The Cross at the Nuremberg Trials
Date: June 04, 2009 | Author: Albert Kienle
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is three-fold: the Cross is its message, Christ's Ascension (May 21/09) is its authority, and Pentecost (May 31/09) is its enabling/empowering. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer for his/her witness and also the witness of the believer!
Every once in a while a story emerges from past history that powerfully and graphically demonstrates the mighty power of the Cross. This amazing story come from The Lutheran Hour radio ministry, March 22, 2009. The glorious life-giving Cross descends into the deepest pits of degradation and lifts the fallen into the heights and realms of blood-bought forgiveness and new beginnings!
In the Nuremberg trials (1945-1946), an International Military Tribunal tried high Nazi officials for actions committed during World War II that contravened the accepted laws of war. Among the practices condemned were plotting and waging aggressive war, using slave labor, looting occupied countries, and abusing and murdering civilians (especially the Jews) and prisoners of war.
I will step aside, and let the story begin ....
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! The resurrection of the Redeemer is God's great gift of grace which offers forgiveness to those who have committed big sins, as well as small. The Savior's victory over death, the devil, and the evil within us unites all who believe in a great procession which has heaven as its ultimate destination. God grant lost humanity who hears and believes Jesus' personal invitation to "Come, follow Me." Amen.
The above words are quoted from the writings of a Lutheran Chaplain. I will tell you more of his incredibly interesting story directly. For now, I will let him speak. This is what he wrote: "Nearly 2,000 years ago, three crosses were erected at Golgotha. In the midst hung Jesus Christ crucified, the Savior of the world. On either side were crucified two malefactors. One of them in the last moments of his sinful life repented and appealed for pardon, and was transported into paradise. The other died unsaved and passed into eternity. The cross is no longer there, but the value and the preciousness of the (Christ's) perfect work of redemption remain unchanged. Salvation in Christ is still the same for all (seeking) souls as it was in that day. The attitude to the cross decides the eternal destiny. Faith in Jesus and His shed blood gives evidence of sins forgiven. God's merciful hand saves from the place of eternal torment -- those whose faith is in Christ." That ends the quote.
Those words, written more than half-a-century ago, come from the pen of Reverend H.F. Gerecke, Lutheran chaplain to the high Nazi criminals who were being tried at Nurnberg. Chaplain Gerecke had gone on active service in 1943 and for 14 months ministered to the war's sick and wounded. On July 15 he came to Germany and was asked to serve the most infamous of the surviving Nazi leaders. Although he was a man of God, Chaplain Gerecke was still a man. He confessed his concerns before he met with them. He said, "Must I greet these men who (have) had bought such unspeakable suffering on the world, and the cause of the sacrifice of so many millions of lives? My two only sons were also victims of their misdeeds. How should I comport myself before such men so that they would be willing to receive God's word?"
In truth, much of the world would have said these men deserved no mercy, no consideration, no compassion, and certainly no chaplain of the Christ. To those who had lost homes, years, sons and daughters there was no punishment, no penalty, no pain that would have been too harsh for the members of the chaplain's caged congregation. More than a half-century later, their names are still known: there was Hermann Goering, the leader of Germany's Luftwaffe, Field Marshal Keitel who had helped plan the war's blitzkrieg; deceitful Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop, Grand Admiral Raeder who had rebuilt the German Navy, and Grand Admiral Donitz who had created and directed the German U-boat fleet. In the fellowship was Hitler's architect and man-in-charge of the home front, Albert Speer; Wilhelm Frick who controlled Germany's concentration camps, the president of the Reichsbank, Walther Funk; Balder Von Schirach the man who had directed the indoctrination of an entire generation of Hitler Youth; and Fritz Sauckel who had organized the enslavement of millions.
After meeting this rogue's gallery, the chaplain remembered: "The night I passed in prayer, asking God to give me a message for them. These men must hear something of the Savior who suffered and died (also) on the cross for them." Turning to Scripture, the chaplain found God's direction in the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. In the months which followed, the world heard words of public condemnation and accusation, countered by allegations of innocence. Privately, the pastor kept preaching. In brief worship services, with organ accompaniment provided by an ex-SS Lieutenant Colonel, Chaplain Gerecke told these men of war how Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, had sacrificed Himself for the salvation of sinners, all sinners. On October 1, 1946, all that could be said at the trials had been said and verdicts were handed down. For a few of those in the docket there was acquittal; others were sentenced to years, even life, in prison. The worst of the Nazis were told they must die to pay for their considerable crimes against civilization. On October 16, the world held its breath as those who were condemned mounted the steps of their gallows; it listened, and some rejoiced as the guilty were hung.
But Chaplain Gerecke saw something different. During the months of the trial the chaplain had noted the Holy Spirit acting in the lives of some, although not all, of these men. In the presence of death, having lost all things material, including their lives, some came to rely on the promises of God made to lost sinners. Keitel was moved by the Scriptures which spoke of the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus; Sauckel kept praying, "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner." The chaplain overheard Von Ribbentrop ask his wife to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord, and Sauckel encouraged his spouse to take their numerous little ones to the shadow of the Cross of Jesus. Before he died, Frick assured the chaplain that in their simple services he had met Jesus and believed in the cleansing blood of the Lamb.
Now, there is a reason why I have invested so much time telling the story of a World War II chaplain and his Nazi charges. It is not to praise the man; nor to condemn or applaud the court's verdict. I share this story so you may know that what St. Paul wrote to the Christians of Ephesus is true: "By grace we are saved through faith in Jesus. We are saved because of God's undeserved Gift of His Son and not by anything we can do." I shared this story because I want you to know: if the Lord can reach into the hearts of Nazi war criminals; if He can forgive the multitude of their misdeeds and rescue and redeem them from eternal death and damnation, He most certainly can do the same for you and me.
Does not this story recall these precious promises?
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18)
I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles. (Rom. 1:16)
... In (Jesus) name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations. (Luke 24:47)
But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me ... to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Hallelujah for the Cross and the Lamb upon the Throne!!!
