King of the Jews

While this post may seem obvious to say the least, it has been such a reoccurring theme this semester I feel as if I must share it with you.

Christ is King of the JEWS. From the beginning of the pages of Scripture, God was preparing a people for Himself. The Jews were the ones to whom God would reveal Himself, and later send His Son "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples... but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers... know therefore, that the Lord your God, He is God" (Deut 7:7-8).

As I walked through Jerusalem, stood on the site of the Fortress of Zion in the City of David, and sloshed through Hezekiah's tunnel, all I could think about was "this is the city of God". He ordained the events of the Old Testament, worked through His prophets, and set His love upon these people, in THIS place! "Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, the city of the great King" (Psalm 48:2).

Christianity is a distinctly Jewish faith. It seems so obvious, yet the truth is still one to reflect upon. When Jesus came to earth, He was born a Jew and the majority of His ministry was to the Jewish people.When a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus to beg for help, His reply is astounding "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel... It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs" (Matt 15:27). Does this mean that Gentiles were never a part of God's plan? Of course not. But the unfathomable nature of the grace of God is even more wonderful when one understands the breadth of His mercy in offering it to us Gentiles.
"Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud him, ALL peoples! For His lovingkindness is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 117).

And yet, the people here are so lost. To them was given the Law and the Prophets! Israel was the nation where God worked and sent His only Beloved Son and they have chosen to reject Him! My heart breaks for them. I watch them as they go to the synagogues, wearing their tassels and yarmulkes, and all I can think is "You missed it!" It is a warning to us. A knowledge of the truth does not save, nor does a history of God working. We would do well to heed the warning of Hebrews, to "pay close attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it... how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (2:1,3)

Praise the Lord for saving our souls! May we never forget the breadth of His grace in extending salvation to us Gentiles, and may it compel us to live daily as ministers of that grace!