Luke 2 21 Notes

Christmas: What's the Rush?

| The end of every calendar year is filled with the festivities of Christmas: Decorations, parties, gifts. But in reality there are two Christmas observances: The world's and the Church's.The world's Christmas begins with the first appearance of Santa sometime in November, accelerates through a hectic December, builds to Christmas Eve, culminates in a Christmas Day feast, and is neatly cleaned up, boxed and put away within a day or two. All of this haste is necessary, for in less than a week the world must be ready for yet another event in this hurried winter season: New Year's Day. The Church's Christmas, however, is far different. It begins on Christmas Eve after a lengthy period of preparation called Advent. Christmas Day is not primarily about presents and feasting, but focuses on the miracle of the incarnation-God becoming flesh. The Church's Christmas doesn't end there, but continues for twelve days to the Epiphany of Our Lord on January 6. There is no frenzied rush in the Church's celebration. In fact, the week following Christmas is filled with special observances that help bring the meaning of Christmas into focus. The three days following Christmas, for example, are reserved for these commemorations:* St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr

St. John, the fourth evangelist
the Holy Innocents, the little boys in Bethlehem whom Herod unjustly put to death

Commemorations such as these help provide a proper perspective on the true meaning of Christmas. There is another commemoration that occurs within the twelve days of Christmas. On the eighth day-January 1-the Church revels once again in the mystery of the birth of our God and Lord. Using the appointed readings, prayers and chants, we get the first real glimpse of the depth of that mystery and the purpose for Christ's coming. While the world might try to connect Christmas and New Year's by saying that with a birth comes hope for the future, the Church has a far different focus. Our celebration is the Feast of Our Lord's Circumcision. The Christian theme for this day is rich in biblical story. Circumcision-the sign of God's promise to Abraham concealed in the symbol of death (the cutting of flesh). Circumcision-the life blood poured out in a seemingly unnecessary surgical procedure. Yet there is nothing unnecessary about this important day in the life of the infant Jesus. The significance of His circumcision is well-captured in the following hymn: O blessed day when first was poured
the blood of our redeeming Lord!
O blessed day when Christ began
His saving work for sinful man!
(TLH 115, st. 1; it can be sung to the tune of "From Heaven Above," TLH 85; LW 37.) The brief Gospel reading for the day (Luke 2:21) tells us not only of our Lord's circumcision. It also says that He was named with the God-given name. This naming gives us the second focus for this festival, and continues where the Christmas Gospel (John 1:1-14) left off. In the naming of Christ we find the naming of us as Christians. He was born and named "the One who saves" (Jesus) so that all who believe on His name might be saved by being born of God (John 1:12-13). Blood poured and a name given. For us, they both have their connection, their application, and the day to day living in Holy Baptism. It is there that we are named with the Triune name and there that the shed blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). It is, then, our birth and life in our Lord due to His bloodshed that we celebrate and for which we give thanks precisely one week after He was born of the virgin Mary. Lord, circumcise our heart, we pray,
and take what is not Thine away.
Write Thine own name upon our hearts,
Thy Law within our inward parts.
(TLH 115, st. 5) |

<<Jesus' Name and His Supper>>

Ask the Pastor

Rev. Walter Snyder

Did everyone have a good Christmas? I certainly hope so.

I'm one of those fortunate enough to have Christmas continue.

My dad and youngest brother are coming in later today, Lord

willing, and we'll let the celebration continue. Actually,

Christmas continues every day, anyhow, as far as I'm concerned,

for each day the Father continues to send his Son to us.

It's been a slow week for questions, what with shopping

and eating and going to church and all, so we'll take a quick

side trip to the Church calendar before looking at the week's

only question. Tomorrow is, of course, New Year's Day. It's

also the Church holiday commemorating the Circumcision and Name

of Jesus. Some churches celebrate one or the other of these,

some both, and some neither.

The date is chosen because it is the eighth day of Christmas,

and Old Testament Law required the circumcision of all males in

order to bring them into the covenant. Normally, this was done

on the eighth day. Since the date of Christmas has been

arbitrarily set, the date of His circumcision is based on the same

figuring. Remembering this day reminds us that Christ fulfilled

all the Law, even that specific only to Israel. As far as we know,

it's the first time He felt pain on our behalf, the first blood

He shed.

