The seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31-

43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him "Son of David." Indeed, Jesus is the Lord's anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1-13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1-13).

Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3-7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life.

The Sower sows the seed of His Word (Luke 8:4-15). This Word is living and powerful (Heb. 4:9-13) to conceive new life in those who hear it. But the planting of Christ is attacked by the devil, the world, and the flesh.

Satan snatches the Word away from hard hearts. The riches and pleasures of this life choke off faith. Shallow and emotional belief withers in time of temptation and trouble. But see how Christ bears this attack for us!

Christ's cross was planted in the hard and rocky soil of Golgotha. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head. Satan and His demons hellishly hounded and devoured Him. Yet, through His dying and rising again, He destroyed these enemies of ours. Jesus is Himself the Seed which fell to the ground and died in order that it might sprout forth to new life and produce much grain. In Him, the weak are strong (2 Cor. 11:19-12:9). He is the Word of the Father which does not return void (Is. 55:10-13) but yields a harvest hundredfold.

Jesus is Transfigured and Manifests His Glory

The Lord appeared to Moses in the light of the burning bush (Ex. 3:1-

14). Later Moses' face would shine with the light of God's glory when he came down from Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:29-35). At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with the One who is the Light of Light Himself (Matt. 17:1-9). Jesus' glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature. By this epiphany, our Lord confirmed the prophetic word (2 Pet. 1:16-21), revealing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He manifested His majesty as the eternal Son of the Father, and He wonderfully foreshowed our adoption as sons (Collect). We who have been baptized into Christ's body are given a glimpse of the glory that we will share with Him in the resurrection on the Last Day.

The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile (Rom. 1:8-17).

Even in the Old Testament, the Gentiles were beneficiaries of God's saving power. Though unimpressed at first with the Word of God, a Syrian commander is persuaded to receive that Word, and in the water he is cleansed and brought to faith in the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1-15a). Evil is overcome by good (Rom 12:16-21). So also in the New Testament, a Roman centurion demonstrates great and humble faith in the Lord (Matt. 8:1-13). All he needs is the Word of Christ, for he trusts that Jesus' Word of healing has authority to accomplish what it says. And indeed it does. The centurion's faith is praised by our Lord above that of any Israelite. For the last shall be first, and the first last.

Apart from faith in Christ, there is no salvation not even for a Jew-but only weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The coming of the Messianic kingdom means the restoration of

creation. The sign of this restoration is that "the mountains shall drip

sweet wine" (Amos 9:11-15). When the elements of a fallen creation

fail and run short at a wedding feast, our Lord Jesus steps in to restore

creation and miraculously changes water into an abundance of the very

best wine (John 2:1-11). With this sign, Christ manifests His glory.

The "back' of God (Ex. 33:12-23) is revealed to those who believe.

The hour will come when Jesus will again manifest His glory by taking

creation's curse into His own body to release us from its power. The

Bridegroom will give His life for the Bride (Eph. 5:22-32), and from

His side will flow water and blood, the holy sacraments by which she

is cleansed and made one with Him. Through this sacrificial love of

Christ we are enabled to "love one another with brotherly affection.

and to "outdo one another in showing honor" (Rom. 12:6-16).

Our Lord Jesus is baptized "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:13-

17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our

substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. In the water, Jesus trades

places with us. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes

our righteousness. Our glory, therefore, is in "Christ Jesus, who

became to us . .

righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1Cor. 1:26-31). Jesus is the

"chosen" One sent from the Father to

release us from the prison house of sin and death (Is. 42:1-7). Baptized

into Christ, we also become the chosen ones, beloved of the Father.

We cross the Jordan with Jesus (Joshua 3) through death into the

promised land of new life with God.

Jesus Blesses Us with His Name

and Saves Us with His Blood

Our newborn God keeps the Law for us and brings Abraham's

promises to their fulfillment when He is circumcised. It is there that

the name above all names is

"bestowed on him" (Phil. 2:9), "the name

given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb": Jesus,

which means "the Lord saves" (Luke 2:21). He sheds the first drops of

His precious blood in accordance with this name and in anticipation of

His cross,

"for he will save his people from their sins

' (Matt. 1:21).

The law's captivity gives way to the freedom of faith in Christ Jesus,

who cuts a new covenant in His blood to be received by faith, whether

male or female, Jew or Greek (Gal. 3:23-28). His name is given to us

in Holy Baptism, and we are made sons of God and "heirs according

to promise,

" true offspring of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:29). Eight days

after the celebration of our Lord's birth, a new

"Year of our Lord" is

begun in Jesus' holy name and with His benediction. Jesus is the Lord,

and by this name we are blessed (Num. 6:22-27).

In the beginning God created all things through His Word, His Son. But

man fell into sin, and with man all creation was cursed. Therefore, God

spoke His Word again, this time into the womb of the blessed Virgin

Mary. The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle of our human nature

(Ex. 40:17-21, 34-38).

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

John 1:1-14). The Son of God took on our flesh and blood and died on

the cross in order that we might receive the right to become the children

of God through faith. Baptized into Christ's body, we are made partakers

of a new Genesis,

"the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy

Spirit' (Titus 3:4 7). In Christ, the kindness and love of God our Savior

toward man has truly appeared.

LISTEN TO SUNDAY'S SERMON HERE*

The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was

terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts

sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15-19). God, therefore, raised up a

prophet like Moses-

the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people

veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from

heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation

(Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord

(Luke 1:39-56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who

takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was

not worthy to loose (John 1:19-28). In Jesus we are delivered from

fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which

surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7).

The voice of the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness:

"Prepare the way

of the Lord.

» (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready

for the Messiah's coming through repentance, for "all flesh is grass'

(Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, "Are you the one who is to come

.?" (Matt. 11:2). Jesus'

works bear witness that He is. The sick are

made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached

to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord's

hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The

"stewards of the

mysteries of God' (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ's overflowing

forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God's people with the

word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces

rejoicing among all those who believe.