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Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews had been anticipating for centuries (see Luke 2:25; 3:15). As such, He was born into a Jewish family and was reared according to Jewish law in a Jewish town (see Luke 2:27; Galatians 4:4). Jesus selected Jewish disciples, spoke in Jewish synagogues and the Jewish temple, and traveled mostly in Jewish areas. His mission, in fulfillment of the Jewish prophets, was to the Jewish people. However, none of this means that Jesus鈥� ministry was limited exclusively to the Jews.

In Matthew 15, there is an incident that, at first, seems to confirm the idea that Jesus came only for the Jews. Jesus was traveling through Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile region, and 鈥渁 Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, 鈥楲ord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly鈥欌�� (Matthew 15:22). This Gentile woman recognized Jesus as the Messiah (鈥淪on of David鈥�), but 鈥淛esus did not answer a word鈥� (verse 23). As the woman kept up her appeals, Jesus finally responded, but His words seemed to hold little hope: 鈥淚 was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel鈥� (verse 24). However, the woman did not give up, and Jesus eventually granted her request, based on her 鈥済reat faith鈥� (verse 28).

The fact that Jesus helped the Canaanite woman, even though His mission was to the Jews, is a significant detail in the Gospel narrative. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus gave other indications that His power and compassion reached to all people. He healed a Roman centurion鈥檚 servant (Luke 7:1–10). He traveled through the Gentile region of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1). He ministered in a Samaritan city (John 4).

Jesus paid the price for all sin, making salvation available to the whole world (1 John 2:2). Jesus Christ is God Himself (John 1:1). Jesus died on the cross as the payment for all our sins, and He rose from death in resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Jesus said He was the Good Shepherd, and He predicted that His flock would be greatly expanded: 鈥淚 have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd鈥� (John 10:16).

It took a while for the early church to recognize that salvation was available to the Gentiles. The Jewish Christians who fled the persecution in Jerusalem went into the Gentile regions of Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, but they were 鈥渟preading the word only among Jews鈥� (Acts 11:19). Peter was hesitant to bring the gospel to a Gentile household, but God made it plain that Cornelius was also one of the elect (Acts 10).

鈥淚s God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too鈥� (Romans 3:29). Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, but He had come to offer salvation to everybody. The Messiah was to be a 鈥渓ight for the Gentiles鈥� (Isaiah 42:6). So call on Jesus, because 鈥渆veryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved鈥� (Acts 2:21).