During my walk as a Christian I have never had the opportunity to meet any real Jewish people and yet I’ve spent the past 8 years reading about their story and relationship with God. I’ve studied the life of their ancestors and know about their laws, customs and history, but I’ve never met any of these people who God had specially chosen to be his own and from whom our messiah and savior Jesus had come.
I’m amazed with the number of Jewish people I have met since being in Puerto Escondido. There’s a group of them that frequent here that are really good at surfing. The guys pictured above are cousins who I met and prayed with last year. They were agnostic, but very open to hear about God and how he saved me from drug and alcohol addiction and were happy to be prayed for. I remember very clearly Gods presence with us when praying.
Recently I was able to meet one of their friends who was down visiting and surfing. I had seen him a few times and knew who he was, but not personally. One morning I was walking down to check the surf and saw him sitting on a log checking it as well. I asked if I could sit and we got to talking. He told me his name and that he was from Israel. This was around the time when Israel was being bombed by Syria pretty heavily. I asked him about it and he said it was pretty normal and just something that happens there. I was surprised to hear him describe it so nonchalantly. From there we talked about all the things were not supposed to talk about, mainly politics and religion; I was interested in hearing his perspective. He was ex military and wasn’t a fan of the “system,” like big business, political institutions and religion. He told me he had always been one to buck the system and not want to conform.
Around that time a local hammock salesman walked past and offered to sell us his goods. I politely declined, but my Jewish friend was interested. The salesman took out his hammocks and stretched them out for my friend to see. They only issue was that he didn’t have money on him because he had planned on swimming. They talked price for a bit, but when he mentioned he didn’t have any money on him the salesman offered a better price if he went to get his money and buy one right then. My friend told the salesman He was leaving the next day, but could find him because he always saw him. The salesman wasn’t sure though because the next day it could rain and he wouldn’t be selling if it was raining. After hearing the exchange and having money on me I offered to buy the hammock. Sold! The man was excited to make a sale. He gave me the hammock and I gave him the money. We talked for a little bit more and the guy asked if we were brothers. I told him not yet. He looked slightly puzzled and I explained that I was a Christian. His eyes lit up and He told me he was a Christian too! He then asked my Jewish friend if he was and he said no and that he didn’t really believe. That little Mexican salesman went off in the best way possible explaining God in the most simplest way. He told us “Look.” As he pointed to every thing around us. Then he said “God, he make all this for us.” He then drew a stick man in the sand and blew into the mans nostrils to show that we have our life from God. He said in very straight forward way “you need to believe my friend.” He then looked at me and said “okay, you tell him the rest.”
Being a Jew from Israel my friend had an idea about God and religion. It was a system to him. He told me he remembered the rabbis always saying come to temple and pray and follow all the many rules that the religious Jewish people follow today. He saw all the rules and obligations, but didn’t understand the why behind it. I was able to share why with him. I told him it wasn’t so much a system for me as much as a relationship and that I didn’t serve Jesus out of religious obligation, but out of love for all he had done for me. That I came to believe in this man Jesus that died for me to save from the guilt of all my sin and shame for all the horrible things I had done. It was the least I could do to give my life to him for all he had done for me. I told him that’s what caused the change in my life, that as bad as I was God sent his son to die for me and I didn’t deserve it. It was a free gift. And for that gift I wanted to live for God. That’s why I am Christian and go to church and pray. He was very surprised he had never heard it put that way. About the same time our conversation was wrapping up God put it on my heart to give him the hammock.
Originally I bought the hammock to hold for him until he could pay me for it, but after we talked I felt led to give it to him. He was reluctant to receive it, but I insisted. I told him I want this to be a symbol to you of who God is. You didn’t do anything to deserve or earn this hammock, but I’m giving it to you just as God gave himself to us when we hadn’t earned it or deserved it. It was a really heavy moment. He took the hammock and was very appreciative. after talking a little bit more and exchanging contact info I prayed for him and we parted ways. I then ran to get a bible while he was out swimming and snuck it in his hammock that he had left with someone on the beach. Later that day I received a message from him.
I was amazed by the experience. Being able to share Jesus with his own people and to have a friend now who is related to all the people I have read about in the Bible. It gave me a new and fresh perspective on Israel and the Jewish people. They’re not some far off people in some far off land. They’re surfers in Puerto Escondido and they need to hear the truth about Jesus! and God used me to help. I’m blown away. Thank you, Jesus!
Awesome bro. Hands and Feet serving