Who's afraid of the big, bad bully?

"Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." - Psalm 82:4 (NIV)

In recent weeks, bullying has become a major topic of discussion in the news and other circles, mainly due to tragic circumstances:

• Last week in Detroit, a 7-year-old boy killed himself apparently after being the victim of bullies.
• A 17-year-old boy in the Tampa, Fla., area was left brain-damaged and paralyzed after he tried to kill himself after students at his school taunted him because they claimed he was gay.
• In Kingwood, Texas, a couple withdrew their twin 11-year-old sons from school after the boys had been bullied for their ethnicity. They had been born in India, and according to news reports, bullies at their middle school had taunted them regularly, calling them "terrorists" and punching one in the eye and shaving his eyebrow.

Efforts have been amped up in recent years to combat the apparent growing tide of bullying, though sometimes they have been counter-effective and amount to bullying themselves.

A main example of this came last month.

Sex columnist Dan Savage, who says he is gay, created the It Gets Better Project, in 2010, aiming to reduce the number of suicides among teens who had been bullied because they were gay or believed to be gay. However, at a high school journalism conference in Seattle, Savage profanely spoke out against Christians and the Bible, saying they were responsible for attitudes against gay people. A group of students attending the conference, walked, leading the organizer, the National Scholastic Press Association, to call his remarks "inappropriate," and Savage to later apologize.

So what should be the proper response to bullying?

The Bible is pretty clear in saying that we should live in peace with one another and that we should work to protect those who cannot defend themselves:

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." - Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)

Jesus himself said that we should love our neighbor as ourselves (see Mark 12:31) and take care of those around us (see Matthew 25:34-40). Anything less is cowardly and a sin against God (see Revelation 21:8).

In addition, 1 John tells us that anyone who claimed be in the light (a follower of Christ) yet hates his brothers is not truly a follower of Christ (see 1 John 2:9)

He also said we should love our enemies (see Matthew 5:43-48) and not strike back with similar violence (see Matthew 5:38-41).

At the same time, true peace can only come through Jesus Christ. John 14:27 tells us:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV)

Persecution spotlight: Palestinian Territories

Source: Independentword.com

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." - Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

Today we begin what we plan will be a regular feature looking at the persecuted church here at the Disciple Beacon. Using information from groups such as Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors and International Christian Concern, among others, as well as other news sources, we hope to raise awareness of what is happening to million of people around the planet and the struggles they are facing simply because they choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Today, we go to the Palestinian Territories. According to Voice of the Martyrs, in recent years, as the Palestinian Authority has gained power in their autonomous territories in the West Bank and Gaza Strip around Israel, non-Muslims, particularly Christians, have been forced to either face severe repression in terms of the loss of their job, freedom and even lives or just leave the country.

In a blog posting by the Voice of the Martyrs, Pastor Steven Khoury, who had been leading a church among the Christian Arab community in Jerusalem, received an eviction notice for his church to leave their building. Christians in other traditional towns such as Jesus' birthplace of Bethlehem or his hometown of Nazareth also have been leaving, reducing what had once been a good-sized population of Christians to nearly nothing. The eviction came, Khoury said, after he appeared on CBN's "The 700 Club."




Combine this with the troubles that Palestinians deal with in terms of the Israeli blockade along the West Bank and it spells out a decline on population. According to the Biblical Seminary, the number of Christians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories has dropped from 20 percent of the population in 1948, when the State of Israel was formed, to around 1 percent today.

What can be done? As Jesus said on numerous occasions, we can pray for those who are being persecuted and we can also pray for those causing the problem, including both the Israeli authorities for the blockade and the Palestinian authorities and extremists who amp up the pressure on Christians to either convert to Islam, leave or suffer the consequences.

Have peace...

Sources: 20th Century Fox, Permanentstressrelief.com

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." - Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

It can be argued that most people deal with some stress in their lives.

