"THE PRAISES OF THE NATIONS" The Epiphany of Our Lord (transferred) January 6, 2020 Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church Glenshaw, Pennsylvania TEXT: Nations shall come to your Light, and kings to the Brightness of your Rising. Isaiah 60:3 (ESV)
This feast of Epiphany and the season that follows it emphasize the great theme that the Messiah God sent is not the Savior of just the Jews; He is the Savior of all sinners. For this reason Epiphany has been called (particularly in the Eastern Church) "the Christmas of the Gentiles." Even though we know precious little about these wise men who came to Jerusalem searching for the "King of the Jews," we do know that they were Gentiles--"outsiders"--not from among the chosen people of God. Tradition says that they were three in number (probably because three gifts are mentioned in Matthew's Gospel) and that they represented the three major racial groups of humanity (one white, one black, one Asian). It's a nice thought that certainly fits the theme of the story, but we have to be very careful not to allegorize this story, because this story, after all, is not allegory; it's history. This is no legend or parable composed simply to teach a greater truth. The people described in the Epiphany Gospel were real people and the events described there really happened. Foreign dignitaries coming to the holy city of Jerusalem in search of a Jewish Monarch certainly fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that serves as this morning's Old Testament Reading. This prophecy speaks of foreign nations and kings converging on Zion, the holy hill, having been drawn to it by the Light that emanates from there. Just who are these "nations . . . and kings"? And what is it exactly that is drawing them to the holy place that God had given to His people to be the focal point of their worship life? These are two very important questions for us to consider as we examine this prophecy of Isaiah as a part of our Epiphany observance. To put these questions in simpler and more direct terms: Who will come? And why will they come? Those coming to Jerusalem are described as "nations." This is a loud and clear testimony to the fact that this Savior is for everyone. No one is excluded. That may sound painfully obvious to us but, believe me, it was revolutionary to the Jews of Jesus' day. The idea that the Gospel is for everyone represents a dramatic departure from the thinking of God's Old Testament people and, I suppose if we're going to be honest about it, it represents a dramatic departure from the thinking of God's New Testament people as well. The mission of the Church through the centuries has often been plagued by an attitude of parochialism that assumes that the mission field consists primarily of "our own"--in other words, people who are just like us. How many times have you heard people excuse their indifference to foreign missions by proclaiming: "The mission starts at home"? But God's invitation is extended to all. Since all are sinners in need of forgiveness, this Savior is for all. The Lord has punctuated His universal invitation by choosing some of the most unlikely people to be players in His drama of salvation: a humble virgin girl from Nazareth, a group of smelly shepherds, Gentile magi from the east, a group of twelve unorganized and undisciplined disciples. The point is this: There is no one on the face of the earth who can say "this is not for me." This Savior is for everyone. The pilgrims to Zion are further described as "kings." This does not necessarily mean that the wise men who came to Bethlehem were royalty, no matter what that beautiful hymn may say. What it does mean is that no one is so high and mighty that he or she has no need of the One "born King of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2). Jesus Christ has something to offer to everyone--even to those who are thought to "have it all"--and perhaps especially to those who think they have it all. Those who think of themselves as being the richest and most self-sufficient of all are in fact the most needy. They, more than anyone else, are in need of what this Savior has to offer: the exposure of their sin and its forgiveness through the shedding of His sacred blood--the realization that death is their last enemy and that Christ has given them the victory over it. Why do these "nations" and "kings" come to the holy city? What is it that they are looking for, and why would they look there? First of all, we must bear in mind that they do not come of their own accord, even if they think they do. They are drawn to the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord. In another place in Isaiah's book of prophecy the Lord explains what is really going on here: "I was ready to be sought," He says, "by those who did not ask for Me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I' to a nation that was not called by My name" (Isaiah 65:1--quoted in Romans 10:20). The text tells us that "nations" and "kings" will come to the "Light" of Jerusalem. What is this Light? It is no doubt the revelation of God Himself. This revelation begins with an awareness of His holiness, which cannot help but expose the ugly reality of human sin. That's why people don't voluntarily seek the Lord; they run away from Him just as Adam did in the garden, because they don't want to come to terms with their sin. But they come anyway, drawn by the Holy Spirit, because only after our disease of sin is diagnosed can it be treated and healed. And with what is it treated and healed? --with "the Brightness of your Rising." The only satisfactory Answer and Antidote to sin is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the greatest revelation of God's glory, because He reveals to us and to all sinners not just the holiness of God but also the grace and mercy of God. In Him our sin is not just exposed; it is done away with, because He is the One who bore our sin and suffered its punishment on the cross and He is the One who has replaced our sin with His perfect righteousness. Because of what He has done, all nations--even kings--can stand before the judgment throne of the King of kings and be accepted by Him, not because of how good they are but because of how good He is. This is the Good News, and Epiphany reminds us that it is Good News for everyone. What does all of this mean for us? For one thing, it means we have no reason to ever think that what the Lord offers is not for us. He who called the nations--even kings--to His holy mountain calls everyone today as well (including us)--to His Church. It also means that everyone outside the Church is a candidate for faith and discipleship. We are not afforded the luxury of overlooking anyone as we bear witness to the love of our Lord. The same Spirit who has called us to life and salvation is also ready, willing, and able to bless us with the wisdom to seize every opportunity to be witnesses for Christ, the motivation to bear witness of His redeeming love, and the gifts that we need to carry out the ministry to which He has called us, so that all may hear and believe, and by His power be brought into God's kingdom of grace. Amen. May the God who caused light to shine out of darkness cause you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all people, as His love abounds for us; and may the glory of His Son be manifested to you and in you, that you may be witnesses to all nations now and until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Amen. ~