Sabbath Healing
Grace to you and peace from God our
Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
It is lawful heal on the Sabbath. Of course it is. The
Pharisees know this, but pride runs deep. Their fallen hearts wish it to be
illegal, because then they would be better than Him; they would not be the most
pitiful of men. But they know it isn’t illegal, and so they say nothing. They
are too proud to admit they are wrong. They are shamefully stubborn. They
remain in their sin. They will go to Hell rather than be humbled.
It is completely unreasonable…but it is no strange thing to
us. We have watched ourselves destroy the best things in life—throwing away
friendships, alienating family, all because of our pride, our ill-conceived
sense of honor. We want to be self-sufficient, strong, and brave, heroes of our
fantasies. But our friends see our vanity, our posturing, our hiding and
politicking. If they were not forgiving, patient, and kind, we’d have no
friends at all, let alone spouses, children, or employers.
We have been as silent as the Pharisees when it suited us. Our
children bring home their live-in significant other for Christmas, and we all
play along. We may suspect they’ll be gone by Valentine’s day, but we act like they’re
married. We don’t want to cause a scene. In our pride we enable and engage in
the worst sins of men. We are silent when the truth needs to be spoken. We are
more concerned with the moment than with the future; more worried about
publicity than the fate of our souls; more desirous of popularity with men than
the love of God. Repent.
Jesus laid in the grave, His rest spanning three days,
included every second of the Sabbath. All the world was silent. The would-be
apostles hid in fear. It seemed as though the Pharisees had won. They had silenced
God and hushed His Bride. They thought, “Now no one will dare to speak against
our lies.” They thought they had won. We have sometimes acted like they did.
But this is the great Truth: Jesus died and rose again to reconcile sinners to
His Father. There is no other truth. This is why we cannot be silent. It is too
important. We must warn those still caught in the web of death, enslaved to
lust and greed and violence.
The world wants to know why we keep preaching against their
pet sins. They are against murder and thievery—the obvious kind, at least. They
do not mind us opposing that. But they like what they call “victimless sins.” “What
does it matter,” they say, “what two consenting adults do?” “How does that hurt
you?” But there is no victimless sin. Sin is always dangerous. It
destroys faith. It separates men from God. It mocks His death. It is a lie. And
it kills. Prostitution, cohabitation, homosexuality, pornography—these are not
victimless. Both parties in these sinful activities are victims: trapped, sick,
afraid, living in guilt and shame…or, worse, living comfortably in their sin.
Should we be silent? Should we look the other way? Jesus asks, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Of
course it is! This is the better way: the way of healing and grace, the way of
forgiveness, the way of truth and of dying to live.
Be humbled in the
cross of Jesus Christ. Let the world scoff at you, but do not let the disease
of sin go unanswered. Do not be intimidated by those lying Pharisees. They did
not win. Speak the Truth. Let them know that our Lord Jesus Christ invites sinners
to come to Him and His Church, where He will give them Sabbath healing in Holy
Absolution. This message will drive back the darkness of sin, and some will
believe and thank you for it. And when someone speaks the truth to you, hear it
with joy. Repent and be healed. Repent and be welcomed by your Lord Jesus
Christ to this highest place of all, a place at His holy Altar to receive the
medicine of immortality. God has loved sinners in His Son. Proclaim the Truth. God
is not angry. He loves His children. He knows what He is doing. Christ did not
die in vain. His body and blood is medicine for the soul. His mercy endures
forever. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The
peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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