This stress can come from a variety of sources. Maybe it's a job that you do not know will be there next week, but you continue to go at it because you have mortgage and bills to pay. Maybe it is the stress of dealing with the diagnosis of a major health issue such as cancer or HIV/AIDS. Maybe you are a parent who has a child who continues to deal dangerous with the wrong kind of people at all times of the night. Maybe your marriage is in trouble, and likely to fail with some miracle. Maybe you are a student who is struggling in class with aspirations of getting into the school of your dreams.

The effects of that stress can not only cause worry, but also be damaging to your health. According to WebMD, 75 to 90 percent of all doctor's visits are for some stress-related ailment, including headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems and depression. The same article also said that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, said stress is a hazard of the workplace, costing American industry more than $300 billion each year in lost productivity.

So what to do about it?

Jesus said those who are weary should come to him for rest:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Psalm 55:22 tells us to "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." (NIV) 1 Peter 5:6-7 says we should humble ourselves and give our burdens and care to God, because he cares for us.

Yes, even Christians deal with stress in a fallen world, and Christians do have many of the same problems as anyone else does. However, followers of Christ can look ahead to the point where God "will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."(see Revelation 21:4)

Until then, the Bible tells us to do this:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Which way to heaven?

"Once more Jesus said to them, 'I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.'" - John 8:21 (NIV)

A popular bumper sticker in some cities calls for us to "coexist." The letters are made up of the symbols of various faiths, such as an Islamic crescent moon making up the "C," a Star of David as the "X," and a Christian cross at the "T." It reflects an attitude that no matter what you believe, no matter what your faith is, you will go to heaven when you die if your good deeds outweigh your bad.

However, sadly, that is bad theology. For starters, many faiths such as Christianity and Islam are exclusive beliefs, as in according to their teachings, their way is the only way to heaven. According to them, all other faiths are not the way of God or whatever higher being there is and will not help you in getting to heaven when you die.

So if each faith says they are the way, which way is THE way?

The Bible teaches that only faith in Jesus Christ is sufficient in any of us getting to heaven. Jesus himself is quoted in John 14:6 as saying,

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

Jesus is quoted in Matthew as saying,

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Romans 10:9 tells us,

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (NIV)

But why do we need a savior? Won't our good deeds, if they outweigh our bad ones, be enough to get us into heaven?

Unfortunately, sadly, no, they are not enough. Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And even if we tried to be good, it still isn't enough:

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." - Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

Jesus also had this to say about calling on God to let us into heaven, even if you go to church on a regular basis:
 
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
 
So how do we get to heaven then? One of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16, says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Eternal life means spending eternity with God in heaven. Death, in the eternal sense, means spending eternity apart from God, wallowing in our sins.
 
That is why Jesus is different.
 
"But he continued, 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.'" - John 8:23-24 (NIV)
 
Romans 10:9-10 says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. It's as simple as that.
 
Want to know more? Feel free to contact us today.

Today in Missions: Jack Stockdale

Joan & Jack Stockdale

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Today is the first in an occasional series featuring conversations with those who have gone out to reach out and bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the rest of the world. Many have left the comforts of home to do so, moving to a faraway country where they may not necessarily know the language or customs of the local population, or where there may either indirect or direct opposition to Christian missionaries being there.

Our first conversation is with Jack Stockdale, who along with his wife, Joan, and their children moved to Poznan, Poland, to help start a church with Great Commission Europe, a branch of Great Commission Churches which today is affiliated with more than 125 churches in 20 countries.

Disciple Beacon: Tell the story of how you came to Christ.

Jack Stockdale: I received Christ on November 30, 1973, at the age of 19. My Methodist father married my Catholic mother at a time when non-Catholics were required to sign a statement agreeing that all the children would be raised in the Catholic faith. Thus I attended Catholic grade school and was “very Catholic” until the end of my high school years, when agnosticism began to seem to be rather attractive and convenient, especially as a means of easing one’s conscience when feelings of conviction and guilt arise because of sin.

Through my relationship with my Church of Christ high school sweetheart (who is now my wife and the mother of my ten children) and a friend at Ohio State, I came face-to-face with the reality of my Christ-less-ness and my sin. Late on a Friday night, after resisting my roommate’s offer to “get high,” I found an empty study lounge in my dorm and there opened my life to the Lord Jesus.

