EVELYN September 2018

Once upon a time. . . .   Our Storytelling Class at a local retirement community was launched approximately two years after God opened the door for us in 2005 to teach a weekly Bible study at the facility.  As I sat in the Library waiting for the crowds to arrive on that afternoon in 2007, one Jewish woman entered the room.  “Are you here for the Storytelling Class?” I asked.  “No, I’m here to read the newspaper,” she replied and sat in a chair behind me.  Robert, a 92 year-old Jewish non-believer, entered the room.  While we waited for others to arrive, Robert asked questions about Jesus.   As we conversed, I wondered if the newspaper-reading lady could hear us.  Ten minutes into our conversation, I stopped wondering when she answered a question that I had posed to Robert!  I then addressed Evelyn directly and explained to her that I teach the Jewish roots of Christianity.  I told her that I teach against anti-Semitism.  Looking puzzled, Evelyn asked, “Do you attend a normal church?”  Six of us gathered in the Library that day for the Storytelling session.  I included Evelyn in the mix.  While she remained in her chair in the background, she listened and participated.  In relaying a story about his childhood, Robert shared that many of the Gentile kids in his neighborhood would not allow him to play stick ball, claiming he, Robert, was a “Christ killer.”  I expressed my sadness to Robert and to the group, offering this comment: “I’ve heard similar stories.  I’ve spoken to Gentiles who label Jewish people as “Christ killers.”  That is hurtful…it is wrong…and it goes against what the Bible teaches.  We are told in the book of Isaiah from the Tanakh that ‘It pleased the Father to bruise the Son.’  God’s plan that we read throughout the Hebrew Scriptures was to send Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, to die for our sin.  In fact, Jesus said while on earth, I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself  (Jn. 10:17-18). In Jesus’ first coming, He came to die for sin.”

Once upon a time was short-lived.  It began and ended in a day!  The weekly Bible study has continued since May 2005.  Robert and Evelyn attended the weekly Bible study for years.  Both contributed much toward the discussion.  Both consistently and aggressively challenged what I shared from Scripture.  How wonderful!   Their objections paved the way for further sharing of the Gospel in detail!  After backing down from his protests, Robert told us on numerous occasions, “I’m here to learn from you.”  Upon leaving the study each week, Evelyn assured us that our time together “was a pleasure.”

During the early days of Evelyn’s attendance at the Bible study, she often recalled how she landed in a BIBLE study.   “I was dragged to this Bible study by Martha.  Now I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I’m a devout Jew.”  At the outset of our relationship, Evelyn asked me, “Are your beliefs more Gentile or Jewish?”  My response: “Gentiles in the Bible were those who believed in many gods.  I believe in one God - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The disciples of Jesus were Jewish; Jesus is Jewish; He’s returning as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David.  The most Jewish thing you can do is believe in Jesus as your Messiah.”  A wonderfully redemptive conversation followed.

Evelyn often made it known to us during class that she had a bone to pick with God!  One day she conveyed that God isn’t perfect…He needs our help.  As I was sitting next to her, I found myself slowly moving away, wondering if lightning would strike!  (I’m kidding, yet…not so much kidding!)  Through Evelyn I was introduced to a common traditional Jewish mindset…they don’t need to ask for God’s help…He needs their help…He has given them the responsibility to repair the world that He didn’t complete at creation.  I’m not sharing this with you to make you gasp in horror and run away from Jewish people who don’t yet know Jesus.  On the contrary.  We who are “Gentiles,” who have been grafted into the blessing aspect (the salvation aspect) of the Abrahamic Covenant (Rom. 11:19-20) have been told to provoke the Jew to jealousy (Rom. 11:11).  We are to make them jealous to know their God.  I’m sharing with you my conversations with Jewish people to offer suggestions as to how best to “provoke” – lovingly!  I LOVE Jewish people.  This ministry has given me much joy!  We’re sharing Jesus at several retirement communities and Jewish people who haven’t yet come to faith in Jesus continue to attend the classes.

