Daily Lectionary: 2 Kings 6:1-23; Philippians 1:21-2:11
And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The enemies of Israel surrounded the city. Elisha's servant was frightened. Until he saw what Elisha saw: the fiery chariots and horsemen of the heavenly host surrounding the city. Then he knew they would be all right.
The things of God are not seen except by the eyes of faith. When a beaten and bloody man is crucified in grand Roman execution style, the world laughs at another criminal who is getting his just rewards. But faith sees there the Son of God whose suffering takes away the sins of the world.
Some water splashed on a baby doesn't look like anything other than a quaint ritual which people do because it's the tradition in that church. But faith sees in that baptism the putting of God's name upon that child, the clothing of him or her with Christ's righteousness, the drowning of the Old Adam and the birth of the New Man in Christ. Faith sees salvation.
A guy in a robe talking and preaching doesn't look like much more than some strange religious person. But faith sees—and hears—the comforting Good News that our sins are forgiven for the sake of Jesus who was crucified.
Bread and wine, and only a little bit at that, don't seem like anything other than yet another church ritual. But faith confesses what Jesus' words say: These are His true Body and Blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. This is Christ Himself coming to us and living in us and promising to raise us up on the Last Day.
The world sees the defeat of Christ's holy people. But Christ's people see His victory over the world. The same Lord of Hosts who surrounded a city with chariots and horses of fire is the same Lord who has brought us into His church, now surrounded with that great cloud of witnesses whom Christ has bought with His own blood. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; Sing the ending of the fray. Now above the cross, the trophy, Sound the loud triumphant lay; Tell how Christ the world's redeemer, As a victim won the day. (LSB 454:1)