Bernard Levine

How to witness to Jews about Jesus…what Christians need to know By Bernard Levine Why did I leave the Jewish religion to follow Jesus? What are the strange traditions of the Jews? How do you witness to Jews about Jesus? Let the mysteries be unveiled and the truth be told! Dedication To my dear wife, Chrissie You fill my world with beauty, kindness and love. To (Wikkie) Whiskers our adorable cat. You give me so much enjoyment and pleasure. I deeply appreciate. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author. ©Bernard Levine 2015 Introduction I was born a Jew. My mother was the only child of Rabbi Kesler, who immigrated to South Africa from Poland. My Grandpa, Rabbi Kesler taught me the assigned Torah portion for my barmitzvah, which I had to publicly read in synagogue. In our home, we always had the radio on throughout the day. Our home was filled with music and a deep reverence for God. On Sundays, the radio station had a morning church service broadcast. At first, it was just a voice talking in the background, but then after a while, the sermons that the preachers delivered caught my dad’s attention and he told me ‘they talk a lot of sense!’ Dad especially enjoyed their choice of words in their uplifting message. The more we listened to what the preachers had to say, our understanding and belief in Jesus began to grow. Things were quite different in the Jewish Orthodox synagogue. Because the service was all in Hebrew, (which most of the community did not understand), we were always left feeling empty without a message of hope….without getting any scriptural teaching. I didn’t like that you could not sit where you wanted to in synagogue, especially on the high holy days like Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The seats are allocated according to what you can afford to pay. It’s like when you buy your ticket to go to a concert. The rich sit in the front rows, while those who cannot afford the higher cost of the front row seats, have to sit in the back rows. (and this is supposed to be ‘a house of God’) As commanded in the Old Testament, during the festival of Passover, all Jews have to eat unleavened bread (Matzot). Several weeks before Passover, the grocery shops are full of Jews buying all their Passover food necessities. In my trolley, I had several boxes of Matzot, when suddenly a stranger came up to me and he told me not to buy that specific brand of matzot as it was not kosher! I was surprised and replied, that my grandfather, who was a Rabbi always bought that particular brand. ‘No!’ he insisted, you should rather be buying another make of matzot as he continued explaining to me, that is a higher level of kashrut. (meaning that the standard of manufacturing this Matzot adheres to a higher level of keeping kosher). It does not matter what brand of Matzot you buy, as long as the Beth Din (Jewish House of Law) stamp of approval is on the box, it is considered kosher for Passover. My grandfather gave me a tallit (prayer shawl) that had blue stripes. On another occasion, while at Shul (synagogue) several men came to tell me that I should rather get myself a prayer shawl that had black stripes and not blue! (the colour of the stripes on a prayer shawl does not matter to God). In the synagogue, while the prayer service is taking place, there is a lot of chatter going on….men discussing business while the service is carrying on, women try to outdo each other with the latest trends in fashion. The Rabbi often shouts and tells them ‘sheket!’ (shut up!) For many, the purpose of going to synagogue has become a social thing to catch up on the gossip and happenings of what has been going on in the Jewish community. Many of the congregants gather outside, during the service hear the local news and have their discussions. Jews are not supposed to eat bacon or prawns. Many Jews will tell you, that in their homes they never have bacon or prawns….but, they will have bacon and egg at a restaurant, and prawns. This is hypocritical! Who are they trying to fool? My mother used to type her father, the Rabbi’s High Holiday speeches. Always on the day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) as well as on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the synagogues are packed with worshippers. Although the entire Synagogue service is conducted in Hebrew, there is a short sermon in English from the Rabbi. The sermon is usually topical and centred around the news that is happening in the country and in Israel. With the Synagogue overflowing with congregants, my grandfather, the Rabbi took the opportunity to address his community. He said: ‘Every Sabbath, I talk to the four walls in the synagogue…there are only a few worshippers here. Where’s everybody? On the Sabbath, the women are at the hairdressers, and the men are playing bowls or golf. What about the children?...they are at the movies. Is it more important for you to partake in your own activities, instead of coming to the Synagogue to pray on the Sabbath?’ After the service, my grandfather was summoned to the President of the Synagogue’s office. The President gave him an envelope with his salary check and fired him! The President told him: ‘You spoke the truth, but you offended the community. The members of the Synagogue feel they want to do their own thing on the Sabbath. They don’t want you as their Rabbi any more!’ I remember seeing my grandfather crying, hurt and devastated for speaking the truth as their leader. He eventually got a post to be the spiritual leader of another community. You will often find Jewish men and women actively involved in collecting money and doing things for charity. The Jews believe that the way to heaven, is doing good deeds….they call it ‘mitzvoth.’ And Jews have to wait a whole year, to ask God for forgiveness of their sins they have committed. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the only day of the year when a Jew tries to remember all the wrong doing he has done during the year and pleads to God for forgiveness. Why I left the Jewish religion to follow Jesus I was brought up in the Jewish way of life. But, at the age of 14, I made a decision to walk away from the Jewish religion to follow Jesus. It is sad, that the Jews who gave the world the Bible, the 10 Commandments and Jesus (born a Jew), are lost following their man-made laws and traditions. This book is for Christians who are wanting to know more about the Jews, their traditions, their culture and their world. My secret was discovered On Sundays, we often went to visit my Dad’s brother. 'Where's Bernard?' my Uncle asked my Dad...doesn't he want some cake and a cold-drink? 'There he is, at the pool, reading a book'. 'Bernard, what book are you reading?' 'Uncle, I'm reading the Bible and reading all about Jesus' 'What! Does your father know what you are reading?' 'I want you to get yourself off my property...right now...immediately...I'll get your father to take you home...I will not have anyone reading about Jesus on my property!' My family does not want to know me because I believe in Jesus. You see, I was brought up in the Jewish faith and Jewish people are not allowed to read the New Testament and they do not believe in Jesus. Because of this, the Jewish people do not celebrate Christmas or Easter...instead they celebrate the Holy Days recorded in the Old Testament like Passover, Day of Atonement and the Festival of First Fruits. MY MOTHER WAS THE ONLY CHILD OF RABBI KESSLER, WHO ORIGINALLY CAME FROM POLAND. At the age of 13, according to the Jewish custom, I had my Barmitzvah (coming of age for a Jewish boy). At school, the Jewish children left the class-room whenever we had Bible Studies...the Jewish boys usually played soccer until we were all called in back to class for the next subject. I started reading about Jesus at the age of 14 and was immediately attracted by the purity of His words overflowing with love. My dad passed away and at my father's funeral, the officiating Rabbi came up to me and asked me to pray a certain specific prayer for my father. I told the Rabbi that I was willing to do so, but that I would have to pray 'in the name of Jesus'. The Rabbi said that this could not be allowed so my Dad's brother said that he would recite the prayer. His daughter then shouted out loudly: 'You a traitor to the Jewish nation!' After the funeral, no one wanted to associate themselves with me and everyone just walked away and left without saying a word to me. The first time I went to Church, was when I was in my forties....I was too scared to let the Jewish people know I believed in Jesus. I was also confused and never knew which Church to go to...I couldn't understand why there were so many different Christian Churches and what the difference was between them all...I heard some the names of the Churches like Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Protestant, 7th Day Adventist, etc but it all seemed so strange to me. I read about a Bible Correspondence Course and began receiving the lessons and submitting my answers that were marked and corrected. My Christian book library started growing rapidly and I loved learning all I could know about Jesus. The beautiful gift of Jesus I feel very privileged and blessed that I was chosen to discover the absolute truth about Jesus...that Jesus really is the Son of God and that He gave his life to suffer and die for my sins....and that He is coming back as my Messiah. I am so very, very grateful for all that Jesus has done for me. I thank Jesus every day for His immense love, kindness and grace. