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| Flags of the Nations at Ein Bokek by the Dead Sea |
He shall judge between the nations, and
shall decide disputes for many
peoples; and they shall beat their
swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruning hooks; nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war anymore. Isaiah 2:4
Lord, I was listening the other day to
some music by an interesting Jewish artist by the name of Batshava; in
particular a song she sings about the historical persecution of the Jews. She
sings the phrase,
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| Jewish Worshiper at the Western Wall |
“Why should they
remember and add their tears
to the fountain
of the last two thousand years?”
To my selfish way of thinking, my existence
has been completely altered for the better by an event that happened two
thousand years ago – the amazing life, death and resurrection of You, Messiah
Yeshua – when You took on my sins, mankind’s sins and offered an eternal relationship
for any who believe in Your relationship as one with The Father. I’m one
of those who believe with my whole heart that You are the Son of The Most High.
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| Battle between Satan and Jesus portrayed in mural at the Church of Jacob's Well |
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| Depiction of Jesus enduring the Via Dolorosa |
Because of the supposed dichotomy in our
perspectives, I’m compelled to ask You a question, Lord. Are we Christians and
our Jewish brothers and sisters really that different? A friend of mine who
founded a ministry called HaYovel, which serves Israel, has also spoken about
the Jewish perspective: That, in the back of the mind of many Jews, there is a
harbored resentment for Christians because of cultural and political
persecution at the hands of some so-called believers who thought themselves
privileged to deliver.
Ironically, The Body of Christ, of which
I am but a tiny appendage, also suffered in those early times after Your
resurrection. Persecution, social/political ostracization, torture and death
have been an ongoing part of our heritage as well – it should be the part of
our history that we weep over together with our Jewish brothers; not one
pointing to the other in accusation.
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| Church Face in East Jerusalem |
And so I hunger to consider our
commonality – the fact that we believe in and honor You, Elohim, the One true
God. You, My Redeemer, are compelling me to consider – and ask both Your Jewish
and Gentile followers to consider with me – another difficult thing; something
else we should be adding our tears to and praying about: What about those for
whom the last two thousand years mean nothing at all, or for whom any time is
one empty of Your presence and therefore void of true hope? How do we reach out
to them, walk with them and share our hope in You?
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| Peace Greeting at Hope School in Beit Jala |
Should we not be coming together, rather
than accusing one another, in our efforts to demonstrate Your love, Your
covenants and Your commandments to the nations? Haven’t You clearly instructed
us, Jew and Christian, to do this? Is this how You plan to bring all of Your
children into relationship with one another?
Maybe for too long we have been blinded
by selfish tears for our personal suffering rather than look clearly through
new ways at Your Long Suffering, Self-Sacrificing example. Whatever time we
have left, Adonai, whether one more second or two thousand years, help us to
join together, with You, to share Your plan and Your desire (not ours) with the
world.
Yadah Elohim Adonai!
Mark C.
PS to any others
reading this blog – if you are interested in the
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