Friday, 1 December 2017

To the Jew First

Tweet

I have very great pleasure in introducing you to this book by Marty Shoub, with whom I served side by side for eight years in Israel.

The title of this book, "To the Jew First" may appear unsettling. To single out any group as somehow "first" and therefore special, grates against our assurance that no matter our background or status we are special too. From Sunday school on we are taught, "Jesus loves me, this I know" - the most basic truth of our relationship with God. The fact that Jesus loves me unconditionally as an individual removes any ethnic, racial, or economic privilege for any group of people. And yet, in one of the most cherished and important books in the Bible, Paul begins his letter to the church in Rome by proclaiming the gospel is first to Jews and then to Gentiles (Romans 1:16). How are we to understand a priority distinction for Jews when Jesus himself told us he came to give his life because, "God so loved the world ..." Messianic Jewish author, Martin Shoub explores God's plan "to create in Himself one new man from the two." God's mysterious plan from the beginning to set Jews and Gentiles in a relationship of mutual blessing. Martin has enlisted several Gentile friends to respond to each chapter. Each of these Christian leaders not only interacts with the material but tells their story of how the Holy Spirit illuminated their understanding to see their connection to Israel and the Jewish people - making this truly a "One New Man" book.

Marty's first book "To the Jew First: The Formation of One New Man" is available through the Tikkun bookstore and Amazon.