Second in a series on Israel and what we can learn from the Jewish people.
But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. — 2 Corinthians 3:15-16
Beryl Ratzer is an archaeologist, a certified tour guide, a Jewish Zionist, and a very nice and determined lady who has lived in Israel for over fifty years. She’s also the author of a beautiful book, A Historical Tour Of the Holy Land, which she describes as, “A concise history of the Land of Israel with photographs and illustrations.” It is just that. She had sent us a copy of her book to read before our first trip to Israel. I’m glad she did.
My wife and I met Beryl for the first time face to face at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. She was there to welcome us and to be our guide for the eight days we were to be in the Holy Land. Beryl, whose name comes from one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:17), had moved from South Africa 50 years before because she strongly believed that the Jewish people should have their own homeland, one recognized by the world as having a legitimate right to exist among all the nations.
Even with a nine hour time difference, it’s impossible to just check in to your hotel and go to bed your first day in Israel. Even though it had taken us eighteen straight hours of “awake” time to complete the trip, with very little sleep, we were on an adrenaline high and charged up to go see everything we could. Our only request was a quick hot shower, then it was off in our rental car to the Old City of Jerusalem. That’s where everybody starts.
You know how it is when you meet someone for the first time, you’re usually careful of what you say but with Beryl conversation was easy. She was thoroughly Jewish, proud of her heritage, used to dealing with Christians and satisfied with her sometimes faulty (as we would soon find out) theology. She was a good listener and only rolled her eyes a few times at some of our questions. Beryl, along with her husband and family had endured a life in Israel that we could never relate to that had hardened her somewhat. Theirs was a literal battle of the ever present threat of terrorism that was never far away. Every bus stop was a potential trap. She had two boys in the IDF (Israeli Army) and she worried about them everyday.
One of the highlights of our trip was an overnight stay in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. It was founded by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great in AD 18. Later it was named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar (AD 14-37) who was one of Rome’s greatest generals. Today it is the largest urban settlement in the Jordan River Valley.
Our dinner that evening was at a delightful restaurant on the water called Decks. Because of the ongoing Intifada (Arab uprising), tourism was also suffering. We were just about the only ones in the place but the food and service were outstanding. My wife had the courage to try the traditional St. Peter’s fish specialty, which reportedly came out of the Sea of Galilee that very day. She ate it all (except the head). I had lamb chops!
As we discussed the events of the day and the places we had seen with Beryl—a sudden view of the replica of the famous “Jesus Boat” out on the water opened the door to a discussion about his ministry which allowed me to eventually ask the question: “When a Jew commits a sin how do you receive forgiveness?”
“I don’t know,” Beryl replied. “I guess it takes place after we die. Since we don’t have the Temple, we cannot offer sacrifices for our sins and even when we celebrate Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), we have no scapegoat to take away our sins. I guess we will have to wait until heaven to find out.”
I couldn’t resist that opening. “Beryl, we believe that Jesus has done all of that for us. He was the scapegoat. His death took away the sins of the people.” It was obvious she had heard that line before. Her appeal in answering was always to the Torah because in it she believed she had found hope for salvation through keeping the Law. But she admitted, she could not find any real assurance of that. She could not tell us if she was forgiven or not.
It was interesting to us that Beryl said she believed in a historical Jesus who was Jewish. She even agreed with some of his teachings and recognized him as a Rabbi who had a considerable following and who even worked miracles. These being a few of the virtues of the Jewish Messiah, we wondered what prevented her from believing that he could be the Promised One (Deuteronomy 18:15)?
The apostle Paul answered that question for us when he wrote of his ministry to the Jews. “But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:15-16). Beryl and the Jewish people have a veil over their heart that can only be removed when they turn to the Lord. But how does a Jew turn to the Lord? The same way we all do. By confessing that “Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Will Beryl believe someday? We know that’s not up to us. What is up to us and others is that we share the gospel message of God’s love for the world through his son Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).
The eight days suddenly were over and as we looked out over Israel from the departing plane for the last time, my wife pointed out that not only was “beryl” one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the High Priest, it is also going to be one of the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city (Revelation 21:20). Could that possibly be pointing to the Beryl we knew? That’s our prayer.
Maranatha.
To help us walk closer with God and to know him better.