The Name of Jesus is also important. As the angel told

Joseph, "You shall call Him Jesus, for He will save His people

from their sins." The name means, "He saves." So as you plan

your new year and make resolutions, remember the One who resolved

to set you free from your sins and give thanks that He came to

fulfill the Law for us who couldn't and who has, indeed, saved us.

Q: The churches I've known most about normally allow most

anyone to take communion. I went to one where only people who

belonged to that church or who talked to the minister were allowed.

Why?

A: If you've been following this column, you've discovered

differences among various church bodies in their practice of

Baptism and in other areas. We've seen that these differences

usually come from interpretation of Scripture. So it is with

Communion.

Some treat Communion as strictly a memorial meal. They will

focus on Jesus' words, "Do this in remembrance of Me." The Supper

instituted by the Savior is considered to be an act of worship or

response. In many of these churches, anyone who desires to respond

is allowed to do so. If any guests at least, any baptized Christians

are present in church, they are automatically included in

participation. Overall, the Supper is considered to be something

which encourages Christian unity.

Other churches concentrate especially on Jesus' words, "This is

My body...this is my blood." They consider the Lord's Supper to be

done in remembrance, but the emphasis is that Holy Communion is a

gift of Christ to His Church. In various interpretations, these

churches generally teach that the body and blood of Christ are

actually present in the Supper. Some attempt in greater degree to

explain this, others merely accept the words of Christ at face value

and allow Him to make Himself present as He will. Reading the

warnings against communing without discerning the body and blood

of Christ, and the commands for self-examination, these churches have

some form of instruction before admission to the altar. For these

bodies, the Supper is not seen as a means of increasing unity, but

its final earthly expression.

Sadly, the exclusion sometimes is done in a seemingly loveless

manner, even if the reason lies in concern for the spiritual well-

being of others. These churches treat seriously passages like

"Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy

manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the

Lord." Their concern is that no one who eating and drinking the body

and the blood of the Lord "eats and drinks judgment on himself."

(Quotes are from 1 Corinthians 11.) Hopefully, churches practicing

instruction, teaching the need for understanding of the Lord's Supper

(see 1 Cor. 10 and 11) and for unity in belief before Communion

(Acts 2:42; Romans 16:17) will carefully and lovingly explain their

positions.

That's it for now. Next week, I'll be writing from my new home--

I sincerely hope and pray! Until then, God bless you. Should you

wish to "Ask the Pastor," write P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951,

e-mail xrysostom@aol.com, or stop me on the street to chat.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Jasper

and Faith Lutheran Church, Woodville and coauthor of the book "What

Do Lutherans Believe."

Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any

means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of

copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is

realized.

"Solace and Revival Sermon"

by The Late Pastor Fr. Wyneken

Based on Luke 2:21

Presented January 1, 1868

St. Louis, Mo: "Lutheran Concordia", 1868

Dedicated with affection and esteem to Pastor Th. Brohm (currently

in Watertown, Wisc.) long-time, loyal friend of the late composer of

this sermon by the latter's son, H. Wyneken

+ Jesus! +

Text: Luke 2:21

"Eight days later the time came to circumcise him, and He was given

the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived."

Beloved in Christ:

By the grace of God we are starting a new year today. Where would many a one

of us be if Christ had not prayed for us: "Lord, leave it this one year while

I dig round it and fertilize it" when God, the owner of the vineyard said in

the parable of the fig tree: "See, all these years I have come to collect

fruit on this tree and there is none. Therefore cut it down, why should it go

on using up the soil?" -- He must see to it therefore that he not trifle away

this period of grace, for the prayer says: "Lord, leave it this one year while

I dig round it and fertilize it. And if it bears next season, well and good;

