One of the most remarkable conversions recorded in Jewish history since the conversion of that zealous Pharisee, Rabbi Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road, is that of Rabbi Daniel Zion, the former Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria and later the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel.
Perhaps no other conversion in modern times has rocked the Jewish world as has his. He has perhaps been the subject of more controversy in synagogues, temples and churches than any other personality. Scores of articles in both Jewish and Christian periodicals have been written about him. He has been cursed and blessed, denounced and praised. From as far as Australia, India and Africa have come inquiries concerning Rabbi Daniel Zion.
When he first openly declared that he was saved, through putting his total faith and trust only in the blood atonement of the True and Living, Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ, the One and only True Messiah of Israel, he was immediately discharged from the responsibilities which he fulfilled, being the Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel, and following this, came a siege of persecution.
God opened the door through “Kol Yisrael,” the official radio broadcasting station of Israel, for Rabbi Daniel Zion to preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One and only True Messiah of Israel, from the inspired, preserved, inerrant word of God. This was the first time that any person was given the privilege of preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, on “Kol Yisrael.”
“More than twenty years ago, I had the first opportunity of reading the New Testament. It influenced me greatly. I began to speak about it in a small circle in Bulgaria. I always regretted that Jesus the Messiah has been estranged from the community of Israel. Jesus the Messiah did nothing but good for the Jewish people. He called them to repentance, proclaimed the Kingdom of God and Divine Love, a love towards all men, even one’s enemies. To our great regret we have had to pay a heavy price for the sin of rejecting the true Messiah. But I must confess that my position as a Rabbi did not allow me at once to come out openly before the world in order to declare this truth, until God, in His great mercy, set me free from all fear. He brought me into this country of Israel, where at first I discharged my duties as a rabbi of Jaffa.”
“After I gave up my position (as Chief Rabbi of Jaffa, Israel,) I went to Jerusalem, where for a whole month I engaged in fasting, prayer and supplication. It was then that I asked God to show me the right way, and the eternal God heard my prayer. On the first of Shevat, 5710 (January / February, 1950), the Holy Spirit revealed to me that Jesus is indeed the true Messiah, who suffered for us and sacrificed Himself for our sin. A burning fire in my heart gave me no rest until I had publicly confessed my faith in the blood atonement of the True and living God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Messiah of Israel.”
“In spite of all the difficulties, suffering and persecutions, which I have endured incessantly, nothing could dissuade me from my faith. On the contrary, God to whom I had given my heart and to whom I turn in all my needs, has given me the strength and power to continue my witness. He spoke to me through a verse in (the word of God), Isaiah 41:10 – ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will keep thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.’ By this I understood that a great and important task has been given to me by the Eternal God, which I must accomplish at all costs. Do not think that I have left Judaism. On the contrary, I have remained Jewish, and have become more Jewish because Jesus Himself remained Jewish.”
The following is taken from a Gospel message preached by Rabbi Daniel Zion. This message, declaring the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only true Messiah of Israel, from the inspired, inerrant, preserved word of God, was preached by Rabbi Daniel Zion to his colleagues, the rabbis of Israel, before whom he was tried:
“I know that according to your knowledge and ideas I go a wrong way, when I accept Jesus as the Messiah and Redeemer. Before the witness stand of Heaven I told you that I prayed to the Lord with tears and fasting for many years that He should lead me in the path of righteousness, that I should do His will only, not my own. I spoke to you about the wonderful way in which He revealed Himself to me, not once only, but many times. You replied that all this was imagination and illusion. Forgive me, please, when I say that the imagination is with you, gentlemen, and the true and real things appear as illusion to you.”
“I know that the narrow minded education and the high offices of the Rabbis are a veil, hiding the truth from them. You can no longer judge objectively. I, too suffered from it, but God in His grace has shown me, by the Holy Spirit, the straight path, in spite of my sins. By Him I have been guided for years and He leads me on the path of righteousness. Therefore, I tell you, even if I were the only one to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, I would not consider that to be an imagination; but now I see that millions of men acknowledge Him, among them thousands of highly educated Jews. Some Rabbis too, believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Have they fallen a prey to imagination and deception?”
“If you Rabbis would pray to God with your whole heart and read the New Testament thoughtfully, approaching this book and the Messiah Jesus with reverence, I am convinced that God would open your eyes.”
“Jesus did nothing but good, He called Israel to repentance and to the Kingdom of God. He did many signs and wonders, as no prophet before Him. He wished to unite people; that they should love each other and also their enemies. Thus He wished to build a bridge between Israel and the nations; there should be peace between them and the prophecies of Isaiah and all the prophets be fulfilled, that the Lord would be King over all the earth.”
“The truth must be spoken. Our fathers committed a grave sin, when they condemned to death Him who was without sin. Our fathers sinned and perished. We suffered for their crime. Do we wish to continue to suffer?”
“We must bring restitution for the wrong. We must receive Jesus as Jew and Messiah of God. He lived among the Jews and sacrificed Himself for the Jews, to make atonement for their sins with His blood. He is risen and will come again to redeem us with a perfect redemption.”
“As a messenger of God, I was to give warning. First, there is the warning, and then the chastisement follows. By this will you know that the Lord has sent me; and that the words I speak are not my own. The days of visitation have come the days of retribution! If you receive Jesus as the true Messiah, He will redeem us a second time with perfect redemption. If not, much suffering will come upon the people of Israel.”
“And to you, Rabbis, be it said: ‘Mene, Mene, Tekel Upharsin!’” (Daniel 5:25) (Weighed in the balances and found wanting.)
“….when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” Exodus 12:13
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11
“Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath through Him….And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:9;11
After his death in 1979 at the ripe old age of 96, the Bulgarian Jewish community in Israel gave him a burial with full military and state honors. They demonstrated the depth of their respect for their beloved rabbi by having his casket stand in the center of Jaffa with full military guard. At noon, his casket was carried by men on foot to the cemetery in Holon.(1)
Messianic Good News has graciously allowed this testimony published on its web site to be shared with others. This testimony is the shortened version of the actual testimony published in the book "Rabbis Meet Jesus The Messiah." This book contains 20 testimonies from Rabbis who have put their faith in the Jewish Messiah Jesus and is an encouraging read.
To order a copy of this book please contact Messianic Good News, P.O. Box 607, Wading River NY 11792-0607 or email mgnusa@optonline.net. Their web site can be found at messianicgoodnews.org.
Original Source was The International Board of Jewish Missions (IBJM) from the book “A Former Chief Rabbi Finds Christ” by Dr. Jacob Gartenhaus. To contact IBJM...PO Box 1386, Hixson, TN 37343 Ph.(423) 876 8150
© Messianic Good News.
Source: http://www.messianicgoodnews.org/rabbi-daniel-zion/
Source of image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Zion
1). http://www.commandtheraven.com/?p=13227
