Reformation Sunday (Sermon)

Confessed the Resurrection

John 11:17-28

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is on this day that we celebrate many different events. We remember Martin Luther posting of the Ninety-Five Theses on the Castle Church at Wittenberg. These Theses were to refute practices in the Catholic Church, which Luther recognized to be wrong. We also remember Luther’s bold statement at the Diet of Worms, where Luther was called upon to recant of his writings. There he made the confession “Here I Stand.” Likewise, we can recall the Lutheran Princes standing before their Emperor Charles V. They boldly presented at Augsburg what is now referred to as the Augsburg Confession. This with several other documents make up what we call the Lutheran Confessions.

We celebrate and remember these things as the beginning of the Reformation. In each of these cases the people, the church, and the government are asked to answer Jesus' question. In John 11, Jesus boldly states who he is and asks Martha one simple question. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Each time Luther was asked to recant or deny, it was like Jesus asking Martha, "Do you believe this?" Luther boldly confessed, "Yes, Lord." Just as we are still asked this same question today. 

Do you believe Jesus Christ is true God and true man? "Yes, Lord." Do you believe all humans are conceived and born sinful? "Yes, Lord." Do believe God created the heavens and the earth in Six 24 hour days? "Yes, Lord." Is it a sin to disrespect those in authority over you? "Yes, Lord." Are we supposed to love our enemies? "Yes, Lord." Has God spoken about homosexuality as an abomination and sin? "Yes, Lord." Are we to talk bad about our neighbors as long as they are not around? "Yes, Lord." Oh, wait that one is actually a No. Likewise, we are not to steal, or covet our neighbor's property. 

Jesus does not ask Martha all of these questions. He focuses on what he himself is doing, and will continue to do for his people. He is much more focused on: do you believe Jesus Christ has died in your place and for your sins? "Yes, Lord." Do you believe Christ is risen as the first fruits of your resurrection? "Yes, Lord." As we have been connected with Christ's death and resurrection in our baptism. 

We can very easily often times place ourselves in the roll of Martha. We say,  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." We recognize death to be the enemy. We likewise see Jesus as the one who stands in opposition to death. But we can not see the immediacy of Christ's victory. Martha even confesses, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” If Jesus told you “Your brother will rise again” today, you would be able to repeat Martha's words at any funeral. But Jesus does have something greater in store for this brother. Jesus is going to show the glory of God. We will have to wait a couple of weeks to hear the glorious story, but here we remember the confession of Martha's faith in the face of death.

Martha was not facing her own death, but she was faced with the death of her brother. If remember from all those superhero movies, you always want to find who they love. You capture that individual and use killing them against them. Think of Luther not having Katie while he posts the 95 Theses. He is not even married yet when he stands at the Diet of Worms. But Luther after marrying Katie does not journey to Augsburg, but faithfully trusts the princes to yield  their own heads for the confession of the true faith.

Luther stands up to confess with Martha. The Princes of Germany stand up to confess with Martha. Martin Chemnitz stands up to confess with Martha. Even Thomas will stand up and confess with Martha. We today as we confess the creed, and publicly confess at the Altar, will join with these and many others who have said, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.