GOD'S ROSE OF SHARON

Who Let the Dog’s Out?

Proper eschatology really only boils down to one thing. The restoration of Israel through the completion of all the things God had promised His people from the very beginning when He first revealed Himself to mankind. The destruction of Herod's temple in AD70 was the very fulfillment of Jesus' Matthew Chapter 24 v:34 prophecy coupled with Daniels seventy weeks prophecy signaled the end of ongoing eschatological fulfillment or the end of the age. Wise and learned men throughout the generation since that time have speculated why or the purpose Jesus Christ was sent into this world. Yet why can’t we learn Jesus purpose found in the very words He spoke concerning Himself and concerning His own heritage.

One of the biggest misconceptions in the modern day church is that Christ came to die for all of humanity from the beginning of time up until this present time. We sing songs that suggest that when He was on the cross that He was somehow thinking of us as He stretched out His arms and the Roman soldiers nailed spikes into His body. If Jesus Christ was born to save the entire world then why didn’t He acknowledge that fact during His earthly ministry? The reason is simple. Jesus Christ was only sent to the lost sheep of or the house of Israel and this can easily be proved by His own words and actions.

But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Matt 16:24 (NKJV)

The story of Canaanite woman is a pretty interesting one. Just the fact that she is mentioned is rare because Jesus usually never interacted with many Gentiles. There are a few other instances like the woman at the well but the are given to us for specific reasons and one of the reasons is to confirm God’s covenant was only for the Jewish nation and the "outside" world would one day benefit from this unique and special relationship. Let’s look at this complete passage and it’s true meaning concerning right eschatology.

And They Called it Puppy Love;

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Matt 15:22-28

Jesus responded to this women’s great faith and wisdom and granted her request. To take isolated interactions and incidents such as this involving the Gentiles in the Scripture and claim Jesus came for all men is totally misleading. Yes Jesus came to save the world but it was to first save His world, the Jewish nation of Israel and to fulfill all Old Covenant law and prophecy. This is the only world that counted in the scheme of mankinds redemption, the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Another interesting passage is found in Matthew’s gospel chapter five. Jesus sends out His disciples to preach the kingdom yet He tells them to not share this good news with the Gentiles. Just these two examples of Scripture should convince you of Jesus real mission here on earth but there are countless other ones as well.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matt 10:5-6

As you can see just from these few examples, Jesus purpose and ministry was pretty much exclusive to one race of people, the Jewish race. But take heart, man’s best friend or us Gentile dog’s were Christ’s best friend as well. For we now partake in the blessings and the completed work of the restoration of God’s house perfected in the beauty of Christ's life and great sacrifice. We are no longer eating crumbs that fall from our Master’s table and we are no longer in God’s cosmic dog house.

So at the end of the day it was God Himself "who let the Dog's out" or us Gentile dog's so to speak, to enjoy in the salvation that came through His divine dog kennel that was Israel.

James Robert Kessler
Because of Him art Miistry 2007