QUINQUAGESIMA

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

In this same Savior, dearly beloved hearers!

Christ's bloody suffering is due not only to the special vicissitudes which met Christ during his life on this world, as is the case with other men, but is really the focal point of the entire work which Christ came into this world to complete. If Christ had not suffered, everything else he would have done, his teachings, his holy life, and miracles, would have been completely in vain. If Christ had not suffered, sins would not have been wiped out, God would not be reconciled, and mankind would still be unredeemed. Without Christ's suffering we would all still be without a Savior and therefore without comfort and without hope in sin, distress, and death. That is why we read in the hymn:

All sins Thou borest for us,

Else had despair reigned o'er us:

Have mercy on us, O Jesus. (146,1)

In the very first promise of Christ, which God gave fallen mankind, it was revealed that the Savior of man would be a suffering Savior, for we read that the serpent would bruise his heel. If we read the Psalms and the Prophets, in which the Redeemer of the world promised in Paradise was described ever more clearly, we also see Him ever more clearly described as a lamb upon which the Lord would cast all our sins and lead to the slaughter. And finally, if we ask how the first 12 and greatest heralds of Christ, who were appointed by Christ himself, preached Christ, we hear them all say, as. St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "For I am determined not to know anything anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified," 1 Cor 2:2; or in another passage, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Gal 6:14.

If we go a little farther into the story of the rise and spread of the Christian Church, what doctrine chiefly was it through which the many millions of heathen and Jews, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, great and humble, mighty rulers and slaves robbed of their freedom, fortunate and unfortunate, I say, what doctrine mainly was it which moved all these to become confessors of Jesus Christ? Not the wonderful example which Christ gave by his life, nor the holiness, perfection, and consoling power of his teaching, nor the greatness of his miracles, but it was above all the message of Christ's suffering and death to reconcile God with the sinful world which so drew heathen and Jews that they were unable to resist, that they had to give up the religion of their fathers and become members of the Christian Church. The innocent Son of God suffered for you, so that you would not have to suffer what you really deserved; God's Son struggled to the very last drop of blood so that you, a sinner, could triumph; God's Son died for you on the cross, so that you might be delivered from eternal death and live forever: this is the teaching which entered into the hearts of millions with divine power and which still prepares the victory for Christianity over heathenism and Judaism.

However, we dare not suppose that the teaching that God's Son suffered for sinners, made such a deep impression upon the Jews and heathen only because it was a new and unusual one. No, every time one finds a true believer even among

baptized Christians, who really became a new man and carries an ardent love and a living hope in his heart, and he is asked, how he became a different person, he will reply every time, The teaching that God's Son suffered for all sinners and also for me went to my heart; it was this teaching which became like a fire in me, melting my hard heart and kindling my innermost soul; I live in this doctrine as in the air I breathe; it is food and drink to my soul, my comfort against my sin, my strength in my struggles, my refreshment for my sin.

Now if Christ's suffering really has such great power, how does it happen that it does not show that power in so many? How does it happen that especially in our days it offends even many baptized Christians so greatly? Permit me to speak to you a bit more about that.

The text. Luke 28:31-43.

As you have heard, Christ predicted his suffering and death to his disciples; what was the impression which this announcement made upon them? We read, "And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." V. 34. That this is told us of the disciples cannot surprise us so much, because Christ's suffering was at that time not completed and its results were only dimly outlined. But is it not surprising that even now Christ's suffering and death is to many like a book sealed with seven seals, now after it has already been preached and revealed to all the world that Christ has gone to glory through his suffering? Certainly. Then may I now show you from God's Word:

WHY SO MANY EVEN NOW DO NOT PERCEIVE THE GLORIOUS AND

BLESSED POWER OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING

In the main there are three reasons:

I. Because so Many Reflect upon Christ's Suffering only with the Eyes of their Reason,

II. Because so Many do not want to Perceive how much they Need it, and finally,

III. Because so Many do not Attempt to Comfort Themselves by it.

I.

