^(p263)

CHAPTER XX

SOME SEED FALLING ON GOOD GROUND

1. We know from the Bible that they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.[1] The Saviour’s labors here for the Jews were carried on with much prayer and with many tears. This was also true of the labors of the apostles. But while it took time, patience, and endurance on the part of the Lord Jesus and His fellow workers to carry on this work, there came a time when there was a harvest of souls among the Jews; and these believers in turn became a power to bring others to Christ.

2. You doubtless have wondered by this time whether any of this seed which has been planted among the Jews has borne any fruit; whether there have been any or many who really and truly have taken their stand for Jesus and His truth; how their conduct has been since they have taken the step, and whether they still are true and faithful. To answer these questions as fully as they should be answered, would demand more time and space than can be given in this brief narrative; but they suggest this idea:

That the reader should learn that to work for the Jews in bringing them to the Saviour, one must have different methods than when working for the Gentiles.

^(p264) 3. Now the method of working for the Jews is given clearly in the Bible. The Saviour introduced the method and this same method was followed by the disciples, and has to be employed at the present time.[2] The Jew says,

“I do not believe in Jesus. I am taught not to have anything to do with Him. My rabbis and my people have told me that there is nothing in our T’nach, the Bible, which says anything about Him in a kindly manner. His name is not even mentioned; and why should I listen to anything about Him from that book the missionaries have made, the New Testament, to fit their views about Him?” (a)

4. But when we speak to them of the experiences of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and open to their minds the dealings of God with the patriarchs, and call to mind the former days and former things, and from the Scriptures show them how God always dealt with their predecessors, there is a power and an interest which will take hold of the Jew, and it is indeed seldom that his attention cannot be arrested. These oracles charm him, they appeal to his heart, and he will give you an audience. By leading him along step by step, you are not only calling to mind the experiences of former days, not only opening to his understanding the Scriptures, but at the same time you are leading him along to see the real object and purpose of the word of God, the revelation of God’s purpose concerning His Son Jesus, the Messiah and Saviour.[3]

5. This at once accomplishes two things: ^(p265) First, we refresh the minds of the Jews with what the word of God says which they have been taught from their youth; second, we are laying the foundation to show them that Jesus is their Messiah, and that this Jesus is the Christ. By taking such a course, the way is opened for us to lead them to see what is meant by the Scriptures of the prophets, and to lead them also to study these things for themselves.[4]

6. The Jews are not so easily convinced concerning the Christian religion as are the Gentiles. You cannot hold revival services with them as you can with the Gentiles. The Bible tells us that the Jew has a veil over his face, and therefore is blinded.[5] The last two thousand years has not added much light to his mind, since the Saviour has been rejected. Therefore the Jew in general has first to have his mind disabused of much that he has learned, and then his mind must be in the attitude of a disciple to learn of the things of God.

7. It should be further borne in mind that since the first century, since the days when thousands of Jews accepted the gospel, and they as a nation finally rejected it, so that the apostles and disciples went to the Gentiles, very little effort has been put forth for the Jews to bring them to Christ.[6] And as far as I have been able to learn, there never has been a Jewish Christian church or congregation organized among that people for nearly eighteen hundred years. There have been times when in some places Jews have professed to believe in Jesus. It is true that even at the present time there are Jews in different lands who make a profession of the gospel; but there never has been any church or sect that has been successful in organizing a permanent church wholly of Jewish Christians. ^(p266) Still we believe that the time is here when there will be scores, hundreds, if not thousands, of Jews who will yet take their stand for the blessed Saviour, and form part of the remnant of God’s people who will be prepared to meet Him at His return.

8. We are always caused to rejoice when we see the Jews make a beginning at breaking away from their Jewish traditions and prejudices; one of the most hopeful signs we have that the truth is taking root, is when the Jews begin to lose faith in their rabbinical and talmudical traditions. If they can get rid of their bondage and their fear of the teachers and of the rabbinical sayings, then there is hope that they are becoming inclined towards the truth of the gospel.

9. I well remember one experience along this line which will serve as an illustration. There was a girl of some twelve years with whom the workers became acquainted. She was a motherless child, with the responsibility of the care of a father, and five children younger than she. It was a pitiful case, and enlisted the interest and sympathy of all the workers when they learned the situation. The girl was invited to come to the mission, but she was afraid. Would not God be displeased with her if she should go to such a place? Might not the Almighty punish her with a terrible infliction, if she should go into such a bad place? Had not her father told her that such a place is wicked and out of harmony with the views of the Jews? Might not the missionaries take her and never let her come home again? ^(p268) And then they might place a cross on her arm, and perhaps brand her as a Christian. What a terrible thing this would be! The God of Abraham might kill her in the midst of her attempting to go into the mission, and she would receive her punishment right then and there.

10. But the girl thought that these missionaries were very kind. These ladies would come to visit her often, and would speak kind words to her. They would put their arms about her neck, and give her comfort, which the Jews never offered to give. Could they be such bad people? she thought. Would it really be right to venture to go to the place where these people live, and would it be the proper thing to visit such a place? It was a hard struggle, but Becky finally ventured. It was with fear and trembling. Every step of the way was trodden with a peculiar feeling of nervousness and dread. Any moment some terrible disaster might occur, and then what? The place did not look to her as she thought it would. It did not have a lot of bad crosses, and there were no trap-doors nor strange-looking people who were ready to do her some bodily harm. The angel of death was not present to grasp her at the first opportunity, and really the mission looked like a very nice place, and the people there seemed like other kinds of people.

11. The workers began to tell her about the Bible, about God, about the blessings which God gives to His children. They told her about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the good things of the Bible. They told her about the marvelous dealings of God with His people, and that He was still alive at the present time. ^(p269) They told her how God loved people, and how He showed it in such a kind way. But she did not expect that God loved her. The rabbis had told her that God loved only good people, and that people in order to be good must go to shool (synagogue), and da—ven (pray) much, and keep the feasts and the fasts. But she had to work so hard, and had so many things to do about the house, especially in the kitchen, that she did not have time to say prayers, and think much about God. So of course He did not care about her. Then again she was a girl, and the girls do not amount to much anyway. At the same time, while she was thus inwardly soliloquizing, her eyes would be watching about the room to see if there was anything appearing of a suspicious character. It may be perhaps these missionaries after all were just doing this for effect, that they might suddenly ensnare her in some way. Her fears had not wholly gone by any means. Yet she listened.

12. Yes, said the workers, the Lord loved her. He was good to her, and wanted to show her how much He loved her. So He sent His own Son, Jesus. Now the thought came to her, Would not God send a terrible thunderbolt from heaven upon her, and kill her at once? She had heard the name of Jesus, and would God do something desperate right away? Poor soul! You may never know, dear readers, the awful and dreadful agonies these poor Jews endure while they are passing through that stage of experience in shaking off the fear and the bondage of rabbinism. The Jew who has been redeemed by the blessed Saviour knows full well the meaning of that text, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” ^(p270) But the workers continued to unfold the story, and by degrees a little light was let in. Then came more, and still more, until it seemed as though the girl were awaking as from a dream. Could this be the Jesus whom she had heard about? Was this that bad Jesus who did her people so much harm? Was this the Jesus who she had been told was such a strange and peculiar person? But these ladies seemed like nice persons: they were doing her no hurt. They did not offer to put any cross on her arm, and they did not say anything that was bad or unkind.

13. Finally, I was asked one evening to have a talk with her. Her fears were so removed that the mission came to be one of the few spots where she could run for a few minutes after nine or ten o’clock at night, when the children were all in bed, and when her father or the Jews could not see her. It was dark, late at night, and she could run into the hallway quickly. Now she knew that God would not hurt her, as the rabbis had told her, because the missionaries had really proved to her that He loved her, and gave Jesus to die for her. So now she would come for her evening meal, where her hungry heart could be fed.

14. This evening I began to talk to her about the New Earth; why there was to be a New Earth, what it cost God and Jesus to buy back this world; why Jesus died for us, and why He endured all that He did that we might gain this home in the earth made new.

“Mr. Gilbert,” she would ask, “is that a real place? Do you think I could go there some time? Would they have such people as I am there? Would Jesus let me go to such a place? How nice it would be if I did not have to work so hard, and be tired all the time. ^(p271) And all those beautiful things, could I enjoy those things as well?”

15. That girl fairly feasted on the things of God as we opened to her mind these beautiful truths, and I felt that the pleasure and satisfaction she received that evening was worth all the labors of one lifetime. Afraid now of the rabbinical ideas? Never; what did she care now for these rabbis and Jews? True, she feared that her father might find out she had been to the mission, or perhaps some of the other members of the family might learn about it; but she was getting her eyes open to see the truth, and her heart was being fed with the bread of eternal life. The holidays did not seem to her as they used to; the things Jewish did not have the effect that they used to have; she was learning the things of the kingdom of heaven, and how different these teachings were from the slavishness of the rabbis!

16. Her little Testament she would have to hide under her bed or in the bedding. She would have to pray while the children were at school or when she had a few minutes by herself. A visit from one of the workers would be like a visit from a queen or a princess. Bless God, the seed was taking root, and Becky, now almost eighteen, is anxiously waiting for the time when she can take her stand publicly for Jesus, and show her colors to the world. But is this all? Nay, verily, every girl now with whom she comes in contact must know about the mission, must know about Jesus. They must all hear something about these great things which she has learned. They too must know that it is not Christians who persecute the Jew’s. ^(p272) It is not the religion of Jesus that persecutes our people in Russia, Rome, Roumania, and in other places. It is not the Christian who says, “Sheeny, Jew, Christ-killer.” The real Christian loves the Jew, — because she had found out for herself that all these things were true. Thank God, the seed was falling on good ground. It was bringing forth fruit to the glory of God, even though it was in the bud and in the blossom. But it was surely bringing forth good fruit.

