Driven: Compelled to Missions by Christ’s Loveনমুনা

House of Prayer for All Nations

Before leaving the Earth, Jesus would tell His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations,” or ethne, people groups beyond their own. But to our knowledge Jesus never traveled outside of a small area in Israel. How could He expect His followers to have a heart for the Gentiles beyond their reach?

Gentiles—non-Jewish people—had appeared in Jesus’ life before His public ministry started. Jesus likely had listened to His parents tell about the wise men from east of Israel who had visited with gifts. Israel remained territory occupied by Rome, so Gentile officials and soldiers came and lived among the Jewish people. As a 12-year-old observing the Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus likely had seen many worshippers who didn’t speak Aramaic, possibly from Gentile nations. As an occupied people, however, many Jews must have felt that, at best, Gentiles should be left alone.

Jesus showed that He wanted other people groups to feel welcome among the Jews. As an adult embarking on His first year of ministry and training of His own disciples, Jesus caused an uproar in the Court of the Gentiles on the perimeter of Herod’s temple. With a whip He scattered people trading in sacrifices and changing money, driving out the animals as well. He reprised this belligerent act near the end of His ministry, quoting Isaiah where the Lord says of foreigners who want to follow Him, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Jesus, like His Father, wanted people from anywhere to feel free to worship the True God at His temple. How could Gentiles hear or worship with sheep bleating all around them?

Can we pray today that people groups far from God (but maybe near to us) will be able to hear about Jesus, that God will send people to tell them?