Testimony of a Messianic Jew

Today I read the following testimony.

“In 1975, our house was robbed. My father called 911 and the officer who received the dispatch raced to our house. While on the way, the policeman heard Jesus say to him, “Tell the person you meet about me.” When the policeman arrived at our home, he said, “Mr. Rudolph, I think you should sit down. I have something to tell you.” The policeman proceeded to tell my father about Jesus—who he was and why God sent him into this world.

My father, who was a criminal lawyer at the time, felt sorry for the policeman, thinking that he had lost his mind. But as the policeman shared the message of the gospel, my father experienced being surrounded by the presence of God. It was tactile and like a force field. While this was happening, the policeman left without taking a report, having done what Jesus told him to do. After about an hour, the presence of God departed, my father fell to the floor, and he prayed, “God, I am so sorry that I have not believed in your all these years. Now I know that you are real. But why did you send a Christian? Is Jesus who the Christians say he is?” My father did not know the answer to this question, but he knew he was going to find out.

Over the next couple of months, my father read large portions of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel foretold by the prophets.” (David Rudolph, “Introduction” in Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations (David Rudolph and Joel Willitts; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013), 11–12.)

There are several points here that I wish to make in response to this. First, we can assume that this man who ended up placing saving faith in Jesus (the father) had Jesus, religion, and especially conversion, no where near his thinking after being robbed. This means that God can meet us at anytime, and at anyplace. 

Second, God uses something bad for a greater cause. This story begins with a robbery and ends with someone coming to know the saving love of Jesus. This is the thrust of the book of Genesis as well as the Cross. It is through our pain and suffering as well as the injustices of the world that God glorifies himself.

Third, this policeman was simply obedient. Of all times to NOT share the gospel, this was one of them. However, the policeman was ready and willing to share when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Do you see what obedience does?!

Fourth, sharing the gospel at this time demanded great courage. This is increasingly the case in contemporary Western culture. It’s becoming more and more taboo to share one’s faith, to challenge the beliefs of another. Without great courage, people do not come to know the Lord.

Fifth, it’s questionable if the policeman ever knew that his testimony was effective. Note that in the story, the presence of God didn’t come until after the policeman left. As far as he could tell, his audience was not receptive to the message. This means that there are times that we’re called to obey and we may not see the outcome. I think this keeps us humble.

Sixth, the presence of God is what transforms hearts, not mere humans. Note that God chose to work through the policeman’s testimony. It was when God showed up that the father was cut to the heart. God and God alone can save.