"The Girl is Not Dead, but Sleeping..."
...and a few other quick updates...
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Luther’s sermon on this text is one of the best. You can read it here (or listen to me read it).
I’ll post a few quotations, but only to induce you to study the entire thing.
“Not dead, sleeping…”
These words which the Lord here speaks, “The maid is not dead, but sleeps,” we should diligently study. They are words of comfort, for which, if they could be purchased, we should cheerfully give all that we possess, in order that we might retain, understand, and believe them as they were intended. Whoever could look upon a dead person as though he were lying upon a bed asleep, and so change his vision as to consider death to be a sleep, would have reason to be proud of a peculiar science not understood by anyone else.
In the Sight of Christ Death is Sleep
Therefore learn from this Gospel lesson, that in the sight of Christ death is nothing more than a sleep; as we here behold Him awakening the dead maid by the touch of His hand as from a mere sleep. Sickness also is no sickness before Him; as is seen in the other example of the woman, who was very sick, but whose sickness had to cease and depart as soon as she came to Christ and touched His garment.
In the Eyes of Christ
Thus the Lord deals also in other infirmities and distresses. The blind who apply to Him for help receive their sight, the sinners are justified, and the lost are saved. He indeed deals with us wonderfully. His words in our eyes seem not only vain, but even contrary to the facts. Before the eyes of all others the maid was dead; but “before my eyes,” Christ says, “she lives and is asleep. David is in his own eyes and in the eyes of all men a poor shepherd, but before me he is a king. And all of you who believe in me are poor sinners in your own eyes, but before me you are great saints and like the angels of God. For only a word is necessary, and sin, disease, and death must pass away and make room for righteousness, life and health. As I speak, so all things must be.”
Nice, eh? Click here for the whole encalada.
/ We’ll see you soon…
I’ll be presenting at the following conferences. I hope to run into you there.
International Lutheran Deaf Association, Detroit, July 12-13 “The Faith of the Martyrs” (in American Sign Language)
Issues, Etc., Chicago, IL, July 13-14 “Making the Case for the Promises of God”
Digital Catacombs: On Technology and Theology, Austin, TX, July 26-28. “New Media & the Gospel, part 1 & 2”
Lutheran Singles Cruise, Gulf of Mexico, Aug 1-5
Worldwide Bible Class is back on this Wednesday, July 3. Join us live from wherever you are in the world at 10 US central time.
And don’t forget to plan a trip to Austin, TX this year.
Please add your own theological recommendations in the comments.
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Thank you, again, for your time and attention, and for your prayers. Please keep in touch.
Christ is Risen! Pastor Wolfmueller
Psalm 27:4
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Wednesday What-Not is a free newsletter. Your subscription is a helpful donation. Thanks!
For more theology, upcoming events, and links to video, audio, etc. visit www.wolfmueller.co.