One Body, One Hope, One Faith
“There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call –
one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4:4-5)
It is natural for us here on earth to create castes – classes or ranks. Whether it is in school or at work, in sports or at the rotary club, in government or in church, ranks and protocol are the order of the day. In this season of Epiphany, we continue to celebrate the revelation of Jesus Christ to the gentiles, an action that seemed to go against the Jewish preconceived arrangements of the day. Even when their prophets had long foretold of a Messianic era in which the whole world will be reconciled – different tribes, as well as people and animals – the Jews were not yet looking forward to that season. Jesus Christ, however, was duty-bound to fulfill his ministry without being hindered by such cultural limits.
In reaching out to gentiles while still alive, the Lord was practically calling all races of the world to Salvation. In Matthew 8:5-13 is such a case in point: Jesus favourably and charitably interacts with a two gentiles – the centurion and his servant. Matthew Henry’s comments are interesting: The centurion was a supplicant, a Gentile, a Roman, an officer of the army. Though he was a soldier (and a little piety commonly goes a great way with men of that profession), yet he was a godly man. God has his remnant among all sorts of people. No man’s calling or place in the world will be an excuse for his unbelief and impiety; none shall say in the great day, I would have been religious, if I had not been a soldier; for such there are among the ransomed of the Lord. And sometimes where grace conquers the unlikely, it is more than a conqueror; this soldier that was good, was very good.
Though he was a Roman soldier, and his very dwelling among the Jews was a badge of their subjection to the Roman yoke, yet Christ, who was King of the Jews, favoured him; and therein has taught us to do good to our enemies, and not needlessly to interest ourselves in national enmities. Though he was a Gentile, yet Christ gave him audience. Good old Simeon's word began to be fulfilled, that Christ should be a light to lighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel. Another gentile, the servant was the patient. In healing him it appears, that there is no respect of persons with God; for in Christ Jesus, as there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, so there is neither bond nor free. He is as ready to heal and save the poorest servant, as the richest master. In the end will be most clear the reality of One Body, One Hope and One Faith.
God bless you.