Episode 159 - Why Most Jewish People Reject Jesus - And How That Can Change (featuring Murray Tullis)
Helping Christians make sense of their roots. Helping the Jewish community make sense of Jesus. Together, we are restoring the Jewishness of the gospel.
For many Christians, the divide between the church and the Jewish people feels ancient and immovable. But every divide has a story - and far too often, it’s a story Christians never heard.
In this episode, we sit down with long-time friend and ministry leader Murray Tilles of Light of Messiah Ministries to uncover why Jesus remains such a point of pain for many Jewish families, and why the church’s calling toward Israel is more urgent than ever.
Murray shares his own journey from a deeply religious Jewish upbringing in North Carolina to the moment he prayed “in Jesus’ name” - words he never imagined he would say.
His story isn’t abstract.
It’s threaded with family tension, synagogue life, anti-Semitism, and the surprising power of Scripture to reshape identity. And it’s a window into the very real barriers Jewish people face when confronted with a “Christian” Jesus who feels historically disconnected from their people.
Together, we explore why the New Testament is far more Jewish than most Christians realize, why Paul’s “to the Jew first” mission still matters today, and how today’s rising anti-Semitism is creating unexpected openness among Jewish communities - if the church knows how to build trust.
Murray helps believers move from abstract support to real relational bridge-building, from sentiment to substance, from generic evangelism to meaningful connection rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness.
Key Takeaways
Many Jewish people associate Jesus with centuries of suffering done “in His name,” making belief in Him feel like a betrayal of their people.
Murray’s journey began not with pressure but with Scripture - especially Isaiah 53 - leading him into a relationship with Israel’s own Messiah.
Paul’s model was never “either Israel or the nations.” His strategy was always “to the Jew first,” expecting the church to carry that mantle.
Replacement theology remains one of the biggest obstacles preventing Christians from seeing Scripture as one unified story.
Today’s cultural moment - including post-October 7 Jewish vulnerability - has opened new doors for relationship and witness.
Simple gestures - apples and honey, Hanukkah blessings, relationship-first approaches - create space for meaningful spiritual conversations.
The continued existence of the Jewish people is itself a testimony to God’s covenant promises and ongoing plan for Israel and the world.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:19 – Meeting Murray & Ministry Connections
00:58 – Growing Up in a Religious Jewish Home
03:15 – Encountering Scripture for the First Time
04:19 – Discovering Jesus in the New Testament
05:28 – Family Tension, Cost, and Reconciliation
07:43 – Why Jesus Is Hard for Jewish People
09:57 – Anti-Semitism, History, and Misunderstanding
14:37 – The Jewishness of Jesus
17:39 – The Church’s Calling “To the Jew First”
22:51 – How Light of Messiah Reaches Jewish People
26:56 – Openness Since October 7
30:22 – Conspiracy Theories & Rising Confusion
33:06 – God’s Faithfulness to Preserve Israel
36:22 – How to Connect With Murray & Next Steps
Explore more resources, episodes, and guides at thejewishroad.com.
Connect with Murray Tilles and Light of Messiah Ministries at LightofMessiah.org and on Instagram @LightOfMessiahATL.
Learn about the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism at lcje-na.org, including the upcoming Atlanta conference.
Become one of The Few who stand with us and help advance this work at thejewishroad.com.
Thank you to Joshua Royal, for writing our closer song now running seven seasons straight. Listen to him at Joshua Royal Music.
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