Means of Grace

# 381 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 5:29,30 “Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"

Have you ever had a bloody nose? Recently, I've had several nasty ones that required trips to the emergency room. I'll tell you what, when they were finally able to stop the blood flow, it....I knew it.

Well this woman had an unstoppable flow of blood for twelve years! And when it finally stopped she knew it too. And she knew who was responsible for stopping it! Jesus knew it too, for He knew that power had gone out from Him to effect the healing.

Now don't make the mistake of thinking that Jesus is some kind of battery that dispenses a healing charge when His terminals are touched. Batteries must be recharged. Jesus NEVER diminishes in power.

All that's being said here is that He KNEW that power had gone out from Him. In other words, He was fully aware of this woman's act of faith and He willfully responded to it. Her faith, and the willingness of Jesus made her whole.

His garment was just a means of delivering His healing power. This is a great illustration of what we Lutherans call “the means of grace.” As this garment was a means of delivering healing from heaven, so it is with baptism, and the Lord's Supper in delivering forgiveness of sins from heaven. Their efficacy comes from still another means of grace....the Word of God.

It's the promises of the unfailing Word of God that give them their punch. In the case of baptism we read:

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And in the case of the Lord's Supper we read:

Mt 26:28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Having said this, it is important to note that we should never worship the MEANS of grace. (The Word and the Sacraments) that would be idolatry. But we should AVAIL ourselves of them. The bottom line is to keep your faith in Jesus alone and see what He is willing to do for you through His means of grace.

And every time someone is brought to the waters of baptism or comes to the Lord's Table, the faith of those involved triggers the release of this power. Jesus knows it. And He feels His power of forgiveness released to still another soul.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.