Two Reviews - Understanding Luther's Galatians and Walther, The American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies

Understanding Luther's Galatians can be found here on Amazon.

Top review from the United States

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent re-issue of Graebner's shorter translation of Luther's Commentary on Galatians

Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

This book is a re-issue of Dr. Theodore Graebner’s shorter translation of Martin Luther's “Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians.”

In his forward, Dr. Graebner expressed his reason for his translation of Martin Luther's work:

“The importance of this commentary on Galatians for the history of Protestantism is very great. It presents, like no other of Luther's writings, the central thought of Christianity, the justification of the sinner for the sake of Christ's merits alone.”

Dr. Gregory L. Jackson added an introduction along with comments, which he embedded within the text. He enclosed his comments within boxes, in order to separate them from Luther's words.

In his introduction, Dr. Jackson wrote that:

“By stealth, Lutherans have steadily eroded the Biblical doctrine of the Reformation (justification by faith alone), which established them as Evangelicals and Protestants, by now allowing others to use those names and surrendering to the worst inclinations of Calvinists, Pietists, and Roman Catholics. The uniting cause, to soothe every worldly conscience, is to declare that God in his grace has already declared the entire world absolved of all sins. … God declared the world righteous through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus…”.

Dr. Jackson quoted from the work of the 18th century theologian Georg Christian Knapp to show the false doctrine that flowed from universal absolution without regard to faith.

“This is conveniently expressed by the terms Objective and Subjective Justification. Objective Justification is the act of God by which he proffers pardon to all through Christ. Subjective Justification is the act of man by which he accepts the pardon freely offered in the Gospel.”

In a comment on page 56, Dr. Jackson succinctly elucidated the error of those who adhere to the doctrines of Objective and Subjective Justification:

“The false teachers reverse what Paul and Luther taught. The Objective Justification fanatics lay hold of universal forgiveness and make faith in Jesus irrelevant. Faith in Christ has nothing to do with their divine declaration of forgiveness. Secondly, their subjective justification is not faith in Christ, but rather trust in the truth of universal forgiveness.”

As a Lutheran layman, I know that the idea that God forgave the sins of every member of the human race upon the death or resurrection of Christ and this made them righteous is not what Paul taught. Rather, he taught that God declares a person righteous after God imputes the person's sins to Christ, and he imputes the merits of Christ’s sinless life and perfect obedience to the person. Faith is the means by which a person receives righteousness. Is righteousness simply the forgiving of sins, as the Objective justification proponents claim? No. Righteousness requires God to impute the sins of the sinner to Christ, and the merits of Christ's sinless life and perfect obedience to the sinner. Only after this double imputation is a sinner righteous in God's sight.

The idea that “we need to accept the pardon offered by God” is not found in Paul's teaching. It brings to mind the famous Arminian preacher Billy Graham and his call to “Make a decision for Christ.”

I would recommend this book to someone who wishes a read a condensed version of Luther's Commentary on Galatians. It is an excellent introduction for someone who is unfamiliar with the Apostle Paul's doctrine on justification by faith alone. Dr. Jackson's comments highlight key doctrinal points in the text. His comments also illustrate the degree to which the doctrines of present-day confessional Lutheran churches have diverged from the plain teachings of the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther.

Dr Jackson discusses the problems of present day Christian denominations on his internet blog. Google ichabodthegloryhasdeparted for the URL. He conducts a weekly traditional Lutheran worship service via the internet, the blog has a link to the broadcast site which also has archived broadcasts.

Bethany Lutheran Worship 

 Walther, the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies

Mic

5.0 out of 5 stars A shot across the bow

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021

This is an epiphany for lovers of alternative church history. The author connects the dots and reveals many inconvenient details that he deduced from his careful reading of contemporaneous sources. The ball is now in the court of his detractors. Will they respond?

I am not holding my breath.

Walther, the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies

I Will Be Writing the Book and Posting It. Friendly, Diplomatic, Sensitive Comments Are Welcome. Send Them by Email.

My graphics are temporary. I will open up plenty of space for Norma Boeckler's.
The book will be full color.

 The final title may vary from what I use on the blog.

