Jesus’ method of disciple making is both overt and subtle. It is overt in that it is clearly deliberate and structured. It is subtle in that it happens largely without either the disciples or the reader realizing what is happening. A casual reader of Matthew’s Gospel might think that Jesus is simply “doing His thing” in going from place to place, doing some teaching here and there and engaging in ministry as opportunity allowed. But a more purposeful reading reveals that Jesus has been going about His ministry with a very clear intention. His modus operandi is simply to teach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God to His disciples through real-world ministry in day-to-day circumstance. He is developing those who follow Him into mature disciples who will be capable of making more disciples.
Jesus’ last ‘lesson’ ended with the disciples confessing that He is truly the Son of God (14:33). From there, Jesus lands at Gennesaret (14:34) and begins the next ‘lesson’. He shows them what the Son of God has come to do, He heals the sick who are brought to Him, overcomes the religious charges brought against Him by using common sense and Scripture, and teaches the people the ways of the Kingdom. In turn, the disciples ask Him to explain what His teaching means in greater detail. That is clearly not the result Jesus expected – He exclaims, “Are you still so dull?” Nevertheless He does explain. But He knows the lesson is not complete with teaching alone. A more visceral lesson is needed.
Matthew records, “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.” Tyre and Sidon were Canaanite cities in Phoenicia. Tyre was founded some 700 years prior to Abraham, and both Tyre and Sidon had been freed from Egyptian control by the Romans within the prior 100 years of Jesus’ visit. So these were deeply Gentile places that saw very little Jewish traffic. Just as He reached out to the Samaritan woman (John 4) and responded to the Roman centurion (Matt 8), He now goes to minister in the heart of Gentile country.
For a Jewish man – a rabbi no less – to visit such an “unclean” place would be highly offensive. “The Mosaic law had no specific prohibition to this effect, but the entire law with all its regulations had such a prohibition as a result. The man who acted otherwise was going contrary, not to one item of the law, but to the law in its entirety. This was thoroughly understood in Judaism.” In fact, Peter said so much in Acts 10:28. Introducing himself to Cornelius, he said, “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him.”
If this was anyone other than Jesus, one might think such a trip to Gentile land was extreme passive-aggressive behavior in retaliation for the accusation of uncleanness the Pharisees had made. But it is Jesus, and He does not act out in childish manners.
He is deliberately teaching His disciples that those made in God’s image must be reached, regardless of our own prejudices. Nothing reinforces that lesson as well as full immersion in another culture!
Truth overcomes prejudice by mere light of evidence, and there is no better way to make a good cause prevail than to make it as plain, and commonly, and thoroughly known as we can.
Richard Baxter
APPLICATION: Intentionality
Sometimes the most profound work Christ does in us is the most obvious, physical and practical thing.