God's Purposes With IsraelΔείγμα

Day 5 - Salvation is from the Jews

You may never have thought of Jesus as part of God's plan for Israel, but Jesus was completely Jewish. In fact, the apostle John was so convinced of this that in the introduction to his Gospel, he identifies Jesus with the Torah. Jesus is the “incarnate Word of God” - a kind of walking Bible.

Jesus had fierce disagreements with the scribes. This could give you the impression that what Jesus proclaimed differed from what the Judaism of His day taught. But that is not entirely correct. In the Jewish literature of Jesus' day, you find many unexpected similarities with what Jesus taught. And really, that shouldn't surprise us.

Nowhere does Jesus claim that the Torah has ceased to be relevant. On the contrary! In Matthew 5:17-18, He says, “Think not that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until the heavens and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

So Jesus was also convinced of what God intended with Israel. You can see that reflected when He says to the Samaritan woman, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). He Himself also saw His work as part of God's plan with Israel. To a Canaanite woman He even says, “I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

The apostle Paul beautifully summarizes how Jesus' work here on earth fits into God's plan for Israel. He came as the “servant of circumcision” to “confirm God's promises to the fathers.” That was the promise to Abraham! As Paul explains further, we read why He came; “so that the Gentiles might glorify God because of His mercy.”

Thank God today for His wonderful plan of salvation for the world.