God so loved the world, He gave us His only son to save us and give us direction. The most important commandment is to love one another.

~ Lisa Blair

God does not discriminate. He wants everyone to believe and receive Salvation.

Some time ago I wrote a post stating that Christ traveled outside of the Holy Lands to spread the Good News which was incorrect. In fact, I took it down. Looking back, I did not mean to write Jesus traveled to other parts of the world, I meant His influence spread across the regions.

Jerusalem was considered the capital City and was a commerce hub during Christ’s life. It was one of the major economic, administrative, spiritual,  and cultural centers of the land. Merchants throughout the Middle-east, Arabia, India, and Egypt traveled there on land and across the Persian Gulf. Foreign markets connected the trade routes from Israel through Northern Africa, India, Malaysia, and the Arabian peninsula. (Footsteps of Abraham, by Malachi Martin. NT Times.com, archives. March 13, 1983)

Jesus did not travel the world to reach nonbelievers and those following other religious faiths. Knowledge of the Messiah was spread by the disciples, others, and from people who lived in other countries and traveled the trade routes. I think it is safe to say that the Word was carried in part by merchants who learned of Christianity when visiting Jerusalem and other cities/towns Jesus ministered in. They were most likely unintentionally seeding hearts. The Word was spread in many ways.

After Jesus’ death, the disciples traveled throughout the regions as well, see above map, and therefore had many opportunities to preach to Gentiles from various religious backgrounds. Jesus commanded the disciples to spread the Good News bear and far. He assigned us, Christians, to do the same and to spread the Good News, God’s Truth, wherever we are. To this end, we should not be so insular as to communicate God’s message with only other Christians. We must suck it that the Gentiles are anyone that is not Jewish, they are people from all backgrounds and faiths who God claims through adoption. God does not discriminate nor should we.

Images/Maps – Romans 1:16, L.Durden; The Travels of Our Saviour. Pinterest.com; How the World looked when Jesus was born, according to Roman Geographers. by Sarah Laskow. atlasobscura.com; Map of Middle Eastern Old Testament. Taxomita.com

Resources – Footsteps of Abraham, by Malachi Martin. NT Times.com, archives. March 13, 1983; Commerce and the Temple in First Century Jerusalem by David Hendin. Bibleodyssey.org; Teachingthem.com;