A young rabbi was visiting a friend who was an out-and-out unbeliever. While in the library, he was attracted by a small book lying on the writing table.
“What is this?” he inquired, picking up the volume.
“O, that is the Christian’s book,” came the answer in disparaging tones, “don’t trouble yourself with it.”
But the young man had already glanced at the book, and had read the opening words of the Gospel by Matthew,
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”
These few words had made the unattractive book interesting. What? he thought, Jesus Christ, the despised Nazarene, a son of David, and a son of Abraham? As his friend noticed him still regarding it thoughtfully, he again said it was the Christian’s book and of no account.
“But I should like very much to read it,” replied the young rabbi.
“Very well, then,” said the unbeliever, smiling mockingly, “take it. I give it to you as a birthday present.”
Not to be put off with the scornful remarks of his friend, the young rabbi put the abused New Testament in his pocket and went home.
As he feared he would be hindered in reading this forbidden book at home, he took it with him to the synagogue. There, in that quiet sanctum, where he could not be disturbed by anyone, he devoted himself to the study of the remarkable book.
He read the whole of the New Testament to the end. Then he resolved to compare it with the Old Testament, and with that object he once more read through the Old Testament, but this time without the explanations and additions which the rabbis have added to it. This he did with increasing unrest.
When he came to the ninth chapter of Daniel, and in the twenty-sixth verse read the words:
“Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself,” he reached absolute certainty: the despised, crucified Jesus of Nazareth is none other than the promised Messiah.
When he again read the New Testament from beginning to end, it became clear to him that not only did he in his heart believe in this Christ, but that he must confess Him with his mouth.
Well he knew what was in store for him. He did not hesitate to obey the voice within. Unterrified, he went to his friends and announced to them that the rejected Nazarene was indeed the Savior, whom Jehovah had promised to His people in the Holy Scriptures.
The way of this young witness for Jesus was henceforth a very thorny one. There remained nothing else for him but to forsake, like Abraham, his home and friends. The hatred of the Jew against the name of Jesus is as great in this day as it was when the Lord Himself walked this earth. The friends of the young rabbi, in their enmity, left nothing unsought in their endeavors to get him out of the way.
To escape their snares he finally went to other large cities, and there preached the crucified Christ to his Jewish brethren. Streams of blessing have resulted from that little Testament. Hundreds of Jews have thereby heard the glad tidings of Jesus, the Savior, for Jews and Gentiles; and many of them, as a result of the preaching of the young rabbi, have departed from this life with the precious name of Jesus on their lips.
How encouraging this short story should be to all who know Jesus as their Savior, not to be weary in the spreading of God’s Word to right and left. We know not indeed,
“Whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccles. 11:6.
The man who gives a tract or Testament to the unbeliever, may be discouraged when he sees indifference; but God says,
“My Word shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.” Isa. 55:11.
He had His eye on the young rabbi, that lost sheep of the House of Israel, and He led him into the house of the unbeliever, just when the Testament lay on the table.