David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Questions Angels Ask

John 20:11-13

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

Light Streaming In
Light Streaming In

Angels don’t often ask questions. But when they do, they betray a profound grasp of spiritual reality and truth. You might imagine this question, “Woman, why are you weeping?” to be a sympathetic move, inviting Mary to pour out her heart and express her sadness at the death of Jesus. One would not be surprised to find a person weeping in a cemetery. The reason would be obvious: she is weeping because she lost a loved one.

But consider another interpretation of this interchange. Angels are invisible creatures constantly doing the bidding of God. Their realm is that of the perfect expression of the will of God. They have an eternal perspective. From the angels’ perspective everything is heading in the right direction now. An angel has sat on the tombstone that once covered the entrance into Jesus’ borrowed tomb! They know Jesus is alive. The sun will soon come up. The day will unfold as the day of ultimate victory over sin, Satan, and death. The angels know this. Mary’s grief is without cause; Jesus is alive. In mere moments she will encounter him in his resurrected glory. Her grief will be turned to joy.

Perhaps they just don’t understand Mary’s slowness to believe. Are we are holding onto grief, shame, guilt, or defeat that has no foundation in the perfect expression of the will of God? God’s will is for our eternal salvation, spiritual freedom, joyous service, ultimate wholeness, and abundant life. Angels know that God’s will will be done. They simply don’t understand (so to speak) any failure on our part to live out our part in the will of God on earth. After all God’s will is perfectly done in heaven. The angel’s question is an invitation to take a second look at the reality of God’s good and perfect will, and to put ourselves in the middle of it. That is a place of perfect and holy joy.

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