Was Jesus Sent Only to Israel?

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Muslims often “preach” that Jesus did not come for the whole world but came only for the Jews. Then, they claim that Muhammad is the true prophet because he came for the entire world. The scripture they use to oppose Jesus’ prophethood to the world is what Jesus said when speaking with the Canaanite woman (that is, a non-Jew), who was asking Jesus to heal her daughter.

It is written:
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 15:26).

God is a God of order and perfect timing. That’s why He didn’t create everyone at once. He started with just one person, and from that person, we all came. Similarly, He began by revealing Himself to just one nation in the entire world. From there, salvation spreads to all nations. It’s a clear fact that, except for Israel, all other peoples in the world originally worshiped other gods (that is, demons). Only Israel began with the true God.

That’s why when the Lord Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He told her:

"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews." (John 4:22).

Salvation comes from the Jews because no other nation in the world knew the true God—all had pagan religions—whether white, African, Indian, Arab, etc. That is the truth.

To say that Jesus did not come for all nations is the same as saying, because God only created Adam and Eve, then He is not the God of my family since He didn’t create me the same way He created Adam.

One day, Jesus spoke to His disciples and told them:

"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47).

Do you see that the Gospel was to begin at Jerusalem? And do you also see that He says all nations will be preached in His name? Are all nations only Israel?

The Canaanite woman came at a time that was not yet her time. That was the time for preaching the Gospel to Israel first, then to the whole world.

Below are further words from the Lord Jesus Himself confirming that He was sent to all nations worldwide and that He is the Messiah of God, anointed by the Holy Spirit to redeem the entire world.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19).
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17).
"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47).
"I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold; I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:15-16).
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14).

Let me conclude by reiterating a few things I have said. God has always started something with just one person.

• He created one man, then we all came from him.

• He revealed Himself to one nation, then we all came to know Him.

• He began with one Son (Jesus), and then we are all born by faith in Him.

• Likewise, He brought salvation to one nation, Israel, and then it spreads everywhere—that’s why He tells the Samaritan woman at the well, “Salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22).

This pattern of starting with one person or place is proof that all those who comfort themselves with sayings like “all religions are different paths that lead to God” are deceiving themselves and wasting their time and their eternal life! "Salvation is from the Jews"—that is, THROUGH JESUS ALONE!

So, because the time for the spread of salvation had not yet come (since God moves according to His schedule and timing), that is why He told the Canaanite woman (a non-Jew) that He was sent only to Israel.

But when the fullness of time came, that is, after He died and rose again, we see Him commissioning His apostles to go to the whole world.

And the Bible clearly states:
"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." (Ephesians 2:11-16).

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Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute