep water to pass through before we reach the final shore. And to reach it, they will need conviction of sin, repentance and salvation.

Hosea 6:1-3 Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me." "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. ² After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. ³ Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

Acts 3:19-21 (speaking to the men of Israel) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. ²¹ He must remain in heaven (“Then I will go back to my place”) until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

Joel 2:29-32 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. ³⁰ I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ³¹ The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. ³² And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. [+ Joel 3:2, God’s judgement upon the nations]

Psalm 102:15-22 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. ¹⁶ For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death” (or “children of death”) So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD.

Psalm 50:7, 15 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, … and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." 

I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' 

Jeremiah 30:7-9 'Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's distress, But he will be saved from it. ⁸ 'And it shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of hosts, 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck, and will tear off their bonds; and strangers shall no longer make them their slaves. ⁹ 'But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

Zechariah 14:2-4 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. ³ Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. ⁴ And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, 

We long for the events of

Zechariah 12:10-1 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, (conviction) and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, (repentance) and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. … "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” (salvation)

In the end of days, the Jewish people will say; we rejected our savior, we killed your own dear son, yet you never gave up on us! As soon as he was raised to life after his death you sent him first to us, to bless us! And then, in every generation since, you saved a remnant by grace, and finally, you have returned and rescued us all. We do not deserve this, we are monuments to your grace!!

God has not gone through the last three and a half thousand years wrestling with Israel just to say, well, Bibi is not too bad, I guess we can just settle here. No! This story only ends when the earth [is] filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

People who make aliya are not yet safe! At present, Israel remain without Jesus and in external and moral danger. The only safety is for any of us is for our lives to be hidden with Christ! Colossians 3:3-4 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.