17. This case is but one of scores of interesting cases which might be recited, and it goes to show that though the time may be long, though the labors may be arduous, though the efforts may be strenuous, the seed is falling on good ground, and the day will come when there will be a large harvest. It should be remembered that the Jews move in bunches. The Jews came out of Egypt as a people. They were known as the “people of God.” They were always talked to as a people. They lived together as a people. They were as a people in the wilderness, in Judea, and went as a people into the dispersion. When they were liberated from Babylon, they came out together by the thousands, and for centuries lived in Palestine as a people.

18. After Christ came among them to teach, they listened to what He had to say, and thousands of them really believed in their heart, but they were afraid of the people, of one another. Should they individually acknowledge Him as the Messiah, they would be put out of the synagogue. That would mean ostracism, that would mean the loss of employment, the loss of a livelihood, or starvation and death. ^(p273) If there were only others who would believe, there would be communion and fellowship. Then there would be sympathy and cooperation. There would then be no need of being so fearful and dependent. But to stand alone, and to believe alone, and to act alone, this was not the Jewish way; this was against the idea of the rabbis, and against the idea of all their teaching for ages.

19. However, occasionally one did follow Jesus. One or two would identify themselves with the cause of the Master. One or two would take courage and believe any how. But when Pentecost came, when the Holy Spirit came in power, then there were thousands who believed. One’s taking his stand gave the other courage. They were now proceeding in bunches. There were thousands who believed, and the idea was still in existence that they were yet a people. They could be Christians together. Many could believe, and not one have to be alone in the belief. Jerusalem now might have thousands and thousands of Jews who believed in Christ. Then there would be no fear of the rabbis. They need not care what the rabbis might say, or what they might do. There were others who believed in this same Jesus, and then if there were many cast out, they would help one another. This is the prevailing idea of the Jew. (b)

20. This is what we believe will yet take place ere the work of God is done in this world. We shall yet see this history repeated, we believe, and we are sure the word of God substantiates this. At the same time there is one here and one there who does take his stand. ^(p274) There is one here and one there who has the courage to confess Jesus as the Christ. There is one here and one there who will dare to confess Him openly, even though it may mean much opposition and persecution. There are some who will let the seed fall into their hearts, and bear fruit to the glory of God.

21. This is true even among some of the children. They go home to their parents and to their friends, and tell them that they have found Jesus. One little girl who was a frequenter of the mission, and who also attended the sewing school, would go home and tell her people about this Jesus. She was really in earnest, and finally succeeded in bringing her sister to the mission as well as some of her girl chums. She was taught to pray, and the mission was more of a home to her than the place where she lived. She finally learned to pray on bended knee, and in the name of Jesus. She delighted in the privilege of giving out the hymn books in the mission, even though there were Jews present. The Jews would look at her rather hard sometimes at what she was doing, but she thought it meant that they did not know where the place was in the book to sing from. She would therefore take her own book and give them, or else she would assist them in finding the place. It meant much for this little girl, but she often told the writer and the other workers that she did love Jesus. She was called upon at times to suffer for His name’s sake, and she still would come to the mission.

22. One day while she was at home, she wanted to pray, so she went into her room and shut her door. She fell upon her knees to pray to God in the name of Jesus. Her parents thought it a strange proceeding for her to go into her room and close the door. ^(p276) So they concluded to investigate. They were surprised to see this little girl on her knees praying. This was a horrible thing, as the Jews must not bow down while they pray. Her mother immediately stood her on her feet, and gave her a whipping, told her what a wicked thing this was for her to do, and she must not go to that bad place, the mission, any more. She came and told the story to us in such a sweet childish way, and said:

“I am coming to the mission just the same, if my mother does beat me. I like to come and learn about Jesus, because I want to be in heaven with Him.”

It was not at all unusual to see the little girl get up in the mission and testify for Jesus and for His love. We believe that, though this child was so young, the impressions made upon her mind will never be effaced, and the Spirit of God will bring forth fruit from this seed which fell on good ground.

