+ All Saints’ Day (observed) – November 3rd, 2024 +
Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ask any parent – “how did you pick a name for your child?” and there’s always a story that goes with it. That story might be that they simply liked the name, or a longer story about a family name passed down through generations. Either way, a name always comes with a story.
The same is true in the Scriptures. The names of the people we hear in those stories often tell us something important about the far greater story of God’s salvation that he works through them. There’s Adam, whose name tells us the story of his creation out of dust and dirt and points us to the time in the story of God’s salvation when God himself would breathe through human lungs and walk in human feet. There’s the name of Eve whose name tells us the story of God’s gift of life – the mother of all living Scripture calls her. A wink and a nod to the one who would be born of a woman and bring life to all. There’s Abram whose name was changed to Abraham that God would foretell the story of salvation in the promised Seed from his family tree that would bless all nations. There’s Isaac, whose name means laughter, and whose name tells us the story of God working joy and new birth in the most unlikely and unexpected places – an old barren womb – just as he will later work salvation out of an empty, barren tomb to our joy and eternal laughter.
A name always comes with a story
So it is on All Saints’ Day. We remember many names today. Those our Lord called through death to life in this past year, and those faithful departed who have died in the faith in the years past. We list the names: Mark Zurschmied. Natalie Walta. Chuck Lundin. Marilyn Bauer.
Each of these names come with a story as well. The story of a father and husband always ready with a helping hand. The story of an artist, mother, pastor’s wife, and grandma who painted everything she did with the love of Jesus. The story of a man who lived like his favorite character “George Bailey” – in sacrifice and love for others. The story of a teacher, beloved friend, a sister in Christ, and always a fancy dresser – even when I showed up for shut-in visits. Their names and lives tell the story of God’s mercy, and God’s gift of faith, and God’s calling them out of this the tribulation of this life into the life of the world to come.
No doubt you have many stories of your own. Some are about these dear saints who have died this past year. And others are about those you remember who have died in years past. Names and stories…unique each in their own way. And yet alike in the most important way…in reminding us that their names and stories are only part of the story of All Saints’ Day. Our story and theirs is one of new identity. A new name. A new story. A saintly story of outrageous forgiveness for undeserving sinners – given in the name above all names, Jesus.
Now, it’s easy to hear that word “saintly” – or the word Jesus uses in the beatitudes in Matthew 5, “blessed” -and think it’s something it isn’t; to come to the conclusion that this is somehow on you, or up to you, or about you. But it’s not. Saints aren’t people who have everything in life perfectly together. Saints aren’t those who have no sin (there’s only one man who can claim that!) Saints aren’t people who live a perfectly upright life. Saints are justified sinners. Saints are those who are poor in spirit, who stake no claim on God’s goodness but rejoice in his free grace. Saints are those who live in faith in the name and story of salvation in Jesus.
Think of All Saints’ Day like the entrance to a grand party, where upon entrance, you’re given a name tag. Who are you? Who are those who have gone before us? Sinners declared saints in the blood of Jesus. Beggars who are blessed by God’s grace. Lost who are found. Dead who are brought to life. John says it this way in the epistle reading today: Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the children of God. For that is who you are.
That’s the name on our nametag on All Saints’ Day, and every day: the name of Jesus. You belong to him. You’re his dear, beloved, blessed, baptized children. His saints. Whose names are written in the book of life, signed and sealed in the blood of the Lamb.
“Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
That’s good news for us as we sit here today on this All Saints’ Day, our minds full of different stories we hear in the world around us. A contentious election coming up this week. An uncertain ec0onomy. A country divided and anxious. Life in this world is often a story full of hurts and hurricanes and hospital visits. Our lives are often full of disease, disappointments, and tragic deaths. Stories of trials, temptations given into and temptations faced in agony, and tribulations a plenty. Stories of guilt, sorrow, suffering, and shame. The saints who have gone before us were no strangers to all of this, and neither are we. And yet, All Saints’ Day is a reminder that as dark and as long as tribulation is in this life, it’s only for a while. Life with the Lamb is forever. Stories of death and sadness and suffering may seem to dominate the headlines today, but not forever.
On All Saints’ Day, we read the names and remember the stories of the saints who have gone before us because Jesus died and rose for them and for you.
On All Saints’ Day we look forward to what we confess every Sunday in the Creed: the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, because Jesus died and rose for them and for you. And this is not only a resurrection in a general sense. Yes, everyone will rise from the dead. But today we’re reminded that this is personal. Mark and Natalie and Chuck and Marilyn will rise from their graves. So will each of you.
With the name of Jesus comes a story of good news for you. It’s all there in his name, Jesus, the Lord Saves. He has done it. He still does it. And he will do it when he returns in glory.
And in the meantime, as our daily lives and stories go on from one page to the next, God reigns and rules over all. He is the one who brings you into the Kingdom of Heaven. He comforts. He grants the inheritance of earth. He satisfies those who are thirsting and hungering. He offers mercy. He reveals who He is for people to see. He claims people as His children. He honors those who are persecuted.
So, no matter what happens today, tomorrow, or Tuesday, you can be sure of this: the Lamb is on the throne. In Jesus, you’re given a new name: saint. And in Jesus your story has a new and eternally happy ending. No matter what twists and turns our stories in this life take, we know how our story ends.
It ends the way John tells saw it and tells us in Revelation. Who are these who are clothed in white robes and from where have they come? You know their names: Mark, Natalie, Chuck, Marilyn…Your name is there too. For you have washed your robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “Therefore you are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter you with his presence.
16 you shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike you,
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be your shepherd,
and he will guide you to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from your eyes.”
A blessed All Saints’ Day to each of you in…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
