How unbelievable this is said, and contrary to public and daily experience; nevertheless, it is the truth. If a man seriously considers God's word in his heart, believes it, and falls asleep or dies over it, he sinks and passes away before he understands or becomes aware of death, and has certainly passed away blessed in the word which he thus believed and considered.
Joh. 8, 51.
He who keeps my word will never see death. 2)
1) About this it is said in the report "vom christlichen Abschied Luthers aus diesem tödlichen Leben," Jenaer Ausgabe, Vol. VIII, Bl. 386 (Walch, alte Ausg., Vol. XXI, 289*, § 26): "dass dies die letzte Handschrift sei, so er den Leuten zu Gedommniß in Bibel geschrieben, und dieselbige seine Handschrift gen Eirich [Ellrich in der Nähe von Nordhausen] Hans Gasman, den Hohnsteinischen Rentmeister, zukommen, vorn in einer Hauspostille." - "Under yours was written: Martinus Luther, Doctor. 1546. Done on the 7th day of Februarii." Walch makes the remark without doubt about this interpretation): "The original is to be found hei Herrn Sigismundo Abessern, Superintendent at Königsberg in Franconia." The words of Walch are also significant: "Another beautiful interpretation of the previous words is to be found below in the report of the Christian departure of D. M. Luther from this mortal life", because there is the same interpretation as here.
2) In the larger Catechismum Lutheri, which was Hans von Bora, Luther's wife's relative, Lutherus inscribed in front. (Walch.)
We all have to die, but woe to those who have to see death! God's word helps against this, which, if one keeps or believes it, nullifies death altogether, and death must die before it, and life must remain forever. For the word shows death and the devil an image, that is, Jesus Christ, from which he must flee and disappear. For he has nailed him to the cross through his cross. Praise be to God, amen.
John 8:51. 3)
Whoever has my words will not see death for eternity.
Dear, who believes such things to be true? We have and hear the word, but if we believed it, we would already be blessed. For he who never sees death, though he dies and decays, yet lives and knows nothing of death, as the Lord says here, and does not lie. The wretched unbeliever is a liar. God bless him, amen!
1545. Martinus Luther, D.
Joh. 10, 27.
My sheep know me, and they hear my voice.
The two follow each other. He that heareth Christ heareth him again; for they know one another. Therefore, if anyone wishes to pray that he will surely be heard, let him first hear Christ and believe his voice, and all will be well.
Joh. 10, 28.
My sheep will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
He may watch and take care where my soul will stay, who so faithfully cared for it that he gave up his own life to redeem my soul. Praised forever be He, the only true and faithful shepherd and bishop of all souls who believe in Him.
He will not begin to learn from me how to protect the blessed who hear and keep his voice from the power of the devil and the evil and tyranny of the world. He says: "They will nim-
3) The original is in the possession of the Dresden Bibliotbek, where it hangs under glass and frame. SeidemannDe Wette, Vol. VI, p. 411.
I will perish more and more, and no one will snatch it out of my hand"; I will leave it at that. For this reason, do not ask me to take care of my soul and to have it in my hands or under my control, because it would truly be badly taken care of. For the devil could soon, indeed at any moment, tear it from me and devour it. But I would much rather a thousand times that he should have it in his hand; there, according to his word, it will be safe and remain.
However, I take comfort in this1 and am content that I know and believe that there are many dwellings in his father's house that he has prepared.
Joh. 11, 25.