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, OR THAT ANYONE CAN OFFER ME, THAT IS BETTER THAN JESUS. With appreciation Bernard Levine How do you witness about Jesus Christ to a Jew? Jews know that Jesus Christ is not the real name of the Son of God, so instead of telling Jews about Jesus, rather tell them about Yahshua which is the Hebrew name of Jesus. Jewish Traditions condemned in the Bible Jesus condemned the traditions of the Jews which are a heavy burden placed on the Jews. Mark 7: 8, 9, 13 Matt 15: 6 You have made the Word of God invalid because of your tradition. Mark 7: 13 Thus you have made the Word of God invalid by your tradition you have handed down. What are some strange traditions of the Jews? The Jews must unscrew or take the globe out of your fridge before the Sabbath. Jews are not allowed to ignite a fire or a spark on the Sabbath ...that is why a light-switch cannot be switched on or off. Orthodox Jews remove or unscrew the globe from their fridge so that it does not make contact. Jews buy a time-switch and pre-set the lights to come on or go off automatically at specific times, so they will not break the Sabbath by touching the light-switch on the Sabbath. There a special Coca Cola that is especially made for Jews. For Passover, the Coca-Cola factory brings out a special Passover Coke with their bottles and bottle-caps labelled ‘kosher for Passover’. Orthodox Jews will not drink Coke that is not kosher for Passover. There are also many other products exclusively made for Passover like Passover coffee, Passover soap and even Passover detergent! Jews not allowed to tear toilet-paper on the Sabbath. The act of tearing toilet-paper on the Sabbath is forbidden. There are different kinds of work and the act of cutting or tearing is a type of work which is not allowed to be performed on the Sabbath. On the day before the Sabbath, Ultra Orthodox Jews will prepare and tear pieces of toilet-paper ready for the Sabbath or they will use tissues instead of toilet-paper. Jews are also not allowed to shave, cut their hair, nails or grass on the Sabbath. Jews cannot carry the keys of their house on the Sabbath. It does not matter what the weight of the item is, whether it be a small book or a heavy table, carrying any object outside of your home is regarded as work and is not allowed on the Sabbath. When Jews leave their homes on the Sabbath, they either leave their front-door unlocked or they have their keys hanging on a chain around their neck or inserted as part of the buckle of a man’s belt. As long as the object is not carried in their hands, they are not breaking the Sabbath. Jewish married Orthodox women wear wigs. When they go out, married Jewish women wear wigs to hide their own hair and beauty from other men. Only their own husbands are allowed to see the natural beauty of their wife’s hair. Jews cannot recite their own individual prayers…why? There are set prayers that every Jew recites every day from a Hebrew Prayer Book called a Siddur. There is a prayer when you awaken from sleep, morning, afternoon and evening prayers and a prayer before you go to bed at night. Both Moses and King David were very close to God. A Jew cannot pray his own words because the psalms of David and the words of Moses are considered to be of a much higher level of purity and reverence than the words of an individual. Ultra-Orthodox Jews will not listen to a woman singing. Reform Jews have women singing in their choirs at the Synagogues, but in Ultra-Orthodox Synagogues, women are not permitted to join the choir. A woman’s singing voice is regarded as sensual which can distract or tempt a man. So Barbra Streisand (who is a Jewess) or any other female recording artist music CD’s, will never be heard by UltraOrthodox Jews. Jewish sexual intercourse is different. Ultra-Orthodox Jews believe that the act of sexual intercourse is meant solely for pro-creation and sperm should not be wasted. That is why they do not use any form of contraception. It is not unusual to find Jewish married couples who are the parents of 20 or more children. Jewish women not allowed to touch or read a Bible. The Bible or Torah is a holy sacred book, and when women are experiencing their menstrual cycle they are in an unclean state….because we do not know when a women is having her periods, the Rabbis have made a law that a woman cannot touch or read the Bible as she would be defiling the sanctity and purity of the Holy Book in her unclean condition. So, what must a woman do if she wants to read God’s Word?…she has to ask her husband, her father, her brother or any man to read the Bible to her. There a special prayer that is said before going to the toilet. You are forbidden to pray whilst inside the toilet, but the prayer that the Jews pray is a special prayer asking God to open up their bowels so that they would be able to have release and to stand before God and serve Him. Orthodox women cannot sit together with their husbands in the synagogue. In an Orthodox synagogue, the women sit upstairs or away from the men but in a Reform synagogue, men and women sit together. The women do not partake in the service in an Orthodox synagogue but are observers. In a Reform synagogue, they even have women or girls in their choir but the choir in the Orthodox synagogue is only male. Jewish men do not dance together with women. At an Ultra Orthodox wedding, men sit together on the one side of the room with the women sitting together on the other side of the hall. When the music plays, the men join together and form a circle and enthusiastically dance the ‘hora’. The groom is seated on a chair and is lifted up high in the air by several of the men. The ladies then come together