Bennie* continues to join one of our weekly Jesus Bible studies led by a staff member in the Southwest (United States). Several weeks ago, after we discussed the feasts of the Lord, emphasizing their fulfillment in the Messiah, our staff member asked Bennie what he thought about Jesus. Without pausing, he blurted out, “I’ll never believe in Jesus.” When that staff member asked him what was standing in the way of his believing in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, Bennie became more embittered and shouted, “Why did all the Gentiles kill the Jews? Is it because they think we killed Jesus?” Our staff replied, “The persecution of the Jewish people was a travesty. Man’s inhumanity to man was on display. Jesus came to die for our sins. Our sins put Jesus on the cross. Jesus’ dying for man’s sin was God’s plan.” No more outbursts. Bennie left smiling that day.
Bennie usually remained mostly quiet during our lessons, waiting until the end to release what has been on his mind. “Why are the Jews called ‘chosen’? If you think Jews are the chosen people, what’s in it for you? Why do you love the Jewish people?” The responses to Bennie revealed thankful hearts, explaining that the Messiah is Jewish, that God has given us His Word through the Jewish people, and God is using the Jewish people as His instrument of blessing for the world. Bennie thanked our staff for teaching him and assured them that he would return the following week. The next week, at the end of the Bible study, Bennie clutched a pamphlet in his hand. He released his fist revealing Billy Graham’s Steps to Peace with God. “I would like you to explain this, and can you give me a write-up summarizing what you’ve been teaching?”
One week passed. After the Bible study, our staff member handed Bennie the write-up with the testimony of a Jewish believer. When asked about the pamphlet, Bennie said, “It’s in my walker compartment.” As he reached for it, he conveyed that ultra-Orthodox Jewish men turned their backs on him in Israel. That story and Bennie’s next words spoke volumes, “I hear of many Jewish people believing in Jesus.” Another week is upon us, and please pray Bennie will hear more about Jesus with open ears.
