We come to the splashing water of baptism and the sound itself fills us with delight. Our heavenly Father uses means to give us His gifts. The water's movement reminds us that it is living and life-giving. Water: touchable, tangible, is connected with God's Word to bring us a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. There is the pastor's hand and his voice: all used by God to accomplish His ways in the world to bring His children of flesh and blood into His kingdom through an external washing that is more than an external washing. External, yes, at least that, but more and greater, because it's connected with God's Word and promise. He has done all for those who baptized, as He has and still does for all His children. Come, stick your finger in the water. Put your finger here. Touch the means of grace. Be assured by the external signs that deliver the divine promises to sinners.

Christ comes here conveying His peace; the mouth of His body forms around the words. He repeats them in case you doubt His sincerity: "Peace be with you!" He grants the Holy Spirit through His means of grace, His speech gives what it says. He speaks not "about peace." His very speech delivers what it says: "Peace be with you." He comes here to His frightened disciples and says: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld" (Jn 20:23).

When you don't know what to do, when you're offended, angry, tongue-tied, irritated, and you can't imagine what the next words should be, perhaps they should be "I forgive you." Do you not have the Holy Spirit? Has not God placed in your hands His means? Can you not form your mouth around the words "I forgive you?" For shame that we are so timid in the delivery of these words! Would your neighbor, friend, coworker, spouse, or child be shocked by these words? How do you think the disciples to whom Jesus first spoke them felt? They knew they didn't deserve this generosity. But we must not judge God's generosity on the basis of our human standards. For He can do far more than we can ask or think: see the cross and empty tomb!

When the supper comes from the table to our mouths and hands our Lord is again saying to us, "Put your finger here. Touch and see. It is I! Don't be afraid. I'm giving you peace." We must come to this table with a truly childlike inquisitiveness to receive what we may touch. That that upon which are finger rests also comes into our mouths and we drink of His blood. Like an infant we come exchanging our filth for His cleanliness. He gives us that pure spiritual milk (1Pt 2:2) from the chalice, which is His blood. The bread of life is placed upon our tongues. There is nothing more tangible. There is nothing more able to be touched and handled and seen (1Jn 1:1-3). We taste Him and see that the Lord is good (Ps 34:8).