Tour of Luther’s Germany: July 16

Pastor Terri is leading a tour of Luther’s Germany and she is offering devotions to go along with the trip. You can experience the trip while being at home, and we’ll share the devotions here each day.

Saturday, July 16, 2022: Berlin, Wittenberg

Our tour begins in Berlin, gathering at our hotel as tour participants arrive throughout the morning. Our afternoon includes a bus tour of Berlin, including a photo stop at the Brandenburg Gate.

A bit of history

Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg built up the city at the end of the 17th century. The Edict of Potsdam on October 29, 1685 opened the gates for vast immigration. By 1871, Berlin’s population had reached one million and had become known internationally as a major leader in science, the arts, and government. But by the end of World War II, one third of Berlin’s buildings had been destroyed, its population had decreased by more than 1 million, and its Jewish population by more than 150,000. After the war, Berlin was split into four occupation sectors divided among Great Britain, France, the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The three western sectors became a city-state and split from the eastern sector, with Berlin at its core. The Berlin Wall went up in August 1961, sealing the division of the city into east and west for three decades. On November 9, 1989, the Wall was suddenly opened, and Germany again became one unified nation, spurring dramatic growth and rebirth.

Luther on the Jews

Three years before his death, Luther wrote a pamphlet entitled “On the Jews and Their Lies” in which he is blatantly antisemitic, advocating setting fire to their synagogues, destroying their houses, and even confiscating their prayer books and money. This is a stark contradiction from his commitment to religious liberty and is contrary to what he had previously written about the Jews. We do not know why Luther wrote this pamphlet, nor do we in any way support its content. This pamphlet was later used by Hitler to justify the Holocaust, a reality for which we, as Lutherans, grieve. Lutherans do not worship Martin Luther. He was a flawed human being who was bound by time and space. Sometimes he was courageous in speaking the truth in the face of evil, but sometimes, he was the face of evil. Repentance and lament are in order.

Reflection

One cannot visit this region of Germany without facing the horrific events of the Holocaust. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a stark reminder of the evil of Hitler and the 3^rd Reich. Below this haunting memorial is an underground “Place of Information”, holding the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims. Keeping such suffering in mind, today’s Bible verse is a lament Psalm, one which would have been on the hearts and minds of faithful Jews throughout history.

Reflection Verse Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope

My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.

Reflection Questions

How have times of lament (expressing grief and sorrow to God) shaped your faith? In times of suffering, where have you experienced God’s presence? How can you be the strength and presence of God to those who are in distress?

Forgiveness is closely tied to healing. Corrie Ten Boom hid Dutch Jews in her home from the Nazis, until she was arrested and held in a number of concentration camps, where both her father and sister died. She went on to tell her story of faith and forgiveness.

Corrie herself was put to the test in 1947 while speaking in a Munich church.

At the close of the service, a balding man in a gray overcoat stepped forward to greet her. Corrie froze. She knew this man well; he’d been one of the most vicious guards at Ravensbrück, one who had mocked the women prisoners as they showered. “It came back with a rush,” she wrote, “the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man.”

And now he was pushing his hand out to shake hers, and saying:

“A fine message, Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!”

And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course — how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face to face with one of my captors, and my blood seemed to freeze.

“You mentioned Ravensbrück in your talk,” he was saying. “I was a guard there… But since that time,” he went on, “I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein” — again the hand came out —“will you forgive me?”

And I stood there — I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven — and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place — could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

The soldier stood there expectantly, waiting for Corrie to shake his hand. She “wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. For I had to do it — I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us.”

Standing there before the former S.S. man, Corrie remembered that forgiveness is an act of the will — not an emotion. “Jesus, help me!” she prayed. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.”

Corrie thrust out her hand.

And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

“I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart.”

For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then. But even so, I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit.”¹

¹Corrie ten Boom, with Jamie Buckingham, Tramp for the Lord. (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1975), 217–218.

How does such forgiveness inspire you to forgive?

Where we’re staying: Luther-Hotel Wittenberg

A look ahead ~

After travelling on Saturday evening, we go back in time visiting Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, about 1 ½ hours from Berlin. After a morning free to worship (in German), our tour of Luther sites will begin.

Candid photos from Berlin