to dance the hora in their own separate circle, together with the bride. A long ribbon is given to the bride and the other end of the ribbon is held by the groom while they are both carried along through the dance. Ultra Orthodox Jewish men and women never dance together with each other. Jewish women are not allowed to show men their elbows or their knees. Women wear long dresses to cover their knees…they also wear long sleeves to hide their elbows. They believe that men get ‘turned on’ and aroused if they were to see either their uncovered elbows or knees…so not to tempt them and to display modesty, they cover up. Why I love Jesus Jesus could see into the future and He knew what was going to happen. He has prepared a place for believers in His kingdom. He did not follow His own will, but followed His Father’s will. Jesus taught us how to pray. He freed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us. Through His blood and grace, He saved us from our sins. Jesus is alive and lives forever. Through Jesus, all things are possible. Jesus is love. The blood of Jesus is powerful and the enemy cannot defeat Him. All power and authority has been given to Jesus. Jesus taught us to live showing love and kindness. Jesus suffered greatly for us to give us a better life. Jesus stands for goodness. Jesus ways are pure. Jesus is the greatest king in the universe. Jesus created the world together with Father Yahveh and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our High Priest interceding for us. Jesus stood for truth. Jesus is without sin and is holy. Jesus died for us. Jesus took all of our sins. Jesus is coming again to redeem His followers and again to judge the world. Jesus is the most influential life ever to live on our planet. Jesus is the centre of history and the most dominant figure in all of history. Jesus has a heart for the lost, for the suffering and the poor. Jesus will judge everyone who has ever lived. Jesus will give believers glorified, resurrected bodies. Jesus will bring peace. Jesus is perfect and sinless. Jesus, who is God the son, became human. Jesus loves children. Jesus grants believers spiritual authority. By His stripes, we are healed. Jesus is the soon coming Messiah. Followers of Jesus will have eternal life. Jesus reigns as King forever. Jesus has power of nature and the elements. Jesus is our foundation and rock. Jesus has power over evil spirits. Jesus gave believers the Holy Spirit to help, guide and comfort us. Jesus is our Shepherd and leader. Jesus is our redeemer and deliverer. Jesus is our High Priest accepted by God our Father. There is no other way to come to Father God, but through Jesus. Jesus obeyed His Father and displayed great humility. Every knee must bow at the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ was Father God’s purpose to be fulfilled on earth. Jesus is not governed by time. The virgin birth of Jesus was prophesised many centuries ago. Do all in the name of Jesus. Jesus is our guarantee of eternal life for all believers. Jesus is faithful. Jesus answers prayers. Jesus receives our praise, love and appreciation. Jesus came to declare and make known His Father’s name. Jesus is the only way by which we can gain eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact The soldiers reported this Matt 28: 1 -4; 11 – 15 Mary Magdalene and other women were witnesses John 20: 11 – 18; Matt 28: 8 -10 Jesus spoke at length to the two men on the road to Emmaus Luke 24: 13 Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Chamber John 20: 19 – 29 Jesus appeared to His disciples John 21: 1 Jesus ascended to heaven before the eyes of His followers Acts 1: 4 – 10 Events that followed immediately after the death of Jesus The earthquake and the tearing of the veil of the temple Matt 27: 51 The opening of the graves Matt 27: 52 The confession of the Centurion Matt 27: 54 The conviction of the multitude Luke 23: 48 The breaking of the legs of the thieves The piercing of the side of Jesus The entombment John 19: 31 – 32 John 19: 34 John 19: 38 – 42 The sealing of the tomb and the setting of the watch Matt 27: 66 Jesus appearances after the resurrection To Mary Magdalene Mark 16: 9, John 20: 11 – 17 To the other Woman Matt 28: 8 – 10 To Peter Luke 24: 34 To the disciples at Emmaus Mark 16: 12 – 13, Luke 24: 13 – 35 To the disciples, Thomas absent Luke 24: 36 – 48, John 20: 19 – 25 To the Eleven, Thomas present John 20: 26 Mark 16: 14 – 18, His appearance in Galilee Matt 20: 16 – 20, John 21: 1 – 24 To the Five Hundred 1 Cor 15: 6 His appearance to James 1 Cor 15: 7 His final appearance at the time of His Ascension Mark 16: 19 -20, Luke 24: 50 – 53 Christians will receive rewards For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive his reward according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Cor 5: 10 Incorruptible Crowns will then be awarded Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5: 4 Crown of Life Rev 2: 10 Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim 4: 8 Crown of Rejoicing (Soul Winner’s Crown) 1 Thess 2: 19 The Incorruptible Crown 1 