Today's Reading: Luke 10:23-37
Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 12:20-13:5,33-34; 2 Corinthians 8:1-24
Then [Jesus] turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." (Luke 10:23-24
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You have seen and heard more than Adam or Noah or Abraham or David or even John the Baptist ever did. All of those Old Testament saints believed in the Savior who was going to come some day. They believed in Him, but never saw Him. Even John, whom we heard about yesterday, was denied the glorious witness of the risen Jesus.
But not you. You know what has happened. You know what they knew, but did not get to see fulfilled—that the Son of God became man and was born of the Virgin Mary, that He suffered, was crucified, died and was buried and rose again the third day. There is great joy in living in the time when, by the witness of the New Testament, we can see the promises of God fulfilled in Christ.
So are you blessed? Do you feel special? Or is all that Jesus stuff not such a big deal. At least not as exciting as your team's latest victory? That party coming up at your friends? That late night that made you sleep in, instead of getting up for church? The truth is, we have been blessed to see what kings and prophets didn't and often don't give it a second thought, like we're flipping past it as we race through the channels on TV.
Repent. Consider what it means that you've seen God's plan unfold in Jesus Christ. And it is precisely what He has done for you that rescues you from such disinterest and every other sin. It is the Blood of Christ sprinkled on you in Baptism and drunk at the altar from the cup that rescues and forgives you for such indifference. It is the very Word of God which forgives your sins and joins you to the church of which you and all Christians and Old Testament saints are a part—the Body of Christ. Rejoice, dear Christian, not that you are more special than they are, but that you have seen what they did not and that all together we are the people of God in and through Jesus Christ. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
The God of Abr'ham praise, Whose all sufficient grace Shall guide me all my pilgrim days In all my ways. He deigns to call me friend; He calls Himself my God. And He shall save me to the end Through Jesus' blood. (LSB 798:3)