Why did Christ's suffering, which was foretold to the disciples, remain like an obscure mystery? Christ described it to them in such clear, simple, unambiguous words that they just could not have misunderstood. The chief reason was due to the fact that they clung firmly only to what the prophets had spoken about the greatness, power, and glory of the Messiah. When they perceived a few rays of this glory in Christ, they supposed, that it would be impossible for Christ to sink down into such a deep sea of suffering or even die at the hands of murderers. They thought that Christ's words of the bloody suffering and disgraceful death still to come must be understood differently. What did they really do? Here they followed their own reason. Since they could not harmonize what they had learned from the prophets with what Christ told them, they departed from Christ's words and the result was that they remained blind for a time concerning God's most blessed mystery of grace.

This points out the first reason why even now so many do not perceive the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering; so many view Christ's suffering only with the eyes of their reason.

Many think, How is it possible that God would become a man just for the sake of fallen man? how is it possible that without further ado God could not

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have forgiven man's sins out of love? how is it possible that God had to give his only Son into suffering and death in order to become reconciled with us again? Away, they exclaim, with such unworthy thoughts! My reason has an entirely different picture of God. I will never accept the fact that God could have been moved to pardon and save us only by the blood of his only Son. The result is that all those considering the suffering of Christ only with the eyes of their reason never learn to know its glorious and blessed power.

Just as wise as such people consider themselves, just so foolish, yes silly they act; and as greatly as they let themselves imagine that they have risen above the alleged prejudices of Christians, just so much are they ensnared in the most unfounded prejudices. Does not one's reason tell him that human reason must have limits beyond which one cannot go? Does not a rational reflection upon this world tell every one that, there are countless effects in this world whose causes no one can search out? Does not experience teach every one that the very things which many wise people at first considered impossible was later proven possible? And finally, does not reason tell every one, that God must be an infinite and, therefore, an unfathomable and incomprehensible Being as far as man is concerned and that only he can search out God who would be like God? Is it not foolish to reject something as impossible because one cannot harmonize it with the thoughts of his reason? Is it not foolish if a person wants to say, God must be this or that way; God must think this or that way; this or that God dare or dare not be? Is it not foolish, is it not silly, yes, insane, for a person to set himself up as a judge of God's will, thoughts, and councils, and make himself equal to God, yes, higher than God?

Oh my friends, do you not be deceived by the doubtful conclusions of your reason about your salvation which has been prepared for you and all men by the suffering of God's Son! Do not listen to the ridicule of the scoffers and the crafty words of the wise of this world by which they intend to move you to reject the suffering of your Savior! Remember: God's mysteries must first be received by us in faith and then they show their divine power and wisdom in us, As Christ says, Jn 7:17, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

II.

The reason why many nowadays do not perceive the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering is not only that so many reflect upon Christ's suffering only with the eyes of their reason which is blind as far as spiritual and heavenly things are concerned, but: in the second place, the reason also is to be found in the fact that many do not want to understand how desperately they need this power.

And here in our Gospel we have an outstanding example of these people. It tells us: When Christ on his last journey to Jerusalem neared the city of Jericho accompanied by a large crowd, a blind beggar sat by the wayside; when he heard the large crowd coming, he eagerly inquired, "what it meant." Informed that Christ was approaching, he cried loudly, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me." V. 38. But those who went on ahead rebuked him that he should be quiet. How does it happen, that the blind man trusted that Christ would help him by a miracle, but that those who accompanied Christ expected the opposite? That was chiefly because the blind man felt his need; when the smallest ray of hope that he could be helped came his way, he immediately attempted to see if his hope would not be fulfilled. On the other hand, those who made the journey with Christ simply did not feel their need and accompanied the Savior out of curiosity. Thus the blind man came to know Christ's grace and glory whereas the rest went away from this experience empty-handed.

Sad to say, Christ's companions are like many so-called Christians of our day. There are countless numbers of Christians who either have never perceived that they are poor sinners who are lost without Christ and must be rejected by God, or who do not know this personally even if they must have perceived it. by instruction in God's Word. They perceive their sins are many but that does not scare them; they perceive that their sins are serious and great but they are never heartily sorry over them; they perceive that they have gambled away God's grace and merited his wrath and hell-fire but they are not especially concerned about it. Their sins do not weigh heavily upon them. They have not become an unbearable burden, nor an object of their horror, nor a reason for groans and tears.

