Our Lord's Earthly Ministry

Biblical Discernment
d_jjackson@hotmail.com
Earthly Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ
First Advent

Many will be surprised to learn that our Lord’s earthly ministry [first advent] was primarily to one people – Israel.

It is true that He ministered to the Roman Centurion, the Samaritan women at the well and the Syrophenician woman. We will look at those encounters first.

The Centurion – Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10.

The Samaritan – John 4:5-38.

The Syrophenician woman – Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30.

Some Greeks seek the Lord Jesus – John 12:20ff – There is no Biblical record that He gave them an audience.

In the matter of the Centurion, Samaritan and Syrophenican, the Biblical record indicates that they all came to the Lord Jesus. The Centurion was a friend of Israel and had built them a synagogue. Could this have been Cornelius? The Lord told the Samaritan woman that “…salvation is of the Jews” [John 4:22]. The Lord called the Syrophencian woman a [cur] dog. Israel must first be fed [Mark 7:27]. When she addressed Him as “son of David” He refused to respond to her. She had no claim to Him as “son of David.” When she addressed Him as “Lord,” He responded. All of these non-Jews reached over a dispensational barrier and received “kingdom” blessings from the Lord during His earthly ministry. Was this a foretaste of the Gentiles coming into “kingdom" blessings as foretold by the prophets? Remember, the Body of Christ was never the subject of OT prophecy.

The Lord’s earthly ministry – The Lord Jesus’ public ministry begins in Matthew 4:12. Note verse 17, His message was essentially the same as John the Baptist’s; “Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” cf. Matthew 3:2. In Matthew 4:23 He is preaching the “gospel of the kingdom.” What is this gospel? Does it include His death, burial and resurrection? Are we to proclaim the “gospel of the kingdom” in this dispensation? In Matthew 9:35 He continues this gospel. Note that it includes miracles. Now we come to Matthew chapter 10 where He sends the 12 out:

Vs 5 – “……..go not into the way of the Gentiles [or Samaritans]…;
Vs 6 – “…go….to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The twelve were to proclaim the kingdom of heaven at hand and miracles accompanied their ministry. Notice that in the dispensation of the grace of God we “walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Matthew 15:21-28 – This is the account of the Syrophenician woman. You will recall that the Lord blessed her only after she recognized her subservient role to Israel. Now note Vs 24 – “…..I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Paul verifies this fact in Romans 15:8 – “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers…..” He further indicates that the Law was still in effect when our Lord came in His first advent – Galatians 4:4, 5.

So we see that the Lord Jesus Christ ministered to three non-Jews [as far as the Biblical record goes] who came to Him. He sent the twelve to the “lost sheep” of Israel and told the Gentile woman that He was “sent only to the lost sheep” of Israel.

What does all this tell us? The prophetic plan was for Israel to come to the Lord first. They in turn would evangelize the Gentile world. Israel rejected the Lord Jesus and was set aside [temporarily] in Acts 28. They, today, are Lo-ammi [not my people] during this dispensation of the grace of God. But God will once more take up with Israel after the “fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25. The present church-age is a parentheses.