Jewish Millennial Surprise

It shocked the Jewish world, much of the Christian world, and even those in the secular world who saw the results. It went against all conventional wisdom and two thousand years of tradition.For two thousand years, it has been conventional wisdom that whatever else a Jewish person may believe, he or she does not or cannot believe in Jesus. But recently, the Barna Group, an esteemed polling organization that specializes in religious data, embarked on a study of the religious beliefs of Jewish millennials. The results ranged from surprising to shocking. What did it reveal? 28 percent of Jewish millennials didn't see Jesus as a threat or in negative terms, but rather as a rabbi and a spiritual leader. Beyond that, 34 percent of Jewish millennials said that believing in Jesus as the Messiah was compatible with being Jewish. Beyond that, a third of Jewish millennials keep a Christmas tree at home! Most shocking of all, 21 percent of Jewish millennials believe Jesus was God in human form who lived among people in the first century! On top of that, the poll revealed that 42 percent of Jewish millennials celebrate Christmas! The news made headlines throughout the Jewish world, even in Israel, in the Jerusalem Post. This went against 2000 years of tradition and rabbinic and cultural orthodoxy. The idea that one out of every five Jewish people actually held the most orthodox of New Testament beliefs namely the deity of Jesus- left analysts speechless. That other polls found that non-Jewish millennials were increasingly likely to not identify with being a Christian begs the question  What is going on? How do we explain this? The Bible says that in the end-times, there will be both a falling away from faith in the world and yet, at the same time, the Jewish people will return to their Messiah, Jesus. The poll constituted one of the most dramatic signs of this very thing. What it also means is that there is an immense increase among Jewish people who believe that Jesus is God. And the numbers of Jewish people who are open to the Gospel is likewise immense and beyond any number that has been imagined up to this point. We need to pray for their redemption, for revival, for return, and for restoration of God's ancient people. For as the apostle Paul writes, What shall their acceptance be, but riches for the world and life from the dead. This month, be part of prophecy, pray for the redemption of His ancient people, those who brought you the Gospel, and thus for His kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven. And may God greatly bless you (and He will!) as you do. Your brother and co-laborer in His love and service, Jonathan

See Message: The Prophetic Jubilee
Scripture: Zechariah 12:10