“Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’” (Romans 15:8-9, NRSV).
On behalf of the truth, people will do the strangest things. Even Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus was sent from heaven as Savior for all the peoples of the world. Yet during his earthly ministry he came to focus almost exclusively on “the circumcised.” This is a biblical code word for the Jews – a smallish, undistinguished, sometimes difficult people group living around the Sea of Galilee. It would seem an odd strategy.
Paul explains that Jesus “became a servant to the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God” (NRSV). Jesus knew something, apparently, that others did not appreciate. He understood the deep truths of God’s promises, working their way through history. He saw how his focused work among the circumcised fit into the Father’s larger plan for all the nations. Paul refers to “the promises given to the patriarchs.” He must have pictured Genesis 12, in particular: “I will bless you…so that you will be a blessing” (v.2). “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (v.3). Jesus pictured these promises, too. He based his life and ministry upon them. The promises meant that Jesus’ ministry among the Jews served the Father’s purposes to reach the entire world. Jesus’ focused work among this smallish people group near the Sea of Galilee fit – “in order that the Gentiles might glorify God…” (Romans 15:9).
To be sure, many “truths” compete for our attention today. Prejudices present themselves as truths. Social myths, too – “looking out for number one,” “getting ahead,” “keeping up with the Joneses”, etc. But the truth of God represents a radical alternative to the many truths clamoring for our loyalty. God blesses his people – so that they might become a blessing. God calls and empowers his people – so that they might reach “all the families of the earth.” God wants the focused effort of our lives to “fit” into his plan for the nations. This is God’s truth.
Everyone, I suppose, has some conception of the truth – whether prejudice, or social myth, or the truth of the Word of God. And people everywhere, in one way or another, will base their lives upon their conceptions of the truth. The only question is, which truth?
On behalf of the truth, people will do the strangest things. What will you do “on behalf of the truth of God”?
"The Way I See It", July 2002
© Copyright 2002 (World Mission Prayer League). All rights reserved.