“But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’” The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. [Acts 22.21-23]
Racial tension and elitism is nothing new.
Paul had a very attentive Jewish audience up to this point when he mentioned that God called him to share the Good News with the Gentiles. It was shortly after this time that more than 40 men vowed not to eat until Paul was dead!
What was the big deal anyway? Had the Jews understood God's Kingdom, there would not have been such a problem. But among the Jews, there was still an "earthly kingdom" mentality that very much centered around their racial and religious culture preservation.
So, in very few words, the Jews didn't get it! The thief on the cross beside Jesus got it - but the Jewish people, as a whole, did not.
Father, help me to 'get it' in regard to Your Kingdom and the fact that You sent Jesus to save the 'world' - and not just a segregated group...
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