Be Ready to Confess Jesus
Matthew 10:26-33
October 1, 2017
Be ready to confess Jesus in season and out of season. That is the theme for this LWML Sunday. That doesn’t sound too difficult. Here, inside thos Mighty Fortress we call Redeemer, we can confess Jesus with ease and joy. We can declare what Jesus has given to Heidi Donna Gottwalt in her baptism. He has given her His death and His resurrection. He showered and washed her with the forgiveness of her sin. He has redeemed her from death and the devil.
But do you know what is going to happen to Heidi and why she needs our prayers? Her parents are going to teach her the Christian faith. She will learn that the only true God is the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. She will be taught that God created the world in six days, that all of us have the same grandparents – Adam and Eve. She will marvel at Noah’s ark and wonder how all the animals got along. She will be amazed to learn that God’s Son wore a diaper and was laid in a manger after He was born to His mother Mary. She will be sad and at the same time rejoice when she hears that Jesus carried her sins to the cross, that He died so she could live. She will learn that “Alleluia” signals the resurrection of Christ. Then one day, after her ears have heard all that, she will open her mouth and confess Jesus and that’s when she will meet the same enemies her Lord has.
Solomon confessed Jesus in today’s Old Testament reading. His blessing could be spoken at most civic functions in the United States until he says “Know that the Lord is God; there is no other.” That would get him banned. Saint Paul was imprisoned in Rome twice and killed once for confessing Jesus. When Martin Luther began to criticize the church of his day for selling salvation when Christ had already bought forgiveness and wanted it given away freely – the Pope excommunicated him and the Emperor declared him a heretic and put a price on his head. Did you read last Sunday’s editorial in the Times? The editorial board wrote that the source of hatred in Saint Cloud and Central Minnesota is Christians, particularly those Christians who invite speakers who contrast the teaching of Islam to the teaching of Scripture.
Jesus promised his followers (that’s us) that this would happen “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matthew 10:24–25, ESV) They called Jesus Beelzebul – Lord of the Flies – Lord of the manure pile because that is where the flies gather. So don’t be surprised when you are called names.
The world dwells in the darkness of sin and death and needs the light of Jesus. That is why Jesus tells His disciples, “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:27–28, ESV)
Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, we have learned that we live in a hidden Kingdom. It is a Kingdom revealed by God’s Word in our ears, but not seen with our eyes. Jesus’ greatest victory was in defeat at the cross. His army was filled with cowards. He fought unseen enemies – the old sinful nature, death, and the devil. A few eye witnesses were fortunate enough to see our King walk this earth and record His brief and visible reign. They saw Him work miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, die on a cross, and rise three days later, but we who believe now, have never seen Him. Everything He gives us is hidden from our sight and revealed to our ears.
What did you see in Heidi’s baptism this morning? Saint Cloud tap water poured on an infant’s head. What you didn’t see was the angels in heaven rejoicing over one sinner who was brought to faith in Jesus and made God’s child. What have you seen in church this morning? The same old preacher you’ve seen for almost two decades – not much to see there. You’re probably tired of his jokes, know all his stories, and can guess where his sermon is going next. But through him (whoever he happens to be) God opens heaven to you by divorcing you from your sins and separating them from you as far is the east is from the west. All of that because your sins were wed to God’s Son when He hung on the cross 2000 years ago.
When I visit our shut-ins they often tell me how much they miss being in church and receiving the Lord’s Supper weekly. Really? What do your eyes behold on that altar? A little wafer and a sip of wine – yet you have heard and you believe it is the true body and blood of Christ and the only food that will keep you alive for all eternity. This is a heavenly and yet unseen meal.
But a day is coming when you will see what you believe. On the last day you will see the angels rejoicing over your baptism. Your body will be free of every sinful desire and every physical affliction – no more arthritis, alzheimers, allergies. You will see Jesus face to face. You will behold the saints who have gone before us. On that day this little congregation will be part of a multitude that no one can number. You will witness the gates of hell slammed shut with the Devil and his hordes forever locked away – no more temptation, evil, wickedness, suffering, death, tears.
This is the reason Jesus calls us to confess. You cannot see this Kingdom. You can only believe in it through the Word of God. The world needs our confession. Solomon blessed Israel in the hopes that the entire world would know that the Lord is God, and there is no other. Jesus told His disciples to confess and acknowledge Him before others. Paul told Timothy to preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season. Why? Why did they confess? Why do we? Because Jesus isn’t for me alone and you alone – He is for the whole world. The blood of God was not just shed for Germans. It was shed for the Swedes too, even the Norwegians. God wants the Somalians and the Nigerians to enjoy eternal life. He wants us to see the Saudis and the Navajo in resurrection.
The confession of Jesus is offensive. It might be offensive to you. Your enemy, the person you think is a threat to your way of life, is a soul for whom Christ Jesus died. That’s one side of the offense of the Gospel – the Gospel is inclusive. Christ Jesus died for all.
The other side of the confession is also offensive – Christ Jesus died for all. The God of Holy Scripture isn’t one god among many or one revelation among many revelations of God. Most people don’t stumble over the love of God for all. They stumble over the way in which God loves – in Jesus alone, in the cross alone. Jesus’ death is offensive because He alone, God’s only begotten Son, is the only One whose blood could atone for the sin of the world. Mohammed didn’t die for anyone except his own sins. Allah doesn’t die for you. Vishnu doesn’t die for you. No other prophet or god dies for you. Jesus alone died for sinners and that means He died for you. The only way to escape death and hell is Him. That’s great news which we believe and believing we confess confident of what Jesus has promised. “Whoever acknowledges me before men I will acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”
Today we celebrate that the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League has for 75 years been ready to confess Jesus. Do the math. When did the LWML start? During World War 2. They saw the darkness in the world. Americans couldn’t believe that less than two decades after the Great War the world was at war again. So 100 women met in Chicago and 28 delegates formed the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League to help and support our Synod’s mission work around the world. In their 75 year history the women of the LWML have given more than $100 million in mites to support LCMS missions right next door and around the world. They also, as Christ calls us, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give from their abundance to their needy neighbors. You might not even know all they do here at Redeemer and in Saint Cloud at places like Good Shepherd and the Anna Marie shelter.
Why are they and we ready to confess Jesus? Because our salvation and the world’s salvation is only in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
September 30, 2017 anno Domini