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Jesus for the third time predicted His death and Resurrection. Note well you modem day sinners that He did not predict His power, reign, programs, wealth promises, success manuals or growth projections. He prophesied His bloody and horrific death. Things are only made right again between you and the Perfect God by His Son's Cross. This is where and how He paid for your sins. Your only comfort and succor comes from His resurrection. This is where He publicly pardoned His brothers and sisters by showing Himself to be God and the first-fruits of Life Eternal.

The Lord instructs His followers that "All (ALL) Things" written by the Prophets (Moses through Malachi) concerning the Son of Man, will be accomplished (It Is Finished). The faith is not just a couple of "important points" that can be put on a refrigerator magnet, tee-shirt, letter-head "mission statement" or bumper sticker. The faith handed down by the saints in sacred trust cannot simply be "shared" over coffee and donuts with interested consumers on a couple of Sunday afternoons for 90 minutes "ALL!" "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and teaching them ALL THINGS...." [St. Mt. 28.20]

"All Things" includes Sin and the Fall; the true meaning of the 10 Commandments; the Old Testament prophecies of Messiah; the typological examples of the Children of Israel and Moses; Freedom from Bondage and deliverance to Canaan; Grace, Mercy, Monergism, Inspiration of Scripture, the Holy Trinity of three-in-one and one-in-three; and most of all, teaching "All Things" is firm catechization in the Cross---the life, passion, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This is proclaiming the Gospel. This is teaching, not "affirming," "massaging" and "relating." "All Things" means Baptizing...washing away spiritual dirt and death. "All Things" means there's an imperative to remain steadfast, to stay in the Word, the Mass, and the Small Catechism (prayer). "All Things" means the birth (+) and nourishment, through Christ's gifts, of Disciples not casual attendees. "All Things" creates followers who may well be constrained to follow the Word all the way to martyrdom.

The Lord was speaking these Truths near Jericho, a city of pagan sinners once destroyed, leveled, and slaughtered by Jeshua/Joshua/the "Old Testament Jesus" who used a physical sword. Now the First & Last genuine Jeshua, the "uncreated" Joshua has come back to Jericho. The God/Man Jesus (Jeshua) is the "Joshua" Who leads His flock not into a Promised Land called Canaan, but into a Land made up of the Promise Itself/Himself, the Body and Blood of God. This ultimate Jesus destroys not Jericho, but the Holy Temple itself. He allows the destruction not of the big building in Jerusalem, but of His Own Body on the Cross. The Sword will pierce His Own Sacred Heart. From His blood, by His Word, a Word sharper than any two-edged sword, comes His "ALL THINGS." From the Body of He Who is the Light and Life of all men comes His Law & Gospel which resurrects all His Disciples.

How much of Jesus' discourse was heard by the blind man? Or how much of Jesus' previous words and actions had been "gospeled" to him? Enough. The Holy Ghost calls by the Gospel. Note well that the blind man did not say: "Jesus give me back my sight" as his initial entreaty, but rather "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Kyrie Elieson.

The theme of our third (3) pre-Lenten Sunday (today being Quinquagesima) is Grace: not readily grasped or understood. Grace is love for the unlovable. Who wants to admit they're unlovable, only those who have no choice. Only the blind can say they want, need and crave sight. Only the one who is dying, dead and helpless, can appreciate the work of the life-giver. Today is also denominated "Esto Mihi" which comes from the first words of the appointed Introit. "Esto Mihi" means strong rock. Only one who is on sinking sand wants the strong rock, the Mighty Fortress, the Christ who is the Cornerstone, bedrock, key, and temple.

The Faith isn't about power, prestige, earthly wealth, worldly happiness and goods. The Faith isn't about strong bodies, white teeth, long lives, and 20/20 eyesight. The Faith is "Esto Mihi" the strong rock. The Rock of Ages Who was cleft for you on the tree. Jesus is the Rock Who places you into His living wounds where you can be bathed in His Blood, in His Water, and then live forever in His Body, and in His Body the Church.

We are all beggars says Dr. Luther. Amen, for Jesus loves beggars. He loved the blind man and gave him his eyesight as a foretaste of all the permanent and eternal bodily healings which will be yours at the end of time. Jesus Who would soon be crucified dead and buried, reversed the fallout of sin and gave back eyesight to the blind beggar. Jesus gives eyesight so that He may be the center of focus, attention, and worship. Even the "12," (even you), were blind at times: "but they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken" [v. 34]. The fear and knowledge of God, of Jesus the suffering servant and Lamb, was not hidden from the Disciples by the power of God, but by the hardness of their own hearts, their old-Adam natures. Only by the Lord staying with them, continuing to preach, teach, and do, was the veil lifted.

He restores your eyesight as well (+) and you too glorify God. Those who think they see, Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and all the works righteous of today... are in reality so blind as to resist and reject Grace. They refuse love, reconciliation, peace, and life. Those like the blind man, and like you, who were born blind (dead in sin), have needed a savior. By the power of the Spirit working on your hearts through the Word of Law and Gospel, you have been turned back to God. You have been given the longing for Grace, and you have received It.

"Esto Mihi:" strong rock. He would be mocked and insulted and spit upon. But your Rock persevered. And they would scourge Him and put Him to death. But your Rock was indomitable and did not crumble. And the Third day He rose again. He did.

Today is the Third Day, your eyesight is perfect in Christ, receive again your sight.

In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost