In Depth:  Ziggy Rogoff

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The Jewishness of the Gospels proves they're true

The Jewishness of the Gospels proves they're true
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

When speaking to Jewish and Gentile friends you might have heard the accusation that the Gospel accounts were written centuries after the life of Jesus. Or even that Jesus is a legend disconnected from the realities of first-century Israel.

Yet the evidence tells a different story: the overwhelming number of manuscripts, and very early manuscripts, and citations by church fathers like Clement (c. 95 AD), confirm that the Gospels were in circulation within decades of the events they describe.

Compassion in the face of unbelief

Compassion in the face of unbelief
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

I once had a conversation with an Orthodox Jewish man who told me he would not discuss Jesus with me. His words were striking: “Speaking to you is like speaking with a Holocaust denier. Would you listen to a Holocaust denier? For the same reason, I won’t listen to anything you have to say.”

For this man, the resurrection of Jesus seemed to belong in the category of outrageous falsehood, unworthy of consideration.

Bondi Beach: When Jewish history repeats itself

Bondi Beach: When Jewish history repeats itself
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

Bondi Beach forces our wider society to ask the difficult question. Why are Jewish people not safe? Hanukkah offers a powerful lens through which to do that.

The history of Hanukkah

Hanukkah commemorates events recorded in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, set in the second century BCE. At that time, the Jewish people lived under the rule of the Seleucid Empire, governed by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus outlawed Jewish religious practices, desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem, and attempted to force Jewish people to abandon their faith and identity. This was not merely political control; it was cultural and religious erasure.

Jewish identity: Ethnicity first, religion second

Jewish identity: Ethnicity first, religion second
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

Jewish people are a diverse people.

Some are assimilated and live much like their neighbours. Others wear black clothes with distinct black hats and preserve what they call a Torah-observant life. There are Liberal Jews, Conservative Jews, Charedi Jews, atheist Jews, and every kind of Jew in between. Some are very religious, others not at all. But they are all Jewish.

Loving our Jewish friends in the wake of tragedy

Loving our Jewish friends in the wake of tragedy
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

This week (7 October) marked two years since the world witnessed, with horror, a modern-day pogrom, events that shocked the modern conscience. And just last week, two British Jewish men were shot dead outside a synagogue in Manchester. How must the Jewish community be feeling?

This moment is not only about the fear and loss of the present; it’s also a reminder of deep, generational wounds.

Jewish tradition and radically different interpretations of the Bible

Jewish tradition and radically different interpretations of the Bible
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

Jewish tradition is rich with interpretation, layers of meaning passed down through oral teachings, commentaries, and midrash.

Many modern Orthodox Jews hold these traditions in high regard, often giving more weight to the oral interpretations than to the written text of the Bible itself.

Rediscovering the Jewish roots of the Gospels

Rediscovering the Jewish roots of the Gospels
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

In today's world, where Christianity is seen as distinct from Judaism, it's easy to overlook the profound Jewish roots of the New Testament. Yet, understanding the Gospels through a Jewish lens can transform our evangelism when speaking to Jewish people.

The Jewish identity of Jesus and His message

One of the most common objections to Jesus being the Messiah is that His message doesn’t seem Jewish. But Yeshua (Jesus) isn’t just Jewish; He is the Jewish King. The gospel is a message for all people but especially for Jewish people, as they were the recipients of God's promises. This good news remains as relevant for Jewish people today as it was in the first century, when 3,000 Jewish men received the Holy Spirit during the Jewish festival of Pentecost. Understanding that the gospel is rooted in Jewish culture will help you approach your Jewish friends with confidence, knowing that Jesus' message speaks directly to what it truly means to be Jewish.

Jewish people still come to Jesus

Jewish people still come to Jesus
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

There is something undeniably powerful about a personal testimony. It’s real, it’s living, and it carries the undeniable mark of God’s hand at work.

Recently, I had lunch with some Jewish friends who do not recognise Jesus as the Messiah. Instead of debating theology or trying to construct the perfect argument, I simply shared a testimony — Oli’s story. I didn’t have to persuade, argue, or convince. The testimony did the work for me, and it can for you too.

Sharing Jesus with your Jewish friend

Sharing Jesus with your Jewish friend
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

You are an evangelical wanting to share the gospel with your Jewish friend.

Last year, you invited them to the carol service at Christmas, but they didn’t want to come. In January, you tried again to open a conversation about Jesus at the water cooler, and they shut you down with the answer, 'But I’m Jewish; this is not for me!'

'What do you mean?': The most important question in mission

'What do you mean?': The most important question in mission
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

When sharing the gospel, we seek to contextualise without compromising, so that people can better understand concepts of sin, salvation and Messiah without being waylaid in unfamiliar ‘Christianese’. But we also remember that it is God who works through these interactions, and only He can save.

People bring their own attitudes into gospel interactions, ranging from hostile to friendly, and while their response is beyond our control, our commitment to godliness remains unwavering as we strive to make Jesus known. In fact, when people get mad with us it means something in their heart is moving.

Reaching our Jewish friends with the gospel

Reaching our Jewish friends with the gospel
Ziggy Rogoff
Ziggy Rogoff

I work with the charity Jews for Jesus. I live in a Jewish area. My neighbours are Jewish, the clubs I attend draw many Jewish people, and those I meet along the way are Jewish. However, all this said, most Jewish people hear the gospel from a gentile.

So, the first thing I encourage you to think about is, how do I go about meeting Jewish people? Do you meet Jewish people in your neighbourhood, or at work or on holiday?

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