CROSS-CULTURAL MISSIONS Lesson 8 for August 22, 2015

TRAINING MISSIONARIES The Samaritan woman (John 4:4-42). Jesus planned to establish a strong mission base among the Jews before reaching other cultures. Nevertheless, He didn’t miss any chance to help non-Jews. He even trained foreigners so they could be missionaries among their people. BARRIERS BROKEN DOWN The Roman centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13). The daughter of the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28). The Samaritan leper (Luke 17:11-19). TRAINING MISSIONARIES The Samaritan woman (John 4:4-42). The bedeviled Gadarene (Mark 5:1-20). The Greeks who sought Jesus (John 12:20-32).

THE CENTURION’S SERVANT (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10) “And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 8:11) What do we know about that Roman centurion? He was kind-hearted. He didn’t request anything for himself but for his servant (Matthew 8:5-6; Luke 7:2-3) He had a good relationship with the Jewish leaders. He even built a synagogue (Luke 7:3-5) He knew that Jewish tradition didn’t allow Jews to enter a Gentile’s house (Matthew 8:8). He had a strong faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:10). What did Jesus taught about the centurion’s faith? Jesus pointed out that the centurion was a prototype of the great day when people from all over the world would join the Jewish patriarchs at the Messianic banquet.

THE CANAANITE WOMAN (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-29) “Jesus told her, ‘First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.’” (Mark 7:27) “She begs for the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table. If she may have the privilege of a dog, she is willing to be regarded as a dog. She has no national or religious prejudice or pride to influence her course, and she immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Redeemer, and as being able to do all that she asks of Him. The Saviour is satisfied. He has tested her faith in Him. By His dealings with her, He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien, but a child in God’s household.” E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 43, pg. 401)

THE SAMARITAN LEPER (Luke 17:11-19) “Jesus asked, ‘Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’” (Luke 17:17-18) Adversities may break down intercultural barriers. Those lepers were united in their illness; their racial differences didn’t matter anymore. They put their faith in Jesus first; He was the Master that could heal them. The Jews thought the “foreigner” was less worthy to be healed, but he was the only one who showed appreciation to Jesus. That lesson made a profound impression on the disciples. It opened their hearts to preach the Gospel in Samaria some years later (Acts 1:8).

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN (John 4:4-42) “Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:42) Jesus stepped outside the bounds of tradition. Both the Samaritan woman and the disciples were surprised. The Samaritan woman was surprised at Jesus asking her for water (John 4:9). The disciples were surprised at Jesus talking to a woman alone (John 4:27). Jesus understood the difference between human tradition and divine commandments. He didn’t care about breaking cultural traditions to reach that foreign woman. That woman became the first native missionary among her people.

THE BEDEVILED GADARENE (Mark 5:1-20; Matthew 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39) “But Jesus said, ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.’” (Mark 5:19) The region of the Gadarenes was an area at the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. It was part of the Roman province of Judaea, but the natives followed Greek customs (the even raised pigs). The economic loss from Jesus’ miracle closed the doors of the Gadarenes to the Gospel in that region. Nevertheless, Jesus made the bedeviled man a missionary so he could preach where Jesus and His disciples couldn’t. People are usually more receptive to those with the same social and cultural background.

THE GREEKS (John 12:20-32) “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32) When those Greeks sought Jesus, they looked for a man close to their culture: Philip. Non-native missionaries must know all the local customs so they can preach the Gospel more effectively. Then the Good News will be more easily understood. Jesus used the visit of the Greeks to explain the universal and intercultural scope of His mission.

“These men came from the West to find the Saviour at the close of His life, as the wise men had come from the East at the beginning. At the time of Christ’s birth the Jewish people were so engrossed with their own ambitious plans that they knew not of His advent. The magi from a heathen land came to the manger with their gifts, to worship the Saviour. So these Greeks, representing the nations, tribes, and peoples of the world, came to see Jesus. So the people of all lands and all ages would be drawn by the Saviour’s cross.” E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 68, pg. 621)