 

 

 

Corrupted Scripture Texts and Dishonest Paraphrases:

The Attempted Murder of the KJV Bible

by

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson,

STM, Yale University; PhD Notre Dame

Illustrated by Norma A. Boeckler

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021

Public Doman – Non-Profit

 

Contents

Autobiographical Academic Introduction. 3

 

 

 

 

 

Autobiographical Academic Introduction

I grew up in the 1950s, in the center of the Corn and Bible Belt, when the King James Version of the Bible was going to be replaced by the Revised Standard Version. Early on I heard the RSV denied the Virgin Birth of Christ, but backpedaled after the blowback from most denominations was too heated. Little did we know that the RSV was a product of the Marxist National Council of Churches, whose maiden name was the Federal Council of Churches. The Federal Council was so obviously Marxist that they did what any good mainline ecumenical group would do, they changed only the name but kept the address, the funding, and the radical ideology.

Carrying a Greek textbook might have been garlic to some at Augustana College in the 1960s, but it attracted the notice of my future wife, Christina. Little did I know that only pre-theology students studied Greek. I got into the course as a freshman by mistake and carried the classic Paine New Testament Greek. For some reason I was fascinated with ancient history, especially Greece, even though two years of Latin did everything possible to exterminate my interest. Christina also took Greek, a year behind me, and I took German for two years. In seminary I took Hebrew for no credit (not required) and increased my Greek knowledge by writing out translations of John, Mark, Revelation, and Galatians.

In 1972-73, I had the chance to earn an STM at Yale, studying the Bible in Hebrew and Greek, under Nils A. Dahl, Robert Wilson, and Abraham Malherbe. Those were the best years of Biblical studies there, because all three emphasized the text of the Scriptures rather than the theories. That was a Brigadoon[1] experience, as a later graduate told me – the greats were soon retired and promoted to eternal life.

Paul L. Holmer taught philosophical theology.

Roland Bainton lectured in retirement and helped me with my dissertation. He wrote Here I Stand, A Life of Martin Luther and many other best-selling histories.

Sydney Ahlstrom finished his Religious History of the American People in 1972 and talked at member forums at Bethesda Lutheran Church, down the hill from the divinity school

George Lindbeck, the official observer from the Lutheran Church at Vatican II, came to the early morning service at Bethesda, where I was the regular liturgist.

Harvard Dean Krister Stendahl visited YDS and lectured, because his son was there. Mahlherbe, a Harvard PhD, refuted Stendahl’s lecture in a few minutes.

Church historian Jaroslav Pelikan came to the second service and spent time visiting with us at the coffee hour. I visited his father in the hospital in Cleveland.

            I was accepted at Notre Dame for their PhD program with a full tuition scholarship in 1975. We moved as close as possible, 50 miles away, and began regular commuting. I took apocalyptic literature in the Bible with Elisabeth Schuessler-Fiorenza and a theology seminar with her husband Frank Schuessler-Fiorenza. Notre Dame wanted both of them gone, which ended up with both enjoying endowed professorships at Harvard. Likewise, Augustana  College, where I met Mrs. Ichabod on the first day, did not renew Stanley Hauerwas, who moved to Notre Dame, served as one of my dissertation advisors, and became world famous. Notre Dame was far more liberal than Yale Divinity, so I had the opportunity to share my perspectives and provoke outraged responses. One Christian Brother said to his priest friend, holding him back, “Remember, we promised we would not argue with him again.” They were disgusted when grilling me about two topics from the book, A Study of Generations[2], which they had open:

1.      “Greg, Lutherans are supposed to be very conservative. Do you believe Jesus actually rose from the dead?” I said, “Yes, I do.”

2.      “What! Do you believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus as a real, historical fact?” I said,” Of course I do.”

One of them slammed the book shut and said, “There is no use talking to you, Jackson.” Later, they were openly dismayed that a famous visiting Roman Catholic theologian considered the New Testament to be historical rather than mythical.

            Just as the Revised Standard Version gradually displaced the KJV at first, the New International Version took over later. The Lutheran Church in America loved every translation except the KJV, a reminder of the Roman Empire accepting every god except the One, True God – Jesus, the Son of God. WELS shifted quickly from boasting about their love of the KJV to excommunicating pastors who did not fall for the NIV sales campaign.

            One member of Trinity in Bridgeton, Missouri, asked me, “Why do you quote the NIV in your articles?” I said, “That is my only Biblical program.” He said, “Would you use the KJV if I had one for you?” I was happy to make the change, because the predatory attitude of modern translations meant I had restrictions or costs involved in quoting their precious wording too much or too often. Various people pointed out the value of the precise language of the KJV as new paraphrases began diluting and harming the text with a combination of text corruption, dogmatic insertions, and leaden prose.

