The Gospel for the Whole World

And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself.’ What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.” And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away (Luke 4: 22-30).

The hometown crowd spoke well of the message of Joseph’s son as He began to share good news with the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed in the Galilean villages of Capernaum and Nazareth. They were thrilled to hear such good news from their native son. But their mood changed abruptly when Jesus revealed that He was to bring good news to people living as far away as Sidon and Syria. The hometown crowd threatened to throw Him over a cliff when He shared examples of God reaching out to a foreign widow and an enemy leper. They were offended that His message and ministry would have no geographical or national boundaries. At the beginning of His work on earth, Jesus made it clear that the mantra and mission of His disciples after Him would be the gospel for the whole world.

The gospel is for those at home. Jesus began His ministry in the region surrounding His hometown. We believe that in His sovereignty, God carefully and intentionally creates relationships between people that can be used for His good purposes. This begins at birth, when God places us in a family. Beyond our immediate family we have ever-increasing relationships all around us. Extended family, church family, neighbors, friends, schoolmates, co-workers, colleagues, casual acquaintances, and more become a network of opportunities graciously crafted by God for us to share the gospel and to initiate and nurture discipleship in others… “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14).

The gospel is for the helpless. Jesus mentioned the widow of Zarephath, a desperate woman at the end of her own resources who trusted God’s word spoken by the prophet Elijah… “And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days” (1 Kings 17:15). Elijah faithfully followed the Lord’s leading to a foreign, impoverished land in order to bring God’s Word to her… “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:9). Serious disciples are challenged here to follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to be sensitive and responsive to the desperate needs of others, no matter where He leads us… “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16).

The gospel is for the hopeless. Jesus used the illustration of Naaman, the commander of the army of Syria, and enemy of Israel. He was a great man but suffered from leprosy. He had no hope of ever being cured because there was no cure in his homeland. But a young captive shared the good news that there was hope in the Word of God spoken through Elisha, His prophet… “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:3). Jesus presented that servant girl as an example for true disciples to imitate by leading others to Christ, the hope of Jews and Gentiles alike… “Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope’” (Romans 15:12).

As we grow up into Christ we are to proclaim to the helpless and the hurting at home and abroad…

The Gospel for the Whole World.