Once again, the weight of the never ending stream of violence and death of this world presses upon us as Jesus once again describes to us the coming of the End. This terrible day, which has no meaning for any of us, as none of us have ever experienced anything like it.
And yet neither does anything else in the Bible, if you think about it. When have we seen the creation of all things? When have we experienced a world-wide flood? When have we been enslaved by another country and needed to be set free?
When have we been in the presence of God in a manger?
Jesus gives the simple knowledge that all things will end and the Church of Christ cries out for that ending. The baptized call for the Return of God and His visitation. If we were not told that; if we had no hope for an end of all evil, there would only be despair.
But, Jesus tells us. He says there will be distress and the very heavens will be shaken. We have already discussed, in detail, this horrid death throw of the devil and this sinful world and how we need to flee from it. But is sin really allowed to shake the heavens?
The power of sin; of perplexity, despair, fear, dissipation and foreboding is no more than the causing of doubt. It is a farce to think that the corruption of sin, death, and the devil can reach into heaven in order to shake all of creation out of balance.
Sin has no power to do this. Death can not touch the Lord of Life. While all of this is also a mystery to us, the real mystery is what truly does shake the heavens. Experience tells us none of these things, but it does reveal that there are quite a few mysteries we live with everyday.
The biggest mystery for us, that you probably never flinch at, is that you live in a functioning and orderly universe. Dr. Martin Luther once, commenting on miracles, said, “I looked out of my window and I saw the stars and the sky and the whole vault of heaven, with no pillars to support it; and yet the sky did not fall, and the vault remained fast.” (Luther: Letters of Spiritual counsel, 156)
You rest easy at night judging this simply as a “natural occurrence”. You also take for granted that the sun rises and sets, your engine internally combusts correctly, and even that food will be there when you are hungry. Indeed, “We are so accustomed to find grain growing out of the earth annually and we are so blinded by this, that we pay it no attention.” (Luther’s Works: Halle and Walch; 11, 1380)
Even the wisest of the wise, in the Book of Proverbs, expresses four things too excellent for him and which he doesn’t understand:
And yet neither does anything else in the Bible, if you think about it. When have we seen the creation of all things? When have we experienced a world-wide flood? When have we been enslaved by another country and needed to be set free?
When have we been in the presence of God in a manger?
Jesus gives the simple knowledge that all things will end and the Church of Christ cries out for that ending. The baptized call for the Return of God and His visitation. If we were not told that; if we had no hope for an end of all evil, there would only be despair.
But, Jesus tells us. He says there will be distress and the very heavens will be shaken. We have already discussed, in detail, this horrid death throw of the devil and this sinful world and how we need to flee from it. But is sin really allowed to shake the heavens?
The power of sin; of perplexity, despair, fear, dissipation and foreboding is no more than the causing of doubt. It is a farce to think that the corruption of sin, death, and the devil can reach into heaven in order to shake all of creation out of balance.
Sin has no power to do this. Death can not touch the Lord of Life. While all of this is also a mystery to us, the real mystery is what truly does shake the heavens. Experience tells us none of these things, but it does reveal that there are quite a few mysteries we live with everyday.
The biggest mystery for us, that you probably never flinch at, is that you live in a functioning and orderly universe. Dr. Martin Luther once, commenting on miracles, said, “I looked out of my window and I saw the stars and the sky and the whole vault of heaven, with no pillars to support it; and yet the sky did not fall, and the vault remained fast.” (Luther: Letters of Spiritual counsel, 156)
You rest easy at night judging this simply as a “natural occurrence”. You also take for granted that the sun rises and sets, your engine internally combusts correctly, and even that food will be there when you are hungry. Indeed, “We are so accustomed to find grain growing out of the earth annually and we are so blinded by this, that we pay it no attention.” (Luther’s Works: Halle and Walch; 11, 1380)
Even the wisest of the wise, in the Book of Proverbs, expresses four things too excellent for him and which he doesn’t understand:
“the way of an eagle
in the sky,
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.” (Prov.30:18-19)
the way of a serpent on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a virgin.” (Prov.30:18-19)
So, when you come to Faith and belief, when facing the Last Day or even Christmass, you should not be surprised that there are mysteries and that they are ok. You don’t know how these come to be or what they are like, but they are real and are only appreciated by the pious. To the unbeliever, they are simply “natural causes and effects” and the “works of men”.
All of you truly witnessed such a mystery today. In the eyes and ears of the impious, six people gathered around a bowl of water, said some strange, made-up things, and then went on with little to no impact upon their lives. However, Faith saw the heavens rent asunder, Christ Himself washing, the devil cast off his seat, and the Holy Ghost coming to dwell with Elizabeth.
Repent. Sin blinds us and will lead us away from Christ. It is not the mystery, miracle, or explanation thereof that saves and converts, but the Word of God. I did no work of forgiving sins this day or any day. No one that was up here today performed any magic ritual of appealing to a deity for cleansing. Our rationalizing impacts the Lord not one bit.
Jesus works above our reason, higher than our thoughts, and is born of a virgin. Christ moves beyond all comprehension by dying on a cross, rising from death from a sealed grave on the third day, and ascending into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God with His flesh.
These are the miracles the Word gives to us and the Word is how all miracles are judged. The Promise of Christ, given by the Word, saved Elizabeth in baptism. Jesus says,
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
This is the Word Jesus gives. This is the Word which by hearing
it, you are saved.
Flee from great signs and wonders that tempt you away from Christ, His Church, His Pulpit, Sacraments, and all the works demanded of Him. Even if St. Peter were to appear today and raise someone from the dead, you are to judge that as a work of the devil.
You are to hold on to Baptism. You are to hold on to the Sacraments. You are to hold on to the Word, for it is here that Christ is for you. It is here that Jesus is closer to you than anywhere else, for this is where His Gospel and His ministry are and, so also, where He is.
Jesus tells us He was born of a virgin. Jesus speaks to us of the Last Day and tells us before hand. Jesus promises salvation to those who are baptized.
We do not have to experience all the events of Holy Scripture first-hand. We do not have to have a special revelation for proof that God is with us such as a dream, or an out of body experience, or even a special gift.
We have already been given the gift once found in a manger, now matured and perfected dying on the cross for our sin. The powers of the heavens will be shaken, because Jesus, true God, has descended to earth as a man and has offered His life as a ransom for many. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world is sacrificed.
Jesus fulfilled His work in order that, today, we could see and hear Elizabeth being assumed into the Body of Christ and so that you could lift up your heads and see your redemption; feel your redemption; hear your redemption and smell and taste your redemption.
Miracles do not prove this. Mysteries do not diminish this and reason does not prevent any of it. Jesus speaks it and it is so. The Promises of God declare it. The Gospel of Christ fulfills it and the Work of the Holy Spirit administers it all: Life, light, forgiveness, and salvation, for you.
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