October 31, 2025, will mark 508 years since what is considered to be the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. In light of this anniversary of one of the most pivotal happenings in all of human history, we will take the next few weeks to familiarize ourselves with some of the facts as to how it came about.
There are countless figures and personalities who played significant roles in the Reformation, but none more influential than the German, Martin Luther. We will begin with his early life.
Martin was the first-born child, born into a working-class family in Eisleben, Germany in 1483. His parents named him after St. Martin as he was born on the day of the Vigil of the Feast of St. Martin. His family soon moved a few miles away to Mansfeld for better work opportunities. Martin's father, Hans, worked as a miner and Mansfeld was home to a copper mine. Young Martin attended school and performed well, learning the language of Latin among other things, and eventually earning for himself an opportunity to pursue a University education.
In 1501, Martin enrolled at the University of Erfurt and scored well enough throughout his time there to qualify for even higher learning. Hans longed for his son to achieve in education so that he could help to elevate the family's status and secure a more affluent lifestyle. He wanted Martin to become a lawyer, so young Martin complied, but briefly.
Shortly after enrolling in Law school, Martin changed life paths. As the story goes, Martin got caught in a thunderstorm in which he became very fearful. So fearful, in fact, that he prayed to St. Anne (the patroness of miners) and pledged that if she would save him from this storm, then he would become a monk.
Luther was not harmed in the storm and apparently he did not make his vow in vain. Luther withdrew from Law school and joined the nearby Augustinian monastery. This disappointed his family to be sure, but it seems that Martin was destined for a different life than the one that his earthly father had mapped out for him.
As we will see, it was what occurred there at the monastery, and what Luther saw and learned, that was the catalyst for the course of the rest of his life.
Isn't it remarkable how God orchestrates and works out His sovereign plan, all the while equipping mankind with an agency and allowing him to make his own decisions? It is unfathomable how God has done this! Proverbs 19:6 says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." In this verse, we see this God-given agency that God has endowed to men. And we also see the sovereign hand of God that cannot be overruled. All I can think to say in response to these twin truths is, it is certainly true when God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
In the weeks leading up to this anniversary, we will explore this historical event of the Reformation further and observe the hand of God at work to bring about His will for the Church and for the proclamation of His gospel to the nations...I hope you enjoy it!
With love in Jesus Christ,
Pastor Jeremy
