Fortitude [Trinity 17; St. Luke 14:1-11]

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Jesus speaks to you today, in your hearing, saying:

“And they could not reply to these things.”

Verse 6 from the Gospel today, is translated very weakly. That “could not” in “they could not reply” is not something to pass by lightly. Because that phrase is used so much by us: we couldn’t do this or that; it lacks punch. What Jesus is actually saying here is not that these men harassing Him couldn’t find a good answer or explanation, but that they lacked the fortitude to stand up to what Jesus was actually doing and saying.

That is, that Jesus was actually doing the miracles of God and that He was saying that He was God Himself.

But this is what happens when we are caught being in the wrong. We hate to admit it. We hate being found out, so we remain silent. We don’t have the fortitude to either see our position through to its logical end or give it up and say we were wrong. You should be able to sympathize with the Pharisees.

The reason you feel that way is because fortitude is the virtue of the martyrs. Fortitude is not just strength or ability or courage, it is the moral courage to stand against the evil spirits of the times, against fashions, against human respect, and against the easy way out. Fortitude is the virtue that helps us stand up for what’s right even when others say that Christianity is outdated.

Even when it means your death. Even when it means your suffering, poverty, or loss. This is what the Pharisees faced today, in your hearing, when they heard Jesus forgive sins and when they saw Jesus heal that man from his disease. If they were to agree with Jesus and accept what He said, they would be facing their deaths; social and physical.

It would mean that everything they had believed up to that point about God was wrong. It would mean that everything they had grown up with and was familiar to them would change. It would mean their family and friends would turn them out of house and home as an idolater, worthy of condemnation and death.

This is why the Jews lose their fortitude in front of Jesus. They would rather be silent in their sin than to admit that they were wrong and that Jesus is right. They would rather not stand up for their wrong, than to admit that Jesus is right.

We would rather curl up like the Pharisees than stand up for what’s right. Don’t rock the boat, the saying goes. “Just take it easy”, they say. “Don’t get so worked up” or even “God has everything worked out”.

True fortitude is not with us or even with the martyrs. True fortitude is found only with God (Jer. 12:16); beside Him; ruling with Him; dwelling with Him.

So, in one sense I will not get worked up and will take it easy, because the Lord had worked everything out through Jesus. Jesus is the Lord’s fortitude Who not only stands up to these Pharisees today, but also defies death and danger on the cross.

Yes, Jesus is the fire brand, talking about unpopular things at inopportune times. He confronts man-made superstitions about healing on the Sabbath. He defies the establishment that would rather have sacrifice than mercy. He stands up to and fights the law and the law doesn’t win.

But that is not what this is about. Yes, Jesus faces ostracization and capitol punishment by breaking these taboos and being a rebel, claiming to be God’s Son, but for what? To get debate points? To make sure everyone knows He’s right and they’re wrong? To argue, yell, and Bible-thump?

The real reason we see the fortitude of Christ on display is not to impress nor is it to target these men questioning Him. Jesus’ true objective, in showing true fortitude, is defying and defeating the powers pulling all the strings; the man behind the curtain: sin, death, and the devil.

Sin has many a silencing arguments for you and me, but sin can not reply to Jesus. Sin has no fortitude in front of the cross, because then it would have to double down on its own judgment and instead of justifying itself, it would have to claim that it is right and thereby bring to fruition its wages: death. But sin does not want to die, so it remains silent.

The devil has a mouth that oozes sweet and sickly words in order to convince the sinner to continue in his sin, but he has no answer for Jesus. The devil does not have the fortitude to stand in outright war against God and His true Son. This he knows would only result in his defeat. So he hides behind creation, ever corrupting, never creating, and remaining silent.

Death is the final answer to a lot of worldly arguments and one could say that it has the fortitude to stand up to God, doubling down on its role and standing up to the Lord of Life, confronting Him on the cross. But death is not a person, it is simply a result.

At this point, we can work backwards to undo all of this un-virtuous living. The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56). In this way, Jesus claims the victory. Life wins out over death, because Jesus does have an answer to all of those arguments and temptations: Himself.

Jesus offers Himself, both God and man, on the cross, suffering and dying and rising again and all your arguments are invalid. Prudence, justice, and fortitude bow down at the foot of the cross and yield to the undying and everlasting love of God, that sacrifices itself, rather than see His enemies win.

So I will not remain silent, because the Church does not remain silent. Every argument, debate, or discussion begins and ends with the cross of Jesus. It is lawful to dine with Pharisees because Jesus is on the cross.

It is allowable to touch and mingle with the diseased, because Jesus is on the cross. It is lawful to heal and do work on the Sabbath, because Christ forgives sins from the cross. It is ok to take the higher position or the lower position, because Christ is in the lowest position, hell, and also occupies the highest position, almighty God.

I will not double down on my sin, my life, or my courage and strength. I will double down on Christ and His Person, Word, and Work.

Because these things are Christ’s and not my own, I have the fortitude to be His instrument in the Divine Service, to robe as one chosen by God, and stand in this pulpit.

Because you have the fortitude of Christ, you are able to return to His presence, in His Word and sacrament, repeatedly and find pardon and peace. Remember that loving God means receiving what He is giving, not giving your own stuff to Him.

Remember when Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all soul and mind and fortitude? Same word there. You have pledged your fortitude to Christ and His Word, as you have been taught, in your confirmation vows. In them, you state that you would rather face death than to fall away from this doctrine.

But true fortitude is not being the loudest or most persuasive to the most people. True fortitude is found in Confessing your sins to your Pastor and receiving forgiveness from him as from Christ Himself. True fortitude is not going in front of the enemy and seeking a martyr’s death. It is humbling oneself in the presence of God in the Divine Service, knowing that He is here to commune with you.

The world is very evil and the times are waxing late. Jesus is at the door, preparing His final judgment to terminate the evil and crown the right. In this life we must strive and toil, but we do so in hope. And we throw that hope all around us and as far ahead of us as we can, knowing it is our only hope.

Our hope is that this pile of dust and ashes will be exalted. That our fortitude, as weak as it is, will not be needed. The promise is that the Lord will be our part, that we will be His only and forever. And so it is.