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John 1:43-55
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The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (ESV)
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We Don't See It. Yet.
Tuesday of Pentecost 22
30 October 2012
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Martin Luther's strong sense of the power of the Word of God to do what it says means that the Lutheran Church has been left with a legacy of realism and immediacy in the church's sacred acts. When the Word of God is proclaimed all the promises and acts of God become ours. When the Lord Jesus takes a child in His arms and brings him or her into the font of His death and resurrection, that child participates in Christ's suffering and death and will rise with Him into newness of life. When we come to the altar hungering and thirsting for righteousness, our Lord meets us with His body and blood; "given and shed for the forgiveness of sins." His Word "this is my body," "This cup is the new testament in my blood," give what they say to those who receive this great gift. When absolution is proclaimed upon the penitent the forgiveness of sins is given, because the Word of God "I forgive you," does what it says. Luther called it an "action-word." When the preacher stands before the community and delivers the sermon, because it is God's Word, it does what it says. When the gospel is preached to God's people they receive the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection. They are preached under the cross where they receive the water and blood, which gives life and opens the very gates of heaven.
When someone asks us "What's happening?" we usually reply something like, "Oh, not much." We should reply, "God's Word." It is a happening-word. This is why the church still gathers together to hear the Word of God within the community of the faithful. Faith and its gifts are recreated over again at every rehearing. The Word of God makes this happen, because it is a happening-word. The only thing lacking in this experience is sight. We do not see what God so powerfully does in his divine speech. We must live by faith and not by sight (2Co 5:7). This means that we trust God to do what He says, even and especially when we have no sense experience of it. We do not see it. We do not feel it. Yet we know it because God tells us. In that telling there is a truth that comes to be.
In George McDonald's little fantasy novel The Princess and the Goblin the Princess and her friend find themselves lost in a darkened mine. She has been told to follow the thread given her by her great grandmother. But as she follows it she and her friend find themselves in tighter and tighter spots. They feel the oppression of the darkness and they begin to wonder if following this skein will be life-giving or finally deadly. They are rescued when the Princess resolutely follows the thread of life. The Princess trusted what her great grandmother said despite how she felt and experienced in the oppressing mine. This is how we live in the world following, not a thread, but the skein of God's Word through the darkness of this world. That golden skein leads to an open heaven; opened by Christ Himself for us. It is open now. He just don't see it. Yet. |
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Martin Luther
"When Christ became man and entered upon His preaching ministry, then heaven was opened. Beginning with that time, it is open and remains open. It has never again been closed since Christ's baptism in the Jordan It will never again be closed, hidden though this sight is from the physical eye. When heaven is open and God the Father addresses us, we note this only with our spiritual sight. Before the advent of Christ heaven was closed, and the devil had full sway; but in and through Christ the heaven stands ajar again. Now Christians see heaven opened, always hear God the heavenly Father conversing with them, and behold the dear angels continuously ascending and descending upon us (Jn 1:51). The heavenly Father still addresses these words to us: "This is My beloved Son" (Mt 3:17)! He will continue to do so until the judgment day, nor will heaven ever be closed again.
When you are baptized, receive holy communion, are given the absolution, or listen to a sermon, heaven is open. We hear the voice of the heavenly Father. A heavenly Father. All these works descend upon us from the open heaven above us. God speaks with us, governs us, provides for us; and Christ hovers over us-but invisibly. And even though there were clouds above us as impervious as iron or steel, blocking our view of heaven, this would not matter. We still hear God speaking to us from heaven. We call and cry to Him, and He answers us. Heaven is open, as St. Stephen saw it open (Acts 7:55); and we hear God when He addresses us in baptism, in holy communion, in confession, and in His Word as it proceeds from the mouth of the men who proclaim His message to the people.
Martin Luther, Sermons on John's Gospel, 1.51
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Prayer
Heavenly Father, all Your works descend on us from the open heaven above us. Invisibly, You provide for us and Christ hovers over us. We hear You speaking to us from heaven. We call and cry to You and You answer us. You opened heaven and we hear You when You address us in baptism, in holy communion, in confession, and in Your Word as it proceeds from the mouth of the men who proclaim Your message to the us. Give us the courage to believe what You say, no matter how we feel. Amen.
For all those who are threatened by the effects of Hurricane Sandy, that they would be kept safe and recover quickly
For Cathy Jutzi, that the Lord Jesus would grant her complete healing
For Brenda Blackwell, that she would recover from her surgery
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Art: DÜRER, Albrecht The Adoration of the Trinity (1511)
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 © Scott R. Murray, 2012
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