Cor 9: 25 We will worship Jesus and cast our Crowns at His feet Rev 4: 10 Jesus claimed certain divine abilities To forgive sins Matt 9: 1 – 8 To be the Source of life John 5: 26, John 6: 47 – 58 To have authority to judge the world John 5: 25 – 29 To be the Eternal One, He called Himself the I AM which would have been the height of blasphemy if untrue John 8: 58 -59 Jesus accepted worship and titles ascribable to God alone Saviour John 4: 42, My Lord and my God Isaiah 45: 42, Isaiah 43: 11 John 20: 28 The Christ, the Son of the living God Matt 16: 16 – 17 What will you do in heaven You will judge angels 1 Cor 5: 3 You will reign with Jesus on earth and in the heavenlies 2 Tim 2: 12 You will be witnesses at the Great White Throne Judgement Rev 20: 11 – 15 You will judge the world 1 Cor 6: 2 You will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb Rev 19: 7 If God revealed to us the wonderful gifts and blessings that await us, it will blow our minds. 2 Cor 12: 4 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor 15: 58 Jesus Prayed Jesus prays for Himself John 17: 1 Jesus prays for His Disciples John 17: 6 – 13 Jesus prays for all believers John 17: 20 – 25 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Mark 1: 35 When you need a helping hand in this world When you need someone to rely on There’s only Jesus He is always there for you! Who you are in Christ I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10). I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14). I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18). I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16). I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5). I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-18). I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:17-19). I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9-10). I have given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38). I have no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13). I show forth the praises of God who has called me out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10). I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am a spirit being alive to God (Romans 6:11;1 Thessalonians 5:23). I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4). I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25). I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37). I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9). I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19). I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12). I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7). I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13). I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7). I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9). I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12). I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4). I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11). I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7). I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14). For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Titles of Jesus in the Scriptures Advocate (1 John 2:1) Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18) Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13) Jesus titles Amen (Rev. 3:14) Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1) Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2) Author of Life (Acts 3:15) Author of our Faith (Heb. 12:2) Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10) Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13) Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15) Bread of God (John 6:33) Bread that comes down from heaven (John 6:50) Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48) Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15) Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7) Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) Christ (1 John 2:22) Creator (John 1:3) Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20) Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5) Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14) First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13) Firstborn from the Dead (Rev. 1:5) Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15) Gate (John 10:9) God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1) Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14) Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23) Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2) High Priest (Heb. 2:17) Holy and True (Rev. 3:7) Holy One (Acts 3:14) Hope (1 Tim. 1:1) Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27) Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69) I Am (John 8:58) Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4) Immanuel (Mt. 1:23) Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17) King of Israel (John 1:49) King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11) King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16) King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3) Lamb (Rev. 13:8) Lamb of God (John 1:29) Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19) Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4) Light of the World (John 8:12) Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Living One (Rev. 1:18) Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4) Lord (2 Pet. 2:20) Lord of All (Acts 10:36) Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8) Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48) Master (Luke 5:5; 8:24; 9:33) Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15) Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) Morning Star (Rev. 22:16) Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16) Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9) Our Great God and Saviour (Titus 2:13) Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2) Our Peace (Eph 2:14) Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3) Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6) Prophet (Acts 3:22) Rabbi (Mt. 26:25) Resurrection and Life (John 11:25) Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5) Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1) Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) Ruler of God's Creation (Rev. 3:14) Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) Saviour (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20) Son of David (Luke 18:39) Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14) Son of Man (Mt. 8:20) Son of the Most High God (Luke 1:32) Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9) Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11) Teacher (John 11:28, NIV) True Bread (John 6:32) True Light (John 1:9) True Vine (John 15:1) Truth (John 1:14; 14:6) Way (John 14:6) Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Word (John 1:1) Word of God (Rev. 19:13) Light of the World (John 8:12) Lamb of God (John 1:29) Saviour (Eph 5:23) Jesus is God He has authority to forgive sins Matt 9: 2 – 6 Luke 7: 48 Jesus is omnipotent John 5: 21 – 22 Matt 11: 27 – 28 Matt 11: 18 John 10: 18 Jesus is all-knowing John 1: 48 John 2: 25 Jesus is one with God the Father John 10: 30 - 33 John 12: 45 John 14: 9, 23 Jesus has authority to answer prayers John 14: 13 - 14 Acts 7: 59 Jesus has the right to receive praise and worship Matt 21: 16 Jesus speaks of Himself I AM the true vine John 15: 1 IAM the good shepherd John 10: 11 I AM the bread of life John 6: 35 I AM the light of the world John 8: 12 I AM the resurrection and the life John 11: 25 I AM the way and the truth and the life I AM the gate for the sheep John 10: 7 John 11: 25 Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus He will be a descendant of Abraham Matt 1: 1; Matt 1: 17; Gal 3: 16; Gen 12: 1 – 3. He will be betrayed by a friend Matt 26: 14-16; Mark 14: 10-11; Ps 41:9. He will ascend into heaven Luke 24: 51; Acts 1: 9; Ps 47:5. He will be given gall and vinegar to drink Matt 27: 34; John 19: 29-30; Ps 69:21. He will sit at the right hand of God as a High Priest Col 3: 1; Heb 1: 3 Heb 5: 5-6; Ps 110: 1, 4. He will be born of a virgin Matt 1: 21-23; Luke 1: 34-35; Luke 2: 7; Isa 7:14. He will be rejected and hated Matt 21: 42; 1 Peter 2: 4-7 Matt 13: 57; Mark 6: 4; Luke 4: 24; Ps 118: 22. His coming will be announced by an anointed messenger Matt 3: 13; Mark 1: 2-3; Luke 1: 17; Luke 1: 76-77; Luke 3:3-6; John 1:23; Mal 3: 1; Isa 40: 3. He will be the chief cornerstone 1 Peter 2: 6-7 Isa 28:16 He will perform miracles Matt 11: 4-6; John 9: 6-7; Isa 35: 5 -6. He will defeat Satan Gal 4: 4-5; Rev 12: 11; Gen 3:15. He will be a stumbling block Luke 2:34; Rom 9: 32-33; 1 Pet 2: 8; Isa 8: 14. He will preach in parables Matt 13: 35-35; Mark 4: 33-34; Ps 78:2. His kingdom will be forever Matt 4: 12-16; Matt 4: 23; Luke 1: 32-33; Isa 9: 1 – 2, 7. He will have Gentile believers John 10: 16; Acts 10: 34-35, 45, 47; Isa 11: 10; Isa 42: 1. He will not have any of His bones broken John 19: 33, 36; Exod 12: 46. His body will not decay in the grave Luke 24: 6, 31, 34; Acts 2: 31; Ps 16:10. He will have a great love for God’s house John 2: 17; Ps 69:9. He will be forsaken by God, ridiculed by people and His clothing will be divided by the casting of dice Matt 27: 39-44, 46; Luke 22: 63-65; John 19: 18-20, 23-24; Rom 15:3; Ps 22: 1 – 18. He will be a prophet like unto Moses Acts 3: 20-22; Deut 18: 15 – 18. He will be King of the Jews and the Son of God Luke 1: 32, 35, Luke 23: 10-12; John 18: 33-37; Acts 4: 27; Ps 2: 1 – 2, 6 -7. He will be meek Matt 12: 15-21; Isa 42: 1 – 6. He will be spat on and beaten Matt 26: 67; Mark 14: 65; Mark 15: 19; Luke 22: 63; John 19: 1-5; Isa 50: 6. He will be anointed by the Spirit of God Matt 3: 16; Mark 1: 10; Luke 3: 22; Luke 4: 16-19; John 3: 34; John 5: 30; Acts 10: 38; Rev 19: 11; Isa 61: 1. He will be born in Bethlehem Matt 2: 1-6; Luke 2: 4-7; Mic 5: 2 – 5. He will enter into Jerusalem riding on a donkey Matt 21: 15; Zech 9: 9. He will be pierced John 19: 34, 37; Zech 12: 10. He will go into Jerusalem’s temple Matt 21: 12; Mark 11: 11; Luke 19: 45-48; John 2: 13-16; Mal 3: 1. He will be a descendant of David Rom 1: 3; Matt 1: 1,17; Acts 13: 22-23; Jer 23: 5 – 6; Jer 33: 14 – 16. He will be condemned and will suffer, but will remain silent before His accusers. He will be buried with the rich Matt 26: Matt 26: 62-63; Matt 26: 27: Matt 26: 11-14, Matt 26: 27-50, Matt 26: 57-60; Mark 15: 4-5, 21-37, 42-46; Luke 23: 6-9, Luke 23: 32-46, Luke 23: 50-54; John 19: John 19: 16-30, John 19: 38-42; 1 Peter 2: 22-23; Isa 53: 1 – 12. He will be alive during the killing of the children of Bethlehem Matt 2: 16-18; Jer 31: 15. He will be forsaken by His disciples Matt 26: 31, 56; Mark 14: 27, 50; Zech 13: 7. