“Salvation is of the Jews,” John 4:22.
This morning the first chapter of my daily Bible reading was Exodus 28. In it there is reference to Aaron the high priest being adorned with ‘holy’ and beautiful garments (verse 2). Moses was instructed to engrave the names of the tribes of Israel upon two sets of precious stones mounted on the shoulders and over the heart of Aaron.The purpose of these engravings is explained by the Lord in verse 29.
“And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.”
Aaron pictures for us our Great High Priest, Who at this moment “is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us,” Romans 8:34.Is this not another reason for Christians to think and pray for the very people that at this moment Christ bears up before His father?
This morning (14/3/26) I read what is one of my favourite chapters in the Bible. I always feel reluctant to refer to any portion of God’s Word as one I enjoy above all the other parts of the Bible. In truth, I recognise that as I read through the Bible, many, many portions are considered by me as my ‘favourite portion’ for the simple reason that coming upon a chapter that particularly meets the need of my soul at that moment, I am inclined to elevate it to the position of being my favourite chapter.
Our own physical appetite illustrates our changing ‘tastes’! There times when we think of a particular food and desire it above all other morsels. But as our appetite shifts according to what it is our bodies need, so it is with the wonderful array of spiritual food set forth in Holy Scripture. There are certain portions that our souls at times require above others to feast upon.
Today I feasted upon John chapter 4!
It is a chapter which reminded me of another book I read from before coming to it — the book of Proverbs. I read the first chapter of that wonderful book also this morning. It is a book of ‘pithy nuggets’ of divine wisdom.
In that, it is similar to John chapter 4 for it is a chapter in which you find many succinct and compendious statements, setting out in a most memorable way, essential Gospel truths.
Not least amongst such declarations is the statement by the Saviour which is our text.
The world is rife today, not for the first time of course, with antisemitism sentiments amounting to hatred!
Such anti-Jewish attitudes are natural to mankind because of the link between the Jewish race and the God of heaven. From all eternity they have been His chosen people!
The following verse is eternally true!
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth,” Deuteronomy 14:2.
Seeing the link between the Jews and the Lord, men react as their sinful nature dictates.
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” Romans 8:7.
While the Law of God commands, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” Mark 12:31, there has never been, amongst the nations of the world, any love for the Jew!
Animosity
But that natural animosity has been stirred up of late and given substance and apparent justification, by events in the Middle East!
The actions of Israel in Gaza has created a world-wide wave of protest – eagerly seized upon by those who need little excuse to castigate and condemn Israel.
Leading this protest are the Muslim nations of the world. Here in Northern Ireland we may judge the character of the protests, to some degree, by the presence of terrorist-supporting Sinn Fein, the political spokesman of the IRA terrorists, amongst their ranks!
Motive
Irish republican terrorism has ever been directed against the cause of Christ. That is its primary motivation. The remotest link to the Gospel, such as calling oneself a ‘Protestant’ or showing loyalty to the United Kingdom, a nation once strongly identified with the truth of God, was sufficient cause for you to be targeted by the IRA murderers.
Crucifixion
It must be said that Israel has been guilty of many crimes, not least of which was the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. More recently, over the last seventy eight years since the formation of the modern state of Israel, I have not doubt that Israel or citizens of Israel, have been guilty of crimes against Palestinians.
However, it must be borne in mind that they have often been sorely provoked. That does not EXCUSE any crimes committed! But it does help us understand WHY such things were done.
The actions of Israel in recent days were undoubtedly due, at least in part, to the horrendous attack launched by the terrorist group, Hamas, on 7th October 2023.
That surprise attack resulted in 1195 Israelis and foreign nationals being killed and 251 taken hostage.
Subsequent news reports has intensified and magnified that crime by revealing what suffering and torture those taken hostage were put through by Hamas. Many were put to death most cruelly!
Terrorism
Few can understand what it is like to have amongst you those who bear a bitter hatred toward you, but which is concealed and only manifested in a manner like that of the Hamas attack in 2023.
Here in Ulster, there is a very strong empathy with Israel simply because there is an understanding of what it faces from an ‘enemy within’!
The character of Islam was demonstrated in the response by the authorities in Iran to the recent protests mounted by some of their own citizens. One website. ‘Iran Insights’ claims that ‘Over 36,500 killed in Iran’s deadliest massacre, documents reveal.’
That same cruelty was manifested here in Ulster by the IRA. Not of course to the same measure, but most certainly of the same spirit. Grieving Roman Catholics are still seeking information about the burial places of many of their loved ones who were taken out by the IRA, murdered and secretly buried.
Often times these murders took place because a Roman Catholic has voiced criticism of an IRA leader or action!
Is that not of the same way of thinking as the late unlamented blood thirsty’Ayatollah’ and his supporters?
No Denial
Our empathy does not try to excuse or deny wrong-doing by Israel, but there is some measure of understanding of the provocation they face!
We also know what it is to be misrepresented by elements of the press which are allied to the IRA terrorist aims. Press reports, and a lack of an understanding of Irish history, has alienated the sympathy for Ulster of most of the population of the United Kingdom.
That is how it is with Israel. Daily, the press reveal a sympathy and a support for the pro-Gaza protests and their open alliance with terrorism.
How discerning and wise the Christian needs to be and they must avoid basing one’s views of what is happening in the Middle East upon the prevarications of the scribblers of the world of ‘news’!
