Christ and the Repentant Sinners
Christ and Repentant Sinners by Peter Paul Rubens, 1618, can be seen at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, Germany. (Courtesy Photo)
Special to United Methodist Insight | Aug. 18, 2025
I officiated at many funerals during my 43 years as a pastor, and a few since retirement. Serving families during their time of grief is a great privilege.
One funeral service that stands out in memory was that of Dorothy Kraemer of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Dorothy was a long-time faithful member of Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church. This story, written in her own words, was read at her memorial service at the church on September 1, 1995.
Dorothy wrote: “One evening when I was 26 years old, beleaguered by guilt for acknowledged sins, I was deep into an hour-long prayer of repentance. In despair, I grieved that I had broken the commandments and that I was not worthy of God's love.
“Near me lay the Bible, unused and unfamiliar. I had never, ever read from the Bible. Yet my hands reached out and took the Bible to open it. I knew not where, nor why. But my hands knew the way. They opened to John 15:9-11, and as my eyes began to read, my mind knew the meaning with clarity. My eyes read verse 10 first:
“ ‘If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.’
“Next I saw verse 9:
“ ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.’
“Then I continued with verse 11:
“ ‘I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.’
“Even as I was assimilating this message, I became distinctly aware of a Presence. I marveled at this feeling and my awareness became intense. Fearing that the Presence would not be real, I dared to lift my eyes from the Bible. The Presence remained and lifted my spirit until I felt an inner gladness that was wonderful.
“The Presence itself was vague and human-size. I could not see it, though I looked directly at it and knew it was there. The effect of the Presence was all around me. Still testing the reality, I looked at the Bible and read the verses of John 15:9-11 again. I tried to read verses 12 and 13 or verse 8, then verse 12 again, but those words were blurred to my vision. My eyes could see only verses 9, 10, and 11, so I reread these verses again in the order they had been presented to me, to accept and instill what I recognized as an answer to my prayers. And still the Presence was around me, absolute. I knew it was Jesus, absolutely.
“My perception of the Presence remained with me for several minutes after Jesus was gone. My conception of joy was sustained. This event changed my life. I never again have questioned whether I am forgiven. I feel secure in God's love. I trust the Spirit of Jesus' presence. I believe and trust in prayer. I try to have my prayers include listening. I live life with a comprehension of the wonder.
“As I have read and studied the Bible in the many years beyond this episode, the same message seems clearly evident for all who read to see, for those who pray to know, and for all who love to be.
“Through some years of spiritual drought, when I searched in vain for relief in prayer, and through a long depression when I liked myself less and less, I never did lose my faith. That in itself is part of the wonder. I remember the Presence I knew and the gift message I had received.
“We can know God loves us. We can trust God hears our prayers. We can feel the presence of Jesus, and so we can live in joy.”
Dorothy Kraemer’s story appears in John Sumwalt’s book, Vision Stories: True Accounts of Visions, Angels, and Healing Miracles.
John Sumwalt
John Sumwalt is a retired United Methodist pastor, a storyteller, and the author of “How to Preach the Miracles.”