if not, you shall have it down." For each and every guidance by God during the

past year, regardless of how different, joyful or sorrowful, was for only the

one purpose for each and everyone of us--whether by his chastising and taking

away or by his forbearance and giving--that we produce fruit for eternal life

in Jesus Christ. Those now in whom the Lord has reached this goal, where they

have converted to Jesus Christ, or, if they already were Christians they

faithfully gave themselves under the reign of the Holy Spirit in love and good

works, these have spent the past year aright and have obtained the everlasting

price (while they remain otherwise faithful). It matters not that during the

past year they might have suffered loss of property, health, relatives or

friends. However, whosoever has spent last year without coming to repentance

and faith in Christ--or has not grown in faith--his life was once again empty

and without gain even though he might have greatly increased his goods, honor,

and well-being. Instead of taking great care in saving his soul, he only

increased the amount of sins and God's wrath on the day of revelation and

divine judgment. For all of God's discipline--in mercy and seriousness, and

all His ways lead to Christ, that through Him and in Him we gain forgiveness

of sin and eternal life. Not for nothing did God arrange it that the world's

celebration of the new year coincides with the church's celebration of the

Lord's name-day and the day of His circumcision. Therefore, on this first day

of the new year, together with the Holy Spirit let us:

I. consider the meaning of Christ's circumcision and the name Jesus,

II. consider how these apply to us at the beginning of the new year.

I. Beloved, you know that God first instituted circumcision . . . . with

Abraham, as the sign of a covenant and a seal for him and his descendants. For

God had made a covenant with Abraham, as you can read in many places in the

Book of Genesis. Great and mighty things were promised to him and his seed,

among which the main promises were:

1. Through Abraham would come the woman's seed promised in Paradise,

who would crush the serpent's head, and, as was specifically promised

to Abraham, by whom all mankind would be blessed.

2. That He would be the God of Abraham and his descendants.

The descendants of Abraham, however, were partly physical, that is his

descendants through Isaac, and partly spiritual: those in the faith of

Abraham. They were to carry this sign of the covenant and seal on their bodies

to remind them at all times that they had a merciful God who would aid them in

all their timely troubles, save, protect and guard them, and richly bless

them. Yea, he would even deliver them from all sin, from death and judgment

and give them eternal life. At the same time circumcision was to remind them

that all of mankind was conceived and born in sin, and that this inherited

(original) sin is upon all people. They were to be constantly aware of the

abomination of sin, especially of original sin, so that they would live their

lives in continual repentance and humility before God. They were to recognize

everything God did for them, be it worldly or spiritual blessings, not as

deserving but as a gift of mercy, and they were to be ever mindful to

circumcise the foreskin of their hearts so that with God's mercy they could

live before Him in a chaste, righteous and God-pleasing manner.

However, Christ's circumcision has a totally different meaning. He was not in

need of this sign of a covenant and a seal. He was the Son of the Most High.

He himself was righteousness and not conceived and born in sin as other men.

He was our equal in everything, except He was without sin. He suffered

circumcision in part to demonstrate that He was true man of the seed of

Abraham though God in the highest, praised in eternity. He wanted to give us

an example how one is to lovingly be under all physical ceremonies, laws and

orders even if not compelled by the Law. However, the fourth chapter of Paul's

letter to the Galatians lists the main reason (vss. 4 and 5):

"When the term was completed, God sent his own son, born of a woman,

under the Law, to purchase freedom for the subjects of the Law, in

order that we might attain the status of sons."

To be under the Law means: To be subject to the right of the Law. For the one

who is subject to it, the right of the Law means that he is obligated to obey

the Law, and all those who violate the Law will be condemned to punishment.

And it is thus concerning God's Law. He demands strict obedience and curses

and condemns those who violate it.

Yet even the most saintly does not fulfill the Law, neither is he able to do

so. Though there have been many who lived devout and saintly lives, never has

there been one on earth and there never will be one who fulfilled the Law,

except Christ. For the Law is spiritual and it demands not only holy works,

but first of all a thoroughly pure and holy person. We, however, even though

we are believers, are by nature sinners and are under the dominion of sin.

Therefore, according to the right of the Law, we are condemned and given over

to the suffering of eternal condemnation.

Now, beloved, what can be more burdensome than this yoke and the burden of

this Law: having to do what one does not want to do, and then having to face

eternal punishment and suffering! Everyone senses this, though he may not

thoroughly understand the basis for his feelings. That is the blight which

befalls his life-blooms; it is the bitter yeast which has settled at the

bottom of every cup of bliss, making his entire life bitter. What is Christ

doing here, though he is lord of the Law he submits freely to circumcision?

St. Paul says in Gal. 5:3: ". . . you can take it from me that every man who

receives circumcision is under obligation to keep the entire Law."

