Transfiguration of Our Lord

February 26, 2006
Vicar Michael Monterastelli
Text: Mark 9:2-9

Dear fellow Christians who, with unveiled faces, are being transformed by the Spirit of the Lord from one degree of glory to another,

Behold our heavenly Father’s beloved Son. He went up a mountain and came down having been revealed BY HIS FATHER for what He truly is. We say He was Transfigured. Saint Mark used the Greek word metamorfow. That kinda sounds like our English word: metamorphosis. It means Jesus looked different from the way they had normally seen Him. Three of His disciples were eye-witnesses. The eternal reality of the glory of heaven was revealed to sinful men. Peter had already blundered, when He told Jesus to stay off the Cross and stay alive. Now, after seeing the brightly shining clothes and face of Jesus, Peter blunders again by insisting that Moses, Elijah and Jesus all continue to dwell in this fallen world, as if what Peter wanted is what God Himself intended. But, they must depart from that mountain-top experience. Heaven is eternal and that moment of Transfiguration was only temporary. For a brief moment in time, God allowed sinful men to experience heaven in the unveiled presence of God’s own Son. Who wouldn’t want to BE there?

The eyes of Peter, James, and John saw Christ’s conversation with two of His Saints of Old. But they were not just any two Old Testament Saints. Moses is the man, through whom God has given His Torah. The Torah are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. They contain both terrifying Law (Dt. 34:12) and assuring Gospel promises-of-deliverance from all the terror resulting from our sin. These very promises were being fulfilled in Jesus. But, they would not be complete until Jesus did what He had come to do.

Meanwhile, Elijah is the great prophet, through whom the Lord continues to bring His Word of Law and Gospel to His people. The prophets, in general, were the people through whom the Lord repeatedly delivered His spoken words of condemnation for sin and comfort in His promise of forgiveness.

But how could these two heavenly saints be standing on that earthly mountain? Remember how Moses and Elijah came to be in eternity with the Lord. Both had long been removed from the face of this earth — Moses by death — Elijah by a whirlwind. How could they be on that mountain with Jesus? Especially, Moses? Weren’t his bones buried by the Lord in an unmarked grave somewhere in the valley in the land of Moab (Dt. 34:6)? But lo and behold! There was Moses in bodily form! How could this be?

Such is life in eternity. In eternity there is now no more past, nor is there any future. There is only the eternal now. Moses, who has died, now lives in eternity. For Him, the resurrection of the dead is not a future event. The resurrection of the dead simply is. There, in that moment of the Transfiguration, is our proof of the resurrection of the dead — Moses is living, breathing, and speaking with our Lord. For this brief moment, time and eternity could be seen sharing the same holy space. A SACRED SPACE, WITHOUT TIME; among other things, that’s what eternity with Jesus is.

While we’re here, Time is also a gift of God. It separates us from our past. But only what Jesus does for us can separate us from the sin of our past. Jesus separates us from our sin and unites us with the love of God in Him, from whom nothing can separate us. In the heavenly eternity, there is no Time. This gift of Time & separation is removed. It is no longer necessary. In heaven, there is no more sin from which we must be separated. But in eternal hell, the separation from God is full and complete and the union with the past and its mistakes of unbelief is unbearable. All the mistakes, and the regret that comes with them, are no longer separated by Time. Time does not exist in eternity. Some will tell you that “Time heals all wounds.” But, that’s a lie. If Time is all you rely on to heal your wounds, then be warned, Time is not eternal. It too shall pass away. Time will be taken away. Your first-aid-kit of Time and Distance will not comfort you any longer. There is only one comfort that will last into eternity. It is the comfort of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The God-Man who was slain has begun His reign. His is the medicine that heals all wounds, forever.

While Jesus was transfigured, His clothing became whiter than anything on earth. What Peter, James and John saw was an intense white that was not of this world. The intense whiteness of the Lord’s garments (His glory) was revealed to these three men. All through their lives the only white clothing they had ever seen was illuminated either by sunlight or by lamp light. But, like the last book of the Bible tells us: in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb (Rev. 21:23). In the presence of the Lamb of God, there is no need for lamp or sun, for the Lord God Himself is the light (Rev. 22:5). At the Transfiguration, Jesus showed Himself, light and all, for what He truly is.

On that mount of Transfiguration the Father also reveals a glimpse of His glory. His unveiled glory doesn’t just illuminate and reveal men for what they are. His glory removes dullness and destroys impurity. If not for His love and care, He would remove and destroy each one of us. So there on that mountain, He appeared by means of the Cloud. The Cloud, like His beloved Son, shields the Father’s loved ones from the overwhelming glory of His unveiled presence.

It’s funny, but either what Peter, James, and John saw on this mountain was real, and what Moses did in getting Israel across the Red Sea and to Mount Sinai was real, and what happened to Elijah after he & Elisha crossed the Jordan was real, and what happened to Jesus on the third day after His crucifixion was real, or else, what you see now is all you get. If so, then the struggles of this world are all there is. If all you see is all that’s real, then, the philosophers, skeptics, and agnostics could be right. And we, dear friends, are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:19).

BUT, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, He is the firstborn of the dead. He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20). The light of heaven has come to be the light of men. The Son of God has become the Son of Man in the flesh. Moses parted the Red Sea, walked through on dry ground, and spoke with the Lord face to face. Elijah rolled up his cloak, parted the Jordan River and went to heaven riding a tornado. We have been assured by Peter, James, and John; Moses, Elijah, and Elisha that what they saw and did is real. And what Jesus said and did for the forgiveness of sins is real.

His garments are of a white so intense, that normally it cannot be found anywhere on earth. So do not look for it in this world. It can only be found in the unveiled presence of God’s own beloved Son. He, and no one else, is the Light of men come into the world to save mankind.

