October 7, 2024 5:00 pm
As we continue our study of Jesus in the Old and New Testaments, we will talk about prophecies of the Messiah coming to save all nations, Jews and Gentiles alike. God is a God of all, not just Israel. He created the whole world and everything in it. He created mankind in His own image, and He loves each and every one of us. He sent His Son to pay for all of our sins and be a sacrifice for all. Jesus is the Redeemer of everyone. All who believe. No exceptions. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
God made a promise that salvation would come to Jews and Gentiles alike. His Son would come to redeem all of us. He would not only literally heal the blind and the sick, but He would free us of the bondage of sin.
Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria…
The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
As the scripture says, Jesus needed to go through Samaria. His intention was to meet the woman at the well. Most of us know the story. He tells her that He has living water. He tells her that the day is coming when everyone…Jew and Gentile…will worship our Lord. He was there to spread the good news to the Gentiles, to the Samaritans. And He would do it through this woman. He would be known by the outcasts, by the common people and by those of authority.
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.”
Much of Jesus’ Ministry was to the people in Israel. But as we have seen, many, even in His own hometown, rejected Him. Yet others as with the woman at the well and the Samaritans she brought to Him, accepted and believed. Even rulers bowed down to Him and had faith such as the Magi from the east when he was still a small child and the Roman Centurion in the account below.
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Jesus is a Light to the Gentiles, even to this day. Jesus would be the One we seek.
“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.”
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “FOR THIS REASON I WILL CONFESS TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING TO YOUR NAME.” And again he says: “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE!” And again: “PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES! LAUD HIM, ALL YOU PEOPLES!” And again, Isaiah says: “THERE SHALL BE A ROOT OF JESSE; AND HE WHO SHALL RISE TO REIGN OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM THE GENTILES SHALL HOPE.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Many Gentiles would come to Him, not only during His time on earth, but throughout the ages. Jesus sent Paul to share the good news of His sacrifice and resurrection, that Jesus Christ is Lord and only through Him are we saved, to the Gentiles. Paul went throughout Asia and to Rome to spread the gospel and many were saved by grace through faith. That gives us all hope and all of us reason to rejoice no matter who we are or where we come from.
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
To me, this was an odd conversation. In every other instance, Jesus usually heals without hesitation. But here, I am not sure if this is a test for the woman, or to remind the disciples that His main ministry was here on earth and the time would come for the Gentiles. But there was a purpose that He traveled into gentile land. After His encounter with the Pharisees and their rejection of Him, this showed that true faith comes from the heart. Though He was rejected by His own people, He would give hope among the Gentiles.
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Jesus Christ opened the door for all of us to be part of the family of God. We are no longer foreigners. The wall has been torn down, the veil was torn. There is no more separation between God and man, Jew and gentile, slave and free. All who believe are saved. All who believe are adopted as a child of God. Praise God!
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Thank God that He provided a way to bring all of us into His kingdom. I am so thankful knowing that I have been adopted through the blood of Christ. Though I am a Gentile, though my sins are many, Jesus paid the full penalty of my sins and declared me righteous and declared me a son and an heir.
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.
Posted by davesdailyscriptures
Categories: Jesus Christ, Promises of God, Prophecies
Tags: faith, gentiles, Israel, Jesus, Jews, promise, Samaria, world, worship
Mobile Site | Full Site
Get a free blog at WordPress.com Theme: WordPress Mobile Edition by Alex King.