Therefore Christ's circumcision means for us that he submitted to the right of

the Law; meaning: he has taken on the obligation to keep the entire Law for

us, to fulfill it in the most perfect loving obedience, and to receive for us

the wages of sin--that is death and condemnation--in short, all the suffering

and pain which the Law had appointed for all time and eternity on the sinner

and the violator of the Law. These drops of blood, shed by the baby Jesus

during his circumcision, are like a down-payment--a guarantee given for us in

God's judgment. He is taking it upon himself to pay the entire debt for us and

do everything on our behalf in order to establish a right peace between us and

God and His Law.

On the cross, in death, this act was completed. There He gave his life as

payment for the sins of the lost children of Adam. With His precious blood He

paid the entire redemption and bought them from the condemnation of the Law,

so that the Law no longer can demand complete obedience or face eternal death!

Thus they have been redeemed from sin, death and Satan. There God's Law has

been completely fulfilled, so that now he is a reconciled father who forgives

us our sins for Christ's sake. He takes us back as His children, wants to give

us life and eternal life, for which he prepares through the Holy Spirit, so

that we can be righteous and holy before God.

See now, that is the significance of Christ's circumcision. You must agree

that it is of the highest importance for a lost sinner. For thus is taken from

your shoulders the terrible yoke and horrible burden of the Law and its

impossible demands, and the dreadful curses. They are laid upon this dear

little child who made the first payment with his drops of blood, taking it

upon himself to pay your entire, large, large, debt, so that you can go free.

In addition, by this down payment and guarantee he has obtained forgiveness of

sin and eternal life for you.

And now let us examine what meaning the name Jesus has for us. When the angel

made the annunciation to Mary he already told her that the child to be born

was to be named Jesus. Later an angel appeared to Joseph while he slept and

instructed him to take Mary unto himself and that the child within her, which

was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was to be named Jesus, for He would free his

people from their sins. At the time of circumcision, then, when He began His

work of redemption and salvation, He publicly received this name.

This name is to remind you, then, that you have a Savior and Redeemer, given

you by God Himself, one who loves you and has taken your sins and your

condemnation upon Himself, in order to redeem you from your sins and give you

eternal life. Whosoever has been freed from his sins has also been freed from

the wages of sin and punishment. Wages of sin and punishment is the wrath of

God, followed by all physical troubles and suffering, war, pestilence, famine,

poverty, shame, disease and death, and finally eternal damnation and eternal

suffering in hell. These are the wages of sin. Therefore, as Jesus is

delivering us from the wages of sin He is also delivering us from the wrath of

God.

He reconciles us with God, upholding us and keeping us safe from all evil, all

dangers and sufferings. He uses these so that they turn out to be good for us,

finally redeeming us completely, yea, He leads us through death into eternal

life and everlasting bliss. -- See now, all this is contained in this name

Jesus and given to you. Therefore, if you believe in this name and call on

Him, not considering your own works and merits as your Savior, then you are

redeemed from your sins and the wages of sin, then you are righteous and

saved, a child and heir of all of God's promises.

However, no one can be saved if he cannot be certain of this salvation. For

where there is uncertainty there is also doubt, there temptation cannot be

resisted--especially concerning the cross--there will be doubt. Therefore your

conscience must be sure of forgiveness of sin and salvation. This would be

impossible if our salvation were depending on our own works and deeds, or if

Christ were to save us in light of our own merits and works. In that case

Christ would be no different from Moses, the Gospel would only be Law. That

would turn the Savior into a judge, and the Redeemer into the executioner.

But, praise be to God! Our redemption is based on His works which started with

His birth, freely submitting to circumcision Where He solemnly made a pledge

to God which He gloriously fulfilled on the cross. For that He was born,

circumcised, crucified, died, buried; for that He descended victoriously into

hell, where He imprisoned the prison. For that he triumphantly arose, ascended

to heaven, sitting on the right hand of God from where He will return to judge

the living and the dead.

With this judgment He will complete His work. Jesus is the end of the Law, he

who believes in Him is righteous, and whosoever calls on His name will be

saved. This name contains all your salvation, the peace of your conscience,

the joy of your heart, the hope for life, the victory over death; in short,

all of life and salvation, God and Heaven, all this is contained in the name

Jesus. The name of Jesus embraces the unfathomable depth of mercy and the love

of God towards the lost world of sinners. Jesus is our God and Lord.