It sure was good for them to be there, in the presence of God’s shining glory. But miracle of miracles, Jesus did not stay there. The love of God in Christ Jesus brought Him back down the mountain to finish the good work He had begun for us. In the presence of three witnesses, Jesus had been revealed for what He truly is. In that moment, time-bound-men witnessed eternal-men sharing an out-of-this-world conversation. Conversation in eternity!?! Of course! The exchange of Godly words is the stuff that real, healthy relationships are made of. Here in His Divine Service we join the saints in exchanging Godly words with the Lord and Savior of the world.

So, while we spend our earthly lives trying to carve out a little piece of heaven on earth, be careful. Oh, go ahead and work toward the ideal living conditions: a good family life; a perfect wedding ceremony and honeymoon; a happy marriage; the white picket fence; an energy efficient life-style; financial security; comfortable retirement; and the best health care this world has to offer; but do not rely on these temporary things more than you rely on the love of God in Christ. They can give us a sense of what God wants to share with us for all eternity. But here on this side of the veil of tears, these wonderful moments are not going to last. They cannot. To remain in them is to delude and detach ourselves from the world the Church is sent to call to repentance and belief in Jesus. The world needs to hear the Gospel message of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin. The Church does not become detached from this necessity. This is Her job. The Church confronts the world with the truth of God’s Word.

Amazing and terrifying as the Transfiguration was, it is not the miracle of God that saves these three men. Their salvation, and your salvation, comes from only one place. On the mount of Transfiguration, the light of Christ was revealed. But on Mount Calvary, darkness covered the land as the Light of the world was snuffed out. Jesus, the God who saves, was lifted up in glory to bear the full weight of the world’s sin. That’s why Jesus had to come down the mount of Transfiguration. The Light of the world must shed His blood on the cross. Behold, God’s own Son went up Mount Calvary to come down a corpse. The Son of Man was born to die.

The Voice of God said: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” The heavenly Father’s Voice echoes the words of Jesus’ earthly mother at the wedding feast in Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.” Both His words and His deeds speak volumes. He takes what is not His own. My sin, is mine alone. Your sin, is yours alone. But He takes our sin. Without asking, He takes it to a Roman cross. He takes our sin and permanently transfigures a plain Roman cross into a life-giving tree. He takes our sins away from us and hangs them on a Cross marked with sacred, life-giving blood. What Jesus does to deliver the forgiveness of sins to you, is come to you in His holy body and precious blood right here in Holy Communion. Come to Him all who labor and are heavy laden. Here, He gives you rest.

Now the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen

7th Sunday After the Epiphany

February 19, 2006
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wieting
Text: Mark 2:1-12

In the Name of Jesus – Amen! When the teacher caught you by surprise in Sunday school, when you heard your name called and realized you hadn’t really listened to the question, when you needed a safe answer, what did you answer? JESUS of course! For as St. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” For most questions about God’s activity, even if it’s not exactly what the teacher is looking for JESUS is a safe answer. Perhaps, with hand raised a bit tentatively or with a little uncertainty in the voice one could more often than not answer – JESUS?

When the questions center on what we need most, on God’s greatest work, on the treasures that Jesus gives, another reliable answer is always THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. When in doubt, when caught off guard, FORGIVENESS OF SINS is a pretty trustworthy response. Even if it isn’t exactly what the teacher is looking for, it is worth mentioning - FORGIVENESS?

We pretty quickly learn the right answers to questions posed in and around church. If we are asked what we really need we know we’d better come up with JESUS and FORGIVENESS. But do you believe it? Do you really trust deep down that if Christ forgives your sins – that’s enough? In the midst of the mess that daily life can be, in view of all that we desire and hope for, is FORGIVENESS an incomparable treasure or just a routine, expected, religious answer?

The life of the man in our text was a mess, for few ailments affect life more negatively than paralysis. He was dependent, not independent. Because he couldn’t walk, he couldn’t work. He had to live off the kindness of others for care and food and cleaning. To add to his suffering was the prospect for change. There was none! Earthly hope for improvement in his condition was non-existent. But then came word of Jesus.

Remember how Jesus had taken the battle to the enemy. With authority He had driven the demon out of the man in the synagogue in Capernaum. After the day of healing at the home of Peter and Andrew the people hunted for Him. “Everyone is looking for you” the disciples admonished. But Jesus responded let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” He didn’t set up a medical clinic in Capernaum. Instead He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Then He touched the untouchable! He gave new life to a walking dead man. “If you will you can make me clean” the leper had implored. “I will, be clean” the Savior responded. Because His fame spread he had to stay out in desolate places. Now, when he returned to Capernaum after some days, the pursuit was on again. So many were gathered at the home where He was that there was no room, not even at the door.

Enter the paralytic. Not on his own power. Not through the door, but through an unsolicited skylight in the homeowners roof. If he had been asked what his greatest need was he might have answered without hesitation, “to walk” or “to work”. He was after all a prisoner in His own body. Now, through the caring work of his friends his body was placed directly in front of Christ. What would He say - this one who taught with authority? What would He do - this one who had healed so many in Capernaum?

We are not told what the crowd did as the cot descended before Jesus. It doesn’t take much imagination, however, to see that this paralyzed man would have been the center of attention. Did you notice that as He is lowered down, no one is recorded as saying a word? The people don’t speak. The paralytic doesn’t speak. His friends don’t speak. Only Jesus speaks! When He does, His words seem both incredible and inappropriate. “My son, your sins are forgiven.”

We aren’t told what expression was on the face of the paralytic, still lying immobile on his mat. We aren’t told what the four men thought as they look on from the rooftop. We are told only what questions the scribes had. Even these questions weren’t spoken but perceived by Jesus in their hearts.

