Why did Jesus not take the Greeks (Gentiles) during His earthly ministry?
Jesus did not take the Greeks during His earthly ministry because Gentiles were outside Israel’s covenant promises and not citizens of Israel. God was dealing with Israel on the basis of the covenants, so Christ could not be the object of Gentile faith until He had died, been buried, and risen from the dead.
Les explains that from Genesis 12 until Acts chapter 9, God was dealing with Israel on the basis of the covenants. During that time, Gentiles were outside; they were not in the covenant promises and were not citizens of the nation of Israel. That is why Jesus did not take these Greeks, because He could not be the object of their faith until He had died the death of the cross, been buried, and risen from the dead. The same principle is illustrated by Jonah, who did not want to go to Gentile Nineveh, much as Peter hesitated in Acts chapter 10 when told to go to Cornelius.