II. How then are we to apply . . . .

what we have heard to the beginning of the new year?-- Beloved, once again we

are standing at the threshold of a new year. It is quite natural to think and

wonder: what shall it bring? No one can give an answer, God alone knows.

Therefore, if we ask: how will I be doing in my office or vocation? The answer

will have to be: God knows. If we ask: what good or bad luck will befall me?

The answer again is: God knows. If we ask: shall I survive this year or die?

Once again the answer is: God knows. You say "We must move into the dark, the

dark and unknown; and I am seized by fear." -- There is no need for that.

Look, over the portal your God has painted a beautiful picture and written a

name above it. Look at it and beg God to put this precious picture and name

into your heart. The picture depicts the circumcision, and the name is the

sweet, precious name Jesus. This picture and name enable you to look right

into heaven, into the Father's heart. And if you tell me what your attitude is

toward that picture and the name, I will tell you whether you will enter into

the new year joyfully and confidently or with sighs and fear. If you cannot

rejoice in this picture and the blessed name Jesus, you have no savior, you

are a wretched human being. You cannot joyfully look backward or forward.

If you look back, what have you got? The joys you experienced are over with;

the money and property you had amassed are but dust which you will have to

leave behind when sooner or later you will be brought to the place where you

yourself will turn to dust and ashes. But your sins are not gone; they have

been entered in God's record book, and you have no part of the blood which was

shed by the Christ child here and later on the cross, the blood which will

negate these sins. They are all before the throne of God, accusing you; and

you have no Jesus who will defend you, in front of whom these sins must fall

silent. These sins are like threatening dark clouds of God's wrath which are

amassing over your head. There is no mercy-sun to break up these clouds.

And how do you propose to look forward? What can you expect from this new

years where you have no Savior? Can you say: "Well, I am trusting God?" Which

God? Who is a true god, the righteous and holy God, who has already

announced--by his Law--your damnation? The Child's blood, His mighty and holy

name could save you from the wrath and damnation. See, that is what He wanted:

for you too He took upon Himself the horror of the Law, in baptism He called

you too by name--but you scorned this truth again during the past year. The

reconciler between you and God offered His hand to you too--enticing and

begging you--but you have rejected Him. You are not His, and He is not yours.

What if this year the command came: "Cut him down, why is he using up the

soil?" Then what, you poor, wretched man? Oh how many have started the past

year with joyful expectations; what plans were made for good fortune and

pleasure! What has happened to these expectations and plans? They are gone,

like the one who made them, whose body is moldering in the grave, awaiting the

terrible resurrection; while the soul lies in hell, suffering terrible pain

and the fire, crying in vain for just a drop of water to cool the burning

tongue! As a condemned man you are coming from the old year, as a condemned

man you are starting the new, do you want to die as a condemned man?--Oh Lord

God, have mercy on him.--Take another look at the picture.

See, the blood is still crying today for mercy for you. The name Jesus is

calling out to you: "Why do you want to die, you from the House of Israel?"

You too must have mercy on your poor soul and cry out to the man: "Oh Jesus,

you Savior and Redeemer, have mercy on me, give me your mercy so I may repent

and don't let me die in my sin; convert me and I will be converted, cleanse me

and I will be clean." -- If you do this and submit, allowing yourself to be

led to repentance and faith, then the coming year will bring you nothing but

good fortune and blessings. For the one who has faith in this little

child--which here has been given the name Jesus, who with his first drops of

blood becomes the bondsman against the judging and condemning Law and God's

justice because He is the Savior of his people--He can rejoice and confidently

step into the new year.

For this little child, after He has completed His work of salvation, is seated

at the right hand of God, and His crucified hands are ruling the world. From

His hand will come all which befalls you during this year; and His name

guarantees that only blessings will come from His hand. It is certainly true

that He did not promise you that during this year there will be no misery,

suffering and affliction in store for you. On the contrary, He has said "He

who will not daily take his cross upon himself and follow me, cannot be my

disciple." That is why already at your baptism He had the sign of the cross

made over you so that you will at all times be aware that you belong to the

realm of the crucified, for we know that His followers go through much

suffering into the Kingdom of God. As certainly as you are a Christian, as

certainly you will suffer your cross and affliction.Yes, beloved, if we look

at the ever increasing sin in this country, at the growing defection from the

Gospel and the terrible rage against it, we can reckon with two things: The

more God blesses this country and the more patient He is[,] the more terrible

will His judgment be.

