Do Not Fear
A sermon preached by Pastor Zill on St. Matthew 10:5a, 21–33 at Alive in Christ Lutheran Church in Marana, AZ on June 25, 2023, Pentecost 4 and The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Today on this fourth Sunday after Pentecost we are also celebrating the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession on June 25, 1530, a day almost 500 years ago, 493 to be precise, when Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, and other German leaders of the Church put their lives at risk so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be heard loud and clear again. The message was too important for them to remain silent. It was too important to compromise. It was time to confess, to proclaim the truth of Jesus’ Good News, the truth of God’s Word and let the chips fall where they may.
And don’t think this wasn’t a matter of life and death. As Margrave George the Confessor, a signer of the Augsburg Confession, said to the Emperor, “Before I would deny my God and His Gospel, I would rather kneel down before your Imperial Emperor and let you cut off my head.”
Wow! What a moment . . . but better yet, what freedom, the freedom that comes by faith in Jesus alone, a confession that is worth it. Of course, in that moment, those who confessed the teachings of the Augsburg Confession were doing what the Church has always done down through the ages—they were “saying the same thing that Jesus Christ had spoken in His Word” because their very lives, and the lives of all who believe, depended on it.
While George the Confessor didn’t lose his head, many who confess Christ have lost theirs since that time, and the persecution on our homeland has often come in much more subtle forms. But if you consider just the last couple of years, and the freedoms and cultural norms that have been eroded, I’m not so sure that we aren’t heading straightway for a complete persecution of Christians in this country.
I pray that such doesn’t happen, and as our Lord tells us in today’s Gospel, we should certainly not be surprised. We must be prepared for anything. Yes, anything.
You know, as it is said, sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. So the childhood saying goes. But I found it to be hollow, when I was teased as a child. Names hurt, though. The ridicule of man has an effect on man, or else the ridiculer wouldn't do it, right?
Jeremiah knew it in our OT lesson. He says he was a “laughingstock” and even his close friends denounced him. Christians know it today, too, as even our own family members can mock our faith. “Oh, you're not one of THOSE people, are you?”
And sometimes, verbal scorn can turn to action. Christians throughout the world often bear the brunt of persecution that does bring sticks and stones, and breaks your bones. Jewish tradition was that Jeremiah was stoned to death in Egypt. We know for sure that the first Christian martyr, Stephen, was stoned to death. And many Christians, to this day, die for the faith. It seems we read more of it in the news every day. We’ve always known this, but the difference is the feels even closer to home now. Perhaps dozens of Christian pastors are imprisoned in Canada for the crimes of such things as peacefully protesting against abortion, parental consent for transgendered youth, and drag queen story times at elementary schools and public libraries. And if those don’t seem bad enough, how about this one? Holding outdoor services during COVID.
Don’t be surprised, folks.
We certainly ought to pray for the persecuted church, especially that they remain faithful “even unto death,” and receive the promised crown of life. Even when we are not persecuted to death, still, there are crosses to bear. Still, your faith doesn't solve all your problems, make your life easy and successful, or chase all the clouds away with bright shiny rainbows (and yes, I mean that term in the manner in which God intended it be used). You may well suffer for Christ, for your faith, for the truth – even if you don't suffer unto death.
Of course, this shouldn’t surprise us, really. Do you think you are any better than Jesus? They called Him the devil, Beelzebul. Yes, we see God foreshadowing all of this in the way His Son was received. They mocked Him and treated Him shamefully. They accused the eternal Son of God of being the Devil. They stripped and whipped and beat and spit on Him. They crowned Him with thorns in a sham coronation. They gave Him a scepter and royal robe to kneel down in false worship. Sticks and stones? They put Him on two sticks to die, and He was buried behind a big stone.
Truly, dear friends in Christ, a servant is not greater than the master. The world hated Him. The world hates you, too, because you bear His name. What Jesus got, you will get too, somehow, some way, sooner or later. I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the hard truth that God’ s word puts in front of us today. And therefore, we preach what Luther called a “theology of the cross”, not a “theology of glory”.
Why? Because the question remains: Are you better than Jesus? No. Far worse, each of you is a sinner. I hardly know any of you, and I know that’s true. Of course, you can also say the same thing about me.
And the good news is not that Jesus takes all the suffering away in your life. The good news is that He has taken your sin away. The good news is not that Jesus makes your life necessarily better, or even good, for now. The good news is that Jesus has swallowed up death in his victory, and brings you abundant life.
And this ultimately is what our sole focus should be as Christ’s church, in whatever we do. And this is why the confessors were not willing to budge 493 years ago. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ stands in the midst of all that is wrong and broken and perverted and dying in this world – and speaks a contrary word of hope, that even though you die, yet shall you live. “He who lives and believes in me,” Jesus says, “will never die.”
So have no fear, Jesus says. No fear of the persecutor, no fear of the oppressor, no fear of the enemy. Even the one who can destroy your body. For the Lord knows His people, even the hairs on your head. He who knows every time a sparrow dies, and He knows and values you far more than a sparrow.
Dear friends, Jesus knows your aches and your pains, and your suffering. Jesus knows all suffering. And He will not forsake you in it. Do not fear, Jesus told his disciples this in advance and today He is telling you. You already know what is out there: a world that hates Christians and a devil that would like nothing more than to devour us - to see us turn from God in despair, to shake our fist at the heavens in anger, and join the true Beelzebul's company of misery. But have no fear, the Evil One can harm you none. He's judged, the deed is done. Christ has the victory, even when it looks like we are defeated.
And do not fear. Jesus will confess you before His Father. He will say, “Father, this one belongs to me. And so this one belongs to you. I have shed my blood for this one. I have conquered death so this one might live. The world hates this one, but this one I love. The world has called this one all sorts of names, but I have called this one by my name. This one is baptized in your name, Father, and mine, and the Spirit's. These are ours forever.”
No, you are not better than Jesus. But Jesus is far better than you and I, thanks be to God, for that and for this truth – that what is His, is ours. His suffering, yes, in which we participate. He had His cross, and we have our crosses. But we also share in His righteousness, His holiness, His resurrection and His victory. God will not abandon us any more than He would abandon His own Son. He says it and it is so. God does not lie. And that is true comfort, even in the midst of suffering and persecution, including that which we are increasingly facing.
Do not fear. He is coming again, dear saints, and until that time He has not left us forsaken. He remains among us by his word, and in the blessings of His holy meal. His true body and blood are present for our forgiveness, and to strengthen us in all the trials and crosses we bear.
And even by receiving this sacrament, we proclaim Him – and His death, until He comes.
So dear loved ones, whatever we must face now and in the future, in the face of sickness, cancer, disease and yes even persecution, keep your confession, even if you lose your head. Do not fear. In the face of this world which always appears to be falling apart at the seams, keep your confession, hold fast, confess God and the truth of His Word, and do not fear.
God’s love for you is unquestionable. He has sent His Son to suffer and die for you. He has forgiven your sins. As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed your sins from you. Don’t believe me, Your Father in heaven is about to do that for you, even here, even now, through the body and blood of His Son.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.