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Matt 26: 15; Matt 27: 7; Zech 11: 12 – 13. What are the benefits of loving Jesus Look what Jesus has done for me and you! Our sins are forgiven Rom 6: 11 There is no condemnation Rom 8: 1 We are a new creation 2 Cor 5: 17 We are God’s children Gal3: 26; Eph 1: 5 We are seated in heavenly realms Eph 2: 6 Nothing can separate us from God’s love Rom 8: 39 We are blessed with spiritual blessings Eph 1: 3 The Holy Spirit will guide us John 16: 13 God will meet all our needs Phil 4: 19 We will have eternal life John 3: 16 In Jesus we will have peace John 16: 33 If we confess Jesus, we will be saved Rom 10: 9 We will be rewarded for serving Jesus Col 3: 23-24 The dead in Christ will be resurrected 1 Thes 4: 16 God will give us rest Heb 4: 1,9 God will give us the Holy Spirit John 14: 16-17 We have been given fullness in Christ Col 2: 10 We are blessed with the riches of His grace Eph 2: 7 Jesus has freed us from the curses of the law because the old covenant has been taken away Gal 2: 4; 2 Cor3: 14 All things work together for good to those who love God Rom 8: 28 You will be blessed with eternal glory when you follow Jesus. Some of the many Miracles of Jesus He walked on water Matthew 14:22-33 Calmed a storm Matt 8:23 -27 He healed a woman’s bleeding Mark 5: 25 -34 Healed leprosy Mark 1:40 - 45 Healed the blind Matt 9:27 - 31 Cast out demons Matt 9:32 - 35 Fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish John 6: 1-14 Rose from the dead Luke 24: 1 - 8 Ascended into heaven Acts 1: 9 - 11 Raised the dead John 11; Luke 7: 11-17; Luke 8: 41-56 Turned water into wine John 2: 1 - 11 Provided a net full of fish John 21: 1 -14 He healed the deaf Mark 7: 31 -37 Celebrate Jesus Wise men came from the East to worship and bow down before Jesus. People went to great lengths and travelled a long distance just to get a glimpse of Jesus. The wise men fell on their faces to honour and worship Jesus. The Greatness of Jesus By Bernard Levine The most influential life ever to have lived on this earth The greatest love this world has known The central fulfilment of hundreds of Bible prophecies The leading key figure of humanity Jesus is unique He walked on water He raised the dead He opened blind eyes He brought us eternal life Only through His blood can we be pardoned Only through His name can we receive God's power Only through His life can we find victory Lord Jesus We love and worship you. Thank You Jesus By Bernard Levine There's no other friend so true and so faithful There's no other love so precious, so dear There's no other joy so rich and fulfilling There's no other grace so kind and so rare There's no other one who has done more for the world than Jesus. One-of-a-kind unique rare photo taken at my granny's house celebrating the completion of reading from the Torah 'a- page-a-day'. My granny and mom are standing at the back. In the front, on the extreme right is World renowned Rabbi Aharon Kotler. Meeting of 2 World Famous Rabbi's, Chafetz Chaim and Elchonon Wasserman at my Granny's house in Poland. My mom is the younger woman standing in the door-way. Rare Historical Photo of The World's Greatest Rabbis taken at Etz Chaim in Poland in 1933. My mother gave me this photo. Conclusion Jesus Christ (Himself a Jew) was against the traditions of the Jews because the laws made by the Jewish Rabbis are a heavy burden placed on the Jews which they are unable to completely fulfill. Not only do the Jews have to obey God’s holy laws as recorded in the Scriptures, but the Jews must also obey and keep all the man-made laws of the Rabbis. If only the Jews would realize that God doesn’t punish people who tear toilet paper on the Sabbath and He does not mind if Jews eat cheese burgers combining meat together with a dairy product in the same meal. I am so blessed and don’t have to wonder like the Jews do, who the true Messiah is. The Jewish Rabbi’s have disobeyed God by adding to the written Word of the Scriptures with rituals, customs and traditions. The Jews still attempt to follow the Sinai Covenant and deny the Messiah Jesus. There are hundreds of Bible prophecies which have already been fulfilled proving that Jesus Christ is the coming Messiah. Jews won’t change their ways, because of their fear of ‘what will their family and friends say? …or for fear of being annihilated from the community. I am so deeply grateful and very privileged that I chose to adore Jesus as my Lord and Savior.