Before Peter had a vision of a sheet full of unclean animals being lowered to earth I would contend that Jesus quite thoroughly flung open the door to the Gentiles. Twice Jesus had attempted to reclaim the outer court of the temple for the Gentiles. Jesus fashioned a whip and had the merchants running in all directions. Jesus released animals that were to be sacrificed and overturned tables. The merchants were madly trying to pick up the coins that had been scattered. Matthew 21:13, “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Jesus healed Gentiles even on the Sabbath.
Jesus was on his way to heal a child when a woman touched the border of his garment. The hem of the garment was considered of great importance and whether this Gentile woman knew that or just was reaching out in desperation is unknown. What is known is that she was immediately healed of an issue of blood.
Luke 8:43-44, “And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”
Jesus had an interesting conversation with a woman looking for healing for her daughter. On the surface it sounds almost like Jesus was being cruel but not at all.
Matthew 15:26-28, “26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
But, as usual, I digress. We read in Acts 11 of Peter’s vision. Acts 11:6-7, “6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.” Peter protested that he had never eaten anything considered unclean. God had to repeat the same message three times before Peter finally got it, the Gentiles were to be included in the church.
Peter seemed to be receptive to the Gentiles but later had to be gently chided by Paul for reverting during a meal with believing Jews and Gentiles.
No comments:
Post a Comment