Disciple Beacon: What was your spiritual journey like afterward?

Stockdale: I soon met a group of Christians on campus, sort of a “Jesus People”-type fellowship with theological roots in the Plymouth Brethren and a Campus Crusade-like approach to evangelism.

I left school after winter quarter, 1975, to get married with the intention of resuming my education that fall. But I had lost interest in pursuing a degree in forestry and wanted nothing more than to learn the Word of God and how to share my faith effectively. I decided to stay out of school and to continue my involvement in the church. I attended a New Testament Survey class given by one of the pastors and became a small group leader, then eventually a deacon. In July, 1979, I was appointed the church’s seventh elder/pastor.

An experience which has proved to be a spiritual watershed event for me took place over spring break, 1975. Several weeks before my wedding date, I attended a retreat with others from the campus church. Among them I witnessed a level of yielded-ness and consecration to Christ’s Lordship to which I had not yet surrendered. At this retreat I had what I term a “Romans 12:1 experience.” The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual (some translations say, reasonable) service of worship.”

The only reasonable thing to do in light of what He has done for me is to surrender all (“present your bodies”) to Him. This is not mere emotion. This is quite cognitive and rational. It is also true worship.

Disciple Beacon: What led to you becoming a missionary? Was it a single event?

Stockdale: The Romans 12:1 experience was crucial as well as a conference that my wife and I attended in December, 1976, in Madison, Wis. We were young and childless at that time and trying to understand God’s path for our lives. We heard preaching on Matthew 28:19-20 and then and there decided that we wanted to devote the rest of our lives to helping fulfill Christ’s Great Commission. We saw this as the practical outworking of the idea of Romans 12:1.

Years passed as I grew spiritually to the point of being entrusted to help lead God’s people. More years passed as I grew in maturity and experience in the important life-shaping areas of marriage, child-rearing, church-planting, and disciple-making. All the while, Joan and I kept in the back of our minds the prospect of serving the Lord in foreign countries. For us, it was not a question of if we would do this, but simply when the door would open. I always tried to be conscious of not “pushing my own agenda” or somehow allowing foreign missions to be a “badge of spirituality.” In my opinion, too many Christians view it as being only for the “super mature” or “super devoted” Christians.

Disciple Beacon: Why Poland? When did you move there? Where exactly in Poland and why that particular spot?

Stockdale: First, I’ll state what the reason for Poland was not. It was not because I had a particular passion or love for Poles. I was unfamiliar with Poland, its history, people, etc. I simply had an availability to God to go where He would send me, as the saying goes, “God is not concerned about our ability or our inability, but in our availability.”

My first short term mission trip was to Ukraine in 1996. It was a magnificent, transforming experience. I also took mission trips to Honduras in 1997 and to Italy in 2000. God used these experiences to show me that these places were not where He wanted me to move.

In 2000, I heard about a Polish pastor who was eager to facilitate American pastors planting churches in Poland. He lived in Poznan. Also, Herschel Martindale, who eventually become Director of Europe Missions for Great Commission once traveled around the world interviewing national believers and learning about the spiritual condition of various foreign countries. He once asked a Polish national who headed a ministry in Warsaw, “If you were going to plant a church in Poland, in what city would you do it?” His answer was, “Poznan.” Its large student population coupled with its prosperity and influence relative to the rest of the country made it strategic.

I learned about this opportunity from Herschel in 2000 and saw it as “a wide door for effective service” which the Lord was opening for me.

Disciple Beacon: What was the process like when you moved to Poland? How did your family take the decision (both your wife and children as well as those family members who stayed behind in the U.S.)?

Stockdale: That could be a very long answer, but I’ll say a few things. My wife was always on board with the idea of living sacrificially so as to bring the gospel to needy places in the world. Also, she has had a conviction that God primarily leads through the husband. (There’s no record that “Mrs. Noah” ever heard directly from God.)

