On March 15 I filled in for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Galt, California, leading worship and preaching. My sermon began by my walking to a table set with a bowl of water and a hand towel. I washed my hands and said the following:
In a short while we’re going to receive communion. But with all the news about the coronavirus, and practically every government agency, company, and health provider telling us to wash our hands regularly to avoid passing on the disease, I thought it would be prudent to wash my own hands before handling the bread and the wine.
As of March 14th, the coronavirus, or Covid-19, had spread to 142,530 confirmed cases and 5393 deaths in 135 countries. People are under quarantine, and all kinds of travel and public events are being cancelled. Some sports teams are competing in empty stadiums! Globally, the WHO has declared it to be a world-wide pandemic. Locally, we have had our first cases in Elk Grove and our first death.
My wife and I are very much aware of the effects this disease is having in the world, because we have been planning a trip to Italy and Germany this year to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau. But now, with Italy on lockdown, Germany’s cases spiking, and international travel being cancelled or banned, our prospects are looking very dim. And that doesn’t count the actual disease and its serious effects on those who get it.
And so, today I wash my hands for your sake and mine.
The only problem is, as I stand here washing my hands, I am reminded of another very famous hand-washing. It took place in Jerusalem when Jesus stood trial before the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate realized Jesus was innocent of any crime deserving death, but when the crowds threatened to riot, Pilate gave in to the crowd’s demands that he crucify Jesus. Matthew 27:24 tells us what Pilate did next: “. . . he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’”
By washing his hands, Pilate was denying his guilt for what was about to happen, by washing away any blame for Jesus’ death. Ever since then, whenever anyone denies responsibility for someone or something, they say they are washing their hands of the matter. As if just saying that, or washing one’s hands physically, can take away sin or guilt.
But, it takes a lot more to get rid of guilt than just water. Or soap and water. Or soap and water and hand sanitizer! Real cleansing of guilt and the sin that caused it require a cleansing act by someone who is able to actually remove that guilt. When it comes to our sin and guilt, the One who has the authority to forgive and remove it is Jesus Christ (Mark 2:5-10), and the cleansing act was his death on the cross.
That act was remarkable in what it cost Jesus for our sake. I am reminded of another sacrifice made in Jesus’ name. In 1864 a Catholic priest from Belgium known as Damien answered the call to missions, and traveled to a leper colony on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii. At first he failed in his work, making few converts, and was ready to leave the island. Then, while waiting for the boat, he discovered his hands had lost feeling. Realizing he had caught leprosy from those he tried to serve, he stayed. Now accepted by his fellow lepers as one of them, he ministered to them spiritually and practically, building houses, schools, roads, hospitals, and churches. He dressed residents’ ulcers, built a reservoir, made coffins, dug graves, shared pipes, and ate with them, providing both medical and emotional support. He served until he became too sick, dying at age 49 . . . of leprosy.
In a way, Damien’s story parallels Christ’s sacrifice for us. Christ came to a world full of people infected with the deadly disease of sin. He lived among us, sharing our lives, healing, teaching, and caring for real needs in this world. Finally, he took on our sin and the guilt that goes with it, becoming sin for our sake, and dying for us, just as Damien gave his life for those infected with a deadly illness. The difference of course, is that Jesus’ death brought life and the eternal cure for our sin and guilt.
Why did Jesus do this? Why did he accept the horrible death of crucifixion and the taking on of our condemnation for sin? Why did he go through with it, knowing what was to come? Romans 5 tells us why: love. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
And how do we receive the benefit of the cleansing that Christ did for us? Through faith in him and what he did. Romans 5 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
So how do we respond to the pandemic now affecting our world?
Interestingly, Martin Luther was asked a similar question about the Black Death which had swept across Europe killing millions of people. This was his reply:
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
Luther’s answer was that we should take proper precautions to avoid getting or passing on the disease, so as to not tempt God, but to accept risks when serving those in need. Above all, pray for God’s merciful protection.
I like what he had to say. It’s okay to avoid dangers that would harm us or others, but when called upon to alleviate suffering, we step forward faithfully in prayer. We are not called to try to become sick, but if we do, we have God’s consolation. Paul’s Roman passage promises: “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Luther’s call to prayer recognizes that we are truly dependent on God in every situation, and not on ourselves. Sure, we take precautions, including washing our hands, avoiding the sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and developing a vaccine, but ultimately we have to submit our future to God. We need to trust his promise to be with us through whatever we face, and that he loves us and has the power to heal according to his purposes.
We appreciate Luther’s response, but how about ours?
- When troubles come our way, are we ungrateful for what God has already provided for us, and ask, “What have you done for me lately?” Or do we thank him for how he has already blessed us beyond measure in so many ways?
- When we have fears or unmet needs, do we grumble to God and blame him for what we’re facing, or do we accept his will and look for how God will bless and grow us in this situation, producing character and hope?
- When problems strike, do we doubt his existence (“A loving God wouldn’t let me go through this!”) and search elsewhere for answers? Or do we believe God’s promise never to leave or forsake us, and Christ’s promise to be with us until the end of the age, taking us to be with him no matter what happens in this world?
- Do we live in a world of Massah and Meribah (see Exodus 17 and Psalm 95) where the Israelites grumbled for lack of water, or by the Spirit of God with love, joy, peace, and the other fruit of the Spirit?
- Do we face the dangers of this world, such as the coronavirus, with paralyzing fear, or with trust and confidence in the Lord? What if we get the virus? Will it shatter our faith, or lead us to seek God’s will for us in the new circumstances we face?
My prayer is that you all avoid getting the coronavirus, and maybe my hand-washing will help a little. But whatever happens, rejoice in all the Lord has done, for he has cleansed you for all eternity.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
Read: Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95:1-9; Romans 5:1-8