Finally there will be open persecution of the Gospel and its followers in this

country where up till now there was room for it. But we Christians say

"nevertheless." "Nevertheless Israel has God as their comforter." Today's

Gospel assures and guarantees this. Christ's circumcision teaches us

Christians who have a Savior that all reasons for fear, terror and worry have

been removed because we are no longer under the Law with its condemnation and

judgment. Therefore, in the peril which may befall us we no longer see

punishment or the wrath of God, but we see the chastising hand of a loving

father. The name of Jesus encompasses all mercy, all love, all promises, all

bliss, it is the guarantee that God is our reconciled father from whom we will

receive only good things. The Almighty who sits on the throne of glory, who

commands His enemies, whose enemies must all fall under His feet, before whom

all knees in heaven and on earth must bend: He is our Savior, brother,

bridegroom and judge.

It is true, you might remain or fall into poverty, but you have the one who

says: "I will never leave you," and again "Therefore do not ask what shall we

eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all

these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly Father knows that you

have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His

righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." It would

certainly be a strange thing if the one who gave us His only Son would not

also give us food and drink, clothing for our body and this very life. It is

possible that severe suffering and trials, much shedding of tears, has been

prepared for you. But Jesus is with you, He has mercy, "he is faithful and he

will not have you tempted beyond your ability to resist, He will make it so

that you are able to bear everything." "Can a woman forget about her little

child so that she has no mercy on the fruit of her womb? And if that were so,

I will not leave you, see, I have written it into your hands" says the Lord.

Yes, your tears will produce a harvest of joy, and your temporal and worldly

sufferings will result in abundance of glory. In short, no matter what may

befall us: Jesus, Jesus is our God and King; and: if God is for us, who can be

against us? And even though at first it may be awful when you are in fear of

losing your mind under all that which has been heaped upon you: "Fear not for

I am with you, I will not leave you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you

and help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness." You

can fall no lower than into the lap of your heavenly father and into the arms

of your heavenly Bridegroom; and whatever befalls you, it is the best which

your God and heavenly Bridegroom have found for you on this earth.

But death, death! It too may befall you in this coming year. And if one were

to tell the children of this world in the midst of yesterday's and today's

celebration that they would surely die this coming year, they would be

terrified, and rightly so. But for you this is a different matter. It cannot

be denied that among those who truly and steadfastly believe in Jesus there

are some, who, if they were to learn that they will die this coming year,

would become fearful and worried. Not because they want to remain longer in

this world, but because they fear that death may find them unprepared. Neither

can it be denied that some who were in the faith at the first day of a new

year lost their faith during the year and died as unbelievers. Why? Not only

because they lost their Savior due to laziness, overconfidence and daring and

spitefulness, but also because they failed to seek Him and re-accept him.

I am asking you, you who today is still in faith to Christ: do you want to

leave Him this year? Is His love like a burden or has His yoke become too

heavy? Do you want to once again depend on the world and your own

righteousness? You say: "Oh no, no, but my heart is weak and doubtful, and sin

is mighty!" Do not despair. There will be enough temptations, trials and sin,

yeah, you may be overcome by your body's weakness. But you are not depending

on your own heart but on your Jesus who saves you from your sins, gives you

renewed mercy in Word and Sacrament; forgiveness of sin surrounds you like the

air, yeah it is spread out around you like the sky. He is faithful, the one

who has called you. He will do it for you. You just hold on to His Word and

Sacrament; do not forsake prayer. Death might meet up with you whenever and

wherever it wants, it will only lead you into the eternally new year, into the

right peace and bliss. And even while you are in the throes of death, this

beautiful name will lighten your way and bring you safely across: J E S U S!

______________________________________________________________

This text was translated and converted to ascii format for

Project Wittenberg by Erika Bullmann Flores and is in the

public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this

text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to:

Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at

Concordia Theological Seminary.

E-mail: COSMITHB@ASH.PALNI.EDU.

Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA

Phone: (219) 452-2123 Fax: (219) 452-2126

______________________________________________________________