When the Saints Go Marching In

 

How many people here have heard the song, “When the Saints Go Marching In”? Just about everyone knows it. If the New Orleans Saints are playing, the crowd hears the song. Pastor Birkholz’s phone used to have that ring tone. Did you know that song is part of funeral processions in New Orleans? On the way to the cemetery, a jazz brass band leads the procession playing Just a Closer Walk with Thee. It’s somber and sad, fitting for a funeral. After the burial has taken place the band leads what is called “The Second Line.” They play the song, When the Saints Go Marching In, and everyone dances on the way back from the cemetery. It’s a song that celebrates freedom from this sinful world and eternal life with the Lord in heaven.

 

Our reading today takes us to a joyful procession of saints who are marching from the grave into eternal life. Let’s see if we can figure out who they are, how we can join them, and the benefits that we’ll receive.

 

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’"(Revelation 7:9-10).

1.       Who is looking? The Apostle John—he’s the author and the one who recorded the vision for us.

2.       What does he see? A huge crowd of people, all different skin colors, from all different places, speaking all different languages.

3.       What are they wearing? White robes and carrying palm branches.

4.       To whom do they give credit for their salvation? God and the Lamb

 

With these two verses, John set the stage for the saints to go marching in. We still need to figure out who these people are. John heard the same question:

 

"Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’" (Revelation 7:13-14).

 

1.       From where had these people come? Out of the great tribulation.

2.       What is the “great tribulation”? Lots of people give different answers to this question. It helps to know that the Greek verb is a present tense, so the people in white robes “are coming out of the great tribulation.” These people have died and are set free from the troubles of this world.

3.       How did they get such clean robes? They washed them in the blood of the Lamb.

4.       How can these people be called “saints”? They are perfect and holy because Jesus washed away their sins.

 

How do we become part of this crowd marching into heaven? Next Sunday our 8^th graders will put on white robes and go marching up to God’s altar. Does that make them part of this group that marches into heaven? A confirmation gown can’t do that. God made them part of the group about 14 years ago. It began at this font, or one much like it. The water of baptism took away the filth-stained clothing of sin and replaced it with a brand-new set of clothes. The Bible says, "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:27).

 

The blood of Jesus did its work. Did you know that blood is a cleansing agent? It sustains life by carrying away all kinds of chemical by-products that could interfere with life. It keeps the body clean! Jesus’ blood has done the same thing for us. It filtered out and carries away every last sin, from the stain of original sin that was ours from conception, to the nasty thoughts, hurtful words, and thoughtless actions that characterize our lives every day. We’re clean!

 

Saints marching in before God’s altar need that kind of cleansing, whether we are 14 months, 14 years, or 40 years old. We are in the middle of the great tribulation every day. We struggle with our sin and its curse every day. You know that friendships and trying to make friends can be frustrating. Grades can be troubling. We face incidents and accidents in our relationships here in our church family. Often the troubles are of our own making. As we face our troubles, we don’t have to worry about God’s love coming to an end. Jesus’ blood has washed us clean. We are forgiven.

 

One day, the great tribulation will come to an end. Our bodies will lie in a casket, or an urn will hold our ashes. On that day we will be free! The band can play the mournful, “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” on the way to the cemetery. On the way home, it can blast “When the Saints Go Marching In” because another believer has escaped the troubles of this earth and has gone marching into eternal life.

 

The refrain to this song concludes with the words: “Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in.” Why do we want to be there? What kind of benefits do we receive as we go marching in?

 

"Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:15-17).

 

1.       This is God’s top ten list of Saints’ Benefits. What’s the first one? They are before the throne of God.

 

One of my favorite places to stand was next to Grandpa’s recliner. If I was standing there, it usually meant I’d get a hug from him, and we’d spend some time talking and laughing. I was happy to be with him. That’s the first Saint Benefit—we get to stand by God’s throne. We can talk to him, laugh with him, get a hug from him. Perfect happiness!

 

2.       What’s the second one? They serve him day and night in his temple.

 

Do you like your boss? Is he easy-going, understanding, always willing to listen? Does he give you the time off you need without you asking for it? Does he make sure that your salary is always enough to cover your expenses? God does all that and more, and once we march in with all the saints, we will get to work for him. I don’t know what he has for us to do, but we can be sure we’ll have the best boss of all!

 

3.       The third one? God will spread his tent over them.

 

One of the ugliest words on the news at night is “foreclosure.” Maybe some of you have had to live under that shadow, and maybe some of you have even lost your beautiful home. That can’t happen to the saints who march into heaven. God will spread his tent over us. He will live with us, and we will live with him. We’ll have that perfect place Jesus promised when he said, "In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

 

4.       The fourth one? Won’t hunger. 5. Fifth? Won’t thirst.

 

Where’s your favorite place to eat? Is it an all-you-can eat joint? Imagine walking into the finest restaurant you’ve ever seen, and when you sit down to eat the maitre-de tells us, “Your meal is on the house tonight, and every day after this. Choose the finest entrees, select from our excellent wine list. It is all just for you.” A little glimpse of heaven? Yes! In heaven you won’t hunger and thirst, because God will provide the banquet Isaiah described: "a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines" (Isaiah 25:6).

 

6.       Sixth? Sun won’t beat on them. 7. Seventh? No scorching heat.

 

After 7 years in Houston, my family and I can appreciate benefits #6&7. If we left the house from June-August, we experienced scorching, sweltering heat. We waited for October and the first cool breeze after the furnace heat of summer. Not in heaven—no more sunburn and no more scorching heat!

 

8.       Eighth? Lamb will be their shepherd.

 

Strange picture, isn’t it? The Lamb becomes the shepherd. We will finally get to meet the Good Shepherd who said, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28).

 

9.       Ninth? He will lead them to living waters.

 

What kind of water is in your refrigerator? Distilled? Purified? Vitamin enriched? Can any of them guarantee you will live forever? Jesus’ water can. He calls it “Life Water.” One taste and we have eternal life. He fills us with his Word. He comes to us in bread and wine. He promises, “For you.” Eat, drink, and live!

 

10.   The 10^th? God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

 

What brings tears to your eyes? The answer would depend on the people I ask. Someone who has just been to a funeral would say, “Death.” Someone who is on time-out would say, “Having to go to my room.” A pregnant mom might answer, “Everything!” Not in heaven. Every reason for us to cry tears of sorrow and sadness will be gone, replaced with incredible, perfect joy. In Psalm 16 Saint David wrote, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11). No more tears!

 

Lord, I want to be in that number. Thanks to Jesus we’re ready. He washed us in Baptism and took away our sins. He has given us his Word to learn and study. For these 16 teens, Jesus has been working on them for the past 14 years. Don’t stop now. Keep marching with the saints here at Salem. Keep studying, keep worshiping, and keep working together to share the good news with others. Keep marching, and one day we’ll all be dancing together in the presence of the Lamb, Jesus himself! Amen.

 

To God alone the glory! Pastor Jon Brohn