Nativity of St. John the Baptist [w/Confirmation]

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO HERE.

Who speaks to you today in the hymn of the day, saying,

“And their will to die doth quell e’en the lord and prince of hell.”

As we celebrate the nativity of St. john the Baptist, we can’t help but remember what happened to him at the end of his life. It seems that he was simply born to be beheaded and that doesn’t seem fair to us. To be fair, we are saying this from padded chairs, in an air-conditioned building, and with relative peace all around us.

Thus, our military soldiers understand better than we do. They also seem born to be cannon fodder. They are thrust into a world where your worldview is pit against another and it is not a pretty thing, but life and death. How you view the world matters.

In fact, our own Small Catechism, who most think is only for small children to learn, states, “These questions and answers are no child’s play.” What we say and do in Church is not pretend. This is not make-believe. Just because going to Church seems easier than running a 5K or doing your taxes, does not make it worth less.

In our sin, we make mountains out of molehills and major in the minors. We take our church for granted and believe “real” life, life outside these walls, is much harder and more pertinent to living. If ever you leave your comfortable air-conditioning, however, you will find that belief is held in high regard in the world and people live and die according to what they believe, even in the US.

Even the middle-schooler or high school graduate is thrown to the wolves, each time they advance a grade. This is especially true in universities and work-places where the world is all too ready to crucify those who do not agree with the status quo.

On this day of the confirmation of the faith of Lizzie and Ethan, we stand at the precipice. Will Lizzie and Ethan make the good confession, even upon the threat of death, or will they retreat to the air-conditioning? Will they keep the promises made this day, or find a less demanding path?

For these answers, we need look no further than ourselves. How have we treated our allegiance to St. Luke? How is our Biblical quiz knowledge? Where do our priorities and loyalties lie, not just Sundays? In other words: how healthy is your church?

What St. John the Baptist teaches us, even though we celebrate only his birth today, is that the faith is worth dying for and is actually the only good thing we can do in the quest to extend God’s Kingdom.

This is what our hymn is about and this is what the Faith is about. If we think that acting Christ-like or showing God’s love to others is a smile and a handshake, we are dead wrong. If we want to act like God, speak like God, and walk like God we’re going to have to face the fact that that means crucifixion; martyrdom.

If we want to be Christ like, what was Christ like? It should be obvious. The way of the Christian is that of life and death, the same as our Lord and master. The world may have hated Him first, but the world hates us second. He may have overcome the world, but that is not something within our natural skill set.

Jesus says, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)

St. John knew those words and don’t think that while he was in prison the “be faithful unto death” didn’t stick out sorely. Jesus also knew these words, also knew John would be a martyr, and also knew He would be martyred as well. In fact, Jesus’ martyrdom was on purpose, not just to quiet our incessant need for works, but also to make martyrdom a gateway to life, not death.

Thus, our hymn of the day becomes to us of utmost importance in order to learn about this Christ-like life and be constantly reminded of it. Rise again ye lion-hearted, saints of early Christendom, because death has been destroyed, there is no need for you to sleep in your graves again. You faced death knowing that it is but a sleep which Christ Himself will awaken you, so why is your strength departed?

Whither gone is your martyrdom? It is cast off, killed and sent to hell, never to harass you again. Jesus has defeated death. There is no fear or eternal damage to the faithful. Yet in it you participate in the true Love come down from heaven. The glory of Christ suffering on the cross flames upon you in the guise of actual burning and suffering on a stake, as He did.

And because you desire death to be at your Savior’s side forever, not even the devil can compete. He trembles in his boots at this. He fears the Christian that none of his tactics work on. Fear, lust, danger, vanity, battle, and earthly loves are all in the devil’s tool-bag. When these are of no effect, what power does he have?

The hungry fire at the stake, the ravenous animals, and the blood-stained sand can only heap greater honor upon Jesus, because those martyred are simply ushered on their way to Him even quicker. In this way, even satan and death serve God’s purpose, for in death the Christian is taken beyond death forever. There is no winning for either death or the devil. Only Christ is the victorious captain.

Who fights for us as the valiant one, Whom God Himself elected. And Who in turn, elects us in baptism. Jesus fights for us. Jesus fights for Lizzie and Ethan. Jesus destroys death and defangs all the world can throw at them. For, He has set His table before their enemies and has prepared a place of rest from them, in His Church.

It is the curse of the old soldier to slowly fade away, instead of dying in a blaze of fire, but it is a fight nonetheless. Do not think that because the young can find glory, that the aged do not have their own glory. That is the glory of the faith of Jesus Christ: true for all ages and times.

Thus, we add a final stanza to this powerful hymn of ours:

Rise again, ye lion-hearted, saints of modern Christendom

With the lesser loves be parted, Soldiers of His “age to come”

Lo, our Lord commands us, triumph’s promise upon us

And our will to die doth quell, e’en the lord and prince of hell.

As confirmands, every one of us, we stand strong, not because we are strong, but because Christ is strong. As confessing believers, the devil has no power over us because not only has Christ died to purchase and rescue us, but comes to us even today to give us the sign; the seal of His pledge to never leave us nor forsake us.

He gives us His token of promise in His true Body and Blood that we would believe Him and know that what He did for St. John, that is make him live eternally and reunite him with all believers in Christ in the resurrection, He will do for us. How do we know? Because He baptized us, He communes us, and He gives us His words of confirmation: given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.

So, more important than our confirming our own faith in martyrdom, is Christ’s confirmation and Christ’s martyrdom. His martyrdom on the cross and His confirmation in the Resurrection are our only symbols and hope for true peace and eternal salvation from sin and death. And this is Christ’s pledge to us; His confirmation, that He sets His table before us.