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In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Introduction: When you hear the word “confession” what comes to mind? Confession of sins? Or confession of faith, as in a creed? Or a doctrinal position as in a denomination: “Lutheran Confession, Baptist Confession, Methodist Confession,” etc. Why do you first think of one before the other and how are they different? The word “confession” comes from the Latin confessio = to admit, to acknowledge, to declare. So, confession is the admission and acknowledgment and declaration of our faults as sinners. It can also be the admission and acknowledgment and declaration of our faith as forgiven sinners.
Today is the Feast of the Confession of St. Peter, as announced in the First Reading today. In today’s Gospel, Jesus and His disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi. It was known historically as the site of paganism. In OT times it was likely the site of a shrine for Baal, the false Caananite deity. In the NT era the city was dedicated to Pan, who in Greek mythology was the deity of the wild (i.e, shepherds, flocks, nature, & fertility). He is depicted as part-man with the horns, legs and tail of a goat who was also a companion of the nymphs. This city was given to Herod the Great by Caesar Augustus in 20 BC. He named it Caesarea in honor of Augustus and also built a pagan temple and dedicated it to the Roman Emperor.
After Herod’s death in 4 BC, the kingdom was divided into four smaller territories, ruled by Herod’s three sons and a daughter. His son Philip was one of these Tetrarchs, and renamed the city Caesarea Philippi in honor of Tiberias Caesar and himself. Here in a known pagan region, at the foot of Mount Hermon, and the headwaters of the Jordan, Jesus asks His disciples about His messiahship, saying, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Good job, Peter!
But Peter wasn’t alone in making a good confession. Consider a few other examples: Nathanael, who confessed Jesus: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (Jn 1:49). Martha, even in the midst of her sorrow over the death of her brother, Lazarus, declared: “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (Jn 11:27). And also, Stephen, who confessed in the midst of enemies of the faith and who, with stones in their hands, would not receive the truth he confessed (Acts 7).
Let’s also recall the confession, and even martyrdom, of those outside of Scripture. To name a few: Polycarp of Smyrna (155) and Jan Hus (1415), both burned at the stake. Athanasius (~296-393), who was repeatedly exiled. And of course, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, standing boldly before Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, saying, “Here I stand; I can do no other” (1521). They made confession about which the Divinely-inspired St. Paul wrote to Timothy: “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim 6:12).
And so today, we focus our attention on the Confessions of St. Peter in both the Holy Gospel and the First Reading, and so make our theme: “Making the Good Confession.”
And therein is a problem, namely, that we don’t always “[make] the good confession”. Do you not think that the unholy Trinity: Satan, the World, and our Sinful natures, would not wish to keep us quiet and influence us in that regard? We see the truth, at all levels, being muted in our own culture. And so, we are not shocked to see this in the Church as well. Perhaps your confession has not faltered as glaringly as Peter’s denial in the courtyard while Jesus was being interrogated by the Sanhedrin. However, can we “confess” that we have not “confessed” His truth with clarity and conviction? Are there times when you did not find St. Paul’s words to Timothy encouraging?
And let’s be honest, ok? Most of the opportunities we have to be “Making the Good Confession” are not hostile situations wherein we face overwhelming loss; right? Most of our confession making is not in a pagan region, because even though we have moved from a post-Christian to a pre-Islamic era, most of our confession is shared with like-minded folks and doesn’t require much courage.
And what about me, Pastor Galler, & other pastors? We don’t “go to work” where people object to talking about Jesus. We don’t go to school where people joke about Christians. Over 90% of the time we’re with fellow believers in Jesus. Then, as we preach and teach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments we’re financially compensated to so! … and with little objection … until it’s time to stand up for something like Closed Communion on Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday. Then watch the fireworks. But still, that’s more irregular than frequent.
Today, when we face a heretical world-views in a nation that’s mostly reverted to paganism, it’s much more dangerous and takes more courage, to confess that Jesus is the Christ and the only means of salvation and reconciliation with Almighty God. What happens when we tell friends and family that anyone who doesn’t believe in Christ will be lost to hell? What happens when I tell you that because of our silence, and all our other sins of commission and omission that we deserve nothing but God’s temporal and eternal wrath and punishment? Your called pastor and I will both tell you this because there is a source of fear and terror that is greater than your displeasure.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (or be unhappy with you or even withhold your pay). Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat 10:28).
St. Peter was likewise compelled to declare his Confession to the Sanhedrin as we heard in the First Reading: “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12). That’s a courageous confession because it was boldly declared in the face of possible execution.
But more important was who was confessed. And it appears to me that Peter did not forget what Jesus told him at his confession in Mark 8 and his resulting sinful rebuke of Jesus. Peter said, “You are the Christ” (v. 29). Jesus then “plainly” explained what it meant to be the Christ (Messiah)”: 31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
Peter’s confession to the Sanhedrin in the First Reading (Acts 4) proclaims the very suffering, dying, & rising Messiah of Jesus’ explanation in St. Mark’s Gospel. For “there is salvation in no one else” than in Jesus our substitute, the innocent one who suffered and died in our guilty places to pay the penalty for our sins … Who then rose again from the dead – victorious over sin, Satan and death. And now forgiveness, life, and salvation are available through faith in Him.
The Holy Spirit enables us to confess this truth and come to repentance. And, to strengthen repentance and faith God’s Word is read, spoken, expounded, and prayed in the Divine Service. His Word connected to water in Holy Baptism brings us into the kingdom of God and creates faith and empowers us daily. His Word of Holy Absolution appliesforgiveness of sins personally and individually and so comforts us and releases us from despair. His Word joined to bread and wine in the Holy Supper are the true body and the true blood of Christ given and shed for us to nourishes us giving us the forgiveness of sins.
Conclusion: Earlier, I mentioned Pan, the false Greek deity of the wild. Greeks believed that he often wandered peacefully through the woods, playing a pipe, but when accidentally awakened from his noontime nap he could give a great shout that would cause flocks to stampede. From this behavior Greek authors derived the word panikos, a term for “sudden fear” often attributed to the presence of a deity. Panikos is the source of the English word: “panic.”
Beloved, no such panic is necessary as we vocally, forcefully and publicly make confession in the Creeds, as sponsors at Baptisms, as catechumens at our confirmation, as communicants at the rail, and as Christians in our daily vocations. However, our confession pales in comparison to the fact that Jesus says: “…everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven” (Mat 10:32).
Think of it: Jesus promises to acknowledge our “good” confessions of faith and make an even greater confession. Jesus himself will acknowledge you before His heavenly Father at the last judgment and receive you into everlasting life.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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