Today’s Scripture

Psalm 68         Acts 1:12-26    1 Peter 4:12-19; 6:6-11          John 17:1-11

 

1 Peter 4:12-13  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  (NIV)

 

            In a few moments (in the next service) we are going to witness this year’s confirmands as they publicly profess their faith.  In this rite, they are asked this question, “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?”  And the answer is, “I do, by the grace of God.”

 

            Confirmation Day is such an exciting day.  It is one of those rites of passage from childhood to adulthood.  That is something to remember as one stands before this congregation and professes his/her faith in God’s saving graces in Christ our Savior.  The person is now old enough to stand as an adult in responsibility for his/her faith.  That does not mean that parents stop raising their children in this faith as they have since birth.  It is the time when the ability to comprehend what sin is, its repercussions, God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ, and how we are blessed with that grace through his word and sacraments. 

 

            In so many of the faith essays, each year the confirmands state how each one’s verse is going to sustain them through knowing and trusting that God has all things in his hands.  Yes, that is the reality.  The other part of the reality is that as long as we live in a sinful world, the effects of sin, the assaults of Satan on believers and unbelievers alike are going to be intense.  It is not going to be an easy path always. 

 

            Peter knows this first hand.  He was with Jesus as Jesus healed his own mother-in-law.  He was with Jesus as he raised Jairus’ daughter from her death bed.  He was with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration.  He walked on water to greet Jesus, then began to sink.  Two times he threw his nets out at Jesus’ command and saw unbelievable catches of fish.  Peter heared the Sermon on the Mount and witnessed countless healing miracles and countless loaves and fish served to thousands of people.  He professed that he would never leave Jesus and would die with him.  He didn’t want to let Jesus wash his feet and then wanted Jesus to wash all of him.  He was eager to carry his sword into Gethsemane.  He was eager to draw and use that sword in Gethsemane.  He was bold to follow into the high priest’s court.  Then he fell apart denying Jesus three different times before the sun rose.  He is absent from the events of Friday and Saturday.  He ran to the tomb and entered it to see for himself the grave cloths left behind.  He boldly proclaimed the savior, repentance and baptism in the streets and temple courts of Jerusalem to thousands.  Peter was imprisoned on different occasions and freed by angels.  Peter saw his close friend, James, killed by Herod’s command.  Peter saw another close friend, Stephen, stoned by synagogue leaders.  Peter saw people line up in the streets to be healed as his shadow fell on them.  We’re pretty sure that Peter along with all but one of the disciples died a martyr’s death as he was supposedly crucified upside down.

 

            Peter knew good times and he knew bad times.  He heard Jesus tell him that he would be led where he did not want to go.  He experienced Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would give him the words to say when he would appear before thousands, in households, before temple leaders, and in the counsel of leaders of the early church.  Peter knew that all of these things were not his doing, but God working in him and through him.  Peter knew that the Jesus he watched ascend into the heavenly realms is going to return to take him to be there too. 

 

            All of us here today, remember the day you stood before your congregation and made that profession of faith.  Your knees shook.  There was a strange feeling in your stomach.  You knew something significant was happening but had no clue of what would be between that day and today.  Think of the moment an opportunity came to proclaim your faith in a different setting, but you sheepishly held your tongue, like Peter denying Jesus in the high priest’s court.  Think of a time when you were sailing on top of the waters of life, so cool and so confident.  Then a simple ripple on the waters caused to you start sinking so fast.  Peter heard a man whose son was dying say, “Lord, I believe.  Help me overcome my unbelief.”  Peter heard Jesus in Gethsemane praying the words we listened to in the Gospel of John, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one,” [John 17:11b].  Peter would begin baptizing in that name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit so that each believer throughout time would celebrate what we celebrate today, God giving all of himself to each one to receive all of the gifts won by Jesus on that cross.

 

            Peter is the one who reminds us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Martin Luther and so many others remind us that Satan is going to work his hardest at believers because the others have already set a place for him at their tables.  Our lives as Christians are going to be trial after test after test after trial.  As with Job, God allows Satan to go at faithful believers.  It is because he has:

• sanctified believers in the waters of baptism,
• cleansed believers in the blood of the lamb,
• strengthened believers through word and sacrament,
• given his promise to never leave or forsake his children
• delivered all who call upon him in the day of trouble
• gives his angels concerning you a command to guard you in all of your ways,
• he never lets anyone snatch you out of his hand.

 

            Your confirmation passage becomes your life passage, just a piece of God’s word of promise that helps you along when waters are smooth and when storms are their fiercest.

 

Caitlin Cortes:

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

 

Primarose Longbas:

Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household."

 

Jacob Reyna:

John 8:12 …"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

 

Breanna Schnirer:

Matthew 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

            A couple of weeks ago I spoke how all of you are Paul’s, here to tell another the love of Christ.  Today all of you are Peter’s, knowing that life is many times so good, and life is many times pretty tough.  All of you are Peter’s knowing that standing firm in the faith in Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior and our Lord, is not the easiest thing to do, and is not always going to guarantee a worry free and trouble free life.  That saving faith we proclaim today does guarantee an eternal life in the glories of heaven forever.

 

            In Jesus’ undying love.           Amen.