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The Prodigal’s Brother
by
Brian Hennessy
Much has been written about the awakening
of love many Christians have expressed towards Israel and the Jews in
recent years. But the bigger story may be that more and more Jews are
now welcoming this embrace.
Understandably, it took many years before
Jews could look past the centuries of anti-Semitism and really trust
this new “love.” But more and more are now deciding it is genuine, and
beginning to revel in it. From politicians to rabbis to the man on the
street - even the man on the farm.
Some Christian friends who volunteer to help harvest Israeli vineyards
told us about a farmer who was so deeply moved after watching them
work while singing praises to the God of Israel, he remarked, “It is
like a dream!” (To volunteer for this unique work, go to
www.hayovel.com.)
As a result, long-festering wounds,
although perhaps not forgotten, are being healed. And for that we can
only give thanks to Almighty God!
As I reflected on this marvelous work
taking place between our two peoples, it hit me that we could be
witnessing the conclusion of a parable Jesus left unresolved. Namely,
the parable of the prodigal son, which could easily be called the
parable of the prodigal brother.
This well-known story is about a man who
had two sons, one dutiful and one irresponsible. The irresponsible
younger son decides to cash in his inheritance early and go see the
world. After spending himself penniless on loose living he finally
sees what a fool he has been, and heads home. Dad is so happy to see
him he hugs him, forgives his transgressions, and throws a huge party.
Things are going well until the older
brother shows up and asks what the ruckus is about. When he learns
it’s a party for his kid brother, he refuses to join the celebration.
The father tries to reassure the older son with his love, but the son
is too upset. He has faithfully served his father all these years and
never had a party thrown for him. Why is dad honoring his worthless
sibling? But the father responds, “How could we not celebrate? Your
brother was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been
found” (Luke 15:11-32).
And that’s where the parable ends. We
never learn if the jealous son reconciles with his brother.
But I believe the happy conclusion to
that parable is being written as more and more Jews put aside their
historic anger and joyfully receive the love of their Christian
“brothers.” For I believe the dutiful brother who continued to serve
the Father represents the Jews, and the prodigal represents the
Christians who found forgiveness through Jesus and came home to God.
(And keep in mind, in the parable
they were blood brothers.)
But how, you might ask, does the anger
many Jews are deciding to put aside equate with the anger expressed by
the older brother? Today’s Jewish anger is based mostly on the
centuries of anti-Semitism they’d experienced from those who called
themselves “Christian,” whether it was a nation or a neighbor. It does
not appear to be based on a jealousy for anything spiritual we might
have that they don’t.
Well it might shock you to learn that
jealousy actually lies at the root of our stormy relationship – and
it’s cause pre-dates Christianity. It is tied directly to a prophecy
Moses gave the nation shortly before his death.
Foreseeing that Israel would turn from
God to idolatry after he was gone (see Deuteronomy 31:29), Moses sang
a long prophecy in which he predicted a judgment from God would befall
the nation for its sin. One that would fit the crime.
“They have made Me jealous with what is
not God;
They have provoked Me to anger with their
idols.
So I will make them jealous with those
who are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a
foolish nation.” (Deuteronomy 32:21)
Now the apostle Paul realized that the
gentiles who were turning to God through Jesus in the first century
were indeed that “foolish nation.” So he boldly declares, “Salvation
has come to the gentiles to make them jealous” (Romans 11:11).
By “jealous,” Paul did not mean that Jews
would be attracted to the gospel by seeing former heathens come
to God through faith in Jesus, as many Christians have thought. Rather
this kind of jealousy would provoke angry indignation, as the father’s
love for the prodigal affected the older brother, thereby causing the
Jews to reject the gospel. And the way Joseph’s brothers
reacted to see him favored so by their father Jacob, causing them to
sell him into slavery.
Now why would God want to make the Jews
jealous of us? For two reasons. It would fulfill the jealousy
judgment spoken by Moses, and it would cause them to reject the
gospel and force it (and the Scriptures) out into the nations. Which
was God’s way of turning a negative into a positive. Because that was
how He planned to reach His lost sheep among the gentiles
with the “good news” they were forgiven and could come home.
Paul confirms the gospel would repel the
Jews when he says, “From the standpoint of the gospel, they are
enemies for your sake.” And then to keep gentiles from assuming
the Jews were no longer God’s people, he added, “But from the
standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved...the gifts and calling of
God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:28,29).
You might ask then, how do we explain
these words of Paul: “I magnify my ministry [to the gentiles], if
somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of
them” (Romans 11:14). That sure sounds like saved gentiles will entice
Jews to believe the gospel and follow Jesus.
I believe the explanation is that Paul
realized that the only way he could awaken some of his beloved
countrymen was to expand his ministry to the gentiles and get them
madder. The madder Israel got, the greater the chance that some might
realize this was the fulfillment of the Moses’ prophecy and “call on
the name of the Lord and be saved” (Romans 10:13).
If you go back a few verses to the end of
Chapter 10, Paul quotes the prophecy from Moses, and also one by
Isaiah, that spoke of this coming judgment. He argues that Israel had
the Scriptures, so they should have known that God was going to extend
His favor to another group at some time to make them jealous. And that
this was that!
“Again I ask: Did Israel not understand?
First Moses says, ‘I will make you envious by those who are not a
nation; I will anger you by a nation without understanding.’ And
Isaiah boldly says, ‘I was found by those who did not seek Me.’”
(Romans 10:16-20)
For 2000 years the gospel has offended
Judah. He could not bring himself to reconcile with his brother, even
after that brother had come home. He would not enter the house and
join the celebration. And to add injury to insult, the forgiven
“Christian” brother even began to think he’d replaced Judah as his
Father’s favorite. And began to persecute him.
Until now.
The new warmth between our two
communities signals a major fulfillment of prophecy. It tells me that
our Father is finally restoring His family. First, Christians have
again returned to their senses and reached out to their brother Judah.
And now Judah’s heart has been softened towards us. That can only mean
Father is getting ready to throw another big homecoming party! For
both of us this time!
It also tells me the roundup of His lost
sheep among the gentiles, who I believe are the remnant of lost tribes
of Israel, must be about complete. I say that because Paul told us
when “the fullness of the gentiles has come in” Judah’s anger towards
the gentile believers and the gospel would end, and he would hear the
gospel. Or as he put it:
“For I do not want you brethren to be
uninformed of this mystery, so you will not be wise in your own eyes,
that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness
of the gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved”
(Romans 11:25,26).
Does that mean Jews will soon become
Christians? Absolutely not. No more than it means Christians will
become Jews. This is not about religion. This is about relationships.
Between Father and sons. And between brothers.
I believe all God is asking us to do now
is keep loving our brother with compassion and understanding for the
hard journey they’ve had to endure over the centuries. And He will
take care of the rest.
But at the same time, get ready to party!
“How good and how pleasant it is for
brothers to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1).
January,
2011
www.bhennessy.com
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