With God All Things Are Possible

Well, that was easily remedied.  I took my bible from my briefcase and read to her.  I noticed, that she took considerable interest in the word of God, which, in general, one can unfortunately find seldom among our countrymen.  We talked about nothing but Jesus Christ and his glorious Gospel during the entire three-hour trip.  We had something to eat together, as I shared my sandwich with this woman, who was a total stranger to me only an hour before.  I asked her, if I could pray to God for his blessing on this meal.  She agreed to this right away, and while I was still praying, she started to cry.  She then asked me surprised and inwardly still deeply moved: “Please tell me, what kind of a person are you, and what kind of power do you have?  I have lived five years already in Switzerland, and during this time I have continually suffered from depression and  feelings of anxiety.  But since you are with me, I feel suddenly so free, such as I have not felt in years”.

I then explained to her, that I did not feel this power of which she spoke.  However, when she felt it, as she expressed it, then this power could only be that of Jesus Christ in me, because it is written in the Gospel of John, that out of those who believe on Jesus Christ, streams of living water will flow.  Thereupon she instinctively grabbed  my bible, that I had still open in my hand and pressed it against her breast!  Then she kissed the bible.

That really moved me, and in the first moment I thought, that I should have taken a simpler and less expensive bible with me on this trip.  But I had only a very expensive bible with gilt edging and leather cover with me.  That caused me momentarily some embarrassment.  Also, I had to preach that evening and for that I would very much like to have my own bible with marginal notes.  But the internal indecision did not last long. I quickly decided, in spite of these considerations, to give this young woman from a foreign country exactly this bible.  And I was very happy, especially when I saw her accept this bible with such glowing happiness.  Still deeply stirred, she promised me, that she would read the entire book.

Our ways parted in Cologne.  Unfortunately, I did not write the address down of this woman.  Thus I could not follow what kind of fruit the seeds of God’s word, that were sown in this Buddhist woman, possibly may have brought.  I can imagine, however, that it should bring a practitioner of the Buddhist religion to think, when she suddenly finds out, when she reads the Holy Scriptures of the Christians, that the redemption of people is really much simpler, than she has been taught.  Buddha teaches namely, the arduous and thorny way of self-redemption, while God, through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, freely offers the grace of redemption to everyone through faith alone.  Buddha had to realize at the end of his life: “I did not make it…”, while Jesus said from the cross: “It is finished!”