# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1852 08 31_S5
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

5

the world can see, be their lot. For what lot can be sadder in this world than to depend upon the changeable will of weak children of men?

3. Now that the danger with which Herod had threatened the infant Jesus had passed, it might, as we think, have taken up its dwelling in the land of Judea without any care. But although for the moment it was threatened with persecution by no one, the former terror had been too great for its traces to vanish so soon. Hence the anxious inquiring after the new king on the return into the fatherland, and the fear of going thither. Joseph might be relieved of this anguish and care, if Jesus were not. For Jesus' sake even his rest becomes unrest, because he knows how greatly the devil hates his foster-child. Jesus himself must now regard himself as the cause of it, that those who take up his cause forfeit their earthly happiness. — This is yet another feature that marks the form of our Church in this history of the infant Jesus. She must let herself be regarded as though she were to blame for all the terrors that come upon those who gather unto her, and therefore, in all places and at all times, instill into those whom she would make blessed the fear lest the world vent its spite upon them, because they hold with her mortal enemy, the LORD Jesus. For Jesus' sake, and because they fall to the Church, the congregations which the apostles gather must hover in constant fear lest the Jews or heathen stir up a persecution. They who were secure so long have now been plunged into the highest unrest. The idols upon which the world securely relies forsake those who have renounced them. Now the fate of those who serve them and of those who have renounced them is forever hostile and contrary the one to the other. The storms which in the sea of this world lift up their proud waves foaming, make those afraid who have been rescued out of it into the ship, which nevertheless, although rescued out of the sea, must let itself be borne by the sea.

This, then, is the wretched plight in which God's kingdom is upon earth. The powers that rule in this world rage against it. It needs the help of men. It brings fear and terror wherever it comes. What wonder that it scarcely abides before the world?

II.

Yet it does abide, and in such a way that one must let it be unscorned. How this comes to pass, our Gospel also tells. For this is brought about by

1. the angels. Before Herod had yet let his order of blood go forth, Joseph received tidings of it. It was so craftily reckoned that Jesus should perish, and yet the reckoning fails, because the angels betray it. Where there are such mighty watchers, there is no need, even if things look dangerous for a while. The cause which finds no right in this world is served best of all by that very thing: for thus it becomes manifest that it is more gloriously represented and more mightily protected than if all the nations of the earth had united for its defense. What harm is it, then, that it is trodden under foot in the world? About as much as it would harm the sun, if the stars, which also have a glimmer in the darkness, should out of envy at the splendor of the light that rules the day, resolve together to grow pale as soon as the dawn proclaims the approach of their royal sister. They must in any case be extinguished, not to the harm of the sun, but to their own. The world might indeed have a share in the radiant splendor of the Church of Jesus Christ, if it would cease to be world, if all those who belong to it and, so long as they have not been rescued through submission to God's Word out of the power of Satan, are distinguished by this name from those who believe in Christ, would count that which is now gain to them, with Paul, loss for Christ's sake, and, instead of serving the belly, which repays the worship that is rendered to it with damnation, and instead of striving after the honor that turns to shame, would believingly lay hold of the goal also set before them, the prize which the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus holds out to them also. (Phil. 3.) But if it scorns this, it does not thereby extinguish Christ, the eternal sun of grace, but only reveals its own darkness, in the measure in which it separates itself from the light; it proves only how little it knows how to value Him who is in the bosom of the Father, and that it is not worthy of Him. It does not become Jesus to have an ungodly Herod for his protector; therefore such a one must by his rage of persecution drive him out of his kingdom. What should have been disgrace becomes an honor. — If only we could willingly accept that what is to be regarded as its annihilation serves only for the glorification of Christ's kingdom! Then it would trouble us little whether the potentates of the world are favorable to the Church or not, whether the wisdom of this world acknowledges the Church or rejects her; we should feel more fear than joy over it, if the world, without having changed its nature by sincere conversion, wished to defile God's holy congregation with its homages: we should regard it as we would an homage which highwaymen offered to a lawful government, and abhor it with the same aversion as an honor which harlots showed to a queen. No, where the enmity of disposition remains, there not even the hand shall be worthy to offer its help. Yet the infant Jesus abides before the world. In spite of Herod and the wrath of all tyrants it is preserved. His guard is invisible, but he has a more glorious host of attendants than any king on earth ever had. HE himself is invisible, and yet as certainly in and among those on earth who bear his name and believingly confess it before the world, as he has said: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matth. 28, 20.) With Him his legions of angels are joined to us, who preserve us when the devil with his companions arms himself against the Church. Now the little flock of his believers triumphs through God's might.

2. Just as little as the defiance and fury of the hostile world does the helplessness of her servants and members harm the glory of God's Church. For although, to her humiliation, she needs the services of a Joseph, yet these extend only to the body. That Joseph can help to protect for the LORD. But eternal life his ward bestows upon him, for which he can do nothing for him. Even the bodily protection lasts not long. For some years Joseph has the trouble of it. Then the infant Jesus no longer needs his arm. And even so long as the bodily care of Jesus is entrusted to him, this little child, to say nothing of the spiritual goods which it bestows upon Joseph out of grace, has more to impart to Joseph than to receive from him. Have not the rich gifts of the wise men from the East, which were offered to the child, just now fallen to Joseph? Does not Joseph enjoy with him the heavenly protection? Does not Mary at the wedding at Cana, when the LORD had as yet done no sign before the people, already know that he can help also in bodily needs? Whence else, than because Jesus had often stretched out his wonder-working hand in blessing over the maternal hearth? — Let, then, the servants of his holy Church, like Jesus, who has gone before them in this as in all else, receive their bodily necessities and sustenance from the liberality of powerless men; what harm does that do to the holy congregation and her honor? It is the most glorious victory that she bears away over the world. For she conquers through the weak children of men who have fled into her bosom. Did God feed his servants from heaven above, his honor would indeed thereby be gloriously vindicated against the raging rabble of the devil; but more gloriously does his Church conquer over her enemies, when with quite ordinary powers she nevertheless, in spite of them, honestly nourishes herself and her servants. Now the ungodly despisers of God's Word must cast down their eyes ashamed, that in their scoffing at God's saints and beloved they can only covet, cheat and rob, while these work willingly for the truth which they honor and confess. And how should it be so humiliating for God's servants, like their Lord and Master, to receive their bodily sustenance from the free gifts of those who are strengthened and preserved unto eternal life by the Word which they dispense to them? But in order that they might not be in the least hindered by this apparent dependence, as Christ's servants also, if need be, against the wish and will of those to speak who supply them bodily