New Testament Foundations: The Life of Jesus and the Mission to the Nations

The Arrival of the Gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ

In the study of Christian missions, the arrival of Jesus Christ on the scene is synonymous with the arrival of the gospel itself. Jesus does not merely carry a message; he embodies the good news as the living presence of God dwelling among humanity. He provides the way for humans to know God, functioning as both the messenger and the message of the kingdom. This lecture explores the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus through the lens of mission and the nations, tracing how the promise of salvation extends beyond Israel to all of humanity. It is important to realize that while numerous scriptures are discussed, they represent a significant but not exhaustive selection from the New Testament accounts.

Connecting the Old Testament Foundations to Christ

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the themes established during the Old Testament period. He is the "seed of the woman" prophesied to crush the head of the serpent, and the descendant of Abraham through whom all nations on earth will be blessed. As a descendant of Judah, he is the one from whom the scepter shall not depart, and as the descendant of David, he secures a perpetual throne. Furthermore, he is the suffering servant described in the writings of Isaiah. Appearing first as a tiny baby, he enters the world as the gospel, offering the opportunity for all people to enter into a relationship with God.

The Mission in the Genealogies: Matthew and Luke

Genealogies in the Gospels are often overlooked in Western contexts, yet they contain vital theological and missiological significance. Matthew 1:1-17 provides a genealogy written for a Jewish audience, beginning with Abraham, the father of the faith, and tracing the lineage through David to Jesus. This structure is divided into three segments of 14 generations: from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to the Christ. By contrast, Luke 3:23-38 presents a genealogy intended for a Gentile audience. It begins with Jesus, who was about 30 years old and thought to be the son of Joseph, and traces the lineage backward all the way to Adam, "the son of God." By linking Jesus to Adam, the common ancestor of all humans, Luke highlights the universal scope of God's redemptive plan for all nations.

The Worldwide Context of Jesus' Birth

The birth of Jesus is framed within a global perspective from its inception. In Matthew, the inclusion of the Magi (wise men from the East) signifies God drawing distant nations to Himself. Though not explicitly proven, some scholars, including those involved in Farsi-speaking initiatives, suggest the Magi may have been from Persia, descendants of those taught by Daniel to watch for the King of the Jews. In Luke 2, the birth is situated in the broader Roman Empire during the reign of Caesar Augustus and the governorship of Quirinius in Syria. The angelic proclamation in Luke 2:10 explicitly states that the "good news of great joy" is for "all people," not just Israel. Additionally, when Jesus is dedicated at the temple, the man Simeon recognizes him as the prepared salvation in the presence of all peoples, specifically labeling him a "light for revelation to the Gentiles."

Theological Identity and Early Ministry

While the Gospel of Mark skips the birth narrative to focus on Jesus as the Son of God, and the Gospel of John begins with a theological treatise on the Logos (the Word who was with God and was God), the earthly ministry of Jesus begins with his baptism. John the Baptist, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, prepares the way by declaring that "everyone will see the salvation of God." In John 1:29-34, John identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," signifying a mission that transcends national boundaries. This global scope is established before Jesus even begins his active preaching tour.

Jesus’ First Sermon and the Universal Good

In Luke 4:16-30, Jesus delivers his first sermon in Nazareth. Reading from the scroll of Isaiah, he announces that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed him to preach good news to the poor, release captives, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. When the crowd questions his identity as Joseph’s son, Jesus reminds them that prophets are often rejected in their hometowns. He cites Old Testament examples where God bypassed Israel to help outsiders: Elijah was sent to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon, and Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian of his leprosy despite many lepers being in Israel. This inclusion of Gentiles so enraged the synagogue congregants that they attempted to hurl Jesus off a cliff, but he passed through them and departed.

Proclamation and Validation of the Kingdom

Throughout his life, Jesus prioritized the marginalized, the poor, the oppressed, and the hurting, demonstrating God’s heart for those neglected by society. In Matthew 4:23, he began preaching the gospel of the kingdom across Galilee, healing diseases and casting out demons to validate his authority as the King. These miracles were not just acts of mercy; they served as proof that the kingdom was being inaugurated. Jesus also established a "kingdom ethic" in the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon on the Plain, teaching that true leaders must serve and that those who lose their life for his sake will find it.

Kingdom Parables and the Extension to the Nations

Jesus used parables in Matthew 13 to describe the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. He spoke of the sower casting seed on different types of soil, the mustard seed growing into a large tree where birds nest, and the leaven that permeates fifty pounds of flour. He compared the kingdom to a hidden treasure, a pearl of great price, and a net that collects every kind of fish. In Matthew 21 and 22, he used the Parable of the Tenants and the Parable of the Wedding Banquet to illustrate a shift in the mission. Because the original tenants and invited guests (Israel) rejected the servants and the son, the vineyard and the banquet were opened to others—the Gentiles—who would produce fruit and fill the hall.

Investment in the Disciples and the 72

Jesus’ primary earthly investment was in his 12 disciples, whom he taught privately and eventually sent out to the tribes of Israel. However, Luke records the sending out of 72 others. This number is highly significant as it corresponds to the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, which lists 70 or 72 nations. This act serves as a precursor to the coming commission to reach the Gentile nations of the world. While Jesus spent the majority of his time in Israel, he consistently engaged in acts that pointed toward a more universal, global mission.

Interactions with the Gentile World

Specific encounters with non-Jews highlight Jesus’ intentionality toward the nations. In Matthew 8, a Roman Centurion displays such great faith in Jesus' authority to heal his servant that Jesus remarks he has not found such faith in all of Israel. In Matthew 15, Jesus tests the faith of a Canaanite woman, eventually commending her great faith and healing her daughter. In Luke 17, among ten lepers healed, only one—a Samaritan foreigner—returns to give glory to God, and Jesus tells him his faith has saved him. Finally, in John 4, Jesus interacts with a Samaritan woman at a well. Her radical transformation leads her to testify to her entire village, resulting in many Samaritans becoming followers of Jesus, showcasing the gospel's power to bridge deep cultural and ethnic divides.