On the pragmatic level, Jesus’ words seem inappropriate, as if He didn’t get it. Couldn’t’ He see what this poor man really needed? We are all caught in fallen bodies in a fallen world. Even those who refuse to recognize sin want out of the consequences of sin such as disease and disability and debt and defeat and depression and death. But Jesus always wants more for us than we want for ourselves! He desires to take us out of sin’s grasp forever. “My Son, your sins are forgiven.”

On the spiritual level, Jesus’ words were incredible. There was no precedent for what He had just done. Forgiveness is the business of God alone. No one in history had had the authority to say what Jesus just said; none of the prophets, not even Moses. Forgiveness was God’s business! Were Jesus not God in the flesh the scribes would have been right in their reasoning that He was blaspheming. After all, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Because they could not see the forgiveness of sins and did not believe that it was real, Jesus gave them visible proof of His authority. “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic – “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

What the people said was true! There had never been God on earth in human flesh before to release us sinners from sin and sickness. Yet in the face of paralyzing sickness the Son of Man placed first the forgiveness of sins. In the era of salvation, release from sins will take precedence over everything else. Our Lutheran Confessions could not be more right then when they say that the chief worship of God in the Gospel is the desire to receive the forgiveness of sins. Luther had it exactly right when he understood the meaning of Gottesdienst (The Divine Service) as primarily God’s service to us. “My son, my daughter, your sins are forgiven”

Do you believe it? No one is letting you down by ropes from the roof this morning, but they should if there was no room in this house of worship. For Jesus is here among you no less than in that house in Capernaum. He is not visibly present, but He is bodily present, God and Man! His healing gift-giving priority has not changed, “My Son, my daughter your sins are forgiven.” In Holy Baptism His forgiveness raised you from the paralyzing death of unbelief to the eternal life of faith. That you may know that the Son of Man still has power on earth to forgive sins, He now says to you, “take and drink for the remission of sins.”

Is that what you’re looking for? It doesn’t seem that most people are really looking for forgiveness these days! Happiness, fulfillment, healing, “yes”! But perhaps God has given up on the whole wrath and judgment thing. Maybe “forgiveness” is a dead word! Maybe we are being deadened to our need for God’s forgiveness! Although Christ teaches us to pray for it daily, is that really what we’re looking for here?

Dear Christian, there is nothing the devil works harder to remove from your heart, to steal from you. Satan is fine with you looking in religious ways for meaning and purpose and importance to God as long as you don’t find it in receiving God’s forgiveness in Christ. Is that really what you’re looking for today in this house of worship? Knowing the right answers isn’t enough – JESUS – FORGIVENESS! More than healing from paralysis, more than earthly life itself, you need Jesus’ forgiveness. And more than anything else, Jesus wants you to know He still has authority on earth to forgive sins.

It is good to examine your heart for Jesus knows your inner thoughts just as He knew the questions in the scribes’ hearts in Capernaum. He knows that our hearts can be paralyzed by such diverse things as pride or fear, ambition or apathy, bitterness or loneliness. He knows that sometimes our hearts would trade the forgiveness of sins for something else we want at the drop of a hat. We are caught in fallen bodies in a fallen world and we want out of the consequences right now. But Jesus wants to take us out of sin’s grasp forever, even the paralyzing grip of death.

That’s why He was in this house, hemmed in, surrounded by people, preaching the Word to them. Soon He would be hemmed in by all the consequences of our sin! No miracle of Jesus makes it clearer that His acts of healing point to the ultimate release of the forgiveness of sins. In this miracle He begins to plant in human hearts the fact that He is God in the flesh. Two questions in the house help us understand. Jesus’ question “Which is easier?”, and the scribes question, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

“Which is easier?” Certainly not the provision of forgiveness for us rebels. Our forgiveness took the Holy and perfect God to come in the flesh! Our forgiveness took Him to shoulder the paralyzing load of sin that we carry. That load was so binding that He endured a crucifying paralysis in our stead. His feet which had journeyed up to Jerusalem were fixed immovable in place. His hands which had healed and helped so many were fastened tightly in place. They were driven through and pinioned to the tree of the cross. There were no friends to carry Him until they carried His dead body to a garden tomb.

“Which is easier?” “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Indeed, who is a God like Him, who came to release us by being bound under the damning consequences of our sin? He redeems our life from the pit by joining us in the pit. He removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west by becoming sin for us. He blots out our transgressions by being blotted out of God’s presence under His burning wrath. “Which is easier?” Certainly not our forgiveness! Who is a God like Him?

Who is a God like Him who could not be bound by death? Who is a God like the living Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit brings you His forgiveness today? Who is Savior like Him, the eternal Son, who speaks God’s “yes” to every promise that God has made. He does it by forgiving your sins! This is the core of the Gospel! His forgiveness does not come to you in fractions! God has done a new thing in Christ! There is nothing higher or better than what He is present now to give you! “My son, my daughter, your sins are forgiven.”

Beloved, nothing pleases Jesus more than when burdened hearts come to Him for release and rest. Blessed are the paralyzed, for they shall be healed. Nothing pleases Jesus more than when parents bring children to Holy Baptism to receive His healing forgiveness. Nothing pleases Jesus more than when friends invite friends and family into His presence with His gathered people. Nothing pleases Jesus more than when His people are serious and persistent at digging through every barrier and obstacle to receive His healing gifts each week.

God grant us the faith of the paralytic who received the freeing word of Jesus. God grant us the faith of His four friends that gives the highest priority to bring others into His healing presence. “Bless the Lord, O my soul…all that is within me, bless His holy name...who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.” In Jesus Name, AMEN.