            Some of the tiny Lutheran sects like the New KJV, but I noticed when reading from two different NKJV Bibles the same Sunday that it was constantly changing, just like the NIV, whose betrayed of translation was fully revealed in the latest version.

 

 

 

---

[1]

[2] Ralph Underwager wrote a study of Lutherans and their beliefs, which was funded by an insurance company. That book has disappeared from the Net.

For the Birds - And Squirrels

I abandoned traditional bird-feeders for the garbage barrels, which do not store up food debris and clean themselves with rain, snow, and sleet. They are designed to draw away the rain, so food remains relatively dry.

Our latest rain was three inches overnight, which made moving around the backyard a chore, with ankle deep mud soft and squishy, easy to bring in, difficult to wash away.

I ring the chimes given by PFC after feeding and watch the results. The squirrels like to climb down the trees and stop to look around at various high points. They are the first to arrive, but Starlings swoop in to drive them away. Then I have three birds on each barrel, only to fly away when the squirrel effortlessly jumps up to end their breakfast. Soon after a Starling will dive-bomb the squirrel away again.

When the drive-by snack center is less busy, Cardinals and Blue Jays feed. Chickadees show up for uncooked, shelled peanuts. 

The better bird and squirrel treats include nuts, sunflower seeds, and fruit. They attract the most colorful variety. Squirrel food - corn kernels and nuts - are almost as attractive. One bag is shelled peanuts, so I mix the offerings during the day.

Ranger Bob always checks the front bird bath. If it is low, he points at it and orders, "Fill that and don't forget to clean it first." He scoffs at the kiddie pools in the backyard, but they get plenty of traffic and measure the rain for me. He gave us a rain gauge so small that I offered to save it for when we move to the desert. We have had many 3 to 6 inch rainfalls. 

I have to watch how I toss away bread products. Sassy searches for them and looks at me as if I have stolen her food. The first time was in Bella Vista when I tossed some restaurant rolls into the front yard. She barked to go outside, at the front door, which we never used. She brought in her finds and looked at me with disgust and sadness.

Sassy remains a champ at issuing orders. At McDonalds, my request for a small plain burger for her sounds like this, "I bark bark would also bark like bark bark bark a small plain hamburger. Bark! Bark!" She is just as insistent at the bank, where we use the drive through all the time. She gets restless as we drive in. I deposit a check and withdraw one doggie treat, in the midst of a chorus of barks. The teller looks down at her and smiles. 

Stealth message to Patriots

Are We Watching a Movie? What Is Happening in America?

A two-dog selfie - they belong to two parties but look and act alike.

Someone said that events make it seem as if we are watching a movie, where many are playing a part.

A retired ELCA/Seminex pastor wrote to declare the election is over and done. However, everything since Election Day has been a slow moving tragedy or comedy, depending on one's view point. Harris is not a natural born citizen, but no elected official or media mockingbird mentioned this. She was an anchor-baby born in America of non-citizens.

Strangely, her husband announced at one (on video, to supporters) that he was married to the next president. How could Harris be president just by being a vice-president? There must be some interlude, I suspect, such as Section 25. 

Biden seem intent on alienating everyone he expect to back him.

Trump is unusually calm and relaxed.

I am not going to speculate how and when, but I remain confident that the actual vote (before midnight, the legal deadline) will prevail. However, there could be a new election, given the scope of manipulation. As someone wrote, let's not assume only one part manipulates the vote.

 Election Day final results will vary.

But It Was Only Rain

Walther, the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies

 

We knew it would rain last night, after a little bit on Sunday. We did not expect an artillery duel directly over our house. The noise was spectacular, but it was only rain. The worst thing was going back to sleep only to hear a new series of crashes and booms. 

These exceptional rains have everyone calculating how many feet of snow would have buried NW Arkansas, an area where a little snow seems catastrophic.

Who needs an alarm clock with giant storm system moving overhead? 

I got up to brew some Ethiopian coffee, pour-over, no additions whether natural or unnatural. The next step was inviting seminary libraries to include Walther, The American Luther: A Synod Built on Felonies, by sending free review and library copies.

All the ELCA seminaries are cratering (Chicago, United 😖, Luther in St. Paul, Wartburg in Iowa) or post-apocalypse (Trinity in Ohio, Southern, Pacific). Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago lists their enrollment, as of 2010, no doubt waiting in vain for an upturn. I have visited all the ELCA seminaries, primarily for research, minus Wartburg and Pacific.

