Take the Vaccine!
“Q: Would Jesus get a Covid vaccine?
A: Since Jesus is the ‘Great Physician,’ the answer is a resounding ‘Yes.’ Jesus would get the Covid vaccine. In fact, He’s open a vaccination center and have the disciples vaccinate as many people as possible, starting with the poor, the sick, refugees, and Samaritans.”
The above meme was posted by a Facebook group called “The Christian Left.” An interesting discussion followed, including some speculation about whether or not our incarnate Lord would be capable of being sickened by the virus, and whether or not His omniscience would make it impossible for Him to be a carrier.
But as the group’s name suggests, the real intent is to get Jesus to bless a Leftist political position, given that the vaccine has become a highly divisive political football. The Christian Left decided to dust off the old “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelet and practice some Christological speculation and eisegesis.
I decided to weigh in:
The real Jesus does even better: He offers the Medicine of Immortality. Even if the vaccine works, you still die. The mortality rate is 100%. Our Lord comes to us to give us eternal life: “Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:54).
His disciples are still distributing this Medicine today. In fact, we never stopped.
You don’t have to speculate about what Jesus would do. Just look at what he does.
This point should be received universally among Christians, no matter where one stands on the Covid vaccine. The reference to the “Medicine of Immortality” comes from St. Ignatius of Antioch’s Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter 20.
The moderator of the group replied:
Just curious. Does this mean that you are for or against people getting vaccines.
The fact of the matter is that I didn’t mention the Covid vaccine at all. I wanted to point to the greater and more eternal ramifications of what it means that Jesus is the Great Physician. He doesn’t just inoculate us against a narrow strain of Coronavirus, rather He cures us from death itself. For that is what our Great Physician does.
I replied:
I am for people getting the vaccine of the Word of God and His holy, life-giving sacraments. I have committed my life to offering this vaccine “for the life of the world.” But I only offer it. I preach and teach. I would not compel people even if I had the power of the state. Jesus calls, He does not compel. I would love all to receive the Medicine of Immortality, but not all take our Lord up on this vaccine.
My interlocutor replied by deleting everything that I wrote and blocking me from posting to the site.
He later posted this:
Anti-vaxxers are not welcome on The Christian Left. Please exit the page. Thanks.
Of course, I said nothing about the Covid vaccine, pro or con. I simply pointed out that our Lord Jesus Christ offers something infinitely greater than temporary medical care on this side of the grave. Rather, He offers us His Word and Sacraments as the antidote to death itself. Our discourse has become so politicized that not only are healthcare discussions completely spoiled by poltical partisanship, so too is even discussing Jesus and salvation itself.
My interlocutor stopped up his ears because of his perception that I would not give a “loyalty oath” one way or the other regarding the Covid vaccination. And that was enough to cancel our Lord’s own words about the vaccination He offers, : an eternal vaccination that prevents everlasting death, and cures us from the very thing that results in 100% of us dying: sin.
A Facebook friend named David Clapper, who I assume is a Lutheran layman, commented on my Facebook page with a wise and astute citation from Dr. Luther’s Large Catechism, applying the label “medicine” to Holy Baptism - and I am grateful for his reminder of this poignant quote:
For consider, if there were somewhere a physician who understood the art of saving men from dying, or, even though they died, of restoring them speedily to life, so that they would thereafter live forever, how the world would pour in money like snow and rain, so that because of the throng of the rich no one could find access! But here in Baptism there is brought free to every one’s door such a treasure and medicine as utterly destroys death and preserves all men alive. (LC IV:43)
So no matter what one believes about the Covid vaccine and whether one should receive it or not, and regardless of whether one is politically Left, Right, or something else, anyone who describes himself by the adjective “Christian” should agree that the greatest vaccine of all is Christ and His free gift of eternal life. And we Lutherans - along with the other historic communions within the Church that predate the Reformation, all believe, teach, and confess that our Lord carries out His healing as our Great Physician by offering a vaccination that comes to us packaged sacramentally.
Take the vaccine!