Meeting the Messiah

A committed Jew becomes a completed Christian. by Jerry Parker as told to Muriel Larson

For the Jew, the world is divided into just two parts: Jew and Gentile. The Jew is right, and the Gentile wrong -- period. In the view of my people, the Gentiles' belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah is a fatal error.

As a psychologist, I hold a master's degree in counseling from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. If anyone had ever told me that I, a Jew, would some day confess faith in Jesus Christ as Son of God and Savior of my life, I would have had him committed to a mental institution. But that was before I met Carol.

Career change

Because of my special compassion for the deaf, I served for five years as a counselor and administrator at Gallaudet's Model Secondary School for the Deaf. When I felt a strong calling to go into real estate, I left the school.

As soon as I received my license, realtors started trying to enlist me to join their companies. I opened a letter from Town & Country Realty and knew that was where I was to go. As the manager interviewed me, I wondered how he would take my special request. Somewhat timidly, I said, "I would like to serve the deaf in real estate."

The manager stared at me, then asked, "Jerry, do you realize I am nearly deaf in both ears?" Instantly, I signed up with his office.

Later the manager mentioned one of his top agents, Carol, and cautioned me that she was "religious." I guess he didn't want me to offend her.

Spiritual influence

Though I was a Jew, Carol took me under her wing, sharing philosophies and ideas. She invited me out for coffee several times. Then one day we started talking about God and then the Messiah, who she said was Jesus Christ. I felt strange talking about such a subject, yet the things she said fascinated me. I was even more fascinated by the genuine, unconditional love I saw in this woman, not only for Gentiles but for me, a Jew. We continued discussing the Messiah and the Bible. In fact, Carol gave me my first Bible.

After a while, she began inviting me to visit her church. I finally agreed -- but was scared! I wouldn't have gone at all if I hadn't had so much love and respect for this fine woman.

In the Bible class Carol took me to, the instructor taught on Genesis 1. I was amazed that my first time in a church would begin this way. The truths I learned that day enthralled me so much that I came back the following two weeks to hear more.

Requesting a sign

One night I lay awake, trying to coordinate what I had learned with what I believed. "Lord," I said, "if You are real, if this is true that Jesus is the Son of God, I am ready to surrender my life to Him 100 percent. But I'd like something in return.

"Just give me one sign that You are real. If You do, I will give my life to You. Genesis 1:1 says, 'In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.' But what about before that? Can You show me from this Book?"

Divine revelation

I opened my Bible, and a verse leaped out at me, burning into my mind: "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began" (Proverbs 8:22, 23, NIV).

I sat there on my bed shaking, tingling, exhilarated. I knew then that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Messiah -- my Redeemer!

Dream come true

I felt I had to call my mother and tell her, even if she disinherited me. Praying for strength and wisdom, I called her, with my Bible nearby. The words that tumbled from my mouth were not my own; they were inspired by God.

When I finished, I got the surprise of my life. "Jerry, I believe every word you are saying," my mother said. "In fact, when you were born, I had a dream that you were a son of Jesus and that you would lead me to the Lord. I have waited for this for thirty years!"

Completion

The next time I attended Carol's church, I went forward to confess my faith in Christ. But when I received the letter from the pastor about baptism, I thought, How can I go through with this? Have I lost my mind? In my days as a psychologist, I worked with people in a mental institution who thought the way I was thinking now.

Then early one morning I had a dream. The Lord was commanding me to be baptized wearing my yalmalka (Jewish worship cap). When I awoke, I felt exhilarated about getting baptized.

As I stood in the baptismal pool with my yalmalka, the presence of Jesus was so real to me! When the pastor brought me up out of the water, I was amazed that my yalmalka was still on. Afterward a man in my church said to me, "Jerry, you are now a completed Jew." I loved it!

Shortly after that, I drove home to Pennsylvania. I could hardly wait to tell my mother in person about my baptism, but I felt fearful about it. "Mom," I said, "there's a commandment."

"Yes, baptism!" she exclaimed. I stared at her; she knew! So I started telling her about the baptism and the yalmalka, but she interrupted. "Son, if you are going to tell me that the yalmalka stayed on your head during the baptism and didn't come off, I will agree to be baptized!"

New desire

One day when I got caught in a traffic jam, I thought, I ought to tell Carol how much I love her. So I opened my Bible while waiting at a red light -- right to Colossians 1:27: "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (NIV).

That's it! I thought. I don't love Carol or her husband, Tom, or any of these other Christians for themselves. I love "Christ in them"!

And that is now my desire in life: that others may see the love of Christ in me.

Meet Muriel Larson

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