Back in 1799, a man called Joseph Frey was baptised in a Lutheran church in northern Germany. Nothing too unusual about that, you say. But Joseph was from a devout Jewish family, and this was to prove a turning point in the long history of Christianity.
In one sense, it probably also contributed to the Middle East conflict today because of how it opened Gentile eyes to the promised restoration of Israel, both to the land and their Lord.
For when Joseph came to believe in Christ, instead of accepting the norm of the previous 15 centuries by assimilating into Gentile Christian culture and forsaking his Jewish heritage, it was a case of ‘thus far and no further’.
Joseph was convinced that Yeshua – Jesus – was not the founder of a new religion, but the long-promised Messiah of Israel; and that he was not leaving Judaism but stepping into its fullness, just as Mordechai Veberman explained in my recent article Yeshua Unveiled.
It was a radical idea in 1799 – and still is. The early church had begun as a Jewish movement, rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures and saturated with Jewish identity. But by the fourth and fifth centuries, that connection had largely been severed. Jews who came to believe in Jesus thereafter were expected to leave behind their heritage, their people and, often, their names. But Frey rejected that framework.
Within ten years he had founded – in London – what is now known as the Church’s Ministry among Jewish people (CMJ), a global mission encouraging Jews to embrace their Messiah without rejecting their heritage.
And it was CMJ, along with other agencies including leading 19th century evangelicals, who did much to persuade the British Government to make their so-called Balfour Declaration of 1917, promising to do all in their power to restore what was then known as Palestine to the Jewish people.
This was because they were convinced by the prophetic Scriptures that Jews from across the globe would soon return from their long exile, and that taking the gospel back to those who had given it to us was of paramount importance, especially in view of the promise (Romans 11:26, Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7) indicating that a great number of Jews would turn to their Messiah in the last days leading to his Second Coming.
Though focused on the gospel, CMJ were also profoundly practical in their love for God’s ancient people, settling in Israel some 100 years before the re-birth of the modern nation, pioneering a school, hospital and house of industry, and even getting involved with farming education to incoming Jews with little knowledge of agriculture.
They were clearly driven by the word of God which, for example, spoke of how “the desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.” (Isaiah 35:1)
Their Christ Church compound in Jerusalem’s Old City – today a haven of peace in the midst of war – hosts three congregations, worshipping in Hebrew, English and Arabic. And the Arabic service is broadcast into the 10/40 window embracing much of the Muslim world. According to Rev Aaron Eime, CMJ’s UK director who has lived in Jerusalem for 26 years, “there are people who watch and engage with the message from countries as far away as Uzbekistan.”
Rev Aaron Eime. Photo courtesy.
In addition, groups of Israelis and other tourists visit the compound’s Heritage Centre every day where they encounter Messianic believers who explain the rich history behind their movement and how Yeshua has changed their lives. The centre also runs a Mercy Fund reaching out to needy people in the area including Arabs and Jews.
CMJ Israel director Daryl Fenton told me: “In a city defined by its divisions, these encounters are not insignificant. They are part of a slow, steady effort to sow peace, rooted in truth and grounded in hospitality.”
Israel is now home to the first Hebrew-speaking congregations of Jesus followers since Bible times. Messianic believers meet all over the land – many of them with Arab Christians among them. And despite the war, which has sadly whipped up so much antisemitism, there is increasing interest in Jewish roots even in the UK.
When the Jews of Jerusalem were in trouble in the days of the early church, the Apostle Paul explained how the Macedonians and Achaians had gladly given support (they were suffering poverty at the time; now they are enduring constant terror) – see Romans 15:27. We still owe them a great debt, and our gratitude needs to show!
Meanwhile fresh reports of Jews becoming disciples of Jesus come in from all over the world, including Australia where a woman called Adi was enraged and depressed by the horrific events of October 7, 2023.
An Israeli who was raised in Australia, Adi volunteered to serve with the Israeli Defence Force as a young adult out of deep love for her people and wanted to rejoin when war broke out but now had small children to consider.
But she became filled with hate. “I was in a dark place, and I needed a miracle to make me want to live again. I prayed, ‘Please God, if only for the sake of my children.’”
It wasn’t long before God answered. “One day, I was feeling down and lonely, and I heard a voice say, ‘Come and I’ll give you peace.’”
Somehow, she knew it was Jesus, so she did a Google search and called the office of Jews for Jesus. She got involved with a congregation and became convinced that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah! She has been healed of her hatred and her husband has also become a believer.
The Messiah has come! That’s what it’s all about!
Charles Gardner is author of Israel the Chosen, available from Amazon; Peace in Jerusalem, available from olivepresspublisher.com; To the Jew First, A Nation Reborn, and King of the Jews, all available from Christian Publications International.