Passavant was dedicated to sound Lutheran doctrine, Lutheran education,
and serving people's needs.

A free PDF is available at Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry.

I chose LSTC for the review - or library - or circular file copies. LSTC represents all that is foolish and expensive in education. Chicago had a good start with Passavant land and guidance. The Illinois leaders refused to buy land in Chicago, so Passavant bought it, held it, and sold it to the Illinois leadership when they realized the need. The Cubs needed a stadium, so the seminary moved to Maywood, where the faculty still had to sign a statement saying they agreed with the Book of Concord. That Passavant requirement evaporated with the LSTC merger. 

LSTC gathered a number of seminaries together, reducing loyalty and increasing faculty friction. I counted seven in all, but I could be off by one or two. 

The ELCA seminaries are primarily outlets for Left-wing activism, virtue signaling, and new adventures in marriage. 

Seminarians have traditionally been known to read a lot, or at least to own a lot of books. 

The chances are greater that they will read Walther, the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies.

LSTC should be thankful I was not in the audience when they dedicated their compost tumbler at a chapel service. Would you appreciate that filled with scraps and and tumbled with pious earth-first energy, a few doors from your apartment?

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany 2021.

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

Epiphany 3, 2021 service, sermon, and hymns

The Hymn #44     Ye Lands  - Koren (ELS)

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
  

The Sermon Hymn #381    I Know My Faith Is Founded  

Examples of Faith and God's Word

The Hymn # 264        Preserve Thy Word 
 

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #45     Now the Hour of Worship      

     

Prayers and Announcements

• January 27th is the anniversary of Gary and Alicia Meyer.
• Pastor Jordan Palangyos agreed that he would not solicit gifts from individuals but only work through the congregation.
• Walther, the American Calvin is arriving at homes now. Understanding Luther's Galatians will be used for the Lenten sermons and the study materials, d.v., written out. Email for a free copy if you need one. Three recently were ordered. greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com
• In treatment - Rush Limbaugh, Mary Howell, Christina Jackson. Christina's consultation went very well. 
• Doctor's care - Pastor Shrader, Pastor K, Dr. Lito Cruz, Mrs. J. Deere, and a dear friend with lung/heart issues.
• Our elected President and his supporters, our military justice system.

  Graphic by Norma A. Boeckler

            

KJV Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

KJV Matthew 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Third Sunday After Epiphany

O almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all dangers and necessities stretch forth Thy mighty hand, to defend us against our enemies; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

This mint is called Bee Balm for some reason.

Examples of Faith and God's Word

Background

The first Biblical concept to notice in these miracles is the clarity, power, and efficacy of the Word of God. This is not denominational, but Biblical. Unfortunately, many denominations simply ignore this basic concept. Their influence is seen in the absences of teaching this Biblical concept in Lutheran groups. For example, I urged the Church of the Lutheran Confession to emphasize the Means of Grace, so someone else was assigned the paper. The pastor wrote to me, "Help, How do I write this paper?" I sent him an outline and the passages to build upon. His essay was clear and to the point. Afterwards he wrote, "I never heard of this in seminary." I guessed as much, because the Synodical Conference tradition is to teach itself as the Gospel, emphasizing the unique purity of that sect - highlighted by the darkness of the other sects in the same corner of the world.

How little people pay attention to Genesis 1! which is beyond question the foundation of everything afterwards and re-emphasized in John 1. Simply put -

Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

When God spoke, through the Logos (the Word, the Son of God) light was created. Note that when I published Thy Strong Word, the buzzing bees at LutherQuest (sic) made fun of the title. The pan-Lutheran journal Logia, refused to publish paid ads for Thy Strong Word. One can safely say that Lutherdom today is either immune or allergic to the power and efficacy of the Word.

The Old Testament is not immune or allergic to the Word, because God's will and God's Word are always the same. One is expressed or the other, but the effect is the same. When God commands, His will is carried out exactly as it is declared. We tend to think that way, if we shut out modern improvements on the Bible - marketing, entertainment, and felt needs. If we filter the Word of God through those diversions, we will necessarily edit away the truth of the Scriptures.

The topic of efficacy in the Bible can be explored in chapter two of Thy Strong Word or by reading this very long efficacy post on the blog.

