WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:04.810 --> 00:00:05.790 You may be seated. 00:00:08.770 --> 00:00:10.602 Jesus leaves no doubt 00:00:10.666 --> 00:00:11.790 that he is God. 00:00:11.940 --> 00:00:13.994 A woman with a twelve year flow 00:00:14.042 --> 00:00:16.654 of blood touches just the hem of 00:00:16.692 --> 00:00:18.814 Jesus's garment and she's made 00:00:18.852 --> 00:00:21.226 whole. A girl is dead, 00:00:21.338 --> 00:00:23.246 and Jesus takes her by the 00:00:23.268 --> 00:00:25.230 hand and she rises. 00:00:25.530 --> 00:00:27.954 Two blind men cry out for mercy. 00:00:28.082 --> 00:00:29.894 Jesus touches their eyes and 00:00:29.932 --> 00:00:30.994 their eyes are opened. 00:00:31.042 --> 00:00:32.438 They can see again. 00:00:32.604 --> 00:00:34.742 No one else can do this 00:00:34.876 --> 00:00:36.130 but God alone. 00:00:36.290 --> 00:00:38.490 But what is most divine about 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:41.194 Jesus isn't that he can do it, 00:00:41.312 --> 00:00:44.250 but that he delights to do it. 00:00:44.400 --> 00:00:47.850 Jesus just can't help himself. 00:00:49.710 --> 00:00:51.914 My five year old son has a two 00:00:51.952 --> 00:00:53.966 foot by three foot puzzle of 00:00:53.988 --> 00:00:56.254 the solar system that has a 00:00:56.292 --> 00:00:57.694 permanent home on our 00:00:57.732 --> 00:00:59.210 family room floor. 00:00:59.370 --> 00:01:00.874 He loves that puzzle, 00:01:00.922 --> 00:01:02.494 and every once in a while I get 00:01:02.532 --> 00:01:03.982 a bit tired of having to step 00:01:04.036 --> 00:01:05.458 over it or around it. 00:01:05.544 --> 00:01:06.946 So when he's not looking, 00:01:07.048 --> 00:01:08.274 I quickly pick it up 00:01:08.312 --> 00:01:09.540 and put it away. 00:01:10.070 --> 00:01:11.986 And then my son walks into the 00:01:12.008 --> 00:01:15.250 room and he is indignant. 00:01:15.610 --> 00:01:17.426 He immediately finds the puzzle 00:01:17.458 --> 00:01:18.710 and gets busy putting 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:19.960 it back together. 00:01:20.490 --> 00:01:23.254 You shall not take away the 00:01:23.292 --> 00:01:25.126 beloved creation of a 00:01:25.148 --> 00:01:26.440 five year old boy. 00:01:27.290 --> 00:01:29.706 But Titus Christoph Golden does 00:01:29.728 --> 00:01:32.490 not hold a candle to Jesus. 00:01:32.830 --> 00:01:34.266 For twelve years, 00:01:34.448 --> 00:01:36.534 this woman has been physically 00:01:36.662 --> 00:01:39.126 depleted and anemic. 00:01:39.318 --> 00:01:40.874 She has not only suffered 00:01:40.922 --> 00:01:41.642 physically, 00:01:41.786 --> 00:01:44.106 but she has been left unclean 00:01:44.218 --> 00:01:45.562 according to the Levitical 00:01:45.626 --> 00:01:46.298 standards. 00:01:46.394 --> 00:01:48.910 She has borne a heavy weight. 00:01:50.050 --> 00:01:53.086 That is not what Jesus desires 00:01:53.118 --> 00:01:55.038 for his beloved creation, 00:01:55.214 --> 00:01:59.102 she will be whole. Indeed 00:01:59.166 --> 00:02:01.298 Jesus says to her, take heart, 00:02:01.384 --> 00:02:02.414 O daughter. 00:02:02.542 --> 00:02:05.220 Your faith has saved you. 00:02:06.250 --> 00:02:08.406 The crowd gathered outside a 00:02:08.428 --> 00:02:10.722 dead girl's home is emotionally 00:02:10.786 --> 00:02:11.266 disturbed. 00:02:11.298 --> 00:02:12.114 They are creating 00:02:12.162 --> 00:02:13.442 quite a ruckus. 00:02:13.586 --> 00:02:15.382 Jesus tells them to go away 00:02:15.516 --> 00:02:16.850 because she is dead. 00:02:16.930 --> 00:02:18.118 She is not dead, 00:02:18.214 --> 00:02:19.702 but merely asleep. 00:02:19.766 --> 00:02:21.820 No need for mourners here. 00:02:22.350 --> 00:02:25.018 Their ridicule will not stop 00:02:25.104 --> 00:02:27.706 Jesus from doing what he does 00:02:27.888 --> 00:02:30.654 because he delights in life, 00:02:30.852 --> 00:02:32.350 not death. 