Preparing for Worship - November 6, 2022

Most churches will likely celebrate All Saints Day this Sunday. We will focus on those readings, though some church may choose an alternate set of readings. The first lesson is from the New Testament, a vision of those in heaven given to the Apostle John in Revelation 7:9-17. John sees a countless number of people from every nation and tribe and people and language, singing, “Salvation belongs to our God… and the the Lamb.”

All the angels of heaven also praise the Lord. The hymn “This is the Feast of Victory for our God” is based on this and other Revelation passages. The people are all those who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and have eternal joy and blessing in Him. They are saints because they have been saved by God and brought to faith in their Good Shepherd, Jesus, who will lead them always.

The Epistle is another description, given in 1 John 3:1-3 by John, of those who will be in heaven. They are those called to be children of God simply by the love God the Father has given them. They are called God’s children already, though they are not perfect, but they hope in the Lord and His ultimate purifying power. 1 John 1:7 tells us that the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses them (and us) of all sin. In heaven all those who hope in the Lord will be perfect, as they will see the Lord as He is.

The Psalm is Psalm 149, another vision of the saints, the godly in heaven. They rejoice in their heavenly King and sing His praises. Even now on earth, the Lord is “adorning” those who humbly trust in Him “with salvation” - those who hear and use the “two-edged sword” of His Word of Law and Gospel. (See Hebrews 4:12, 14-16.) They will receive grace in time of need, and one day, the gift and honor of heaven.

The Gospel lesson is the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 5:1-12. Who are those who are truly blessed? They are those who know they are spiritually poor; who mourn about their sins; who are meek and humble before the Lord; who hunger and thirst for His righteousness, which they know that they do not have on their own; who seek to be merciful to others because they know they can only survive themselves by God’s mercy given to them as a gift; and on and on. They will live, in this troubled world and forever in “the kingdom of heaven,” simply through trusting Jesus and the words and promises coming from His mouth to them.