What is the result of this condition? They do not experience the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering. They have the same amount of pleasure in it that a satiated person has in food and drink; they have as little joy in it as when a doctor promises a healthy person he will cure him of his sickness and ease his pain. Yes, such name-Christians who have not yet learned to feel the misery of their sins are amazed when other Christians tell what boundless comfort, what blessedness, what a sweet foretaste of eternal, life they found in pondering upon the Savior who suffered, bled, and died for them. They hold that such people are either enthusiasts or they think that they must have committed some special, serious, secret sin.

Now pay special attention to this, all of you who indeed do not contradict the mysterious doctrine of Christ's reconciling suffering but who have never come to know its glorious and blessed power. Oh, do not think that if the mouth of other Christians overflows with what they have experienced this is merely imagination, since you had never experienced the likes of it. Rather perceive: that you have never experienced the like is due to the fact that you have never personally perceived how necessary it was for your sake that the Son of God descended into the ocean of the deepest suffering. Pray that God will permit, you to know this personally; pray earnestly and heartily for that; when you arrive at the point where you can say from your heart, Alas! I am a sinner! I am a great sinner! I am a lost sinner! I am a damned sinner! then Christ's suffering will also become your Garden of Paradise in which you will refresh your languishing soul.

III.

I must mention once more reason why so many even now know and experience nothing of the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering; it is because in the third place so many do not attempt to comfort themselves with Christ's suffering.

Our text furnishes us with a noteworthy example in the blind beggar. When he cried to Christ, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me," then those who went ahead threatened him that he should keep silent. Perhaps they reproached him for being so fresh and impudent as to expect that such a great holy man as Jesus would stop long enough just on his account and squander a miracle. He was blind because of his sins; he should, therefore, be silent and bear what he had deserved a thousandfold. But what did the blind beggar do? He was not the least bit silent; rather we read of him, "But he cried so much the more. Thou son of David, have mercy on me." V.39b. And what happened? Suddenly Jesus stopped, commanded that the blind man should be brought to him, and asked him, "What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?" And when he answered, "Lord, that I may receive my sight," Christ said, "Receive thy sight; thy faith hath saved thee." And behold! he could see immediately and followed Christ, glorifying

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and praising God amid the rejoicing of all the people who had seen this. But what would have happened had the blind man let himself be silenced? His unbelief would have deceived him in regard to the glorious help which Christ was so ready and willing to bring him.

Perceive from this the last reason why so many do not experience the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering. There are not a few Christians who by God's grace have really come to know their sinfulness and unworthiness from God's Word, who really have perceived that without Christ they are lost. They are really prepared to experience Christ's suffering in all its glorious and blessed power. But they experience what that blind beggar did; when they want to appeal to Christ in firm faith for grace and mercy, then their own heart and conscience bids them be silent. The inner voice says to them, What do you want? Grace? You don't deserve grace; first become a different person! Make your repentance better! First show more zeal for your salvation! First cleanse your heart from its evil lusts and desires! The way you are now, you cannot possibly hope to receive and have grace!

What do they do who listen to this voice in their innermost soul? Alas, only too many believe their deceitful heart and cease praying in faith for grace; they cease taking comfort in Christ and his suffering and death; they want, to know their sins more clearly from Christ's suffering and with Christ first nail their sins to the cross and die. Instead of becoming endearing and comforting, sweet and precious, Christ's suffering becomes a picture full of pure terror, full of wrath and threatenings.

You, therefore, who have found yourself in this description, perceive the deceit of your heart and Satan. Look at the example of the blind beggar and imitate him, for that is why his example was preserved in our text. The more your heart wants, to hold you back from comforting yourself in the suffering of your Savior, the more deeply press the comfort which lies in it into your despairing heart. The more your conscience cries to you, Be silent! You are an unworthy sinner! the more confidently say: Just because I am an unworthy sinner, I will comfort myself in the suffering which my Savior endured for the sake of my sins.

Oh, if you do that, Christ will reveal his glory to you. His suffering will become a fountain from which a broad river of comfort will flow into your heart. Your mouth will become full of laughter and your tongue of praise. But then, just like that blind man, you will also follow Christ faithfully and all Christians, who have joined you in leaving the broad way of the world, will join you in praising God.

Now, God grant that during the holy Lenten season which begins this week, all who have not yet experienced the glorious and blessed power of Christ's suffering may come to this salutary experience and that those who already have this experience may have an even deeper and sweeter experience of it and that finally we all may enter through Christ's suffering into eternal joy. Amen. Amen.