6th Sunday After the Epiphany

February 12, 2006
Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wieting
Text: Mark 1:40-45

To the Church of God at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center, called as saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ, Dear Christians, cleansed by the blood of Christ;

A leper came to Him. He wasn’t supposed to. The Old Testament code of holiness prohibited such an act. Lepers were the preeminent class of the unclean. They were the lowliest of the low. The law made them outcasts, isolated and quarantined. If they journeyed, they were to stay at a far distance from any one else and cry out in a loud voice “unclean, unclean”. They were considered walking dead mean who were to warn others to keep their distance. Recall the king of Israel’s lament when he was asked to cure Naaman of his leprosy, “Am I God to kill and make alive…”

A leper came to Him. He wasn’t supposed to. Leprosy was a dread incurable and contagious disease. The outward infection that marred the skin usually went much deeper. Flesh was eaten away disfiguring face and limbs. Sometimes the rotting of the flesh left only stumps where hands and feet once were.

A leper came to Him. He wasn’t supposed to. Nobody was considered less worth caring about than a leper. Nobody was more feared and more excluded than one infected with this frightening disease. Perhaps he had heard from loved ones about the healing Jesus did at Capernaum. The details of his knowledge we are not told. But we are told, A Leper came to Him.

A leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” The Greek grammar indicates that the leper had no doubt that Jesus could heal him. The only question in his mind concerned the will of the one before whom he knelt. Would this healer of men bother with him? Would Jesus consider his isolated, hopeless lot with compassion? Did he, infected, disfigured, dirty, excluded, despised, matter to Jesus. He was at the Jesus’ point, the point where everything was up to Jesus. “If you will you can make me clean.”

The right action according to the law would have been for one approached by a leper to withdraw in horror. The safe action would have been to stand back. Modern day fears of a bird flu epidemic were far outweighed by ancient fears of a leprous outbreak. The prospect for contamination was real. The presence of medical help was rare. The requirements of the law were clear and caring. But Jesus is the Lord of the law.

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” Jesus is not subject to the law. He who made the law may set it aside. He does not abolish it, but He does fulfill it. He stretched out His hand and touched him. Behold Christ at work, both God and Man! He didn’t heal from a distance. Jesus reached out his hand to take hold of that rotting man. As He did so, he answered the man’s question with life-changing help. “If you will you can make me clean”. “I will; be clean.”

Beloved, this is the miracle! Jesus becomes unclean with the uncleanness of the leper. He touches the untouchable. He extends His hand to the outcast. He wills to help the helpless. Does Jesus care? Incredibly, He cares like no one else! The Lord of the law cares about someone cast out by the law. The Lord of all the world cares about someone so utterly rejected as a leper. Jesus sets aside the law that can identify the leper’s disease but cannot heal it. “If you will you can make me clean.” I will, be clean”. Without any fuss, without any show, the healing flowed from Jesus as if He couldn’t help it. “I will, be clean!”

And immediately the leprosy left him and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

First a word about Jesus’ command, “See that you say nothing to anyone.” This doesn’t seem to be very mission minded. With statements like this Jesus might get a negative review by modern day mission boards, even of our synod. The thought sometimes seems to be, “say something, even anything about Jesus to get results”. Don’t worry so much about doctrine – about Jesus words – just tell what you feel Jesus has done for you. Sometimes it seems as if the new gospel is “go tell”, whatever it is that you go and tell.

Some have therefore said that Jesus was using clever psychology, kind of like telling someone “it’s a secret”. The thought is that Jesus knew the man would then do just the opposite, which is what Jesus really wanted. But Jesus does not teach us how to manipulate one another. That skill we develop as infants. If screaming doesn’t work, maybe holding our breath will. No, Jesus was not playing mind games with the man he healed. In fact the healed leper’s blabber-mouthing of the miracle hindered Jesus. Jesus’ plan was to go to the towns preaching in the synagogues (1:38, 39). He was not superman Jesus or medical clinic Jesus. The message He preached in the synagogue was Jesus, friend and forgiver of sinners. But after the healed leper talked freely, Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places.” His stated plan was hindered by the disobedience of the healed leper.

When is it better for you not to tell about Jesus? When do you and I hinder Jesus by telling about Him? When we promote a jack-in-the-box Jesus! When we get carried away as a hot shot Christian with all the answers! When we misrepresent Jesus or get in His way! When we view others as a spiritual statistic - a notch in our evangelism belt! When we bubble so much that we unintentionally give the impression “why would my shiny Jesus bother with little old leprous you”.

By this I do not mean to discourage your witness to the healing forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Just the opposite! We are to bear witness to Him. But we are to do so with gentleness and respect. We are to do so in keeping with His words and will. We are to do so in view of the living hope He gives us dying sinners (I Peter 3:15, 16).

Second, what was involved with Jesus’ instructions, “go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”? In fact, it was a beautifully loaded act that took place in the presence of the priest. Two wild birds were presented. The neck of one was wrung and its blood was poured into an earthen pot filled with fresh water. The living bird and a hyssop brush were dipped into the bloody water. The bloody water was then sprinkled on the healed person seven times and he or she was formally declared clean. Next, the live bird that had been dipped in the bloody water was set free to return to its habitat in the open country. This symbolized the return of the healed person from the realm of the dead to the realm of the living. He was soon as free as a bird.

Fellow-redeemed, this man typifies the whole human race. All of us carry the leprosy of Adam’s sin. Unless we have kept the law of God perfectly and perpetually, God says we are guilty of the whole law. (James 2:10) If we are guilty of the whole law, then we are unclean. We have no hope to come into the presence of His holiness.

