Luke 7:18–23 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

This past Monday my mom got to see Jesus face to face. The Monday before Cheryl and I had driven to Dallas to have lunch with her and she seemed to be doing well. But now she is doing so much better!

In the few days she was hospitalized, she had some fear and anxiety. Even though believers know they have eternal life, death is still an enemy. My siblings and I all reminded her that she belonged to Jesus. He paid for her sin, claimed her through Baptism, and was with her always. And now she is with Him.

As I was thinking about this, I remembered a video I saw of a two-year-old girl who was born blind and deaf. She was able to come to the United States to have surgeries that restored her sight and her hearing. The video shows the doctor taking off her bandages after her eye surgery. Her mother was holding her as she fussed and screamed, uncertain as to what was going on. After a moment she opened her eyes and saw for the first time. There was a mixture of awe and confusion and wonder. Then she saw her mother, threw her arms around her neck and hugged her. Mom had always been with her, but now she saw her face to face.

I believe that is what it is like to go through the portal of death. Fear and confusion enter the picture. And then we see Jesus. The passage above has Jesus assuring John that He is the promised Messiah. He fulfilled the prophecies of bringing physical healings, but He had come to do so much more. “… the good news is preached to the poor.” That Good News was proclaimed by the angel to Joseph before our Savior was born:

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

He did that by living a life God’s Law demands of us, without sin, and offering that perfection to pay the price our sin deserves.And then He conquered death for everyone. Faith in Him claims that victory as your own, an unmerited and undeserved gift from our loving and gracious God.

Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry as fails each sense:
Jesus is my confidence!
(Lutheran Service Book #490 stanza 5)

You can see the video I mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnYKe21uNzc