WEBVTT 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:05.839 And let there be light. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:14.320 If Jesus defines his purpose on earth, we should probably listen. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:26.879 It sounds strange to our ears when the Prince of Peace says, I've come not to bring peace, but a sword. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:30.640 A sword that brings division. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:37.200 And not just any division, but division amongst the household. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:41.200 But how does that happen? 00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:45.039 And how do we experience this in our lives? 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:55.200 First, it's important for us to let Jesus' words sink in, sink into our hearts. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:01:00.479 Because the Lord of life bespeaks our reality to us. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:06.560 And in this text, Jesus is not talking about division amongst the body of Christ. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:10.719 He's not talking about the division amongst the people of God. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:25.280 He's talking about the division that happens amongst a household when believers cling to Christ, and those who don't believe reject what the Lord is giving out. 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:31.280 That will bring division in a household. 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:37.120 Maybe some of you have experienced this. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:39.280 Maybe you haven't. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:47.840 Father against son, mother against daughter, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law because of unbelief. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:59.599 The ties to the family of God are greater than the ties to the family, the nuclear family, the family that naturally comes out of our flesh. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.799 And that's what Christ is trying to tell us today. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:16.159 Second, he tells us if we love mother or father or son or daughter or child more than Christ, we're not worthy of Christ. 00:02:18.080 --> 00:02:20.800 Man, that seems like a hard thing to say. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:26.639 And those are really difficult words for our ears to hear. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:35.599 But we must understand that peace with God will bring strife with man. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:47.919 If we don't stop and take a moment to realize what defines our identities, then we won't understand what we're up against. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:52.159 And we won't understand how this will affect our relationships. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:03:03.039 If we don't understand why there's persecution in the world, well then we won't understand why there's persecution might arise in our lives. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:11.039 By the way, Christian persecution is high in the world right now. 00:03:11.680 --> 00:03:19.759 North Korea actually happens to be the highest place of Christian persecution this year, followed by Somalia. 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:26.719 But don't think to yourselves for a moment that thank God I don't live there. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:33.199 Instead, we should be thinking, well, that's my family of Christ being persecuted there. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.759 And I should pray for them. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.840 But the reality of Jesus' words puzzles us. 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.800 Because we just want to love everybody. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:04:01.439 Christians desire for everyone to know Christ, that He came, that He died on the cross, that He died for our sins, that He came to save us, to set us free, that we would have eternal life with Him who rose from the dead. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.479 I mean, what is more amazing than that? 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:12.159 And it puzzles us because there are those who refuse to believe. 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:27.360 Those who refuse to believe what is preached into their ears by the Holy Spirit, who harden their hearts against the preaching of Christ's long gospel, that which crucifies us and that which quickens. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:39.279 That's why Jesus tells his apostles today, his preachers, he who hears you hears me. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:48.639 But if the hearer refuses to hear, then the hearer is not rejecting the preacher who's called and sent. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:51.360 Instead, he's rejecting Jesus. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.600 This was true then. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:58.000 It remains true now. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:04.560 Jesus said, Whoever loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:08.240 And whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:13.920 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:20.480 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:32.399 However, the fact is we're not born worthy of Christ, and we all fail to bear our own crosses. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:47.199 How often we would much rather profess our love for our families than confess Jesus to the world or in the grocery store. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:56.000 How much we would rather bear, not bear any conflict in our community for our beliefs. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:07.839 We would prefer not to have any strife with man of any kind or bear any cross and live happily in our own self-built paradises. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:24.079 We would much rather hold on to our worldly treasures, our relationships, our families, even self-preservation, than suffer conflict and pain, or even the unthinkable death for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:31.839 But we must remember the things of this world are fleeting. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:34.000 They are temporal. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:44.480 And we will die with them if we desire them more important than Jesus. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.319 Are we really worthy of Christ? 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:54.720 Dear baptized, hear this truth today. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:59.439 What makes us worthy of Christ is Christ. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:07.199 He alone must make us worthy of him through his means. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:15.759 If we are baptized into Christ, that means we bear the marks of our Savior. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.240 We are joined to Christ's death and resurrection, as St. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:21.199 Paul would say. 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:23.759 We're joined to Christ through water and word. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.959 We're joined to him through the preaching of his word. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:34.800 We're joined through his body and blood, because you can never separate your salvation from the flesh and blood of Jesus. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:49.040 And through these means, the Holy Spirit calls, calls us by the gospel, enlightens us with his gifts, sanctifies us, and keeps us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:55.439 We are Christ's, and he is ours. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.439 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:04.800 Behold, the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:09.199 But what does this do to us? 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:11.519 That's the question. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:14.560 It sets us apart. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:16.720 It sanctifies us. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:17.839 It makes us holy. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:21.199 It sets us apart for his purposes. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:27.600 We're no longer of this world, and that is what causes division. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.320 It's been said that blood is thicker than water. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.360 But that is not true in the body of Christ. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:50.000 Here, the Spirit, the water, and the blood all testify to what belongs to the family of God and to who belongs. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:57.840 That which binds us together into one body is the Spirit, the water and the blood of Christ. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:07.840 That which is poured over our heads, received on our lips, preached into our ears, which then we confess with our mouths. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:14.639 This is how Christ Jesus bonds us to himself and to one another. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:24.240 Therefore, we shouldn't be surprised that we don't have peace with men when we have peace with God. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.759 Jesus explains how this happens in St. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:31.360 John's Gospel. 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:38.639 In John 15, he says, if you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:47.360 But because you're not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.840 Quite honestly, this changes our relationships. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:56.639 It changes our bonds. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:58.559 It changes our ties. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:01.039 Because we now belong to Christ. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:05.600 The world rails against us just as it railed against him. 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.840 But fear not, dear children of God. 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:22.559 In Christ we bear God's word, which is the sword of the Spirit. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:36.080 And to those who are perishing, but to those who believe in Jesus Christ, this is hope and peace. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.840 This is the word we bear, which is Christ in us. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:48.720 And it has an effect on people, and it has an effect on all of you, and it has an effect on all of us. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:11:03.840 Because as the writer of Hebrews said, for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:08.960 This word of God is none other than Christ Jesus Himself. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.840 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:25.759 Jesus is the word made flesh, and just as the author of Hebrews explains, the word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword. 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:32.159 That sword is his word, his law, his gospel. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.679 It looks like a double-edged sword coming out of Jesus' mouth in the book of Revelation. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:48.240 But friends, don't be surprised if the gospel causes division. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.159 Doesn't St. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:54.799 Paul remind us the gospel is folly to those who are perishing? 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:59.360 But to those who are called out of darkness, it's life. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.679 It's salvation. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:05.279 And now that we're in Christ, we have enemies. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:10.480 And in Christ, we are enemies of Satan and the world and even our own flesh. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:15.600 And none of these want God want what God wants for us. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.759 And these enemies are all around us. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:23.679 But our flesh, the world, and Satan, guess what? 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:27.440 They no longer get to define who we are. 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:35.759 When we are baptized into Christ, this changes who we are. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:38.480 This changes our identities. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:47.600 When God's word fills our ears and our eyes and our mouths and our hearts, it changes our identities. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:53.679 As we have received this truth, we can't help but speak from this new identity. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:13:01.600 When we receive Him, we confess Christ and Him crucified with our mouths. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:15.440 When we confess Jesus, well, we shouldn't be surprised that this creates discord among men, especially by those who reject the gospel. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:21.759 But for those who have received the gospel, this is pure joy. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:30.799 Confessing Christ doesn't bring peace between believers and non-believers. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:40.559 Rather, like a sword, it often cuts the relationship, even within our families, as Jesus tells us today. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.080 It creates enemies. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:54.159 And enemies like those are hostile to the faith, ready to put us to death for the sake of the hope that is within us. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:01.360 But dear beloved, baptized into Christ, do not be afraid. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.360 Do not fear. 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:06.879 Because in Christ we can face our enemies. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:11.039 In Christ we can bear our crosses. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.840 In Christ we can find our lives. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:17.120 In Christ, we are made worthy of Him. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:21.600 Christ died on the cross and he rose again for your sake and for mine. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.000 And we can't bear the weight of our own crosses without the Lord who bore his cross for us. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:34.480 And we're not worthy of Christ, but his death and his resurrection make us worthy of him. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:45.039 His all-atoning sacrifice cleanses us from all our iniquities, all our infirmities, all our brokenness, all our unworthiness. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:52.320 And he rescues us from sin, death, and devil, and makes us his own in the holy waters of baptism. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:56.080 And he sanctifies us by shedding his own blood. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:59.120 And he makes us worthy of him. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:07.360 The new man in Christ doesn't look back at his old life in order to live in it and flourish. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.720 But he has a new life. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:19.360 The new man doesn't wish to save all the treasures of this life, even family, only to forfeit the world to come. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.639 Eternal life begins now. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.200 Don't look back. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:31.360 Don't look back like Lot's wife to turn into a pillar of salt. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:38.159 But from there, realize it'll all pass away. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.720 Look to Jesus. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:48.559 Look to his atonement as he sends you forth out into the world with his word, his spirit. 00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:56.559 The world is a cruel, sinful place, and strife will continue until the end of the age. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:02.399 But those whose lives are in Christ will surely keep them. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:13.679 For the sword of his spirit, his word, defends us against the devil, it pierces the heart of the world, and it even slays the passions of our own flesh. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:19.759 He made you worthy because he died on the cross for you. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:26.000 He baptized you in his name, and he brought you into his family. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:29.279 You are the Lord's family. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:35.840 For you all have been forgiven of your sins in Christ Jesus. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:40.399 And you have received life and salvation this very day. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.600 Amen. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:48.480 Now the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.039 Amen.