The Angels’ song hints at it. The shepherds visit intensifies it. Simeon’s prayer confirms it. Jesus was God’s Savior for all people. All people… Jew and Gentile, important and overlooked, young, old and everywhere in between.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (14).
God’s peace is not only for Jews, which one might expect, given the Jewish context of the story. It is for all whom the Lord chooses to favor.
Shepherds, unclean by their profession though Jewish by birth, were, for all intents and purposes, barred from the
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people
Simeon makes it explicit… salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people
As I think about this, I think about the billions who do not yet know Jesus and who do not have a credible witness to Jesus within their culture. Those who study missions call them ‘unreached’ peoples…
Oh, God, raise up a generation who will go to the unreached peoples of our world to share Jesus. Bless ministries and missionaries who are dedicated to reaching unreached peoples around the world. Show me what my role is in advancing your Gospel to all people. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS: If you want to join in praying for all people to hear the message of Jesus, I commend www.operationworld.org. This ministry helps people pray for the entire world and as you pray, it mentions unreached people in all the countries of the world. Check it out.
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