Reformation

November 1 - 7

Jeremiah, Gospel of Matthew

The coals inside the clay furnace begin to glow. After looking carefully inside, the smelter uses his bellows to puff air into the low flames. As the colors brighten, the heat intensifies. The large rocks beside him will ultimately be molded into tools, weapons, or containers, but not without the sustained, consuming heat that burns away their impurities. This is the metaphor the LORD uses to illustrate Israel’s enslavement in Egypt – the “iron furnace” mentioned in Deuteronomy and repeated later through the prophet Jeremiah.

The metaphor is part of a dire warning. The Israelites in Jeremiah’s time, now a divided kingdom, have descended into a depravity so deep it rivals that of Sodom. So, the LORD sends Jeremiah on a mission to preach repentance, but it falls on deaf ears. The coals of the LORD’s anger begin to glow, and Jeremiah’s prophecy is fulfilled within his own lifetime. His people will be taken into exile, eventually scattered, and the throne in Israel will never be re-established.

Jesus issues a similar warning to the Israelites of his time, who, like their ancestors, make the temple serve them, rather than serving the LORD within it. Yet again, the furnace awaits. Not one of those impressive temple stones, Jesus says, will be left on top of another. It would take less than forty years for that prophecy to be fulfilled.

Jesus also warns us about the end of the age. As in Jeremiah and Jesus’ time, the days will be dark, and the wicked will ridicule those whom God sends. In fact, the days will be so evil that we would destroy ourselves if God would not put an end to them.

But the iron furnace is not our ultimate fate. The temple of Jesus body has been destroyed and raised again, and through water – not fire – he has put the calloused sinner to death and raised us into worthy servants. He does not scatter us, but gathers us together around him as his people. He graciously extends the call of his prophets across the centuries to us for the forgiveness of sins. The days are no less dark, but the light has already come into the world. Our salvation is at hand. Hear his Word and rejoice!

Final Judgment

November 8 - 14

Jeremiah, Gospel of Matthew

Weak in the flesh, unwilling to serve, ready to betray, and about to be scattered. This is the spiritual state of God’s people. Jeremiah is nearly put to death for preaching the Word. Jesus’ disciples insist they would die for him, but cannot stay awake to pray, and are nowhere to be found when he is condemned for blasphemy. And it is true of us, too. The spirit is willing, but the weak flesh nods away in drowsy distraction. It lives in fear, hiding away what God has given to it, and fleeing when confronted by the powers of this world. It seeks its own good and does not serve the Lord. So, we live in exile, longing to come back home.

But our Lord does not put an end to us. The promise to his people remains: one day, our exile will end. This is not a vague hope; it is a certainty in Jesus Christ, whose willing condemnation at the cross brings about our salvation.

And now, by his Spirit, we know. With full hearts, we know that the constant struggle against temptation and the flesh will end. We know that when we arrive home, there will be no more betrayal, injustice, weakness, or oppression. We know that God will live with his people in perfection, and his kingdom will not end.

That day is closer than ever, but until then, we can hear the echoes of it in his Word, spoken by prophets. We can touch and taste it in his Sacrament. We can see it in the good works his Spirit brings about in his church. We will not be scattered. We are about to escape our exile and be gathered together forever.