Thoughts on the Divine Service
4. The Absolution
Dear friends,
Luke 7:36-50 records the story of “the sinful woman,” whose name we never learn. While Jesus dines at the house of Simon the Pharisee, she manages to sneak into the room, wash Jesus’ feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Her works are driven both by her immense sorrow over her sin and her gratefulness that Jesus is her Savior. Because of her faith, Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven … Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Lk. 7:48, 50).
Now that the story is in your head, I want to take some liberty. I want to rewind, invent a prequel and add another sinful woman. Imagine that this woman has a friend guilty of the same transgression and is equally penitent for her sin. Just before the events of Luke 7 take place, imagine that they are together as they hear that Jesus is eating at Simon’s house nearby.
One of them says, “The Savior is nearby, and I’ve heard that He forgives sinners.”
The other says, “I’ve heard that too! But … does He forgive me? I want to go and hear Him say that I’m forgiven!”
The first says, “I’m sure he forgives all sinners, you and me included.”
The second says, “I’m going to go and hear it from Him.” And in my made-up backstory to Scripture, she’s the one who appears at Simon’s house. She’s the one who has the Lord look into her eyes and say into her ears, “I forgive you.”
Which woman is forgiven? Both are, because both believe the news of forgiveness in Christ they have heard. However, the devil hates forgiveness, so fast-forward to a really bad day where he whispers in the ears of both, “How do you know that Jesus forgives you?” The first can say, “Well, I heard second-hand that He forgives sinners.” The second can say, “Because He said to me, personally, ‘I forgive you.’”
Which one is a greater comfort when assaulted by the evil one?
Don’t underestimate the joy of Holy Absolution. When I was growing up, I assumed the main point of the Service of Confession at the start of worship was a chance for us to set the stage by owning up to how sinful we are. Nope. The main point of the Service of Confession is to hear Jesus say, “I forgive you.”
Should the devil assail you and say, “How do you know Jesus forgives you?” You can say, “Because I hear Him say so to me.”
But, do you? After all, it’s not Jesus standing there, but the pastor; and the pastor, by the way, occasionally gets a note from a visitor along the lines of, “How dare you say, ‘I forgive you all of your sins.’ Do you think you’re God?!”
For the record, I have my share of sins and faults. But I do not believe that I am God.
One more Bible story, then: before Jesus ascends into heaven, He sends out His apostles and authorizes them to preach the Gospel and work miracles in His name. In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a lame beggar at the temple. Peter says to him, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6)
(As an aside, I’m fairly sure no one said to Peter, “Who do you think you are, healing men who can’t walk?”)
Note Peter’s language, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” He doesn’t say, “In the name of Peter.” What those words mean is, “Jesus authorized me to say what He would say to a man who couldn’t walk. And Jesus would say, ‘Rise up and walk!’”
That’s what all the verbiage in the absolution means. I don’t forgive sins “in the name of Tim.” As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I am authorized to say what Jesus would say if He were standing before a gathering of people who had just confessed their sins and asked for mercy. He would say, “I forgive you.” So the pastor says, “I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Now, do you have to hear the absolution to be forgiven? No. The first woman in our story above was forgiven. But if you can hear Jesus say to you personally, albeit through the mouth of a pastor, “I forgive you,” isn’t that a greater comfort? Isn’t that a better consolation should the devil haunt you with, “How do you know that God forgives you?”
A couple of quick notes.
First, let’s say that you’re troubled by some sin; and after that general confession and absolution at the start of the service, you’re tempted to believe, “I know that Jesus forgives my sins in general, but does He really forgive me for this particular sin that bothers me so badly?” This is why we retain private confession and absolution. You can meet with the pastor one on one and confess that specific sin in a confidential conversation. After that confession, the pastor puts his hands on your head and speaks the absolution into your ears: there is no doubt that Christ’s forgiveness is for you, and regarding that particular sin. When the devil whispers in your ear, “How do you know you’re forgiven for that really bad sin you’ve been so worried about?”, you can say, “Because I confessed that really bad sin specifically; and through the mouth of pastor, I heard Jesus say, ‘I forgive you for that particular sin.’”
Private confession and absolution is available by appointment. Just contact the pastor.
Second, you might note in the hymnal that Divine Services 1 and 3 have two different absolutions, and I always veer to the left-hand column. The right-hand column arrived in Lutheran orders via Lutherans who were uneasy with the idea of the pastor absolving on Christ’s behalf. That one is the absolution of the first woman in our first story: it is announces forgiveness, but it doesn’t apply it to the hearer specifically.
The absolution in the left-hand column does. Think one more time of the lame man in Acts 3: I suppose the lame man could have been comforted if Peter would have said, “Take heart, because Jesus forgives people who are lame.” But I’m pretty sure he was happy to hear Peter say, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk.”
That’s the comfort of the absolution, that Jesus says, “I forgive you.” That’s the certain hope of salvation. What joy!