The Sunday of Confession (G)

Matthew 8:14-22

¹⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. ¹⁶ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. ¹⁹ And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” ²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ²¹ Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ²² And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

There are many who tell us they are willing to follow us, but often times they are really only willing to go so far. There are many people today who call themselves "spiritual" but not "religious", because they are only willing to go so far. There are many people who are willing to say they are Christian, but not confess a creed or ally themselves to any confession of faith. There are many who might even say they are Lutheran but barely know what that means.

Jesus Christ throughout his ministry has crowds following him. Most of the time he can barely move around because people press in around him. Some people are looking for healing, other people just want to get a good look at him. But here a few people desire to actually follow him.

Jesus has a different comment given directly to each of them. Jesus wants to make sure they are not in it for the stature or place in the world. Jesus also wants to make sure they are not in it as a way to run away from something, or another wild idea of youth. Jesus has in mind people who will truly give up everything and follow him.

This means giving up our emotions which drive us in many different directions. This means giving up our family and friends who might lead us into false teaching. This means leaving behind all preconceived notions or doctrines. People need to place their trust in God. We need to be willing to listen to God, in everything he says. We do not allow for Logic or Reason to pollute the word of God.

But we confess the Word of God and repeat back to Jesus what he has already told us. Jesus Christ has already told us the truth. He has revealed it to us through his teaching. He has also revealed to us his power to heal each of us. He has revealed, his power of redemption to all who believe.