Holding onto the Precious Gift of Eternal Life

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Some things can’t be bought with money. The things which are imperishable, undefiled, and unfading are often priceless. Money can’t buy the things which are priceless. And what you have been given by the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed priceless, more precious than gold, for in His gift you have life now and for eternity.

Our Gospel lesson takes up to the resurrection according to St. John, the first evening of the Week, the first Easter Day, when the apostles had locked themselves in their rooms for fear of the Jews. And all of a sudden there is the Risen Lord Jesus, speaking, “Peace be with you”. And what kind of peace this was for the disciples. This is not some kind a worldly sense of understanding peace. This is much more than a cease-fire treaty. No, this peace is something much more profound and lasting. This peace reached down into the very core of the beings of the disciples. For upon giving them this peace, Jesus establishes them as those who would be sent out to do His work, forgiving the sins of the repentant as well as withholding that forgiveness from the unrepentant.

And this work of the apostles and now those men who have been called into the Office of the Holy Ministry to forgive sins continues on to this day for you. The peace given to the disciples is a peace which emboldens them to proclaim the work of Christ to all the nations, starting in Jerusalem. It is a peace which we sing about in the great Easter hymn Awake My Heart in Gladness, the 5^th stanza.

Hear the words:

The world against me rages, its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wages, It’s work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free, no troubles trouble me.
Misfortune now is play. And night is bright as day.

Only can we truly sing this hymn and feel this way when we are given the peace of Jesus.

You see wrapped up in the preaching of the death and resurrection of Christ, you have life and eternal peace. The peace is wrapped up in knowing it is Christ’s death which covers your sins and your offenses against God, and you are account righteous by God for Christ’s sake. That Jesus paid for your sins by giving himself at the cross for you. Indeed it was our sins which hanged him to the cursed tree. But it was in this very act that God our heavenly Father exalted Christ. In other words, Christ’s glory and the glory of the Father was manifested in showing grace and mercy to us poor miserable sinners, thus bringing us peace.

And now He gives this peace in the blessed words of the Absolution: “Your sins are forgiven you on account of my bitter sufferings and death.” And what peace that is for those who are afraid and in the dark of night.

For those disciples now apostles, for they were being sent out to do Christ’s work in the world, as we heard in the reading from Acts, they take a beating for what they preach. Just before that Peter had been ordered by the council of the teachers of the Law to stop preaching Jesus and him crucified. And so Peter says those famous words, “We must obey God rather than men.” Peter and John and the rest of apostles for that matter are emboldened to preach the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection because they are at true peace, and they know exactly what they have to give to those who have ears to hear such proclamation. Peter has something to give to his hearers that is priceless, far more precious than even fine gold. He has the proclamation of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death for our sins and his resurrection for our justification as well as the Baptism and Supper which our Lord Jesus Christ institutes. And in hearing the Gospel of Christ proclaimed via these means, faith in Christ is being created and strengthened by the work of the Holy Spirit.

The apostles then are not seeking these beatings out. Yet, they do not run from them, either. They saw just how Christ had suffered for preaching and teaching the Truth. And they were told they too would suffer and be handed over to the Synagogue and governors, etc. They are given Christ’s peace and endure the suffering that comes with following Christ. The apostles also were not without the Son, for by the Holy Spirit, they were being reminded of the Words of Christ, to make them their own and then proclaim them to you. They were ready to suffer for Christ’s sake. And the witness of those apostles still is being proclaimed to you. Even this day.

Hold onto this priceless gift, for it is your life and salvation as well as your peace. Do not neglect it. Do not be let this precious gift be like pearls before swine. Do not think God’s grace cheap either. Your salvation might be free to you but it was far from free for our Lord. God the Father paid dearly for our salvation. He gave up his Son. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to die to save. He paid for our salvation with his own body and blood. Only the blood of God incarnate would pay your redemption price. And God did do this. He paid your redemption price, and has done it in great mercy for you.

Peter and John in our reading from Acts suffer for their preaching of the Name of Jesus Christ. But as I said earlier, they were given the peace in the promise of our Lord Jesus, which far outweighed their temporary earthly suffering, for something far better awaited them. And something far better also awaits you. But indeed, our faith will be tested just as their faith was tested in their sufferings for the Name and proclamation of Christ. May Christ be merciful to us in that hour.

We might not be in the same situation as those specific apostles being beaten for their proclamation of the name of Jesus. But we are in very uncertain times, when government seems to be ever encroaching upon religious liberty, as well as, removing the voice of the believer’s from the public square. But let us not forget the promise of Christ’s peace which in with us by grace. By the grace of God, Peter and John were able to rejoice, as the text of Acts says, “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” They saw their present sufferings as a participation in Christ’s sufferings. For by their suffering and even by our own sufferings for the sake of Christ we are being made ready for the glories to come for the sake of Christ Jesus who suffered for us. Christ suffered and has entered eternal glory by his resurrection, and we having been united to Christ, having been born again by Holy Baptism will be brought into the same glory for the sake of Christ. Let us then be bold and follow in the example of the apostles, and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and the salvation found only in Him.

Peter and John held on to the precious gift and proclaimed the excellencies of the grace and mercy of God. Pastors called to you still proclaim the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves us from everlasting death and hell. And indeed, preaching His name, brings you His peace. Peace that the world does not know, nor can it know without believing the voice of Christ in the preaching of His Word.

Jesus did many signs and wonders in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name. Jesus when speaking to Thomas extols those who hear and believe. Hear then the proclamation of the Name of Jesus and take it to heart, for He has shown you mercy and has saved you from your sins. Peace be with you. Your sins are forgiven on account of Jesus. May Jesus’ peace be with you forevermore, just as He has promised. Cling to the priceless promise of eternal salvation by faith. Your faith shall be tested, and probably is being tested even now with all that is happening around us. But let us rejoice in the trials that our Lord God put before us, for by them our faith is being refined and strengthened, to the glory and honor of Christ.

You have not seen him, yet you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Be then at peace in trials of faith, cling to Christ in faith, for Christ is risen, and we too shall arise to the imperishable inheritance awaiting us.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO