The Resurrection of Jonah
After the gospel is preached to the Samaritans, the Jewish church took the gospel to the uncircumcised gentile. This development is truly startling. Historically, the Jews hated their enemies and wished only God's wrath upon them. We see this illustrated in the story of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet of Israel, whom God commanded to preach a message of warning to Israel's enemies, the Ninevites. Jonah strongly resisted God's instruction to preach to the Ninevites, but in the end, after spending three days and nights in the belly of a fish he is compelled to go. At the repentance of the Ninevites, Jonah "was greatly displeased and became angry." (Jonah 4:1) Jonah didn't want to go in the first place because he feared that the Ninevites would actually listen. He was afraid God might actually forgive them, which in fact he did.
Was the advent of the Gospel the first time the Gentiles had had the opportunity to be saved? The answer is "no". Even before the Gospel(Good News) of Jesus Christ was fulfilled, any Gentile who wanted to enter into God's covenant had always had the legal right to do so.
"An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the Lord's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you." Exodus 12:48-49
The story of Ruth and the story of Jonah had long ago illustrated God's love for the Gentiles. Jesus ministry revived the original emphasis of his father in heaven. God wanted all men to be saved from the very beginning.
God loved the Gentiles, even when they are "enemies" of Israel. Jesus properly applies the Torah when he says, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.'" Matt 5:43-48) This "new" saying is in full compliance with the work God did through the prophet Jonah.
It is not an accident that God used the story of Jonah in the belly of the whale as the parallel symbolism of the death burial and resurrection of his son Yashua Messiah. The result of Jonah's internment in the belly of the whale was salvation to the gentiles (Ninevites). The result of Jesus' internment in the heart of the earth was salvation to the gentiles (the whole world). Jesus earthly ministry reestablished and magnified the evangelistic nature of God's original purpose, as it had been intended from the beginning.
We tend to think that God chose Israel in rejection of the other nations but this is not the case. God had anticipated that his chosen people Israel should influence the nations for good. It is true that they were to remain separate and pure, but the purpose of this "sanctification" was to glorify God, not Israel. God's chosen people were to demonstrate his righteousness so the nations would be drawn to him. The Hebrew nation was not chosen for the sake of their righteousness but rather to fulfill God's promise to Abraham.
"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:17-18
Through Abraham, the whole world was to be blessed. (Gen 18:18) This blessing would be fulfilled only through obedience. We tend to think in terms of the Levites as a priesthood, but in fact, all Israel was chosen and sanctified (set apart) as a kingdom of priests. (Ex 19:6) Those who joined their ranks in obedience to God's commandments could enter the covenant relationship with God and be treated as full citizens.
"Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
Exodus 19:6
"I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."
Acts 13:47; Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:6
Unfortunately Israel was generally disobedient and became isolated and self absorbed, never realizing the full potential as a "light to the nations The Jewish nation had never fully lived up to its responsibility as a "priesthood".
"They stumble because they (Jews) disobey the message-which (message) is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into a great light. Once you were not a people (gentiles) but now you are (part of) the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-1
Gentiles were looked down upon and shunned as "unclean". Just as Jonah, after his "resurrection" is compelled to preach to the Ninevites, so Peter must be persuaded to take the message of God's salvation to the Gentiles. The mission was not "new" simply because the Jews did not accept or understand the mission. Gentile conversion was the major theological challenge for the early Jewish "church".
Jewish Expectations of Gentile Converts
After the conversion of Cornelius, some Jews from Cyprus and Cyrene began to speak the Gospel message to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus" (Acts 11:20). Salvation through Yashua's blood atonement was now preached to Jew and Gentile alike. The apostle Paul was not the first to reach out to the "Greeks" but his missionary methods were very effective in spreading the Gospel among the "god-fearing" Gentiles of his day. He says, "I have become all things to all men that I might save some."
Paul did not water down "righteousness" in order to reach people. Rather he met people where they were in order to lead them toward a proper relationship with God. Paul's Gospel emphasis was that people could enter salvation from wherever they might be both physically and spiritually by faith. However, his letters are thick with admonitions to build upon that faith through obedience and love. Often in his letters Paul is struggling with these people where they are. The Corinthian church, for example, is very often a good example of how not to be.
It is hard to find a solid definition of God's will in the New Testament. We have an admonition here, a commandment there. The writers speak of obedience and righteousness as self-evident concepts. Why is this? Righteousness and obedience are assumed because their definition is so clearly available to everyone through the Old Testament scriptures. Peter, Paul, James and all the Gospel writers quote from the Law and Prophets often enough that we should not be confused about the source of their authority. They are not pulling new commandments out of a hat.
The New Testament is not the source of God's will. This has already been elaborated in the Torah (the OT law). The New Testament tells us how we can overcome sin. It tells us that Jesus' sacrifice acomplished the heavenly requirements illustrated or "shadowed" in the OT sacrifical system. It tells us how we can overcome our imperfection in relation to God's perfect will. The will of God is not some ethereal idea. God's will is clearly defined for the whole world (including the Jews) in the Torah. Jesus did not come to "redefine" God's will. He did not come to establish a new religion or enact new commandments. God's will is and always has been, Biblically speaking, the Law applied in love. Jesus demonstrated the love of God through obedience. Obedience to what? Obedience to the Torah even unto death on a cross. He says to us, "take up your cross (also) and follow me." Jesus saved us from our sins true enough but we are called to obedience. Obedience to what? The whole Bible is clear on this. God's Torah is the definition of right and wrong. There is the path. Will you walk in it?
Gentiles are loved by God, saved by faith, and just like the Jew, demonstrate their love for God through obedience. "If you love me, you will obey what I command" John 14:15 "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:3-4 Next Article in this Series |