Bible
No, we must be guided in our views on today’s events by the Word of God. Words, like those of the Saviour in our text, should be the foundation of our understanding of what is taking place around us. Let us ever understand that, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope,” Romans 15:4.
From the Saviour’s words in our text let us learn:
I. THAT SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS BECAUSE OUR SAVIOUR IS A JEW!
The Lord Jesus was and is a Jew. Matthew emphasises that in the first words of his Gospel.
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” Matthew 1:1.
1. He was a born a Jew of the highest rank.
Mary His mother was of a direct descendant of the royal house of David. This is stated in Matthew 1:1. The Lord Jesus was the son of Mary and to be “the son of David”, Mary must have been of the royal lineage!
So too was Joseph, under whose care He was raised. “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” Luke 2:4.
The humanity of the Lord Jesus was through and through JEWISH.
2. This blessed JEW, is “. . . the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,” but by HIM!
This is what the Saviour said in John 14:6.
Peter emphasised this truth. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:10-12.
3. Jesus the Jew, is the rock upon which sinner must build their hope of salvation.
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit,” Ephesians 2:19-22.
Reason Enough
For these reasons alone we have every cause to prayerfully love the Jew, without denying or excusing their sins. The Prodigal’s father did not cease to love him, despite his despicable actions and his dishonouring of his father’s kindness and generosity.
God never has ceased to love His elect, irrespective of their wickedness, even subsequent to His redeeming of them. As Paul says, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).
Tears
The Saviour’s tears, recorded in Luke 19:41-44, indicate that He did not cease to affectionately consider the Jew, even in the knowledge of their forthcoming rejection and crucifixion of Him.
“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”
The sinfulness of that nation which turned its back upon its Messiah and cruelly done Him to death, is still to be loved by the Christian.
II. THE PLACE OF THE JEW IN THE AFFECTIONS OF CHRIST IS FURTHER MANIFESTED BY HIS FINAL COMMAND TO HIS APOSTLES, ALL OF WHOM WERE JEWS.
Today, we enjoy the Gospel and those who have believed and obeyed its commands are on their way to heaven, thanks to the labours and sacrifices of those Jewish apostles!
Is this not another reason to hold the Jewish people in our affections, despite their rejection of their Messiah?
1. Please, ever bear in mind the Saviour’s prayer for the Jews who had most cruelly put him to death.
“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:33-34.
Beloved yet Judged
Yes, the crime of crucifixion brought judgment upon the Jewish nation from that time until now and it will continue until Christ’s return.
In AD 70, that judgement fell and there was a scattering of the Jewish nation, of which we have evidence still. The Saviour described the fall of Jerusalem and the scattering of the nation in Luke 21:20-24.
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
That “distress” continues, as present day reports of the ongoing troubles in the Middle East demonstrates
2. Thus began the divine retributions upon the Jew and it is to be noted that the judgment will end in a fashion similar to its commencement.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other,” Matthew 24:29-31.
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it,” Zechariah 12:2-3.
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south,” Zechariah 14:1-4.
We can say that the circumstances surrounding Jerusalem just prior to the Saviour’s return, will be a repeat of the events of AD 70 but instead of a ‘scattering’ there will follows a ‘gathering’!
The Day of the Saviour’s return, is the Day when “ . . .there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness,” Zechariah 13:1.
No, as Paul says: “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew,” Romans 11:2. He is coming back to deliver them from that darkness into which they plunged themselves into by rejecting the Lord Jesus, their Messiah.
3. Let us remember that despite crucifying Him, the Saviour commanded His apostles to preach the Gospel to the Jew first.
“And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things,” Luke 24:46-48.
4. The record of the final moments of the Saviour on this earth, before He ascended to Heaven underline this truth.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” Acts 1:8.
This principle has governed the spreading of the Gospel amongst the nations of the earth. Paul said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” Romans 1:16.
Surely it is not in keeping with the ongoing loving sentiments of the Saviour toward Israel for us to show hatred toward the Jew and to harshly criticise them, unrestrained by an awareness of their continued place in the affections and purpose of God?
III. THE PURPOSE OF GOD FOR THE REDEEMED JEWISH NATION, AFTER THE SAVIOUR’S RETURN, IS FURTHER REASON FOR US TO BE RESTRAINED IN OUR CRITICISM OF THEIR WRONGS!
1. At the return of Christ in glory, one of the great events that will take place is the salvation of the elect amongst the Jews dwelling in Jerusalem.
“A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children,” Isaiah 66:6-8.
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; after those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more,” Jeremiah 31:31-34.
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them,”Ezekiel 36:24-27.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book,” Daniel 12:1.
2. This future reconciliation between the Lord and His ancient people will see Jerusalem preeminently elevated amongst the nations.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it,” Isaiah 2:2.
“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts,” Zechariah 14:16-21.
3. The Jewish people will be the chief means of the spread of the Gospel during the 1000 year reign of Christ
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you,” Zechariah 8:20-23.
“Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. One shall say, I am the LORD’S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God,”Isaiah 44:1-6.
4. The labours of these redeemed Jewish witnesses will bring in a day of great blessing and peace.
“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more,” Isaiah 2:3-4.
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea,” Isaiah 11:9.
5. Days akin to the days of Eden’s Garden will be experienced.
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den,” Isaiah 11:6-8.
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD,” Isaiah 65:25.
Since it will please the Lord to make redeemed Israel His instruments in this most wonderful transforming of the earth in the day of the Millennial reign of Christ, is this not further reason for us to avoid being part in the present world-wide, oft unjustified vilification of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people?
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)