OUTCASTS & OUTLAWS: WELCOME!

Gen. James Green

The Prison Writings--2023

Having been to India more than once, and having seen the “outcasts” (those of the lowest caste), I understand more fully what this word must have meant during the days of the Prophets and the days of Jesus' ministry.

The outlaws were those who were outside the law of Moses, not just those who had broken some civil law and whom the authorities were trying to apprehend. These were “lawless” men within Judah and Peter wrote about them:

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” (Acts 2:22-23)

THE AGENT

Scriptures signify that the Holy Spirit will be the “agent” in the accomplishment of God's purposes and plans in the epoch of preparation through the Prophets, Jesus' ministry, and the mission of the Body of Christ.

David wrote in one of his psalms, “Why did the nations rage and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ” (i.e. 'anointed one' by the Holy Spirit) (Psalm 2:1-2). Most all Bible scholars believe this Psalm to be a messianic prophecy which greatly helped the New Testament Ekklesia. Of course Christians understand it to be speaking of Christ Jesus. See Acts 4:25-27; 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5.

So, Israel's resistance to the Word of God proclaimed by the Prophets was, according to Stephen's speech, “resisting the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51) The Scripture tells us that Jesus was both filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4:1-filled, and Matt.4:1-led).

THE ANOINTING

The anointing by the Holy Spirit characterizes Jesus' ministry. The messianic prophetic message in Isaiah 61:1-3 is compelling: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God's favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.”

As we know, prophecy can have a double meaning. Isaiah was writing about himself here, yet alluding to the coming Messiah Jesus. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. . . .” is fulfilled in Matt. 3:16, “ . . .the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.” Then in Luke 4:18-19 we find Jesus reading Isaiah's prophecy in a synagogue in Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him. After reading this great prophecy Jesus announced, “ . . .today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

THE MISSION

The first clear indication Luke gives concerning the universal benefits that are to come through Jesus' mission comes through the aged Simeon in the book of Luke, chapter 2: “Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God. 'Lord,' he said, 'now I can die content!'"

In Isaiah 40:5 we read, “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah also spoke of it when he said, “ . . . .they shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.” (Isaiah 35:2) That glory was to be the salvation which the Lord Jesus brought to the entire world.

Simeon continues: “. . .mine eyes have seen Thy salvation (baby Jesus) which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples (Jews and Gentiles alike), a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-30)

There are ample texts in the O.T. that support the idea that Israel's mission was to be a light to the Gentiles (see Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6). Yet the aged Jew, Simeon, sees in the infant Jesus the one God has sent who will save his people from their sins (see Matt. 1:21). Jesus was born a Jew in the flesh; He was God's Son in His preexistent state, and He came down from Heaven to fulfill God's plan to send a Savior for the entire world (see John 3:13).

PREPARE THE WAY

The scriptures in Isaiah 52:10 and Luke 3:4-6 are actually connected. Luke 3:6 tells us, “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” He was confirming what Isaiah prophesied many years before: “The Lord has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:10) (Note: the phrase “made bare His holy arm” means “revealed His power.”) We need to ask, have all nations seen the salvation of the Lord?

I did a word study in the past dealing with the word “all.” Is the word “all” being used literally or in a figurative sense? According to the Hebrew language the “all” in Isaiah 52:10 is translated from the Hebrew “kole” which means “the whole, any or every, altogether.” (Note: another Hebrew word related to this idea, a primary root, is “kalal” which means “to complete or perfect.” There is also a third word, “melow” which means “fullness, both literally or figuratively.”

Further study reveals that “all” can be used in an absolute or limited sense, such as a hyperbole or an exaggeration used in a figure of speech. “All” can be the whole of every number, the whole number or amount. It can also mean most but not every.

In the New Testament we find that “all” is taken from the Greek word “pas” which means “all, any, every, the whole.” Another Greek word is “hapas” which is used as a particle of union. Scripture is interpreted by context and content. “. . . .ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. . . .” (Matt. 10:22). Are we to believe this instance of the word “all” to mean every single one or most? Experience has taught us that those who are convicted of their sins and refuse to repent are the primary ones who hate the Gospel and those who present it.

GOOD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS, OUTCASTS, AND OUTSIDERS

The apostle Luke records this in his gospel: He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.  He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. (Luke 1:51-3)

The “poor” resounds in the Gospel of Luke. I've seen the physically poor in many nations in which we have ministered. I've also seen the rich who have much but who are terribly poor as far as their soul was concerned. In the Bible we find outcasts among the Jews as well as the Gentiles. In Jesus' day there were Jews who were excluded from the life of the covenant people for various reasons as well as non-Jewish people who never had a part in the covenant God made with Israel. Many nations throughout history have had groups of people whom were shunned. The country of India was especially guilty of this, for in their history they had a particular caste called “untouchables” who were severely discriminated against.

