Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
CHRIST ANNOUNCED TO THE GENTILES
The way in which the first Gentiles were led to Christ was wonderful. Even more wonderful than the circumstances of this account is the fact that God chose to lead the Wise Men to Bethlehem, not exclusively by the star, but also via a detour. The Jewish king, with his chief priests and scribes, first had to show them from God's Word that Bethlehem was the place where Christ could be found. God wanted to show all future generations that He did not lead the Gentiles to His dear Son by miracles, by stars, by angels, or by some other extraordinary heavenly appearance. Instead He directed them by means of men, His already existing church. We see from this that the mission to the Gentiles is a duty of the Church.
Unfortunately, in our day, far too many people, including those who are undeniably Christians, think that the mission to the Gentiles, while laudable, is something they can do or not do. With so much distress in the world, they believe that the burden of missions should not be imposed on the Church as a potential hindrance to other important work. Such Christians are in error. The Christian Church is a debtor to the whole world that remains outside Christ. They are responsible for the lighting of the heavenly star of the Word for the poor Gentiles and leading them to Bethlehem. The Church is the fruitful mother out of whose womb more children should be born for God.
O Jesus, King of Glory, both David's Lord and Son!
Thy realm endures forever, in heav'n is fixed Thy throne.
Help that in earth's dominions, thro'out from pole to pole,
Thy reign may spread salvation to each benighted soul. Amen.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 130:1)
-Excerpt taken from "God Grant It : Daily Devotions from C. F. W. Walther"
Concordia Publishing House, 2006.