Where the teaching of the Bible is clear, those who believe take the proclamation seriously and act accordingly. No one has the right or license to teach other than the Word of God. Disturbances will come because the Old Adam resists and rejects the power of the Word.

For example, one couple was deeply disturbed from visiting my church in Midland. How could I forgive their sins? Who was I to say that? They could not grasp that the Word of God expressed by a minister or layman has the same effect as Jesus saying those words. 

We have a stream of information aimed at us that expressly attacks - or ignores - the Word of God in Creation. Every single thing I do in the garden is directly related to God's Creation organized to work every element together. I study authors who specialize in soil improvement, pest reduction, and plant disease. They are loathe to admit it in their books, but the best ones lay out everything in terms of Creation without saying it. 

I appreciate one person's analogy to software, because I do some very basic HTML every day to fix things on the blog. My commands tell the browser what to express in terms of space, font size, font type, graphics, and video. The commands continue to work for years until the company changes things around. Every living thing has built-in software that organizes its entire. Even the most humble plants have complexes that move water, create food, and initiate plant growth. And their software works in harmony with thousands of others - clover for bees, bees for pollination, dandelion fuzz for hummingbird nests, hummingbirds for pollination, etc.

When my Old Testament class discusses the Ten Commandments, I borrow Luther's phrase - "God commands what is good for us." They were thing Law, sin, punishment, be good. I try to convey, "God is not detention but our wise and kindly Teacher."

KJV Matthew 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Lenski Matthew, p. 318.

2) And lo, a leper, having come forward, was prostrating himself before him saying, Lord, if thou wilt thou canst cleanse me. The fact that a leper should do such a thing as this is truly astonishing; hence the exclamation “10." Luke 5:12 records that when he saw Jesus he fell upon his face, and Matthew adds that he came to Jesus and prostrated himself. The question is raised whether this act of prostration and the address, Kyrie, “Lord,” denote more than reverence before a great human helper.

Matthew 5 - 7 is the Sermon on the Mount. A leper was filled with faith in his heart, so he managed to get close to the Savior. Doubtless the crowd parted to give themselves room. One can get the same reaction today by not wearing a mask. The best way to get through any crowd is to have a child cover his mouth  and be "sick to his stomach." The densest group will part faster than the Red Sea.

We know the leper had faith in Jesus, because he worshiped the Lord. He set aside his human reason, which says inwardly, "He is too busy and you are not worthy." His request is pure faith in the way he said, "If you will..." There is no doubt in his mind or soul that Jesus can cleanse him from leprosy. If Jesus wills, it will be accomplished by the Word of God.

Luther:

2. Here behold the attitude of faith toward Christ: it sets before itself absolutely nothing but the pure goodness and free grace of Christ, without seeking and bringing any merit. For here it certainly cannot be said, that the leper merited by his purity to approach Christ, to speak to him and to invoke his help. Nay, just because he feels his impurity and unworthiness, he approaches all the more and looks only upon the goodness of Christ. This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God. The heart that does this, has true faith; the heart that does it not, has not true faith; as they do who keep not the goodness of God and that alone in sight, but first look around for their own good works, in order to be worthy of God’s grace and to merit it. These never become bold to call upon God earnestly or to draw near to him.

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

This healing, so full of compassion, also gave the audience from the Sermon on the Mount a chance to experience the power of the Word in teaching and in performing miracles which no human being could equal. Jesus was always moving about, so He was scattering the living seed of the Word in two ways - first by His teaching and miracles, second by His effect on others who were urged to show the miracle. The cured leper would have a dramatic effect on 

In some cases Jesus asked the beneficiaries not to tell anyone (invented as the Messianic Secret by modern rationalists). When studying the text closely, it is easy to see that overwhelming receptions bogged down the teaching and also threatened to undo the calendar of events for the public ministry, when they wanted to make Jesus the King or to stone Him to death. This way, as Lenski observed, the man would show himself to the priest, present his gift to the Temple, and then tell the priest that Jesus cured him of leprosy.

Lenski, p. 322

The haste and the stern orders with which Jesus sends the man away have only one explanation: the news of how this man was healed is not to reach the priests in Jerusalem until in all due legal form they have pronounced him clean of leprosy. The priest to whom he will present himself is not to know the man’s story until afterward.

