+ Festival of the Reformation (observed) – October 27th, 2024 +
Revelation 14:6-7; Romans 3:19-28; Matthew 11:12-19
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
If I asked you to draw a picture of the Church what would you draw? A towering gothic cathedral? A small wooden country church? Perhaps a beautiful A-frame design?
Maybe you take out your hands and say the old rhyme: here’s the church, look at the steeple, open the doors and see all the people.
These are all good images, each communicating something important about the Church. But the image that comes to mind when I read this Matthew text was an army outpost, or a Forward Operating Base – maybe something in the Kerengal Valley or Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
There’s a reason our church theologians call our life in this world as Christians living in the church militant. From the moment those baptismal words and water hit your ears and are poured upon your forehead – from the moment God works faith in your hearts by his Spirit – we are on the front lines and in the fox hole and surrounded by enemies. Death. Sin. Satan – don’t abide by peace treaties. There’s no cease fire. No pity. No mercy. No quarter. Not a day goes by where we’re left without a reminder that we live behind enemy lines.
That’s the image of the Church Jesus gives us in Matthew 11 this morning, an outpost of heaven on earth, an embassy of God’s grace and forgiveness in a world of sin and death, an outpost of peace in a world of violence: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men try to take it by force.
Jesus’ words – about the words and work of John the Baptist – remind us that when Christ builds his church, he doesn’t put it in the green zone. He doesn’t build it far away from the front lines or deep in a doomsday bunker. Out of touch. Out of sight. Out of the battle. No. He builds it right up against the gates of hell, and throws us into a daily combat.
John knew this battle well. In his day, the kingdom of heaven he preached suffered violence at the hands of Herod and Herodias’ daughter. Herod’s violent men and one particularly violent young woman – tried to take the kingdom of heaven by force by silencing the prophet. But even though they succeeded in removing his head they could not stop John’s preaching because his preaching was not of Herod’s kingdom, but Christ’s. and no matter how much violence the kingdoms of this world throw at Christ’s Church, his kingdom always prevails.
John may have thought he was alone in Herod’s dungeon. But he wasn’t. Jesus reminds him of that. He is the Messiah whose way John prepared. Not only that, the Scripture is full of patriarchs and prophets who witnessed the kingdom of God suffer violence.
In the days of Adam and Eve, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence as God’s creatures committed treason against their Creator. In the days of Noah, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence as the whole earth lived in rebellion, where every thought of the heart was only evil continually.
In the days of the Exodus, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence, as God’s people were enslaved under Pharaoh, and later enslaved in the wilderness in their own idolatry. In the days of the Judges the kingdom of heaven suffered violence because everyone did what was right in their own eyes. In the days of the prophets, the kingdom of heaven suffered violence as God’s people rejected his word and his ways and his promises again and again and again.
And on this Reformation Sunday, we’re reminded that in Luther’s day the kingdom of heaven suffered violence as well. In January of 1521, Luther was excommunicated. Named an enemy of the state and church. Later he was kidnapped for his protection and taken to Wartburg castle for a time…all for preaching against indulgences. And for preaching that the kingdom of heaven comes not by works and self-righteousness, but by the righteousness freely given by Christ’s death, and by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Luther spent the rest of his life under the threat of death. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent try to take it by force. Violence always comes to those who hold the Gospel, and cling to the good news of Jesus justifying sinners.
That’s how you can always find the church…look for blood. Blood of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles. The blood of the martyrs. And above all, the blood of Jesus who builds his church on his dying and rising and promises that even the gates of hell cannot withstand when Christ our Captain leads the charge against Sin, Death, and Satan.
Here we are, a little over 500 years after the days of Luther and the Reformation we celebrate today. And still the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and violent men try and take it by force. The kingdom of heaven here on earth has suffered the violence of communism and fascism and tyrants – yet still she survives. The kingdom of heaven suffers the violence of persecution and mockery – yet she cannot be snuffed out. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence from those who trade the Gospel of Christ crucified for sinners for a political or social justice platform.
To our eyes – and the eyes of many in the world – it might seem as though the church is dying. Experts and researchers will quote all kinds of data and statistics to that effect. And yet, says G.K. Chesterton, this is nothing new. Christianity has died many times…and risen again, for we have a God who knows his way out of the grave.
The church suffers violence for the same reason John and the prophets and apostles and Luther did. Because of our Lord and King and Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus. Because of the gospel that is proclaimed – “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence. It was true in the Old Testament. It was true in Luther’s day. It’s true in our day. And it was true in Jesus’ day too.
Jesus – the Kingdom of heaven in human flesh – suffered violence as well. Hunted by Herod as a child. Assaulted by Satan in the wilderness. Hounded and plotted against by the Pharisees throughout his ministry. And finally betrayed by his own. Violent men took him by force. Arrested. Falsely accused. Mocked. Beaten. Bruised. Bloodied. And Scourged. Finally, he was hoisted up on a cursed, shameful, tree to suffer the violence of our sin and God’s wrath and death itself.
And yet in that violent sacrifice comes peace. Not the absence of war and violence in this life, but the peace that brings Christ present in our sufferings. Out of that war on the cross comes eternal victory for you. Out of Jesus’ death his life is given to you. Out of his rejection comes your redemption and rescue. Out of his bearing the punishment of the Law for us, comes our free and gracious justification.
Whenever the violence of this world, whenever the sufferings of this life appear as if they will remove you from his hands, rest assured that you are kept safe in the hands of him who suffered violence for you on the cross and rose in victory three days later; and no matter how violently the Sin and Satan rage against you, you are safe in the wounds and hands of Jesus, and no one can snatch you out of his hands.
Though devils all the world should fill,
all eager to devour us,
we tremble not, we fear no ill:
they shall not overpow'r us.
This world's prince may still
scowl fierce as he will,
he can harm us none.
He's judged; the deed is done;
one little word can fell him.
The Word they still shall let remain
nor any thanks have for it;
he's by our side upon the plain
with his good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,
goods, fame, child, and wife,
though all may be gone,
our victory is won;
the kingdom's ours forever!
A blessed festival of the Reformation to each of you…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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