Elijah ate food from the Lord’s hand and was strengthened for 40 days and 40 nights all for a simple journey to a mountain where, afterwards, he would be shown to Elisha.
Moses was in the presence of the Lord for 40 days and forty nights only to come down from the mountain and find the Golden Calf.
Noah rode in the Ark while the heavens poured down the flood for 40 days and 40 nights only to awaken to more water and no dry land, for at least 110 more days.
Where Elijah, Moses, and Noah were seeking an end to all these horrible things happening to them, such as persecution from God’s own people, the Lord simply made provision to continue.
Elijah was to hand over all things to Elisha. Moses was to give the 10 Commands a second time and lead the people. Noah was to sit and wait for the Flood to recede and all this just so things could continue and get worse as the Day of the Lord approaches.
On the day of your own baptism, having been given the entire kingdom of heaven, the Lord could have taken you up to Himself right then and there. Instead, you are left with your family, if you are so lucky, to grow old and live through all of life’s events.
There is always something going on in life. “Life goes on” as the saying goes, but it does so in the cruelest manner. No matter what, life goes on; no mercy; no reprieve. It does not matter if you are losing the most precious thing in the entire world, life does not stop.
At funerals is where you feel this very keenly. There was no way to stop death and there is no way to turn back the clock. You had no time to prepare and you don’t know how you live on. Life goes on.
In your own sinful nature, there is no way to stop sin from manifesting in your thoughts, words and actions. You may keep them private, but what you think of others condemns you. Regretted words cut deep, but can’t be taken back. You may wish for reconciliation, but selfishness and betrayal prevent it. Life goes on.
Even through no direct action of your own, your bodies grow weak and unresponsive whether it is hunger or old age, sin is too great for your body to handle and it gives up.
Yes, Life goes on, but suffering doesn’t. In fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus wants to bring these Old Testament stories to light in front of you. Jesus wants you to see that where Elijah, Moses, and Noah failed in their sin, Christ does not.
For, even though Jesus fasted for that long a time, He retained the victory. Using the words and promises of God, Jesus claimed His own rightful place as the Son of God, but also reclaimed you from the torment of sin, death, and the devil.
So we understand then, that even in the midst of Elijah’s hungering, Jesus came to end it. Even though he hungers and we hunger, Jesus brings it all to an end. Even though things look bleak and hopeless, in the face of our own sin, Jesus continues to work for the next generation.
All the while proclaiming His victory, His sacrifice, and His second coming. And there is our hope. In our baptism, we have put on Christ. Baptized into His death and resurrection, we are also sustained through suffering to enter with Jesus into glory. For it is only through the cross of Christ that true salvation is achieved.
And it is only through he cross that any sort of suffering makes sense to the Christian. It is only through the promise of a savior on this cross that Noah, Moses, and Elijah can carry on. It is only on the hope and the Word of the Lord that any semblance of redemption can be realized.
It is only in the Food of the Lord that Faith is sustained, salvation is cultivated, and forgiveness is digested to strengthen and keep our bodies and souls unto life everlasting.
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