Why do pastors today not understand that the Christ when He came would then begin fulfilling the Scriptures given before that day.  Why must they think that the Jews were totally cut off, when it was the Jews who started the Church and spread it?

Do you see that even a sinful woman of Samaria, one of only partial Jewish background, but she knew about the Messiah.  All that Jesus would do had been recorded in the scrolls of the Jews, The Old Testament scriptures.  And the Samaritans had theirs. This Christ or Jewish Messiah, who was to come, was a much talked about figure in Jesus own day.  Given that information as confirmed here in this encounter, as well as in Peter’s own words earlier made to Jesus, we are able to see a clear picture.  “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.  Both of these encounters for Jesus with two individuals from among the common folk, allow us to understand that there was a teaching among the Jews and Samaritans concerning the coming of the Son of God as the Messiah, (the savior).  

Simon, who Jesus renamed Peter in his same encounter, was commended for knowing this truth.  But what truth?  Was he commended for knowing that the Son of God would be coming, or was it that Jesus was this one?  Think about that.  If the Smaritan woman knew of Messiah’s coming, why would not Peter have also known about the Christ coming?   No special revelation was needed for that knowledge, for it was common knowledge among Jewish believers.  But what Peter expressed that he knew was something that no one at that time knew.  Thou art the Christ.  You Jesus are this Christ (translated from Messiah). 

In that day they were looking for the Christ. 

In our day we are looking for the Antichrist. It is not considered special to know that there is a coming Antichrist, even the world has their own thoughts on this biblical figure. But to know who that individual will be; that would be to possess knowledge that others do not have.  And in Peter’s case his knowledge of who is the Christ came only from the Father in Heaven. 

And it is for these very reasons, that it is necessary for us to understand, that Jesus’ Church which He revealed there in that same encounter with Peter, was not for a people separate from Israel.  It was not ever planned that the gospel was intended to leave out the believing people from the Jews.  After all this Christ was bringing to them the promised New Covenant.  Those who would be cut off from this covenant would be only the worldly unbelievers among them.  Blinded because they were worldly.  Unfortunately that would include most of them, and all of this would set in motion the diaspora, which occurs prophetically.  

But what we must see is that Diaspora occurred not just among unsaved Jews, who were unbelieving, but it also included believing Jews.  Bear with me. 

Acts 11:18  When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the repentance [that leads] to life.” (NASB2020)

Did you notice the word also?  Did you notice that repentance leads to life?  Acts 11 including this above verse takes place just after the gospel is taken to the Gentiles, but the entire Church in Jerusalem up to that time had been only Jewish. 

The Diaspora seems to have had a dual purpose.  The unbelieving Jews were dispersed with the purpose of fulfilling future prophecy surrounding Israel’s salvation at the end of the age.  Jesus had stated: “you will see me no more until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.  That day we come: maybe soon. 

The diaspora’s purpose for the Believing Jews, who were being joined then by the believing gentiles was for a purpose: the spread of the Gospel. God does nothing without reason.  And He tells us ahead of time what those reasons are.  

I often hear that had all of Israel accepted Jesus as their king when He first came that He would have set up His Kingdom then.  I don’t understand why anyone can think this way, because it was impossible for that to occur without violating God’s all knowing prophetic word.  If that teaching had been possible, then God was not all knowing.  If it had been possible, then Isa. Chapter 53 was false prophecy by God.  Impossible!  There could be no salvation.  Impossible!  Jesus said: this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, and then the end shall come.  Jesus Himself would have been made a lier.  Impossible!  The understanding, though false, is based upon one truth: when Israel does finally accept Christ as Messiah and Savior; then He will come to set up His kingdom.  That will come at the end of the age. 

Our God is amazing because He does know the end from the beginning.  It is not because He planned it all, but it is because He sees it all before it happens.  This God was there before the foundation of the Nation Israel: “Before Abraham was I am”.  Paul tells us that he must know when the last Gentile will be saved, because it is only then that all Israel will be saved. 

He who has had his heart circumcised is the true Jew.