This is not a diagnosis that human speculation would ever devise. It points to ugliness and disfigurement within us that can’t be seen on the surface. It points to hearts that are infected with pride and pettiness and anger and lust and worry and fear and love of self that eats away at us and separates us from God. It is no mistake when scripture says that by nature we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2). Like the lepers were considered walking dead men, so we sinners are also dead to the true things of God in and of ourselves.

If the truth be known, like the leper, we are at the Jesus’ point. That is the point where everything is up to Him. Sometimes that gets through to us. Sometimes we might feel like lepers, on the outside looking in. Sometimes we might even prefer the isolation of a leper, alone in the dark, in our pride, in our loneliness, in our self-pity, in our despair. Sometimes we might feel shame that is deep and disfiguring, either from our own fault or the fault of others. The hurt of rape or physical abuse or verbal belittling can leave wounds that fester and grow deeper. Those wounds can infect our very heart. The true recognition of what we ourselves have done and left undone with our mind and our mouth and our means and our marvelous bodies can also help us see the disfiguring disease that clings to us.

Like the leper, we need to recognize that we are always at the Jesus’ point. We are always at the point where everything is up to Him. And what a beautiful joyful point to be at! His touching of the leper shows His taking the leprosy of our sin upon Himself! When we face the living God, the only question is whether He bothers about us? The gracious answer is “yes”. Jesus cares about you. Jesus cares like nobody else. The Lord of the law bothers about you who are cast down by the law. When you approach Him saying “If you will Lord, you can make me clean” He answers, “I will, be clean”. Moved with pity, He has stretched out His hand and touched you.

He still does this extraordinary cleansing in ordinary means, just like He did with Naaman. When the commander of the army of the king of Syria was told to go wash in the muddy Jordan seven times, he was angry. He wanted something flashy to be done. He wanted more impressive bodies of water to be used. He wanted some hand waving to be seen. He wanted a more striking and notable event to occur. He had a better plan for how his healing should take place.
But his servant came near and said to him, “My father it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Has Jesus actually said to you, “Wash and be clean”. It was His word by which you were baptized. It was His servants, not your own who brought you to those Holy waters, trusting in the Word of God. Has Jesus actually said to you “take and drink for the remission of sins.”? For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. It is a great word He has spoken to you, will you not do it? Just like with Naaman, He still uses the ordinary, water, bread and wine to do the extraordinary.

If you feel that you have a sin-caused wound that is too deep or shame that oozes too abundantly, that you are too leprous for Christ to touch and heal, your feelings are simply wrong. Behold Christ at work, both God and Man! He was made the leprosy of sin. (II Cor. 5:21) He joins us there in our uncleanness. Recall His own baptism in the Jordan River.

The prophet Isaiah said of the Messiah that He was “stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.” That Hebrew word for stricken is a frequent term in the Old Testament referring to the infection of skin diseases such as being stricken with leprosy. The suffering servant heals people from their uncleanness by being infected and afflicted for them. He was stricken even unto death (Is 53:8, 9).

Remember the cry of the leprous Christ in Gethsemane, “Father, If it be possible take this cup from me.” “Nevertheless, not my will but Thy will be done.” Dear Christians it can be no more certain. He who in our text stretched out his hand and touched the leper, had His own hands stretched out in leprous death on the cross. When He said to the Father, “If you will, you can take this cup from me”, the Father did not say “I will, be clean”. He said “I will not – be damned”. And He was damned in our leprous place! Now the blood of Jesus, His Son cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). Now the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin. The living Christ, risen from the grave brings that cleansing gift to you today.

Under the law, the leper wasn’t supposed to draw close to Jesus or anyone. Under the gospel, you are exhorted to draw close. “Come unto me all who are weary and heave laden and I will give you rest,” the Savior invites. Like the living bird washed in the blood of the slain bird, you are set free to return to your habitat. You have been freely returned to your dwelling place with God. That’s why Christ calls you His holy Bride and His very body. Because He is clean, you are clean.

If you are at the Jesus point, where you have no hope of working it out yourself, if you are sick to death of the sin that clings to you, take heart. The leper’s trust in Jesus was not misplaced. “If you will you can make me clean”. Neither is your trust in Him for healing misplaced. Jesus cares for you like nobody else. The one who runs the whole show says to you today, “I will, be clean.”

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

5th Sunday After the Epiphany

February 5, 2006
Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Wieting
Text: Mark 1:29-39


To the Church of God at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center, called as saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Now Simon Peter’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Dear Hearers of the Word; Peter was not the first Pope as that office is currently understood and he was married, not celibate as that office is currently understood. Fresh from the synagogue, fresh from driving out the unclean spirit, Jesus stopped at the house of Peter and Andrew. Among the family members who dwelt there was Peter’s mother-in-law. She was sick with a fever. Fevers aren’t so pleasant and left unchecked they can sometimes kill. Peter’s mother-in-law was burning up with a fever such that it left her drained of energy and activity, it left her bedfast.

Jesus made his way to her bed as if there was nothing more important in all the world than for him to be there for this sick woman. The solitary mother-in-law of Peter with all of her aches and pains is precious to Jesus. This woman whose station and circumstances seem quite lowly is precious to Jesus. He…took her by the hand lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. She doesn’t let fly with a whoop and a holler. She doesn’t put on a show of any kind. She simply puts the kettle on. She does what is given for her to do in that household. She began to serve them. And soon, Jesus began to serve others with wonderful physical healing.
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak because they knew him. JESUS MADE IT A DAY OF HEALING! Picture it! When the sun had set and the Sabbath with its rules and regulations had ended, the home of Peter and Andrew was transformed into a medical clinic.