00:02:32.930 --> 00:02:35.002 Jesus cannot help Himself 00:02:35.146 --> 00:02:37.562 but save His creation, 00:02:37.706 --> 00:02:39.934 taking this woman and this 00:02:39.972 --> 00:02:43.280 girl from death to life. 00:02:44.050 --> 00:02:45.822 And He does it all with a 00:02:45.876 --> 00:02:48.480 wonderfully physical touch. 00:02:49.250 --> 00:02:49.566 Now, 00:02:49.588 --> 00:02:50.922 there are times when Jesus 00:02:50.986 --> 00:02:52.830 brings life simply by speaking 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:53.822 the Word, his Word, 00:02:53.876 --> 00:02:55.475 bringing things into being. 00:02:55.475 --> 00:02:57.474 But here today, in Matthew, 00:02:57.522 --> 00:02:59.540 chapter nine, He delights to 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:02.094 touch His creation and 00:03:02.132 --> 00:03:03.214 make it whole. 00:03:03.412 --> 00:03:06.046 The woman touches the hem of 00:03:06.068 --> 00:03:08.750 Jesus's garment and she's saved. 00:03:09.410 --> 00:03:11.150 Jesus doesn't even speak 00:03:11.220 --> 00:03:12.638 a word to the girl, 00:03:12.804 --> 00:03:15.006 but takes her by the hand and 00:03:15.028 --> 00:03:17.310 she rises from the dead. 00:03:17.650 --> 00:03:20.446 Jesus touches the eyes of the 00:03:20.468 --> 00:03:21.806 blind men and their 00:03:21.828 --> 00:03:22.954 eyes are opened. 00:03:23.082 --> 00:03:25.254 Jesus delights in being that 00:03:25.292 --> 00:03:27.570 physical, that tactile, 00:03:27.730 --> 00:03:30.950 that in touch with his creation 00:03:31.290 --> 00:03:33.030 because he delighted to create 00:03:33.100 --> 00:03:35.046 us physically in the 00:03:35.067 --> 00:03:35.960 first place. 00:03:36.730 --> 00:03:38.742 When God went about creating 00:03:38.805 --> 00:03:39.370 everything, 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:41.514 He keeps looking at what He has 00:03:41.552 --> 00:03:43.946 made and we keep finding that He 00:03:43.968 --> 00:03:46.118 has the exact same verdict. 00:03:46.214 --> 00:03:47.994 He sees it and says that 00:03:48.031 --> 00:03:50.880 His creation is good. 00:03:51.410 --> 00:03:54.666 Jesus delights in these physical 00:03:54.778 --> 00:03:57.360 bodies that He has given us. 00:03:58.210 --> 00:04:01.293 But it is not good for His 00:04:01.332 --> 00:04:03.170 beloved creation to 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:05.197 suffer and die. 00:04:05.374 --> 00:04:07.598 He will not leave His creation 00:04:07.694 --> 00:04:09.262 fallen and broken. 00:04:09.406 --> 00:04:11.442 He will save His creation and 00:04:11.495 --> 00:04:14.034 make it whole because He 00:04:14.072 --> 00:04:16.293 delights in the physicality of 00:04:16.332 --> 00:04:19.909 His creation and so do those 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:22.520 who serve in His name. 00:04:23.850 --> 00:04:25.414 Among the great blessings of 00:04:25.452 --> 00:04:27.534 pastoral and diaconal ministry 00:04:27.602 --> 00:04:29.878 is the personal physical 00:04:29.974 --> 00:04:32.086 visitation of God's 00:04:32.118 --> 00:04:34.810 people. Make it your standard 00:04:34.960 --> 00:04:36.422 that for every minute 00:04:36.486 --> 00:04:37.740 you spend online, 00:04:38.110 --> 00:04:41.470 you spend an hour in physical, 00:04:41.970 --> 00:04:43.722 personal visitation 00:04:43.866 --> 00:04:45.034 of the saints. 