is when he bought us. How is it that he bought us? Because he didn't lie there
SERMON 213 143
"You've tom my tunic," but "You've tom me, you've mined me, you've cut me to ribbons".13 You are undamaged as you say that, and yet you're telling the truth, and the one who injured you hasn't taken any skin off you.
That's the way, too, that the Lord Christ was crucified. He is the Lord, he is the only Son of the Father, he is our savior, he is the Lord of glory; yet he was crucified, but in the flesh, and buried in the flesh alone. I mean, where he was buried and when he was buried, then and there, there was no soul, but flesh alone was lying in the tomb; and yet you confess, Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary. Who was? Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, our Lord. Under Pontius Pilate crucified. Who was? Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, our Lord. And buried. Who was? Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, our Lord. "Flesh alone lies there, and you say 'Our Lord'?" I do say it, certainly I do; because I observe the clothes, and I worship the one clothed. That flesh was his clothes, because since he was in the form of God, he did not think it robbery to be equal to God; but he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, not losing the form of God, being made in the likeness of men, and found in habit as a man (Phil 2:6-7).14
He rose, he ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hand of God
5. Let us not think lightly, though, of that flesh alone; when it lay there, that is when he bought us. How is it that he bought us? Because he didn't lie there forever.15 On the third day, you see, he rose again from the dead. That's what comes next in the creed; when we have confessed his passion, we also confess his resurrection. What did he do in his passion? Taught us what to endure. What did he do in his resurrection? Showed us what to hope for. Here the work, there the reward. The work in the passion, the reward in the resurrection.
Nor, because he rose again from the dead, did he stay here; but what comes next? He ascended into heaven. And where is he now? He is seated at the right hand of the Father. Understand the right hand properly, don't go looking there for a left hand. God's right hand means eternal felicity; God's right hand means inexpressible, incalculable, incomprehensible blessedness and well-being. That's the right hand of God, that's where he's seated. What does that mean, that's where he's seated? That's where he lives; one talks, after all, about where someone lives as his seat.161 mean, when Saint Stephen saw him, anyone who said He is seated at the right hand of the Father wouldn't be lying. I mean, how did Stephen put it? Behold, I see heaven opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). Because he saw him standing, perhaps anyone would be lying, who said at that time, he is seated at the right hand of the Fatherl He's seated, so it means he stays, he lives there. How? The same way as you do. How does he stand?17 Who can say? Let us say what he taught, let us say what we know.