The modern rationalists like to create a big cloud of dust to obscure what really happens in the text. They often do this by ridiculing or simply amused by traditional understanding. If we are to assume, with the skeptics, that Jesus never even thought of Himself as the Messiah, then why did His teaching and miracles energize the entire population with anticipation and fear? Why did He send out believers to witness to Him at the Temple? 

We must bury this lesson and forget that the steady stream of miracles, including raising people from the dead, had no effect on the fears of the Temple and Palace. They executed someone who had no effect on them! - not a bit likely.

The leprosy healing - not the only one - taught them the power of Jesus' Word. "Be cleansed!" and the poor leper was cleansed and given back his health and strength.

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

Luke 7 explained that representatives contacted Jesus - "And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant." (He loves us and built a synagogue for us.)

The centurion was a powerful figure in the Roman Army. He was in charge of 100 or so highly trained professional soldiers, who were bound to obey his orders. A decimate order would allow a group to kill 10% of their fellow soldiers for being slack. His word was life or death, and he was highly respected wherever he went.

The centurion sent a message, possibly because they were natural - belonging to Jesus' religion, or because he was watching over the health of the servant.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

In another healing, Jesus declared the sick child healed from a considerable distance. In this one, He offered to visit the deathly ill servant. The difference here is clear to see - Jewish leaders were there to take the centurion's response and to hear Jesus answer it. The centurion was admired for his status, but he was a pagan. Representing the power of Imperial Rome, he said he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his house. He only needed Jesus to send out a divine command for his servant to be healed.

This comparison is familiar in Judaism, from the lesser to the greater. If a centurion can make someone do this or that, or his servant obey an order, surely the Savior can express His power over death at a distance.

Some Lutheran clergy remain in a state of opposition against any Holy Communion being celebrated at a distance from the pastor's location. They believe the consecrating Word is effective only at a short distance, more like a walkie-talkie. Apparently they are unaware of this healing miracle at a distance.

So not only is the request accompanied by great faith, it is also delivered in the style and majesty of an officer, one used to commanding others. I have taught many officers working toward their college degrees, some with 20 years of service. The centurion sounds just like a Marine officer at the Yuma Proving Grounds. When I called the Jarheads, a term they enjoyed, the snowflakes expressed outrage about my insensitivity. The rest of the class laughed with me.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Jesus' response to this witness was - awe. While others sought to be near Him or have Him come closer for a miracle, this pagan trusted in the power and efficacy of the Word - the Command - at a great distance - to heal his servant. Moreover, the Jewish synagogue counsel members heard this directly from Jesus, which must have been a tremendous lesson by itself.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Jesus also issue a blessing and a warning together. Many from all over the world would be in heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The emphasis is on Abraham and Justification by Faith rather than Moses and the Law. The Gospel would spread first through Jewish apostles and then through the Gentiles. The prophets predicted that Gentiles - pagans - would be converted, as our ancestors (with at least one exception) were. 

Romans 15 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The glory of the Gospel is that Jewish people first believed and spread the Truth to the nations of the earth. And this continues to our day, with Gentiles teaching the Gospel Word to Jewish people, Jewish people showing Christians the foundation of the New Testament in the Old Testament Gospel.

Efficacy for Us

The power and efficacy of the Word means that when the forgiveness of sin is announced, it is true for all who believe Christ the Son of God died on the cross for their sins and rose from the grave to lead us to eternal life. True, the Holy Spirit grants forgiveness daily to all believers, but the act of pronouncing forgiveness enforces that in our lives.

As always, what we do in worship is receive from God. He gives His gracious love to us in forgiveness, and that has a greater impact when we separate ourselves from the worries of the day and concentrate on the Promises and Blessings of God.

We have the Gospel in the worship service and hymns, in the sermon, and individually in Holy Communion. Why do nominal Lutherans act shocked that we would gather through the Internet to celebrate individual Justification by Faith when they cluster around their computers to teach against it and embrace Calvinism?

The efficacy of the Word also comes from those who use it, such as in prayer. If it belongs to God, then it has God's power through the Holy Spirit. We not only pray for daily bread - the ordinary things that make life enjoyable - but also pray that we be thankful for these God-given blessings. 

Luther, in his sermon on this passage, also preached about infant baptism. Is it not a great blessing to know God has placed His seal upon us and upon the tiniest child, including us in His Kingdom? That is the spiritual gyroscope that guides us toward the Word and away from evil all our lives.

The centurion should teach us all, as he did that day. If a human command - at a distance - is effective and obeyed without hesitation, how much greater is God's Word?