The fevered, the crippled, the demonized were brought to the door of their house. It is a sad sight of sickness and need. Peter’s yard was like an overflowing waiting room in the doctor’s office. The text speaks of “various diseases” and we know how various they can be. Then as now there was no shortage of arthritic pain and nerve damage and muscle cramps. Then as now there was no shortage of blurred vision and memory problems and sickening headaches. Then as now there was no shortage of breathing problems and blood disorders and circulatory ailments. Not to mention cancers and heart troubles, fevers and fainting spells; diabetes and strokes, paralysis and depression, infections and injuries. Contemplate just the sickness you know of in yourself and your family and your circle of friends. Would it not be a wondrous release for JESUS TO MAKE IT A DAY OF HEALING at your door! Would it not be a beautiful reason for joy and delight for Jesus to take the hand of your mother or father or spouse or grandparent or friend like he took the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law and lift them from their physical ailments? Our bodies are in bondage in this sin-cursed world and they do need healing. Few things are as precious or valuable as freedom from pain and God’s gift of good health.

Jesus made the hours of evening into darkness a time of healing at Peter’s door. How long after sundown Jesus began resting and how many hours of sleep he managed we aren’t told. But we are told what occurred in that early morning of that first day of the week that followed. Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

The Greek word for search used here is a very strong word. It literally means that they hunted Jesus down. They scurried about, strenuously searching for and pursuing him in those early morning hours. They stalked Him with a purpose in mind and that purpose is crystal clear as they exclaim, “Everyone is looking for you!”

In view of the healing that occurred as evening started this day, it is not surprising that everyone was looking for Him in the morning. Wouldn’t we hunt for someone who could cure us of our illnesses with a word or a touch? No insurance forms to deal with. No multiple appointments for diagnosis and treatment. Better than any drug prescriptions or surgeries or homeopathic pursuits, think of the relief from instantaneous healing!

Shouldn’t Jesus have known they would try to hunt Him down? JESUS HAD MADE IT A DAY OF HEALING, and the people of Capernaum wanted Him to keep it going! What town wouldn’t? They thought that what had occurred was as good as it gets. They thought this was His purpose in coming among them. The disciples appear to be right in step with the desires of the people. As they saw it, the peoples’ desire for Jesus to make their lives better physically was of the highest importance. “Everyone is looking for you” they admonish.

Jesus, however, had a different purpose in mind. Almost as if he missed the point, Jesus responded, “Let us go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” For a city set on relief from sickness and suffering a reaction could easily come to mind something like, “Jesus, don’t you get it?”

Jesus had worked wonders in Capernaum but His purpose was not to be a wonder-worker. He had pleased the crowd, but His purpose was not to be a crowd-pleaser. The reason He came was to preach and to provide the Gospel. The reason He came was to deliver us from Satan’s grip. The reason that He healed so many in Capernaum was to call attention to the healing power of His forgiveness (Mark 2:1-12).

Dear Christians, faith does not come through physical healings or the release from suffering. Faith comes from hearing the Gospel (Romans 1:16; 10:17). Jesus later denounced the cities where He performed most of His miracles, including Capernaum. He said, “And you Capernaum, will you be lifted to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the Day of Judgment than for you.”
JESUS HAD MADE IT A DAY OF HEALING to make known His healing forgiveness. That’s not what the people were hunting Him down in those early morning hours to receive, however. They wanted Him to make their life better right now in visible, tangible ways. When sickness is prolonged, when pain is persistent, when suffering is severe, when death comes, questions concerning God’s care come also. Isaiah expressed the heart’s unease in this way. “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God.” In other words, doesn’t God see? Won’t God act to bring me help and healing? Yes he does in His own way and in His own time for our eternal good. That means that sometimes the sickness or suffering continues and even worsens. There will be no medical breakthrough that ultimately keps death from us, for death is the wages of sin, not the accident of evolution. Yet our plight is not hidden from God nor are we being disregarded by Him.

The truth is, that we can make an idol of the wrong Jesus in this regard. The truth is that we can hunt for a Jesus who fixes all our problems, including our health problems, but not our deepest problem. In a recent book of sermons by one of our seminary professors, I came across an illustration that may help us better understand this temptation of “hunting for the wrong Jesus.”

Imagine the story of an imaginary girl called Amy. She had problems in her life and her friends told her to get to know Jesus and that He would help her. So Amy went hunting for Jesus to fix up her problems (And it must be said, the true and compassionate Jesus can and does help us sinners with our problems). She liked what she found. She found a church service where Jesus seemed to put a smile on everyone’s face. She read some books about how Jesus could help her fix her finances, give some purpose and harmony to her family, and put her body back in shape. Amy even began to tell others about how Jesus was helping her make some order out of her life. There were ups and downs but with Jesus in hand, there was more success in the struggles of daily life.

About a year later Amy was killed suddenly in an Automobile accident. The pastor comforted everyone at the funeral by describing how much Jesus had changed Amy’s life, her finances, her family, her health. She was, he said, a real success story. But in heaven when Amy appeared before the One she had sought help and success from He said to her, “I never knew you. Depart from me.” And Amy went to hell.

Is this imaginary tale helpful in understanding our text? Does this imaginary tale ever reflect spiritual reality? Well remember that Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Mt. 7:21) Remember also what Jesus said after He fed the 5000 and the people loved Him and sought to make Him king of their earthly lives. He rebuked them for primarily wanting Him to fill their stomachs and meet their needs here. He said they should work for the bread that does not perish but endures to eternal life. (John 6) Then He said that the bread He gave for the life of the world was His flesh.

