“While I have heard the argument made that Jesus considered himself to be a Jewish prophet called to reform Judaism and never saw himself as having any cross-cultural or international purpose, it seems clear that Jesus was internationalizing the movement from the start. He saw himself as inaugurating the Kingdom of God—a movement not tied to nations or national boundaries, as a king who is not in competition with civil rulers (John 18:35-36). The worship of God would have no geographical center (John 4:19-24). Jesus trained his disciples to think in a new way about non-Jews—Roman soldiers, Canaanites, Samaritans, among others—far different from the views of typical Jewish adherents. He intentionally went into non-Jewish areas—Samaria, Phoenicia, Decapolis—and trained his disciples to minister to non-Jews. He taught his followers to focus on the core of the law (the Great Commandment) above the rabbinical innovations that had become part of the local religious culture. He probably preached in Aramaic, the language used by people well beyond the borders of Judea and Galilee. The call of Jesus shortly before his ascension to go into all the world is hardly a surprise ending His message was already prepared to be adapted to and adopted by the world.”

–Robert H. Munson. “Muddy Footprints in the Ivory Tower: Missiological Reflections on Language and Localized Theology” Philippine Journal of Religious Studies. Vol 4 #1 (2024) p. 67-68.