In my late twenties, I secretly became enamored with Yeshua after watching the Franco Zefferelli mini-series Jesus of Nazareth. Although I felt drawn to Yeshua, I was deeply conflicted. I felt that if Jews knew I was interested in Yeshua they would think I was a traitor, and if Christians knew I was attracted to Jesus they would be confused because “Jews don’t believe in Jesus.” I remember using the analogy of peering through the window of a fancy restaurant where people were enjoying a sumptuous meal. But I was not permitted to partake because the meal was – I wrongly thought – only for Christians. This left me with a deep feeling of sadness. I was falling in love with someone I thought I could never have in my life.
Around this time, a close friend died in a freak swimming accident, and a business I helped my father start failed. I felt lost and didn’t know where to turn. Fortunately, I began to have conversations about Yeshua with a Christian friend who loved Israel and the Jewish people. Sonja told me that since Yeshua was Jewish, it was entirely appropriate for a Jewish person to believe in him. She suggested that I attend a concert featuring Messianic Jewish singer/songwriter Marty Goetz. When I arrived at the concert, the room was packed with Jewish people wearing kippas – skull caps – singing and worshipping God and Yeshua alongside Christians. I was flabbergasted. I thought I was the only Jewish person in the world who was attracted to Yeshua!
'Father, I’m Jewish, but I love Jesus'
Sonja suggested I read the New Covenant scriptures and decide for myself who Yeshua was. I was shocked the first time I opened the Brit Hadash – the New Testament. In spite of what Jews are told about Yeshua, everything I read was Jewish! Yeshua was called Rabbi, his disciplines were Jewish, he fulfilled dozens of Messianic prophecies, attended the Jewish feasts and festivals, and taught in the Temple. Although it was not what I had been taught, I knew it in my spirit. Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah!
Shortly thereafter, I attended my friend’s funeral at a Catholic church. When the priest invited people to come forth for communion, I nervously went forward. When it was my turn, the priest looked at this young Jewish man wearing a kippa with a highly quizzical look. I whispered: “Father, I’m Jewish, but I love Jesus”. This was the first time I publicly acknowledged my love and faith in Yeshua of Nazareth, the Jewish Messiah.
Sonja suggested I visit a Messianic Jewish congregation by the name of Tikvat Yisrael – the Hope of Israel – in Cleveland, Ohio. I went, and 36 years later I am still there. I have had the privilege of serving as Tikvat’s board chair, elder, worship leader, youth pastor, and head of outreach. I was fortunate. Unlike many Jewish parents who disown their children for believing in Yeshua, my parents assumed my interest in Yeshua was a fad. If it was, it would be the longest fad ever!
Some in the Jewish community say if you chose to follow Yeshua you are no longer Jewish. For me, the exact opposite was true. Before I believed in Yeshua, I had been uninterested and uninvolved with Judaism. After I met Yeshua, I became passionate about my Jewishness and my Jewish heritage.
Sonja told me that since Yeshua was Jewish, it was entirely appropriate for a Jewish person to believe in him.
When I was young, I played in local rock groups and helped organize and promote rock concerts featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artists like Richie Havens, the Temptations, Heart, Steve Miller, and Electric Light Orchestra. But that was all in my past. Or so I thought. After I became a believer, the Lord enabled me to play piano and helped me write dozens of original praise and worship songs based on the words and people in the Bible. Along with two like-minded friends, I co-founded the Messianic worship group Voice of the Shepherd , which recorded two Scripture-inspired albums.
I’d like to close with a praise report. Although I had a somewhat successful business career including forming several faith-based companies and helping 125 clients like IBM, Oracle, and Motorola generate hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, I felt restless and unfulfilled. I asked the Lord to open the right door and to use my business experience to serve him and God’s people. I praise God for answering my prayer! I am honored to join CMJ USA as Director of Fundraising and Partnerships!
I’d love to hear from you, get to know you, and explore how CMJ USA can be of service. I can be reached at jeff.roberts@cmj-usa.org. May the Lord bless you, the work of CMJ in America and Israel, and may he watch over and safeguard Israel and his beloved Jewish people.
