Jesus, The Minister Of The Circumcision
Rom.15:8, "Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers."
Paul having pointed to the Lord Jesus as a model for Christians, now moves into a direct discussion about the ministry and objectives of Christ. The statement, "Christ was a minister of the circumcision," is a remarkable expression.
The proper interpretation and thinking behind this statement is, He is the Father's Servant for the salvation of Israel, who are of the circumcision.
So the question, "Why is this a remarkable expression?"
Jesus Christ came to make good the veracity, the truthfulness of God towards His ancient people the Jews. He came to confirm the Messianic promises made to the prophets of old, and especially the Abrahamic covenant. This unconditional covenant concerned the Jewish people and the land.
Jesus was born a Jew. He was the Father's Messiah for Israel. He came to His people, to seek and to save the lost. There were two objectives to be accomplished through this ministry.
1. Jesus was to confirm the promises made to the patriarches. These covenants were made only with Israel,
Rom.9:4, "Who are Israelites: to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises."
These promises by God were not to the Gentiles, and these promises would be kept.
Eph.2:12, "At that time ye (the Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."
2. The second reason can be found in verse 9, "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy."
Jesus was to bring joy to the Jews. Paul appears to be putting the Jews down, and to keep the pride of the Gentile's in check. But he holds up the Jews salvation as the primary reason, and end of Jesus holy and sacred mission.
But after this, He was sent, "That the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy."
There were no promises made to the Gentile nations for Jesus to confirm. Any and all spiritual blessings that have come to the Gentiles spring only from God's mercy to them.
God's plan of mercy did embrace from the beginning, the Jews, as well as the Gentiles. As it is written,
Ps.18:49, "Therefore will I give thinks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen (Gentiles,) and sing praises unto thy name." Christ will glorify His name among the Gentile nations and well as the Jewish people.
Deut.32:43, "Rejoice, O ye nations (the Gentiles,) with His people (the Jews:) for He (God) will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land (Israel,) and to His people (the Jews.)"
Ps.117:1, "O praise the LORD, all ye nations (the Gentiles:) praise him all ye people (the Jews.)"
Isaiah wrote, Isa.11:10, "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign (a banner) of the people (Israel;) to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."
There shall be a root of Jesse not meaning, "He from whom Jesse sprang," but, He (Jesus) is sprung from Jesse, this pointing to David, Jesses son.
Rev.22:16, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
To conclude, God's eternal purpose was to bless the Gentiles spiritually through Jesus Christ as their Christ and through His covenants with Israel.
Gen.12:3, "I will bless them that bless thee (the Jewish people,) and curse him that curseth thee: an in thee shall all families (Gentiles) of the earth be blessed."
John 4:22, Jesus is speaking to the Gentile woman at the well, He said, "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews."
The two-fold ministry of Jesus are in full gear now while Israel nationally has been set aside. You can read the whole message in Rom.11:1-31. I will highlight a few passages,
Ver.1, "Hath God cast away his people (the Jews?) God forbid (certainly not. Ver.2, God hath not cast away his people which He foreknew. Ver.15, For if the casting away of them (the Jews) be the reconciling of the world (Gentiles,) what shall the receiving of them (the Jews) be, but life from the dead.
Ver.17, If some of the branches (the Jews) be broken off, and thou (the Gentiles,) being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them (the Jews,) and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Ver.30, For as ye (the Gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (the Jews) unbelief."
With this it can be said,
Rom.10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com