The Scripture passages from the Book of Common Prayer Lectionary this week, following the celebration of Epiphany, continue with the theme of the good news of God’s salvation being extended to the Gentiles, and their turning to the Lord. Today’s Scripture selection is taken from the Prophet Isaiah.
In our passage, the Lord is speaking to Zion, the capital city of Jerusalem, and He is speaking of a time in the future, a future time when the Light of the Lord’s glory will shine forth from Jerusalem (vs. 1 - 3). That will be when the Lord Jesus is accepted as the Messiah in Jerusalem, and He will reign over His kingdom from there.
I don’t think there is anyone who would argue that the world today is in great darkness. Wars, terrorism, violence, hatred, distrust, cheating, stealing. The list can go on and on. There is spiritual darkness everywhere, and no corner of the world is exempt, including Jerusalem. God promises a change is coming. One day a light will shine forth from Zion, or Jerusalem, and the Lord’s glory will shine forth. When Jesus first walked the earth, He came to Jerusalem, but as we saw in a message just a couple of days ago, Jesus came to His own people, but they would not receive Him (John 1:11). Instead, it was at Jerusalem that they took and executed Him. That looks like serious darkness, not light! When Jesus returns, however, He will come to Jerusalem, and they will see Him who they had executed, and will mourn in repentance, and accept Him then (Zechariah 12:10). At this time the Light of the Lord will shine forth from there, all around the world, and the Gentile nations will see this, and come to the Light of the Lord.
When Jesus came to Jerusalem, and they refused to accept Him, the light was not completely snuffed out. It went forth throughout the world, and Gentile nations have turned to Him. As our passage in Isaiah continues, we read of several nations, whose names are unfamiliar to most of us, as these are kingdoms which no longer exist. Throughout history, kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, and their names are either forgotten or relegated to back pages in old history books.
Throughout the whole world, however, there is not a corner where the Gospel message has not been preached, and at some point in history, particularly today, there are believers in Christ from every nation and language. In Revelation 5:9-10, we read that there are believers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. They are all gathered around the throne of God to praise Him. I enjoy watching the “parade of nations” at the start of the Olympic Games every four years. There is something even grander coming when believers from every nation and language will gather to praise the Lord!
The Lord God has no favorites. The door of salvation is open to everyone, regardless of their nationality, or what language they speak. It is open to everyone, whether male or female, rich or poor, old or young, well educated or not. We, as believers, have an obligation to keep the light of the Gospel going forth, by telling others about Jesus. Let’s swell the crowd of people in that coming “parade of nations” that will gather around the throne of God!
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