When Jesus came to Earth, the Jewish people had been longingly waiting for God's promised Messiah. Because they lived in a land under Roman occupation, many expected a Messiah to come and free their nation and people from this occupation and oppression.
Instead, God had a much more glorious and far-reaching plan.
Jesus blows apart the expectations of how and who he came to save. Instead of coming to remove their Roman oppressors, Jesus invites the Romans into his Kingdom. Christ demonstrates the beginnings of this as he steps into the life of a Roman centurion, recognizes and commends his faith, and graciously goes on to heal his servant. Instead of viewing the Jews' enemies as his own, Jesus invites people to pray for those who persecute them and love their enemies. He even pursues and then offers "living water" to a Samaritan woman—someone within a group that the Jewish people despised and had a long history of racial, cultural, and religious discrimination with, resulting in the conversion of this woman and others in her community.
Jesus was not only coming to save the Jews but to bring salvation and life to their oppressors and those who were different from them. God's great plan was to reconcile all peoples to himself and to one another as sisters and brothers in God's family.
Because of the influence of sin resulting from The Fall, ungodly division among people has permeated our world throughout history. We've seen nation war against nation, tribe against tribe, and hatred, racism, and discrimination infiltrate our world. But our good God, who created all people to be his image-bearers, pursues everyone with his goodness and love (Psalm 23:6 NLT). Not just one people group or race or nation, but all. He is so intent on this that he will not return until the gospel has been proclaimed to all peoples (Matthew 24:14).
We read in Revelation 14:6 of God's great pursuit of all people:
And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.
And in Revelation 7:9–10 when Jesus returns, we read of the wonderous unity there will be as we worship Our King:
”After this, I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’"
There will be indescribable beauty as we one day worship our God together like this. This magnificence will not only result from being in the presence of our Lord and experiencing our complete redemption, but it will also stem from our overflowing joy as we worship and live in unity as coheirs in Christ in all our ethnic, racial, and language differences. My pastor, Derwin Gray, often reminds us that when that day comes, "we will see people and Jesus in love like never before."
Although we have this to look forward to, I am grateful that each Sunday, when I walk into church, I am reminded of the blessing it is to be part of a congregation that reminds me of how Heaven will one day look. Different generations and people of all backgrounds and ethnicities come together to worship. And beyond those walls, we live life or are learning to live life with one another. What an incredible testimony to a world that is often so divided.
As we're here in the "already but not yet" of the Kingdom, I wonder how this might challenge us to live.
Listen to this song, “Every Tribe (Heaven’s Song).” As you take in the lyrics, engage in two things:
Remember our great God’s love and pursuit of people around the world and even nearby who look different than you.
Imagine unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ from far and near in all of your differences as you worship our Lord now and will one day worship together.
Ask the Lord:
How do I live into the diversity of the Kingdom here among us and practice that now?
In this season of my life, what part would you like me to play in your plan to bring the gospel to “every nation, tribe, language, and people?” How might I live like Jesus in this?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellen Burany resides in Charlotte, NC with her daughter, Gianna, reflecting some of the beautiful racial diversity of God’s Kingdom in their little family. For the past decade, Ellen has taken joy in serving the Lord through serving leaders from around the globe in the areas of spiritual formation and soul care. She currently serves in the Empowering Leaders division of Novo.