When we first shared with our kids that we were praying seriously about the possibility of moving to Poland they replied with an enthusiastic, “Why can’t we leave tomorrow!?” Later such excitement was tempered with the realization of all that they would be leaving behind and there were certainly some emotional struggles. To a person, each one would say today that despite the trauma and pain involved with leaving the United States, it was definitely God’s will and the best thing for their lives.

It was painful for our married daughter at the time, but she was supportive. We had a son in the Marine Corps also. Each of them now have three children and they acknowledge the sadness they feel that their kids have not known their grandparents very well.

Disciple Beacon: What has your work been like since moving to Poland? Successes? Failures?

Stockdale: Without question we did not achieve the success we hoped, prayed, and planned for as we initially defined “success.” On the other hand, we have been wildly successful in terms of having led people to Christ who are zealous and determined to carry on after we leave, and of having built into the lives of men and women who are key influencers among the Christians and within Polish culture. After all, how often does something turn out just as you had envisioned it would be, especially when God is involved?

Disciple Beacon: What would your advice be to those who are considering going overseas themselves?

Stockdale: Be prepared for huge spiritual opposition. Satan hates the spread of the gospel, especially in areas which he as largely controlled in the past.

Knowledge is important, but even more so is character. Let God refine your character and build you. Be a submitted person in the contexts of family and local church.

The area of marriage and children was huge for us in terms of Poles (both believers and unbelievers) respecting us enough to give us a hearing. Don’t think you can allow these area of your life to be weak and that you will somehow hide that from people.

Learn to work in unity with other believers. Lone-ranger Christians are especially attractive targets for our enemy.

Wait on God’s timing. Don’t lag behind but also don’t push ahead. His timing is the best. Wait for Him to open the doors.

Learn to be effective where you are in evangelism and disciple-making. If you aren’t effective at home, what makes you think you can be effective with all the added stresses of trying to function (both personally and as a family) in a foreign culture with a different language and different ways of looking at things.

Disciple Beacon: What would your advice be to Christians in general in regards to missions?

Stockdale: Every believer is sent by God somewhere (“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” - John 20:21). In that sense we are all missionaries. You have some role to play. Learn what that role is and play it will all your heart. Pray for foreign missionaries. The opposition is very intense. Give to foreign missionaries. They sacrifice a lot materially to build the kingdom.

Be available to God to do what He wants you to do, say what He wants you to say, go where He wants you to go, whether it’s across the street or across the world. Isn’t that what Lordship is all about?

What is Hell?

Source: OpusDeiAlert.com

"In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’" - Luke 16:23-24 (NIV)

The Gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record that Jesus talked about Hell 70 times in 58 verses. This is almost as many times as he talked about love, which is what He is truly known for. This means that despite the wishes of some people, Hell is a very real place, and a topic that should be taken seriously.

Rather than explain it more here, check out this talk recorded yesterday, Sunday, April 15, by Pastor Brooks Simpson at Grace Community Church in North Liberty, Iowa, as he explains what Hell is all about.

The 14th Station of the Cross: Taking Care

Courtesy: Vatican Museum

"As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away." - Matthew 27:57-60 (NIV)

Jesus was dead. As He was taken down from the cross, a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea was allowed to take the body and place in a new tomb.

Whether Joseph believed or understood Jesus' words that He would be raised again in three days is never specified in the Gospels. Yet, Joseph knew he had to do something to honor the man who had done so much for people and had been wrongly convicted and executed by the Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders.

In the celebration of the Stations of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the minister prayed this prayer:

"Lord, grant us your compassion that we may always provide for those in need."

In the same way, we need to have the compassion of Christ to help others. Repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus came across different groups of people and had compassion on them (see Matthew 9:35-37, Matthew 14:13-15,and Mark 1:40-42, among others).

The great thing to come out of this is Jesus was true to His word: He did rise from the dead. After His resurrection, it is recorded that He appeared before several hundred people before He was taken into Heaven (see Acts 1:1-10). He also will come back again.

I've said it once and several times before, but we can be ready for Jesus' return. Romans 10:9-10 says this:

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

With the world celebrating Easter and the resurrection this weekend, this is as good a time as any to have your own rebirth through Jesus Christ.

