Judaism, the religion of the Jews, have different categories to classify the Gentiles (non-Jews) even today. There are those who are "righteous" Gentiles - ethical monotheists, no matter what religion they practice. They are bound by Noah's seven commandments, but these Gentiles are not part of the Jewish "society." Then there are those "righteous" Gentiles who desire to join the Jewish society. These Gentiles go to their court and promise to live by the Jewish Law (613 commandments). The last category is comprised of those Gentiles who are idolaters. They don't care about entering Jewish society and don't care about becoming ethical monotheists. Jews stay away from them and avoid mixing with them.
In Jesus' day, when the Temple was functional, Gentiles were not allowed to worship together with Jews. They had to gather in a different courtyard altogether. There were different areas of worship and the further away from the ark of the covenant (holy of holies), the less important. The first area was designated for the priests. The second area was for Israel. The third courtyard was for women. And the last and furthest one surrounding all others, was for the Gentiles to worship. The Gentiles were treated like second class citizens even if they converted to Judaism.
Peter's message to Cornelius and his family is that God shows no partiality! That's the message of the Gospel. He explains that the Jesus the Jews killed was the one God sent to preach the good news of the Gospel and God raised him from the dead calling them to continue to preach the good news. This Jesus is the one that the prophets proclaimed. And without exception, everyone who believes in his name is granted forgiveness of sins. And to seal the truth of Peter's preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers in Cornelius' home causing them to speak in tongues and praise God. The fact that Gentiles enjoyed the same gifts from God was evidence enough to understand that God shows no partiality. Jew and Gentile are to be treated with equality.
In a world filled with prejudice and racism, we make distinctions by ethnicity, skin color, nose size, height, education, socio-economic status, political views, theological views, etc, etc, etc. This is contrary to the Gospel! God is calling people from all nations to come to him and worship him as one, bringing down the barriers that divide us. The Church should strive to be a place of integration for believers coming from all kinds of different backgrounds. There is no room for partiality in the kingdom! The Gospel calls us to renounce prejudice and racism. In the kingdom of God there is no white, black, yellow or brown church. There is only one Church!
I must learn to love my brothers and sisters from all countries around the world as well as my brothers and sisters from around Chicagoland. I should not judge them for their looks or for their past life. Ex-gangsters, ex-addicts, ex-prostitutes as well as the homeless and the poor, no matter their country of origin, should be viewed as brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Father, teach me to love all people. Break down the barriers in my heart that hold me back from loving as you love. Fill me with your Spirit and pour your love in my heart free from prejudice and racism. Amen.
Showing posts with label the Jews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Jews. Show all posts
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Acts 9:19b-25 Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
After the amazing encounter that Saul had with the resurrected Christ, he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues. Jesus impacted his life so powerfully that he could not hold back from proclaiming him. He went directly to the synagogues to share Jesus. What has been the impact of Jesus upon my life? Am I willing to proclaim his name? or am I still hiding in the shadows afraid of what people may think of me? Paul did not care one bit what his own fellow Jews would think of him. All that mattered was to proclaim Jesus and it was a priority, not just an accident. Am I making the proclamation of Jesus a priority in my life?
His message was simple: "He is the Son of God." Referring to Jesus as the Christ, the promised one, the Messiah. Paul set out to prove that Jesus was the one the Jews were waiting for and he used the Scriptures to do so. He even confounded the Jews with his message, he amazed many with the power of his argument. It is not enough for me to believe that Jesus existed. It is not enough to believe that he was a good man, a healer who was concerned for the sick. It is not enough to believe that Jesus was a prophet with a powerful message and wisdom that no one could oppose. It is necessary that I believe and proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, God among us, the Christ who died for my sins, resurrected from the dead, and now at the right hand of the Father.
Saul's conversion and message is one of the most powerful evidences of our Christian faith even today. How do you explain the change of heart of a man who was learned in the Law and was set against the Church willing to kill Christians to defend his beliefs and spare the world from such heresies? How do explain the behavior of a man willing to risk his status and reputation among his fellow Jews to the point of risking his own life? The transformation of a man like this is due to the power of the Gospel, the reality of an encounter with Christ himself. There is no other way to explain it. Jesus Christ touched Saul's life and changed it forever!
The Jews were amazed and confounded by Saul's conversion and preaching, but still they plotted against his life. The man who went to Damascus with authority to capture and drag Christians back to Jerusalem to be judged, became a believer himself and his life was in danger. The hunter became the hunted, not because the original prey became the hunter; he abandoned the other hunters to join the prey. Saul was lowered in a basket through a hole in the wall to avoid a certain death in the hands of the Jews. Am I willing to take such risks for the sake of my beliefs? Am I willing to accept the fact that while in this world, Christians will always be hated and hunted given the opportunity? Christians are like sheep in the midst of wolves. Would I rather be a wolf?
Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to the world. Help me understand clearly his work on my behalf on the cross so that I may proclaim him without fear or reservation. Fill me with boldness and courage to proclaim his name. Help me stand firm in my faith until the end. Amen.
His message was simple: "He is the Son of God." Referring to Jesus as the Christ, the promised one, the Messiah. Paul set out to prove that Jesus was the one the Jews were waiting for and he used the Scriptures to do so. He even confounded the Jews with his message, he amazed many with the power of his argument. It is not enough for me to believe that Jesus existed. It is not enough to believe that he was a good man, a healer who was concerned for the sick. It is not enough to believe that Jesus was a prophet with a powerful message and wisdom that no one could oppose. It is necessary that I believe and proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate, God among us, the Christ who died for my sins, resurrected from the dead, and now at the right hand of the Father.
Saul's conversion and message is one of the most powerful evidences of our Christian faith even today. How do you explain the change of heart of a man who was learned in the Law and was set against the Church willing to kill Christians to defend his beliefs and spare the world from such heresies? How do explain the behavior of a man willing to risk his status and reputation among his fellow Jews to the point of risking his own life? The transformation of a man like this is due to the power of the Gospel, the reality of an encounter with Christ himself. There is no other way to explain it. Jesus Christ touched Saul's life and changed it forever!
The Jews were amazed and confounded by Saul's conversion and preaching, but still they plotted against his life. The man who went to Damascus with authority to capture and drag Christians back to Jerusalem to be judged, became a believer himself and his life was in danger. The hunter became the hunted, not because the original prey became the hunter; he abandoned the other hunters to join the prey. Saul was lowered in a basket through a hole in the wall to avoid a certain death in the hands of the Jews. Am I willing to take such risks for the sake of my beliefs? Am I willing to accept the fact that while in this world, Christians will always be hated and hunted given the opportunity? Christians are like sheep in the midst of wolves. Would I rather be a wolf?
Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to the world. Help me understand clearly his work on my behalf on the cross so that I may proclaim him without fear or reservation. Fill me with boldness and courage to proclaim his name. Help me stand firm in my faith until the end. Amen.
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