It was too small a thing for Jesus to come only to the Jews. In His infinite mercy and grace God gave salvation through Jesus to all who humble themself, ask forgiveness and accept His sinless life in exchange for theirs.
John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave the life of His only begotten Son so that anyone who believed in Him would abide with Him for eternity!
Salvation has nothing to do with our righteousness but everything to do with His!
If we neglect Jesus' offer of salvation, we, too, will have to bear our own sin. But praise God that, through faith in Christ, we can instead come to God for redemption from our unclean or distant state! (Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 2:16-18) First5
A few years ago, talking with Phil Cushman in the grocery, we shook our heads about our world’s fragile nature, as if to say, “Where do we find sanity and sanctuary? And where do find hope?”
“It helps when I distinguish between big world and small world,” he said to me.
With that, a light bulb came on. You see, with big world, news is in your face and stoked with anger. No wonder we feel as if our control is demoted. And we ask, how can I ever make a difference in a broken world?
Well that’s just it, we make a difference in the small world. The small world is the place where we stand. Today. Where we care. And hug and give and try and love and fall down and get up and repent and cry and embrace and challenge and reconcile and heal.
Sufficiency is that place where Grace is received and given freely.
Sufficiency where we remember Jesus’ words to each of us, “You are the light of the world.” He didn’t ask us to make the light. Just shine it.
What if brokenness is not a “fixable problem,” but an opportunity for grace and love and ministry?
Nouwen writes, "Nobody escapes being wounded. We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not 'How can we hide our wounds?' so we don't have to be embarrassed, but 'How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?'" SabbathMoments
On one side Nicodemus, representing all well-meaning, God-fearing, scripture-memorizing folk. On the other, Jesus Christ. And what the latter says to the former is so uncanny that it sends shock waves through church pews and synagogues to this very day. “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life” (John 3:5-6 NLT).
The phrase “Kingdom of God” refers to a relationship with God in this life and entrance into heaven in the next. How do we receive citizenship? Be born again. In our first birth we become brand-new humans. In our second birth we become brand-new creations. And who oversees our second birth? The Holy Spirit! Max Lucado
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. The New King James Version
Paul acknowledges that because the Jews were chosen by Yahweh and had unique promises from Him, they had to be presented the gospel first.
Paul quotes from Isaiah, which speaks of the Suffering Servant’s mission to the entire world. Paul applies this prophecy to the mission of Jesus’ followers and more specifically to the efforts of himself and Barnabas. Paul is essentially making a connection between the prophecy of the Suffering Servant and Jesus, and then proclaiming that the mission of Jesus is seen in the actions of His followers (who follow his example).
Luke (the narrator) could mean that the individuals whom God intended to believe did, or this could be a broad reference that, according to God’s plan, the gospel reached the Gentiles in this region. Either way, Luke is stating that despite opposition, God’s intended purposes are accomplished. Faithlife Study Bible
When Luke refers to the Jews, he is not speaking of all Jews. The Jews mentioned, those who were urging Paul and Barnabas “to continue in the grace of God,” honestly wanted to know the truth. The Jews in this verse were the Jewish leaders, those in the positions of religious authority. When the Jewish leaders saw the crowds following Paul, they changed their minds about Paul and became filled with jealousy, especially since many of the people who had gathered were Jews.
A person who convinces himself that he does not need forgiveness from the Holy One has already condemned himself. The NKJV Study Bible
And while many judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the glad tidings of salvation. This is according to what was foretold in the Old Testament. What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises!
As many as were disposed to eternal life, as many as had concern about their eternal state, and aimed to make sure of eternal life, believed in Christ, in whom God has treasured up that life, and who is the only Way to it; and it was the grace of God that wrought it in them. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles,
Isaiah 49:6 Indeed He says,‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
Luke 2:32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”
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