Jesus took Jews and Gentiles and fused them into one Body–His–thus forming a new assembly, the Church.

8:1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Yesterday, we discussed the two miraculous feedings in Matthew 14 and 15; these two events announced the process of fusion through expansion of the Assembly, better known as the Church. It all began around 3500 years ago. the LORD was about to deliver the Israelites out of bondage to Egypt. He said,

¹⁶ On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
¹⁷ “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. Exodus 12:16-17

From that point on, the assembly referred to the gathering of Israel for worship of the LORD God. This assembly was built upon the Passover Lamb representing what Jesus Christ would do for them–and us–1500 years later.

Fast-forward to Jesus when He had led His disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked them who they say He was:

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church*/gathering/assembly, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:16-18

Jesus was expanding the assembly; this time, it is on the declaration of Simon Peter. Jesus is the foundation, and all who declare Jesus as Messiah, the Son of the living God, are members of the assembly. Stephen even spoke of the assembly in his famous sermon for which he was stoned (Acts 7:38).

Fast-forward again to Pentecost. In Peter’s famous sermon at which 3000 Jewish men believed, he made this statement,

³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel [the assembly] be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36

This assembly, the Church, is still growing this very day. Daniel said that through the Church, Jesus would fill the entire earth (Daniel 2:34-35). We are members of this assembly and every time we gather in Jesus’ name, we join Christians all around the earth, even those who stand before the throne, in worship of our great and loving Savior and our heavenly Father. May we praise His name together in gratefulness for including us in His Assembly, the Church.

Abba, You are great and You are loving. You love us, Your Church, Your Bride. May we join our brothers and sisters around the globe and around the throne in worship of Your greatness. Amen.

*Church=Assembly. Greek, “Ekklesia,” is translated, “Gathering,” but was interpreted from, “kirche,” which is German for, “congregation,” by Tyndale.