The Word of God speaks to His church. His voice declares to us the promises that are ours in Christ–and thanks be to God. Because the world also speaks to us we hear words that are discouraging, frustrating, or confusing. And in these difficult places, we really need to hear some Good News.
And so God speaks. He speaks to us all of those gospel promises that are made to us sinners. Those glorious truths that Christ Jesus won and guaranteed for us in and through His death and resurrection. No wonder Christ speaks to His church, saying, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Rev. 3:13); we need the voice of God to cut through all the noise and to speak that which is true. That which we need.
But sometimes we struggle with being able to hear our Savior’s voice, our ears failing to hear as they ought to hear. Occasionally other voices–sometimes even our own–cast doubt upon that which we know to be true. Jesus meets us in the struggle and in His compassion gives us many gifts.
Chief among them are the sacraments: baptism and communion.
Our Small Catechism tells us the sacrament of holy baptism is that work of God which “works the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this.” Of the sacrament of the altar, our Small Catechism says: “It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink” so that we might have “forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.” In the water and in the eating and drinking, Christ gives to us that which we need.
And yet, the way in which the waters of baptism and the eating and drinking at the Lord’s table accomplish these great things is not because of the water itself or simply because of the act of eating and drinking. Rather, the waters of baptism save because of “the word of God in and with the water.” Eating and drinking grants to us the forgiveness of sins because of the Words of Christ: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” The promises of Christ–the Word of God–are what we receive in the water and in the eating and drinking. The sacraments are the place where God’s Word becomes tangible.
God speaks a Word so real that we can touch it. A Word so real that we can taste the bread and wine–the true body and blood of Christ–and see that the Lord is good. A Word so real that forgiveness ran down your face in the waters of your baptism. A Word given to us in tangible, sacred gifts: the sacraments.
My friends, the Word of God who became flesh (Jn. 1:14)–flesh that one could behold with the eyes and with wounds that one could touch with the hands–comes to us in the water and in His supper. There may be days when you feel as though your ears can’t hear anything. But Jesus meets you where you are, speaking promises so real and true that you can touch them. Jesus gives us the Good News tangibly in water, bread, and wine, and, in these gifts, these promises are secured for you. For the Word of God speaks to you, a word of grace and forgiveness so real that you can touch it.