Beloved, the central message of Scripture is not Christ the Helper or Christ the Success Giver or Christ the Money Manager or even Christ the healer of my physical ills. The central message of Scripture is Christ crucified! That’s why, almost as if He was deaf to the people’s excitement, Jesus said, “Let’s go on to the next towns that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

Jesus preached Himself as the bringer of God’s kingdom. Jesus preached until He was silenced by the religious authorities. Jesus preached Himself all the way to the cross. When He was shedding there the medicine of immortality, when He was providing there the greatest healing balm of all time, Simon and those with him did not search for Jesus but fled from Him. There were no excited exclamations then of “Everyone is looking for you!” On that day there were only cries of “crucify Him” and “I do not know the man.”

Fellow-Redeemed, that is where your healing comes from – from the blood that flowed from the Lamb of God on Calvary – from Christ crucified. St. Paul wrote to the Galatians that they were in danger of pursuing a different Gospel. He admonished them by saying that before their eyes Jesus was publicly portrayed as crucified (Galatians 3:1). The Greek words indicate that a figure of the body of Christ was held up before their eyes like Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole. Paul was pointing the Church at Galatia to what was in essence a crucifix and saying don’t be misled by any other gospel. For you see, the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing – even those who are perishing while hunting a different Jesus.

To the people in Capernaum who had tasted His compassionate healing touch, Jesus no doubt seemed to be hiding from their deepest need. That’s why they tried to hunt Him down. But Jesus moved on to bring His healing touch to you and me and to this whole world of sin-sick people. Let us go on to the next town that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.
Risen from the grave Christ continues His preaching mission from town to town, even today, even to the town of Shorewood. He is the sun of righteousness who has risen with healing in His wings (Mal 4:2). In the darkness of another first morning of the week He rose from the very sleep of death, our death. He is now the provider of medicine so curative that the moment of perfect healing for you will come in the moment of your death. It is better by far to depart and be with Christ. Or, as St. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, the reward of the Gospel is an imperishable wreath.

This is the healing he wants you to anchor your hope in. This is the healing medicine He showered you with in your baptism. This is the healing medicine He prescribes for you today at His table. Oh, He cares deeply about the health needs that affect you, about your aches and pains even as He did for Peter’s mother-in-law. He knows the fevers and the blood pressures and the infections and the surgeries and the hurts that distress you. He provides for those health needs today with physicians and hospitals and healing arts and medicines that earlier generations never experienced in quite the same way. But the perfect healing of your body that He came to give you is not for this life. That perfect bodily healing will be at the last, in the resurrection of all flesh.

There will be times for you when it will seem just like Isaiah expressed it; Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.” But the healing of God that goes deeper than what we can see or feel in this life he also beautifully expressed. “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. This is your eternal future in the Great Physician, who is Jesus Christ your Lord. AMEN.

4th Sunday After the Epiphany

January 29, 2006
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Wieting
Text: Mark 1:21-28

To the church of God at Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center, saints by calling, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 1:2,3). “They were all amazed, saying …‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’”

Dear Christians, there is always a struggle for authority in this world, every minute of every day! Witness the current struggle for authority in Afghanistan and Iraq. There was a time when the Taliban had broad authority to sanction terrorist training camps. There was a time when Sadam Hussein had total authority to gas and torture people and set up rape rooms. The struggle for the shape of future authority in these countries is bloody and ongoing.

There is always a struggle for authority in this world! Witness the current struggle for authority in naming a justice to the Supreme Court. That struggle centers directly on other issues of authority such as a woman’s authority over her own body and that of the body of a baby in her womb and the extent of a president’s authority to empower spying in times such as these.

There is always a struggle for authority in this world! Witness the current struggle over the voucher program for education in Wisconsin. That controversy relates to who has authority to say where their children go to school. Witness the current struggle over judging doctrine in our synod. At our last convention a resolution was passed that says a Christian does not have authority to publicly rebuke errors of doctrine that are public without first obtaining the permission of a district president. This is not Scriptural. For the first time in the history of the LCMS that resolution also gives no authority to laity to participate in deciding cases of false doctrine at the synodical level.

There is always a struggle for authority in this world - in homes and families, between parents and children, in this and every city and state, in our country, between countries, in the church, even within our own hearts. There is no end to the misery in life caused by rebellion against good, God-given authority and by the exercise of bad self-claimed authority.

Webster defines authority as the right and the power to do something or to command others and be obeyed. The Greek word for God’s authority in Scripture expresses His absolute ability and freedom to act and control.

It was the use of that absolute authority that so amazed those present in the synagogue of Capernaum. They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. The scribes, you see, were constantly quoting popular rabbinic names to advocate endless duties of the Law. Beyond the Torah, they added rules and regulations for almost any situation of life. They had built a fence of hundreds of rules around the law by constantly referencing the authority of older rabbis.

Enter Jesus! Instead of quoting others Jesus spoke on His own authority. He simply told them how it was. Instead of preaching endless “how to(s)” for choosing right behavior, He preached sin and grace. His message wasn’t “What should I do?” but rather “What has God done for me because of what I’ve done and left undone?” Jesus preached the Gospel of God, saying “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:14, 15). There was no gap between message and messenger. What Jesus taught He personally brought into that synagogue in His flesh, the kingdom of God.

Dear Christians, the authoritative preaching of Christ is our life. It gives us hope in this dying world! It is our hiding place! It is a refreshing message of freedom and good news! But it is not always received with joy and amazement.

Consider the demon-possessed man in the synagogue. He had evidently been there before. Nothing indicates that his presence was out of the ordinary or that he had a history of crying out. As long as the scribes quoted religious human rules about how to live, all was peaceful.

