Key Passage
Many, many people followed Jesus. These people were from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, Judea, and the area across the Jordan River.
— Matthew 4:25 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
In many of our minds, this list of towns is just a collection of Jewish hamlets. This was not so. Greeks, Romans, Samaritans, and Jews all made up the people who interacted with Jesus in his earthly ministry. Jesus carried out his ministry in a hotbed of hate and suspicion among different races and social classes. As human beings, we can easily slip into racial, ethnic, and social prejudices. Our own insecurities make it easier for us to have suspicions and fears about other people rather than breaking down the barriers that separate us.Matthew wants us to know that even though Jesus' earthly ministry was primarily concentrated on the Israelite nation, his goal was to reach all peoples through the ongoing ministry of his disciples. In the book of Revelation, the last message of our Bible, God reminds us of his dream for heaven: a place where there are no barriers between people who honor his Son as Lord. Jesus shows us in glimpses throughout his ministry that he loves all people. His legacy of love to all peoples today, however, must be shown in the lives of his disciples. That's us! So what are we waiting for? We all need to follow Jesus' example and serve people today no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, or social standing.
Prayer
Dear Father, God who loves all people, give me a heart that refuses to tolerate injustice and prejudice among your people and give me a willing spirit to reach through any barriers that divide your children. Please use me to include those left out and to bring them into my circle of fellowship. In the name of Jesus, who died for all, I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
So Jesus came to them and said, "All authority (power) in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
— Matthew 28:18-19
Then I looked, and there were many, many people. There were so many people that a person could not count them all. They were from every nation, tribe, race of people, and language of the earth. These people were standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Jesus). They all wore white robes and had palm branches in their hands. They shouted with a loud voice, "Victory belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
— Revelation 7:9-10
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Jesus said to those people that were with him, "I tell you the truth. This man has more faith than any person I have found, even in Israel. Many people will come from the east and from the west. Those people will sit and eat with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
— Matthew 8:10-11
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