ABOUT fifteen years ago a young Jewish Rabbi called on an intimate infidel friend, and while sitting in his library he took up a little book from the writing-table, and said to his friend, “What is this?”
“It is only the Gentiles’ book, you will not care for it,” answered his friend; but in those few moments the young Rabbi’s eyes had caught the opening words of Matthew’s Gospel: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” What, he thought, the despised Nazarene, the Messiah, the son of Abraham! Why, he was already interested in the Gentiles’ book. His friend seeing him still looking at the little Testament, rallied him, saying, “Don’t read that, it is the Gentiles’ book, and worth nothing,” and the young Rabbi replied, “But I should like to read it.”
“Oh, very well,” answered the infidel, in a mocking, joking tone; “take it — I give it you for a birthday present.”
The young Rabbi took it, and for fear of being disturbed, he used to go into the synagogue and read it in the Sanctuary, where he knew he should be quite unmolested, others not having a right to go there. When he had finished it, he resolved to read through the Old Testament very carefully, and without the comments and additions of the Rabbinical writings, and when he reached Daniel 9:26,26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26) and read, “Messiah shall be cut off, and shall have nothing” (see margin), he felt convinced that the once-crucified “Jesus” was the “Messiah”; and then he read again the New Testament, and, after that he saw that he must not only believe on Christ in his heart, but make confession of Him with the mouth, so he told his friends that he had learned that the despised Nazarene was the Saviour whom Jehovah had promised in the Scriptures.
It is almost needless to add that he had to leave his kindred, for the hatred of the Jews is as great today to the name of Jesus as it was when the blessed Lord was Himself on earth, and the young Rabbi’s friends were always seeking opportunities to put him to death, so that he left his kindred and home to preach Christ crucified to his Jewish brethren in Berlin, Paris, and other large cities.
Oh! what untold and unknown blessing has come from that little Testament, as through it hundreds of Jews have heard of Jesus, and many through the young Rabbi’s preaching have passed away with the precious name of Jesus on their lips.
May this account encourage us to go on distributing the Word of God on the right hand and on the left, for “we know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether both shall be alike good.” Doubtless the one who gave the Testament to the infidel felt discouraged at seeing him remain unchanged, but God says, “It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God sent it for the young Rabbi. He had purposes of love towards that lost sheep of the house of Israel; and He led him to the infidel’s house just when that Testament was lying on the table. So, dear fellow-Christian, “be not weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”
Before closing I would give one other little instance of blessing received through printed gospel matter. Two or three years ago a lady had a great wish to speak to a cab-driver about his soul; he was very respectable, and she could not find the courage to do it, so she prayed much to the Lord to bless and save the man, and gave him a bound volume of gospel addresses. Six months afterward she heard that that man was dying in rapid consumption, and on visiting him she found that God had worked in his soul by means of that book, for he was saved, and was rejoicing in Christ as His Saviour. The lady often read to him during those last few weeks of his illness, and he constantly said, “I know that, miss; it is all here,” referring to the little book which he kept under his pillow, and from which he would never part.
The cab-driver assured Miss W — over and over again that he had learned he was a sinner, that Jesus was the only Saviour, and that he had received everlasting life through the gospel in that book, and without any other aid.
Dear fellow-Christian, may we be “always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” When His own Word is distributed in dependence on the guidance of the Spirit, and accompanied with prayer, blessing must follow, for the “word of God is the sword of the Spirit,” and “The entrance of Thy word giveth light.” “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psa. 126:55They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. (Psalm 126:5)).
R. M. W. B.