But when Jesus came teaching with authority, the demons got all riled up! A verbal and convulsing battle ensued. Jesus simply spoke the Word of God as the God He is. That led to all manner of kicking and screaming in the synagogue. He cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy one of God.” But Jesus rebuked Him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

Notice his words, “What do you have do to with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” It’s like saying, “What are you doing here?” “Leave me alone Jesus.” Then Satan used the voice of this man to make an amazing accusation against Jesus. “Did you come to destroy us?” What a devilish question! It shows how slick Satan can be in twisting our view of authority. He makes good look evil and evil look good. What could be more satanic then leading others to think that the Savior of mankind is the enemy of mankind? “Let us alone, Jesus. What have we to do with you?”

Please note that in the gospels, the demons know who Jesus is before anyone else does (See also James 2:19). They always recognize Jesus as God (Mt 8:29/Mk 5:7/our text). When the wise ones and elite of this world deny that Jesus is the holy God, they show less insight than the demons do. When the wise and sophisticated ones of this world deny the reality of demons they claim to have more insight than Jesus does. Such knowledge Is puffed up.

Since we are born in this world where Satan is prince, we also are easily disturbed and riled up when the Word of God is spoken with authority. Our sinful nature cries out, what have you to do with me, Jesus?” “Do you want to destroy me?” “Do you want to make me suffer and rob me of happiness?”

Leave me alone Jesus with my own view of the truth. Leave me alone in my dorm room or on the internet or on a Friday evening. Leave me alone Jesus with my thoughts of lust or coveting or self-pity. You can hang around, Jesus just don’t start preaching with authority. Let what you say be culturally friendly and personally pleasing to me. What have you to do with me Jesus with your command to love my enemies and to turn the other cheek? What have you to do with me Jesus with your passionate concern for the witness I give to others in my daily life?

Consider the voice of Christ as heard through His Apostle Paul concerning the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. “Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak...so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.” What a sweeping command! Not only is the Christian never supposed to sin against a brother by disobeying God’s Word, neither is the Christian supposed to sin against a weaker brother by doing something that is right. Even the appearance of sin may lead astray. As Paul said, “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat…” Doesn’t that holy Joe kind of talk from Christ’s apostle make you want to say, “leave me alone Jesus, don’t ask for such commitment and caring from me.

There is always a struggle for authority in this world, also In our hearts. Satan daily tempts us to treat the voice of Jesus as if it were just one voice among many. But that’s a lie! So is Satan’s accusation that Jesus came to destroy us. No matter how deep our suffering, no matter how contrary our feelings may be, just the opposite is always true! “Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself partook of the same that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…and might release us from death” (Heb 2:14).

Beloved, that’s why Satan was doing so much hollering and giving of orders in the synagogue at Capernaum! His princely position was under attack! Assembled to hear the Word, those present were confronted by the Word made flesh! The prophet supreme whom Moses foretold stood in their midst. As God said through Moses, “I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him”

With all the authority in heaven and earth, Jesus then gave an order of His own. “Be silent, and come out of him!” Literally, “Be muzzled and come out of him”. In the Greek, He spoke just three little words but they had wondrous effect. Satan had no choice! There was some crying and some convulsing. But to the amazement of the people he came out of the man! “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

That new teaching is that God has come so close to us as to be our brother. That new teaching is that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. Joy of joy, Satan is now thrown down and bound by one stronger than he. Nearly the same Greek words describe how the evil spirit left the man, “crying out with a loud voice” (v. 26), and how Jesus cried out in a loud voice on the cross, “Father into thy hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46). In the synagogue Jesus achieved a tactical victory over Satan. On the cross, Jesus triumphantly shouted his final strategic victory over sin, death and the devil. +He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, including your sin, even your “leave me alone, Jesus” sin. One wonders what the screaming and convulsing was like in hell when His blood was shed? For sometime between His final cry on Calvary and the early morning light of the third day, Jesus descended into hell to announce His victory.

Then, He rose from the grave in new life! It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him! Before His Ascension the risen Christ then said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Dear loved ones in Christ, do you hear it? What happened to baby Austin just moments ago carried with it all the authority in heaven and earth. Nothing that has occurred in the world this morning has more eternal weight behind it than that simple act. Jesus, in effect, said to Satan as Austin was baptized this morning, “Be muzzled, get out of him.” That same absolute authority was present as your washing of rebirth. What a weighty thing your baptism is. God’s steadfast love surrounds you.

While your sinful heart in weakness sometimes says “leave me alone, Jesus,” Jesus is strong to say, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” I have bought you, you are mine. While you and I keep on wanting to stand on our own authority, Jesus lovingly continues to use His authority to stand us up when we fall down. He does restore your soul. He does create a clean heart in you.
Just as He entered the synagogue on the day of our text, so Jesus has entered this house of worship today. The living Christ, God and man, is in our midst. That’s why the communion liturgy leads us to say “The Lord be with you.” He comes to teach us, not as a scribe, but as the God He is with God’s own Words. He comes to feed us not food sacrificed to idols, but His own body and blood sacrificed to make peace for us by the cross. He comes into our midst with all the authority of heaven and earth to forgive us and to heal us and to give us Himself.
Blessed are you whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! God’s steadfast love surrounds you. Surely in the rush of great waters they will not reach you for you have a hiding place in Christ. God’s steadfast love surrounds you.

How can you stand upright in this constant struggle for authority in your heart? By reason of your frailty you cannot. It is no accident that the last petition Jesus teaches us to pray each day is “deliver us from evil (or the evil one)”. What does this mean? We pray in the petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Jesus stands on this side of the grave and sits on the right hand of God to do just that. He fights for you! He is still speaking for you before the Father’s throne. He is still speaking to you this morning. At the Word of Jesus Satan must obey and flee away. He cannot take away your blessed end in Christ. For with all the authority in heaven and earth Jesus will say to you then, “Come up here. I will take you through the valley of the shadow of death, for I have gone that way before you”

In the Name of Jesus, AMEN.