October 20, 2009 - Tuesday in the 19th Week after Trinity
Today's Reading: Genesis 28:10-17
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 19:1-20; Matthew 15:1-20
And Jacob was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" (Genesis 28:17)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Jacob didn't realize it, but he was looking at Jesus in his dream. Jesus is the ladder upon which the angels were going up and down from heaven (John 1:51). In the Gospel story from yesterday, the Pharisees can't comprehend that God would be a man. God is God. Man is man. The two don't have anything in common. Yet, God became man when the Son was conceived in the womb of Mary. So, we say Jesus is true God and true man.
Because that's true, we can say that where Jesus is, there He stands on earth (He walked around, went places, etc.) and is at the same time in heaven. On the cross, there was God, dying for our sins; there was a man, suffering so that He might die for them. Both. Together. One Jesus.
When we receive the gifts of Christ that deliver Jesus, the water of Baptism, the words of preaching and absolution, the very body and blood of Christ, we are standing with one foot on earth and the other in heaven. We can't get to God so God comes to us. But, He doesn't just come to hang out, He comes to take away our sins and bring us to where He is.
Jacob called what he saw “Beth-el; House of God.” That's where God was. That's where the ladder ascended to heaven and touched earth. That's why Jacob saw Jesus. Jesus as true God and true man connects heaven and earth, man and God, Creator and creature. And why? For your salvation! For your forgiveness! So that you too may ascend upon the Son of Man and be seated in heavenly places. What the world thinks is impossible—God coming down to us—is exactly what the Lord does to comfort Jacob and you. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
There dwells the Lord our king, The Lord our righteousness, Triumphant o'er the world and sin, The Prince of Peace. On Zion's sacred height His kingdom He maintains And glorious with His saints in light forever reigns. (LSB 798:7)
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