The message of Jesus is for everyone.
On June 8, the ancient Christian festival of Pentecost was held.
This is the third of the big three Christian festivals, alongside Easter and Christmas.
Some people call Pentecost the birthday of the church, because it marks the point when Jesus’ disciples left behind their fear and doubt and went out with new courage and conviction from the Holy Spirit to share the message of Jesus Christ.
They didn’t just share this message with people from their own community.
This was a message for all people.
God wasn’t an exclusive God who cared only for them. His grace was for all, and so they boldly shared it with all.
This global outlook was already there on the day of Pentecost itself, because a vast crowd of people from all around the known world were present to hear the disciples speak.
The Bible tells us, in Acts 2:11, that they heard the message in their own native language.
Right from the beginning, God makes it clear that he doesn’t want his message to be limited by race, ethnicity or nationality.
His message is for everyone, and he wants everyone to hear it. This is why the Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages.
Translators around the world are working hard to make sure it’s available in even more.
It’s also significant that artists around the world will often depict Jesus in their own ethnic appearance or traditional clothing.
I’ve seen African art with Jesus depicted as an African man. I’ve seen sculptures of Jesus from PNG where he is depicted as a Melanesian man.
Likewise, I’ve seen Chinese, Indian and South American depictions of Jesus, as well as the stereotypical depiction of Jesus from the 1960s, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Of course this isn’t what Jesus looked like, but that’s not the point!
Varied and diverse depictions of Jesus are important in demonstrating not only that Jesus came for all people, but how people from all parts of the world can see Jesus as their own, and take the message of his life, death and resurrection as their own.
Speaking about Jesus, John 1:14 declares – ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ God’s love for the world meant that he would send his only Son to make his home among human beings.
Likewise, God did not intend his message of life and salvation in Jesus Christ to be limited, but available to all.
Even 2000 years later, through his people, in all parts of the world, God is still sending his message out.
That is good news for everyone.
Pr Matthias Prenzler
Trinity Lutheran Church, Echuca
11°C