Bringing Judgment to the Gentiles

"Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, Mine Elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon Him; He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles" Isaiah 42:1.

Judgment to the Gentiles, according to Jesus, looked nothing like what those of His day and even some Christians today envision.

During His ministry Christ endured more opposition from His own than from the Gentiles. A careful look at his travel itinerary reveals He spent a good deal of time outside the confines of Jewish territory, which often proved to be more hospitable.

When encountering the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus passed judgment. The woman's background was sketchy. His verdict...she was the perfect candidate to be His first evangelist. Despite her past history and the fact that women weren't permitted to give testimony to anything, even if they were eyewitnesses, Jesus believed she fit the bill. And He was right.

Gadara is Gentile country. Upon arrival, the warning to avoid the uncontrollable demoniac was promptly ignored. Once again, Jesus passed judgment, this time on the man's condition. It was unacceptable and had to go.

Now, free from the possession that had robbed him of a meaningful life, Jesus had a new plan for the man. For a number of reasons he couldn't join Christ's roving band, but there was a more important role for this former crazy man to play. Traveling around the area, this newly hatched evangelist could tell all who would listen about God's power to heal and love demonstrated by his own miraculous deliverance. When Jesus returned the crowds were waiting.

For the disciples, bless their hearts, this had to be confusing. Jews harbored real deep-seated animosity toward Gentiles and even more toward Samaritans. Had Jesus' ministry occurred in the Deep South after the Civil War, His followers would have been culture shocked for sure. Jesus wouldn't have ignored the freed slaves, the Carpetbaggers, the Yankee soldiers and other Northerners now in the South. Strong feelings of prejudice and superiority would have quickly surfaced and been challenged as they were in Christ's day.

Matt 12:17-21 records Jesus' quotation of a familiar passage in Isaiah 42. However, in His version the prophet's declaration is altered. According to Isaiah, God's Servant wouldn't rest until law and order was established. In particular, in His cross-hairs, were the Gentiles upon whom the Law would be imposed.

Jesus felt free to correct Isaiah's misunderstanding of Christ's role as the Servant. God already had one nation trying to keep the Law as a means of establishing and maintaining a relationship with Him. And it wasn't working. Jesus was unwilling to put the burden of the Law on anyone, including the Gentiles. "In His name the Gentiles will trust." Matt. 12:21.

It's still the same today. God's not looking to exclude but to include all in His family. Sin is already forgiven and everyone's already reconciled back to Him. The only ones disqualified, so to speak, are those who decline His invitation. And like every good parent, God will deal with our problems and issues, but as Jesus demonstrated, it won't be with a heavy hand.

How about you? From a Biblical standpoint, what does judgment look like to you? Is it always harsh and punitive? As a believer will that type of action draw you closer to God or send you heading to the exits?

God's all inclusive nature was hard for the Jews during Jesus' day to accept, but it's not like that now. Or is it? God doesn't want anyone left out, so we better enlarge our nets, look for fresh, different bait and expect a bigger, more interesting and diverse catch.