Where did all these Gentile Christians come from?

Throwing Jesus off a cliff is not the recommended way to respond to his message.
(Picture credit:http://kingofpeace.org/images/jesusoffthecliff.png)

Where did all these Gentiles come from?

If you are like me, you are not Jewish. If you're not Jewish, you are a Gentile. Those are the only two options: Jew or Gentile. But whether you are Jewish or Gentile, perhaps you stopped to think about this fact: the vast majority of Christians are Gentiles, who worship a man they believe to be the Jewish Messiah.* 

The Old Testament (or the Tanakh, as my Jewish friends call it) was written by Jewish people, for Jewish people, and about the God who specifically chose the nation of Israel for his people. 

Yahweh, the Lord, was indeed "the God of Israel." Gentiles, meanwhile, historically worshiped pagan deities like Baal, Asherah, Ra, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, etc. Yet today Christians, the majority of whom are descendants of those pagan-god-worshipers of ages past, worship the God of Israel. Why the switch? 

The answer comes from today's reading: Luke 4:16-30. Read it before you read on. 

Now, let's break down what's happening here. 

Jesus has returned to his hometown of Nazareth. 

Prior to this, he has been traveling around Galilee, preaching in synagogues. He had withstood the temptation of Satan, and he has begun his public ministry. 

Jesus preaches to the Nazarenes who have gathered in the synagogue (think church-meets-community-center). 

Jesus' controversial sermon

Jesus begins his sermon by reading from an ancient prophecy from Isaiah, about the "Lord's Servant." Basically, Jesus says that he is the Lord's Servant, and he has come to bring God's favor to the poor in spirit, the blind, and the captives. 

At first, the people marvel. They compliment him and speak well of him. But they maintain a sense of indifference and skepticism: "Is this not Joseph's son?" They were willing to call him a good teacher, but they knew him. They grew up with him. He was like them--nothing too special. 

When Jesus reads the situation, he says, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself.'" Jesus then tells them that no prophet is ever accepted by the people from his hometown. He predicts that they will demand that he do miracles. In other words, he know's they are going to say, "You think you're special? Prove it to us, Big Shot!"

Jesus then changes the tone of his sermon. Charles Spurgeon, in his sermon about this passage, points out that Jesus does not just want to wow them. He wants to move them. Jesus has come to save, and right now these people do not believe he is the savior. 

They think that, because Jesus grew up in their midst, he owes them some proof that he really is the Messiah. What Jesus says next is amazing. 

A scathing history lesson

Jesus gives the Nazarene people a history lesson. He recalls two of ancient Israel's prophets (Elijah and Elisha) who performed miracles for people in desperate need of help. Jesus points out that, although there were plenty of Israelis who had been in need, Elijah and Elisha helped Gentiles. What was Jesus saying in saying this?

This was the lesson: when it comes to God, he is going to save whomever he chooses. No one people could claim the right to special favor from God, simply because of their genes. 

This is a theme echoed throughout Scripture: the people God chooses are often the ones everybody would least expect. 

The Nazarenes' true colors 

After Jesus' little history lesson, the Nazarenes show their true colors by becoming enraged--so much so, in fact, that they mob Jesus, force him out of the Synagogue, and try to throw him off a cliff. They transform from "nice religious folks" to would-be murderers! So much for their being worthy of special favor from God. They have just proven Jesus right. 

This passage teaches us that no one is born worthy of special favor from God. The people we think ought to be the ultimate insiders with God are often the ones who miss him. 

God's free gift 

So, why are there so many Gentiles in the Church today? Why are so many non-Israelis worshiping the God of Israel? 

We have seen that it can't be because Gentiles are somehow more worthy than Jewish people. In light of this passage, for anyone to claim favored status with God based on their race would be absurd! Every last one of us is a sinner, and we are separated from God because of our sin. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). "Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin" (Romans 3:9). How, then, could we claim to earn God's love in and of ourselves?

No, it is simply because of God's grace. God chooses outsiders. He does not show favoritism. He picks the unworthy. He saves the unrighteous. This is good news for Gentiles like me. "Salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22)--that is, the nation of Israel produced the Jewish Messiah. But salvation is open to everyone. 

It is a free gift, and it is given to whoever believes in Jesus as savior and Lord. And who makes that decision to believe? The ones God has chosen. 

How else do you explain over 2 billion Gentiles--former pagans--pledging their allegiance to the Jewish savior? Many of these believers make the decision to follow Jesus in the midst of cultures that are vehemently anti-Christian. 

That kind of faith, the kind that causes people to reject their culture and upbringing (often in the face of severe persecution) is miraculous. There are no bragging rights available to Christians. We are merely the ones who recognize our utter, abject lostness apart from God and our urgent need of a Savior. 

Jesus is that savior. And whether you are Jewish or Gentile, you can trust in him today. Is God calling you?

If you would like to know more about how to be saved and be reconciled with the God of Israel (and the whole cosmos), please shoot me an email today at jsettecase@gracepointe.us. God bless you, my friend. 

*****
Joel Settecase is the Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Student Ministries at Grace Pointe Plainfield, located at 143rd St. & Route 30. 

*"Messiah" means "Anointed One." This is a religious and prophetic term from the Jewish Scriptures, which referred to a king, sent from God, who would save God's people.