In the Gospels we find Jesus relating three separate parables which all emphasize His love for the lost. We read about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. These parables also stress the great joy of the one who has recovered that which had been lost and the joy which resounds through Heaven over even one who seriously repents.

SYNAGOGUE OF NAZARETH

We have seen where Jesus read Isaiah 61 from the scroll in the synagogue. As also mentioned above, when He was finished reading that great prophecy He told the crowd gathered there that, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” What was their reaction? At first when all those in the synagogue heard these things they were enraptured and and looked upon Him with amazement. Yet their mood changed dramatically after Jesus recalled to them several examples from the Old Testament about how God had decided not to pour out His blessings on Israel because of their hard hearts and idolatry. Luke 29-30 tell us: “These remarks stung them to fury; and jumping up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built, to push him over the cliff. But he walked away through the crowd and left them.” Another translation says: “They were filled with wrath!”

What does this confrontation tell us? It tells us that Jesus and His Word were rejected! That rejection, in His own hometown no less, is just a small example of the greater rejection which Jesus suffered by the nation of Israel itself (see Acts 13:46).

On yet another Sabbath Jesus entered a synagogue where a man with a withered hand was present (Luke 6:6). The scriptures tell us that Jesus once again challenged the religious leaders, and then in His great compassion He healed the crippled man. After that great miracle we are told, “. . .At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to plot his murder.” (Luke 6:11). Jesus argues on more than one occasion that performing works of mercy take precedence over even the sacred Sabbath rest. But the religious leaders were not of that mindset, being filled with pride and having very heard hearts.

JESUS―OUTCAST HIMSELF

Jesus was considered an outlaw and outcast by most of His own people, especially the religious leadership. They were determined to rid themselves of Him. Yet Jesus had other plans! Jesus spoke forth more than one parable showing the proud religious leadership that they were actually the real outlaws and that God would cast them out of the Kingdom (see Matt. 21:18-46). “After the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” (Matt. 21:46). It was these same “religious” ones who later accused Jesus to Pilate and demanded He be crucified.

Jesus continues His discourse with the parable of the wedding feast. Note verses 13-14 of Matt. 22: “Then the king turned to his servants and said, 'Tie him up and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be great sorrow, with weeping and grinding of teeth.' For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.” (The Passion Translation) Many versions read: “. . . cast him into outer darkness.” OUTCASTS! Earlier in Matthew's account we read this: “And many an Israelite, those for whom the Kingdom was prepared, shall be cast into outer darkness, into the place of weeping and torment.” (Matt. 8:12)

Jesus was telling them that the Gentiles will enter the Kingdom (God's New World Order of the Holy Spirit) before the covenant people of Israel (see verse 11). The exclusion of those rebellious Israelites who, though being descended from the patriarchs and members of God's chosen nation, the children of the Kingdom, refused to believe in Jesus the Christ showed that God is no respecter of persons. They were to be the outcasts in the end, not Jesus or His disciples, or the multitudes of Gentiles who believe in Jesus and accept Him as their Savior.

CAST INTO HELL

What? Really? We find Jesus again directing His words (the cutting Sword of the Spirit) at the Pharisees and Sadducees, telling them that, “. . . the ax lies at the root of the trees . . . .therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 3:10).

We hear many modern “enlightened” folks saying “Hey Jesus, that's not very nice.” All we can say to these rebels is that Jesus was not, and never will be, under the “nice bondage.” Do your own study and look up all the instances where Jesus isn't “very nice” when addressing the children of the Kingdom who refused to believe on Him, repent, and be saved.

LIGHT AND LOVE

God intended to give His LIGHT (the truths of His Kingdom and the fact that He is determined to have a people He can call His own) and His LOVE (a love so vast and deep that He came to earth and willingly sacrificed His life so that everyone who dedicates their life to Him can be saved from sin) to both the Jews and the Gentiles―the Jew first, then the Gentile. (See Acts 1:8; 13:46,47; Romans 1:16) In the end the choice is up to each of us. Will we accept these great gifts from our Creator and spend eternity with Him in His glorious Kingdom here on earth and eventually in Heaven, or will we reject His gifts, going our own way which leads to separation from God for eternity in Hell? Consider and choose wisely.

--Gen. Jim Green

HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED? JESUS IS REAL!! PRAY LIKE THIS.

Dear Jesus, I come to you with all the sins I've committed and I beg you to forgive me. Rescue me from eternal damnation in Hellfire. I confess that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. Don't let me die in my sins. Please cleanse my body, soul and spirit with your precious blood. I need your help and I ask you to come and live in my heart. I want to serve you, obey your commands and do what is right. I want to live for you everyday and receive everlasting life. Please lead and guide me by your Spirit into righteousness. Help me live a clean and holy life that is pleasing unto God. Thank you Jesus for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen! Read the BIBLE!