Last time we left the hanging question, “Why does God delay bringing his kingdom into fullness now?” We spoke of how Jesus ushered in God’s kingdom in part five. We said that it is an “already-not yet” reality in which the blessings of God’s kingdom are already present here and now, but the fullness of God’s kingdom is still in the future, coming to completion when Jesus returns to make all things new. So to answer the question above, we must first understand Jesus’ mission.
When asked why Jesus came to earth, many people will respond with something like, “To save us from our sins.” The statement is accurate but incomplete. The reason is that this “already-not yet” time is for gathering the Jews first and then the Gentiles into God’s kingdom. The complete revelation of the kingdom is held back to allow Jesus’ renewed people to bear witness to the arrival of God’s saving work of salvation to all people. Jesus’ ministry on earth was a time of gathering for this mission.
The Old Testament prophets made it clear that the Gentiles would also be gathered into the people of God with the coming of God’s kingdom. All nations would experience God’s renewing power and salvation (see Isaiah 2:2–3; Zechariah 2:10–11). Jesus affirms this prophetic vision throughout his ministry:
“I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11).
Still, while Jesus affirmed this gathering of the nations, he limited his and his disciples’ mission to the Jews: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (see Matthew 15:24; also Matthew 10:5–6). We might have the question: why does Jesus talk about salvation for all peoples but only focus on Israel?
Jesus limited his ministry to Israel in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy. In other words, God will make sure to carry out his plan! If you recall, God had chosen Israel to be a light to the nations, and Israel was judged for her failure. God’s plan for the last days was to gather and restore Israel and draw the Gentiles into his covenant family. If Israel was to be a light to the nations, then two things had to occur. First, Israel was to be gathered into a community; second, they had to be renewed to obey God’s word. The prophet Ezekiel describes these two stages in Ezekiel 36:24–36 and 37:15–28. Jesus seeks to fulfill the prophetic promise that begins with the gathering and conversion of the Jews. Jesus begins the work of gathering Israel by inviting them to turn from its failure, to turn to God, and take up her missional calling to the nations.
As we read in the Gospels, many within Israel believe Jesus and his message of the good news. Many more, however, reject Jesus in unbelief. Simeon’s prophecy about the infant Jesus in Luke 24 connects here: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.” Indeed, many do “fall” as they reject the message of Jesus and the kingdom. The Gospel accounts speak of Jesus’ words and parables warning the people of Israel about the judgment that will come upon them if they continue their unbelief (for example, see Matthew 21:33–44).
As we move on in our series, it is crucial to understand what God is doing here in history. First, the church is not displacing Israel. Jesus is not launching a brand-new community. Instead, God is purifying and reconstructing Israel. Historian N. T. Wright observes that:
“Jesus did not intend to found a church because there already was one, namely the people of Israel itself. Jesus’ intention was, therefore, to reform Israel, not to found a different community altogether.”
–N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, p.275
It is after the death and resurrection of Jesus that we see the Gentiles being included in the history and life of Israel and becoming the new covenant community! But before that, Jesus appointed twelve disciples as a prophetic action of a beginning and renewed Israel (see Mark 3:13-19). Next time, we’ll look at how Jesus shapes a new community with these disciples and calls man, woman, and child to repent, believe and follow him.
-Wade