I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
John 10:16
We know from Scripture that the Gospel was meant for the whole world. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, wherever they are. What about during His life and ministry? Did He interact with any non-Jews? Or was He being exclusive up to a certain point in time? After all, in one particular passage, Jesus told His disciples as He sent them out only to minister to Jews (Matthew 10:5–6).
Technically, we could look at non-Jews in the life of Jesus starting with the Magi, or Wise Men (Matthew 2:1–2). They came from the East to visit Jesus as a young child, possibly of toddler age. The East at that time would have included Babylon and Persia. So, you could say that this was His first interaction with Gentiles.
During Jesus’ three and a half years of ministry, there were a couple more notable interactions with Gentiles. There was the Roman Centurion with the paralyzed servant (Matthew 8:5–13). There was also the Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon possessed (Matthew 15:21–28). Jesus changed lives in both stories.
You could also argue that any ministry to the Samaritans was viewed as non-Jewish. Most were half-Jews and were treated as second-class citizens due to their idolatry and intermarriage with foreigners. Jesus went to one of their villages and changed an adulterous woman’s life, which led to many other Samaritans also believing in Him (John 4:1–42).
It is worth noting that Doctor Luke was believed to be Greek. While he was not one of the disciples, he was close with Paul. God obviously had a calling on him to accurately record both the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke and the beginning of the early church in the book of Acts. Aren’t we glad that he did?!
Even with His primary focus on the Jewish people during His ministry, Christ commissioned His disciples—and us—to the ends of the earth to spread His love to all nations (Mathew 28:19; Mark 11:17; Acts 1:8). There is a good example of this truth taking hold in the story of the Apostle Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10. Through a vision from God, Peter and his companions were shown that the household of this Italian Centurion—and subsequently all Gentiles—could receive salvation, the Holy Spirit, and baptism (verses 44–48).
Give thanks to God today for being invited into His ever-expanding Jew and Gentile family!