00:04:45.162 --> 00:04:47.214 It will do wonders for your 00:04:47.252 --> 00:04:48.654 personal well being, 00:04:48.852 --> 00:04:51.433 it will bring great pastoral 00:04:51.482 --> 00:04:52.966 and diaconal fruit, 00:04:53.098 --> 00:04:54.830 and it will cultivate 00:04:54.990 --> 00:04:57.602 congregational health. Now, 00:04:57.656 --> 00:04:59.426 I have delighted in the 00:04:59.448 --> 00:05:01.426 visitation of all the saints who 00:05:01.448 --> 00:05:02.770 have been entrusted to my care 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:03.906 throughout the years, 00:05:04.087 --> 00:05:07.334 but I especially rejoice in my 00:05:07.372 --> 00:05:09.830 visits with Stephanie. Now, 00:05:09.900 --> 00:05:11.014 Stephanie is only three 00:05:11.052 --> 00:05:12.406 years older than me, 00:05:12.508 --> 00:05:14.178 and so when our visits 00:05:14.274 --> 00:05:15.126 would take place, 00:05:15.228 --> 00:05:16.946 we always had conversations 00:05:17.058 --> 00:05:19.286 about our shared generational 00:05:19.398 --> 00:05:20.454 experiences, 00:05:20.582 --> 00:05:22.758 both being Gen Xers. 00:05:22.933 --> 00:05:24.361 And I can always count on 00:05:24.416 --> 00:05:26.374 Stephanie to have some jokes 00:05:26.422 --> 00:05:28.330 to offer when I'm there. 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.942 The laughter that permeates our 00:05:30.996 --> 00:05:34.206 visits is uplifting because it 00:05:34.228 --> 00:05:36.800 is a celebration of life, 00:05:37.570 --> 00:05:40.254 even as Stephanie has spent her 00:05:40.292 --> 00:05:42.094 adult life watching her 00:05:42.132 --> 00:05:44.080 body shut down. 00:05:45.090 --> 00:05:47.214 She was only 16 years old when 00:05:47.252 --> 00:05:49.134 the first evidence was there, 00:05:49.172 --> 00:05:50.494 and it wouldn't be long before 00:05:50.532 --> 00:05:52.110 she was diagnosed with 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:53.850 Multiple Sclerosis. 00:05:54.010 --> 00:05:55.746 When I first became her pastor 00:05:55.778 --> 00:05:57.142 about twelve years ago, 00:05:57.276 --> 00:05:58.422 she would spend our 00:05:58.476 --> 00:05:59.169 visits sitting in a 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.210 specialized motorized 00:06:01.290 --> 00:06:02.154 wheelchair. 00:06:02.282 --> 00:06:04.240 But for the past five years, 00:06:04.690 --> 00:06:06.718 she's been stuck in bed, 00:06:06.884 --> 00:06:08.686 unable to move any part of 00:06:08.708 --> 00:06:11.390 her body below her neck. 00:06:11.970 --> 00:06:13.566 And though laughter is the 00:06:13.588 --> 00:06:15.322 norm for our visits, 00:06:15.466 --> 00:06:17.466 the conversation has turned 00:06:17.498 --> 00:06:19.242 rather serious on occasion, 00:06:19.306 --> 00:06:21.902 because both of us know that 00:06:21.956 --> 00:06:25.494 Jesus has come in the flesh to 00:06:25.532 --> 00:06:28.310 set free his creation from its 00:06:28.380 --> 00:06:30.822 bondage to decay. Now, 00:06:30.876 --> 00:06:33.494 what would I give for her 00:06:33.532 --> 00:06:35.574 just to touch the hem of my 00:06:35.612 --> 00:06:37.960 garment and she'd be made whole. 00:06:38.590 --> 00:06:41.562 How our laughter would ring out 00:06:41.616 --> 00:06:43.994 all the more uncontrollably if I 00:06:44.032 --> 00:06:46.314 could take her by the hand and 00:06:46.352 --> 00:06:49.260 she would rise out of that bed. 00:06:50.770 --> 00:06:53.022 And why not? After all, 00:06:53.076 --> 00:06:54.730 Jesus is certainly capable 00:06:54.810 --> 00:06:55.966 of doing that. 00:06:56.148 --> 00:06:57.658 And it's rather apparent 00:06:57.754 --> 00:06:59.774 he delights to do that. 00:06:59.892 --> 00:07:02.974 He longs to make his creation 00:07:03.022 --> 00:07:05.666 whole. So why not her? 00:07:05.768 --> 00:07:07.860 And why not now? 00:07:10.310 --> 00:07:11.361 I've not been given 00:07:11.416 --> 00:07:12.610 that authority. 00:07:13.030 --> 00:07:15.290 But when I was her pastor, 00:07:15.470 --> 00:07:17.813 I was given the authority to 00:07:17.852 --> 00:07:20.470 deliver Jesus to Stephanie 00:07:20.810 --> 00:07:24.390 physically so that she is saved. 00:07:25.130 --> 00:07:27.394 How can bodily eating and 00:07:27.452 --> 00:07:29.340 drinking do such great things? 00:07:30.110 --> 00:07:31.562 Because Christ says, 00:07:31.696 --> 00:07:35.370 here is His body and blood under 00:07:35.440 --> 00:07:37.130 bread and wine given to us 00:07:37.200 --> 00:07:39.850 tangibly physically. 00:07:40.590 --> 00:07:41.002 Now, 00:07:41.056 --> 00:07:42.086 along with the Lutheran 00:07:42.118 --> 00:07:42.694 confessions, 00:07:42.742 --> 00:07:46.746 we reject copernietic eating. 00:07:46.938 --> 00:07:49.402 We can't explain the mystery 00:07:49.546 --> 00:07:51.710 because Scripture does not 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:53.490 explain the mystery. 00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:57.570 But we do get to rejoice. 00:07:58.470 --> 00:08:01.298 Rejoice that just as Christ 00:08:01.384 --> 00:08:02.946 delighted to save the 00:08:02.968 --> 00:08:04.126 hemorrhaging woman, 00:08:04.238 --> 00:08:06.502 just as he delighted to 00:08:06.556 --> 00:08:08.054 raise the dead girl, 00:08:08.172 --> 00:08:09.957 just as he delighted to touch 00:08:10.044 --> 00:08:11.382 the blind men and 00:08:11.436 --> 00:08:12.789 give them sight, 00:08:13.450 --> 00:08:15.970 so He comes to us in physical 00:08:16.050 --> 00:08:17.474 means as well, 00:08:17.611 --> 00:08:20.506 so that our broken bodies are 00:08:20.528 --> 00:08:24.102 saved. Into our mouths 00:08:24.246 --> 00:08:26.922 He places His own body that 00:08:26.976 --> 00:08:28.422 suffered and died, 00:08:28.566 --> 00:08:30.446 but now is risen from the 00:08:30.467 --> 00:08:32.650 dead. Into our mouths 00:08:32.730 --> 00:08:34.713 He puts His own blood 00:08:34.842 --> 00:08:36.457 shed upon the cross. 00:08:36.554 --> 00:08:39.038 But now that is truly His life 00:08:39.124 --> 00:08:42.302 blood coursing forth with His 00:08:42.356 --> 00:08:43.933 life that we might have 00:08:43.972 --> 00:08:45.310 life everlasting. 00:08:45.650 --> 00:08:48.830 As we watch our bodies die, 00:08:49.569 --> 00:08:51.774 here is the certainty that what 00:08:51.812 --> 00:08:53.454 is true of Christ's body and 00:08:53.492 --> 00:08:57.240 blood is true for ours as well. 00:08:57.610 --> 00:08:59.460 We will pass with Christ 00:09:00.490 --> 00:09:02.462 through the grave to 00:09:02.516 --> 00:09:04.430 life everlasting. 00:09:05.810 --> 00:09:07.530 Jesus tells the woman, 00:09:07.690 --> 00:09:08.986 take heart, O daughter 00:09:09.018 --> 00:09:11.680 your faith has saved you. 00:09:12.210 --> 00:09:14.862 Faith takes hold of 00:09:14.916 --> 00:09:16.080 Jesus Christ. 00:09:17.330 --> 00:09:19.310 Jesus asked the blind man, 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:20.446 do you believe that 00:09:20.468 --> 00:09:21.600 I can do this? 00:09:22.130 --> 00:09:23.470 Yes, Lord. 00:09:24.130 --> 00:09:26.002 According to your faith, 00:09:26.146 --> 00:09:28.360 let it be done to you. 00:09:29.930 --> 00:09:33.766 And how about you? Do believe 00:09:33.948 --> 00:09:36.760 what Christ has said to you? 00:09:37.530 --> 00:09:38.914 Whoever has faith 00:09:38.962 --> 00:09:40.278 in these words, 00:09:40.444 --> 00:09:42.086 given and shed for you for 00:09:42.108 --> 00:09:43.298 the forgiveness of sins, 00:09:43.394 --> 00:09:46.440 has exactly what they say. 00:09:48.250 --> 00:09:51.194 The body and blood of our Lord 00:09:51.242 --> 00:09:52.590 and Savior, Jesus Christ, 00:09:52.660 --> 00:09:55.630 sustain you in body and faith 00:09:56.210 --> 00:09:58.974 until that day that he takes you 00:09:59.012 --> 00:10:01.882 by the hand so that you rise 00:10:02.026 --> 00:10:04.110 to life everlasting. 00:10:05.170 --> 00:10:05.610 Amen.