"In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:4-6)
Once Jesus died on the cross, there was no division between Jew and Gentile, because both were one in the body of Christ. Now, in our current culture, we do not understand the big deal. We are separated by two thousand years and a whole culture change. Allow me to depict the relationship between Jews, God's chosen people, and Gentiles, anyone who wasn't Jewish.
If you are not Jewish, you are a Gentile. Keep this in mind. The Jews were the only people who God revealed His plans to. They were God's chosen people. All of the Gentiles knew God as Israel's God and no one else's. The Jews taught that the Gentiles were made by God as fuel for the fires of Hell. If a Jewish person walked through a Gentile city, they would kick the dust off of their feet before entering into their own Jewish city. They did not even want Gentile dirt on their land. If a Jewish person marries a Gentile, that Jewish families holds a funeral. Their child is dead to them. The Gentiles hated them back, too. They always wanted to kill the Jews. They were always at war with the Jews. They always wanted to oppress them or enslave them or initiate a mass genocide against the Jewish people.
Now, look at this in context. God choose Abraham to be the father of the Jews. God sent Jesus into a teenage Jewish woman named Mary. Jesus came in the flesh as a Jewish man, and thirty three years later, was hung on a cross right outside of Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews. It would only make sense to believe that the God of the Jews sent His Son in the form of a Jew to die in Jewish territory to pay for the sins of the Jews. It would only be logical.
Now, when the disciples went out and spread the word, the Jews were all running to the Lord. It was wonderful! Until something unthinkable happened. While the disciples were preaching, some Gentiles heard the Gospel and accepted Jesus into their hearts. These Gentiles began to prophesy and speak in tongues just like the Jews. No body knew what to think!
The Jews must have been thinking, "They must be some second class Christians. Their inheritance must not be as great as ours. They must be receiving a smaller portion." This was not the case at all. The great mystery that was revealed was that the God of the Jews came as a Jewish man through a Jewish woman to be hung on Jewish land in order to die for the sins of everyone! This was mind blowing!
Racism at its finest broken by Jesus Christ at the cross! What we must remember is that when we first look at Abraham, when he was still Abram, he was an idol worshiping heathen just like the rest of us. He was no better than anyone else. Because we are all one in Christ, it is impossible for me to be better than you, and it is impossible for you to be better than me. We are all one in Christ, and that is the end of it.
"Although I am the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:8-12)
The mystery of the Gospel is that God does not just love the Jewish community. He loves everyone and died on the cross for everyone's sins! His grace and mercy is not just for the select few; He came for everyone!
"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
-D
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