Commemoration of Martin Luther (Death) (Observed)

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

February 19, 2017

Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, Idaho

Martin Luther is now 62 years old. This man, who achieved so much, is now growing tired and weak. In November 1545, Luther finished his lectures on Genesis and said, “I can do no more, for I am too weak.” On Monday, February 15, 1546 Luther preached what would be his last sermon at St. Andrew’s in Eisleben. Luther ended his sermon rather abruptly, as he announced to the congregation, “This and much more might be said concerning this Gospel, but I am too weak and we shall let it go at that.”^[i]

Luther was taken to a home across the street where he rested for the next two days. Around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 1546 Luther went to the window and spoke his usual evening prayers. Around 10 p.m., Luther went to bed and prayed Psalm 31:5, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

After Luther died later that night, a scrap of paper was found in his pocket. The piece of paper found in Luther’s pocket that night read: “This is true. We are all beggars.” Luther believed that God calls all sinners to repent, to forsake their wicked ways, and to return to the Lord. As a beggar before God, Luther confessed that he was a poor, miserable sinner in the arms of a compassionate God who pardons abundantly (Isaiah 55:1–11). Luther believed that he was saved solely by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. Luther believed that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:5–17).

As Luther went to bed that night feeling ill, and perhaps even suspecting that death was near, he admitted and confessed to God that he was a sinner, and as a believer in Jesus Christ, he was a repentant sinner at that, one who could only beg for God’s mercy. Luther was prepared for death—for he was a beggar before God and Christ was His merciful Savior.

And you are a beggar too! Before God, you bring nothing to the table—not now, not at your death. Isaiah announces, “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass” (40:6–7). And so now, and at the time of your death, God calls you to repent, even as He says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near... return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on [you]” (Isaiah 55:6–7).

Luther went to bed that night in the sure confidence of Jesus Christ. As a beggar before God, Luther closed his eyes in peace, knowing Isaiah’s words: “Let [the wicked] return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (55:7). Luther fell asleep for a few hours, content in being a beggar in God’s hands, for He knew His God has mercy on the repentant, that He is full of compassion and ready to pardon! And you, too, O repentant beggar, can rest in Christ, for He has compassion on you; He will abundantly pardon you, and in Him, you have peace.

At 1 a.m., Luther suddenly woke up and cried out, “O Lord God, I’m in so much pain! Oh, dear Doctor Jonas, it appears as though I shall remain here!”^[ii]  That night, Luther recalled God’s Word of grace in this hour of death. The Holy Spirit delivered these words to Luther’s mind, as he learned them by heart throughout the years. These are words of God’s comfort, peace, and grace!

In his dying hour, Luther utters John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Luther recites Psalm 68:20, “Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” Luther prays Luke 2:29, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word.” And then Luther repeats three more times Psalm 31:5, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

What would give Luther such confidence in his hour of death? How could Luther be so certain that he could commit his spirit to the eternal Judge? What gives you confidence and boldness in your hour of death before the eternal Judge? For Luther, it was all about Jesus—it is because he believed that he was saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone—as he was convinced through the Word of God! This Christ-centered faith and life gets to the heart of Luther’s understanding of justification and salvation through Christ alone. As Luther waited to enter the Church Triumphant, he believed that, from the time of his Baptism, he had been a living branch grafted into the true Vine, Jesus Christ, and had life eternal (John 15:1–11).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is your Jesus; this is your God in your time of pain and distress, and even in your hour of death. Jesus Christ has redeemed you with His own blood, death, and resurrection. He paid the price for all the sins you have ever committed—the sins of your youth, the sins of your flesh, and the sins in your heart and mind. His blood, death, and resurrection continually wash over you in your Baptism, as you are marked and sealed with Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.  The full grace of Jesus Christ surges into your mouth, soul, and life in His own body and blood in His sacred Meal. His holy flesh and blood forgives you all your sins, tears down the wall that separates you from God, and places eternal paradise into your flesh and soul. This truth... this comfort... this gift of salvation... this Jesus!—is yours now and when you close your eyes in earthly death.

The night Luther died, he prayed Psalm 31:5 four times, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” Justus Jonas knew Luther’s final moments had come. He asked his friend, “Reverend Father, will you remain steadfast in Christ and the doctrine which you have preached?” Luther replied, “Ja!”^[iii] After countless lectures, hundreds of sermons, and thousands of pages of writing, the final word to come out of Luther was “Ja.” “Yes.” Luther—this poor beggar—was ready to die, trusting in His dear Savior. Luther died about three in the morning of a heart attack. God delivered him out of this veil of tears. Luther’s earthly journey was over.

One of Luther’s favorite portions of Scripture was John 15, which Luther understands as describing the Christian’s life in Christ. Luther believed that Christ lives in and through the Christian. Concerning John 15, Luther writes, “[Jesus] was sent into the world by the Father to redeem us from our sin by His suffering and death, and to reconcile us to the Father, that all who believe in Him might not be damned and lost but have remission of sin and eternal life for His sake.”^[iv]

This, dear Christians, is indeed what takes place in your Baptism, and as you hear the preached Word, and as you eat and drink Christ’s body and blood. This is the Christian life—being grafted into the life-giving Vine and bearing much fruit.

And yet, in his sermon on John 15, Luther laments by saying, “But as it happens, most people live under the illusion that it is unnecessary to be and remain in Christ.”^[v] So many fool themselves, thinking they can be Christian while living detached from the Vine. They are not hearing God’s preached Word. They are not receiving the blessed Sacrament. Cut off from the Vine, there is no life—only death.

Attached to the Vine, however, is abundant and eternal life. When we are attached to the Vine, even in death, Christ turns it into our good. Luther announces, “Death and grave, be life!”^[vi] Luther continues, “[God] . . . has a stronger and more forceful language and voice than the world and the devil. He will outshout them and compel them to let us be with Christ and remain His true and fruitful Vine branches.”^[vii] And so, during our earthly life, Luther says, “We must see to it that we are always found in Christ, that is, that we hold to His Word and let nothing tear us away from it.”^[viii]

That morning, Luther’s body was taken to St. Andrew’s Church. Justus Jonas preached that very morning. Pastor Coelius preached the next morning. Luther’s body was then draped with a white pall, and then with fifty horsemen, the 70-mile journey to Wittenberg began. The crowd grew to the thousands, and steeple bells rang from the churches. Luther’s body arrived in Wittenberg. He was taken to the Castle Church, where twenty-nine years earlier he had nailed the Ninety-Five Theses. Luther was later buried there below the pulpit.

Luther’s pastor, Rev. Bugenhagen, preached the funeral sermon. Bugenhagen expressed thanksgiving to God for Luther’s many gifts to the Church, for Luther’s valiant defense of the Gospel, and for the way in which Luther unlocked the Scriptures concerning Christ. Most of all, Bugenhagen preached about Christ and how He has conquered death. Bugenhagen proclaimed that, through Christ, the death of the body was merely the beginning of life eternal through Jesus Christ, who became the sacrifice for all [sinful beggars].

Dear Christian friends, on this the 500^th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation and the 100^th anniversary of Zion Lutheran Church, and whether it be today or in our time of death—with Luther, we boldly confess our faith in Jesus Christ, “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” Amen.