23. The following letters written by Jews will tell their own story. The following appeals from Jews for literature and New Testaments speak for themselves. The Holy Spirit is indeed speaking to the Jewish heart, and the seed which has been planted and which is being planted, is surely falling on good ground:

“F.  C.  Gilbert,

“My dear brother:-

“Your highly esteemed letter of some time ago and tracts were duly received and are fully appreciated. ^(p277) Coming, as they do, from one of similar experiences as mine, their value to me is manifold enhanced. . . . Standing on the abyss to destruction, conscious of my misdoings, finding no rest anywhere, forsaken, forlorn, lost to God and man, feeling indescribably miserable, God sent Brother M. to me. No man ever approached me as he did. Tending to my physical wants, pressing me to and showing me the only Fountain of rest — Christ — he hardly realizes how sweet and balming his words and actions towards me have come just at the right time.

“After some days of study and prayer, the whole load was removed in my fully believing that our promised Mes­siah has been here and has taken my sins away. No one knows the struggle of an Israelite in the flesh better than you and I. I love my people and race more than ever, and shall do what little I can to point out to others the only place where the turbulent soul finds rest. . .

“Thanking you for the words of comfort and guidance received from you,

“I remain,

“Your brother in Christ.”

“Dear brother:-

“Just a few lines to ask you to enlighten me on a subject that I am trying to have fulfilled. Brother W. has referred you to me. We were of the old Jewish faith, but my two sisters and myself . . . are following and trusting in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. My mother and brother still hold on to the Jewish belief. . .

^(p278) “Now what I want is to have you enlighten me and also my mother and brother, so that they can and will be helped by the words that you can send to them in regards to our
dear Saviour, Jesus Christ. . . .

“I am your brother in the faith.”

“Dear brother:-

“Just a few lines to thank you for what you have done for us. . . Your tracts are ever so plain and true to those who will acknowledge the truth; but it is harder for some people to realize than others. Mother can see that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. . . Dear mother for a while did not want us to say a prayer or a blessing when we used the name of our Saviour . . . now we can pray to God through our Saviour, and mother seems to be well pleased; and so she should be, as there is no one dearer to us than the Lord and His Son Jesus Christ. Praise God and give glory to Him. Amen.

“From your loving brother in the advent faith of Christ.”

“Dear brother in Christ:-

“Enclosed is one dollar which I send to help in the Industrial Home, and may God bless even this small amount. I am so interested in your work there, and would gladly give thousands of dollars to help you, if I had it; but will send a little from time to time as I have it, with God’s help. . .

“I attended our camp-meeting at Los Angeles, and it was a great feast for me, and how I long for the people of our nation to know of our precious Messiah. . . ^(p279) My heart aches for my own people and nation, that they may hear the truth.

“Your sister in Christ.”

“Dear brother Gilbert:-

“I am sending you twenty-five cents for the poor children. I am a little Jewish, girl but lately converted. I love Jesus. I am working for Him each day. I am your little sister in Christ.”

from jews WHO MAKE requests for light,
FOR LITERATURE, FOR testaments.

“Dear sir:-

“I am carrying one of your tracts with me and read it with much pleasure in the hours of trouble that come so many over my heart. Please send me a New Testament and the Psalms. . .

“Yours thankfully.”

“Dear sir:-

“To-day I have received the New Testament and some tracts. I thank you very much. The Lord may bless you.

“Yours truly.”

“Worthy Mr. Gilbert:-

“Somewhat accidentally I ran across one of your brochures, entitled, ‘Good Tidings to the Jews,’ and this is number two in the series. It is indeed interesting to read it. ^(p280) I therefore ask of you if it be possible to secure from you all the consecutive numbers in this series, and also to lend me a copy of the New Testament. I desire very much to become better acquainted with the teachings of the New Testament, that I may be the better able to love this religion. . . You may send me anything which will give me any information, and put me straight.

“Very respectfully.”

“Dear sir:-

“I am asking you to send me a New Testament and some other tracts at my address.

“Very truly yours.”

On to chapter twenty-one

 

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

paragraph 3 (a). — The rabbis have so perverted the wording of the Scripture that they have taught the Jews that the word Saviour and the word salvation have nothing whatever to do with the word Jesus. It is true, nevertheless, that the name Jesus is from the same word as are Saviour and salvation. There are scores of passages in the Old Testament where the word in the Hebrew is practically the same as the word for Jesus. This is especially true in Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 12:1-3. When the attention of the Jew is called to these statements, he is first surprised, and then it seems difficult for him to see that there is any connection between the name of Jesus and the salvation spoken of in the Bible. This is because of his teaching on the subject by the rabbis. But it is true that the name of Jesus in the Old Testament is from the Hebrew word which means Saviour and salvation. Back

paragraph 19 (b). — In talking with Jews at the present time, we often hear them ask the question:

“Why is it that lots of the Jews do not believe in this Jesus? If He really is the Messiah, then all Israel will accept Him, because the rabbis say that when Messiah does appear then all Israelites will accept Him.”

Thus to this day the same idea prevails that they must accept messages in a body. They have forgotten that God’s people often stood alone. But Israel has lost her way, and it is not to be wondered at if she cannot find her way back.  Back