Just ask Him. He is compassionate and willing.

(Editor's note: This is part of a series of the Stations of the Cross.)

The Fourth Station of the Cross: The Truth

Courtesy: Vatican Museum

"Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said. But he denied it before them all. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.' He denied it again, with an oath: 'I don't know the man!' After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, 'Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.' Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." - Matthew 26:69-75 (NIV)

Peter was a bold man. As Jesus predicted His death, He also predicted that all of his apostles would run away and deny Him. Peter challenged Jesus, saying He would never leave, even to the point of death. Jesus knew better, though, and predicted:

"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.'" - Matthew 26:34 (NIV)

Of course, when Jesus was arrested, all of the disciples ran away, despite their earlier protests and promises to the contrary (see Matthew 26:56).

In the celebration of the Stations of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the minister prayed this prayer:

"Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult."

Thanks to sin, even the most honest of us (at least by our standards) is still capable of speaking a lie, whether it is conscious or unconscious. Peter and the other apostles were very bold in protesting when Jesus predicted their falling away, but that was also at a time of very little trouble. When the real trouble came, they fell away almost too quickly.

We need to ask God to continue to work in us so we may not only be honest and speak the truth in the best of times, but also when we may, as they say, bite the bullet and say it when it is difficult. 1 Timothy 3 tells us that overseers (also can be defined as church leaders) must be above reproach, or good to the point of being beyond criticism because we are acting like we are speaking and doing what we should be doing, bringing glory and not shame to the name of Christ.

May we all be able to do that.

(Editor's note: This is part of a series of the Stations of the Cross.)

The First Station of the Cross: Praying for God's Will

Courtesy: Vatican Museum

"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Matthew 26:36-41 (NIV)

(Editor's note: This is part of a series on the Stations of the Cross.)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, which is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives just east of Jerusalem, Jesus met with his disciples for the last time. He knew what was coming up, that He would soon endure a death He did not deserve.

In the celebration of the Stations of the Cross by Pope John Paul II in 1991, the minister prayed this prayer:

"Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom, that we may seek to follow your will in all things."

God knows life can be hard. Jesus, though He could get out of sacrificing Himself on the cross because He was God Himself, didn't, instead relied on God the Father for the strength to persevere. He asked for the Father to take "this cup" from Him, but He also relented.

"Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

He asks that of us as well. He knows there are temptations in the world. He knows there are hardships that we all face. But through it all, He says for all of us to follow Him, and to rely on God for that strength and for answers.

Standing out in a different way

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

One of the main reasons often used in not wanting to believe in Christ and follow any of the moral laws on sex, life and other areas listed in the Bible is that they don't want to selectively choose which of the Old Testament laws to follow. Often when a moral law is cited, the response may be "Then why do you still eat pork?" (Leviticus 11:7) or "Do you still wear clothes of mixed fabrics?" (Deuteronomy 22:11)

However, there are differences between the dietary and ceremonial laws laid out for the Israelites in Leviticus and Deuteronomy and the moral laws that are exhibited in places such as the Ten Commandments. God laid out the law to Moses to present to the Israelites because, after the exodus out of slavery in Egypt, they were moving into a land that was possessed by people who defamed God by worshipping other gods, some sacrificing their children to the god Molech, which God condemned. He wanted His people, the Israelites to stand out, and be a holy people amongst the evil that was in the world by the world (see Exodus 19:5-6).

When Jesus came into the world, He brought with Him a new covenant with the Hebrews and the rest of the world. He came to save the world because under the Law, all people are sinners (see Romans 3:23). As the Savior of the nations, Jesus fulfilled the Law to the point where the old ceremonial laws did not apply anymore, which we see in his rebuke of the Pharisees who had condemned His followers for picking grain on the Sabbath, which was against the Law (see Mark 2:23-27). The old dietary laws also did not apply anymore, as was revealed to the Apostle Peter, as recorded in Acts 10.

In short, while still considering the Hebrews His People, He has opened the umbrella to all peoples, as referenced by John 3:16-17:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (NIV)