During one of our Bible studies, someone asked, “Why did the multitudes follow Jesus?”  Evelyn blurted out, “Because He’s God!  Don’t people want to know about God?”  Evelyn’s brash objections regarding Jesus and Christianity began to give way to pondering.  I encouraged her to thank God for His mercy and grace through Jesus the Jewish Messiah.

As time passed, Evelyn invited me to lunch prior to the Bible study one week.  “I’m telling my Jewish friends back East that I’m attending a Bible study.  They think I’m crazy.  I told them I never knew there were Jewish angels.  I tell my Jewish friends that our Bible study is a Jewish Bible study.”

Evelyn asked us during one of the classes, “What year did bacon became not kosher?”

While teaching Exodus 20 one Tuesday afternoon, my dear Jewish friend asked, “Where’s Jesus in all this?”  “He’s always existed; He’s God,” I replied.  “No…I mean where do we begin reading about Jesus?  We’re in Exodus now.  Where in the Bible do we start reading about Jesus?”  In lieu of further explaining theological truths, I showed her the amount of pages between Exodus and Matthew.”  She was quite amazed and said, “I might not make it ‘til then.”  I then inquired, “Would you like for us to begin studying the book of Matthew next week?”  Her immediate reply: “Yes!”  Evelyn’s question launched us into a study of the Gospels.  Evelyn told one of the new residents whom she invited, “We started with Moses; now we’re on Jesus with some Rabbi’s sprinkled in.”

How exciting it was to hear Evelyn tell another resident during their conversation, “You need to ask Jesus to forgive you!”  When I turned that discussion to address Evelyn’s need of forgiveness, she didn’t entertain the idea…until….  The week following I shared with the class that without the Messiah Jesus they would be separated from God for all eternity.  Evelyn sat upright in her chair.  “I don’t think that would be very good for me.  Let me get this straight, it’s like we present our qualifications to God for heaven, and we’re not perfect and He is – so we fall short.”

On July 9, 2013, Evelyn attended the Bible study for the last time.  She had deteriorated physically.  She thanked me for my love, concern, and care.  She was in tears as was I.  Evelyn told the class, “I’ve been attending the Bible study for six years…ever since Martha brought me, kicking and screaming.  I’m not a Christian.  I’m Jewish; but I’m open.”  I continued to visit my sweet friend.  Often, when I entered her room on the assisted living side of the facility, she lit up and in a high-pitched squeal blurted out, “It’s you!”  The last six months of her life, Evelyn became more vehemently opposed to Jesus.  She was bedridden and near death.  She had become like a child.  My visits to her were frequent.  The week prior to Passover, I shared the account of Passover and focused, again, on Jesus.  This time - she did not balk.  When I spoke of Jesus’ words to His disciples regarding preparing mansions for them, the Hospice worker who was in the room told Evelyn that God was preparing a mansion for her.  I told Evelyn – “Not so – not if you do not receive Jesus’ gift of forgiveness for your sin.  You must trust in Him for your eternal life.”  I asked Evelyn if I could pray for her and if she would like to confess her sins and place her trust in Jesus.  As I began praying aloud for Evelyn, I asked if she would like to confess her sins and place her trust in Jesus.  In her “childlike” way, she consented.  Glory to God!  Following prayer, Evelyn held out her hand and motioned to the chest of drawers in her room.  I found her Bible.  When I placed God’s Word into her hands, she beamed.  “Do you want visitors to read to you from the Bible?”  She nodded yes.  The next day, six of us visited Evelyn in her bedroom and held a Messianic Passover Seder.  Our Jewish non-believer friend, Sylvia, joined us along with the Hospice worker.  The two-hour Seder hugely impacted Sylvia and the Hospice worker.   Though severely restricted by her illness, Evelyn participated and displayed peace and joy!  Truly, a miracle!  Later that week, Evelyn went home to be with the Lord.

…and she truly lives happily ever after!


Cathy Wilson
cathylouwilson@live.com