WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.970 --> 00:00:02.702 Grace to you and peace from God, 00:00:02.756 --> 00:00:04.174 our Father and the Lord and 00:00:04.212 --> 00:00:05.760 Savior Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.170 --> 00:00:08.430 Let us pray. 00:00:10.210 --> 00:00:11.242 Heavenly Father, 00:00:11.306 --> 00:00:13.006 as we hear your word, 00:00:13.188 --> 00:00:16.030 send us your holy spirit so that 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:18.254 by your grace we believe your 00:00:18.292 --> 00:00:21.006 holy word and lead Godly lives 00:00:21.108 --> 00:00:22.654 here in time and there 00:00:22.692 --> 00:00:23.710 in eternity. 00:00:24.290 --> 00:00:26.230 Amen. 00:00:27.050 --> 00:00:28.466 Dear brothers and sisters 00:00:28.498 --> 00:00:29.320 in Christ, 00:00:29.690 --> 00:00:31.778 Jesus said to the apostles, 00:00:31.954 --> 00:00:33.590 whoever receives you, 00:00:33.660 --> 00:00:34.902 receives me, 00:00:35.036 --> 00:00:37.790 and whoever receives me receives 00:00:37.890 --> 00:00:39.420 Him who sent me. 00:00:41.550 --> 00:00:44.010 That word receive is a pretty 00:00:44.080 --> 00:00:45.494 important one in the Christian 00:00:45.542 --> 00:00:47.100 vocabulary, isn't it? 00:00:47.950 --> 00:00:49.990 Consider the many things that we 00:00:50.080 --> 00:00:52.830 receive from God by faith, 00:00:53.490 --> 00:00:56.880 righteousness, holiness, life, 00:00:57.250 --> 00:00:59.070 the forgiveness of sins. 00:00:59.650 --> 00:01:02.554 These can only be received by 00:01:02.612 --> 00:01:05.970 faith. They do not come from us. 00:01:06.120 --> 00:01:07.938 We cannot produce them. 00:01:08.104 --> 00:01:10.114 We cannot acquire them by our 00:01:10.152 --> 00:01:12.610 own devices. And when we try, 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:14.260 things go horribly wrong. 00:01:15.210 --> 00:01:17.000 God must give. 00:01:18.090 --> 00:01:21.442 God must forgive, vivify, 00:01:21.586 --> 00:01:23.830 redeem, make holy. 00:01:24.330 --> 00:01:25.400 And we 00:01:26.650 --> 00:01:27.400 hear 00:01:29.230 --> 00:01:30.794 believe his promises and 00:01:30.832 --> 00:01:32.022 trusting them receive 00:01:32.086 --> 00:01:33.290 what he promises. 00:01:34.750 --> 00:01:36.506 So these gifts that we could 00:01:36.528 --> 00:01:37.434 list and we could go 00:01:37.472 --> 00:01:39.660 on listing more, 00:01:40.210 --> 00:01:42.014 they're not commodities that we 00:01:42.052 --> 00:01:44.240 get independently of God, 00:01:44.610 --> 00:01:48.542 but with and from our God and 00:01:48.596 --> 00:01:51.370 King who comes to us personally 00:01:51.530 --> 00:01:53.266 among his people to 00:01:53.288 --> 00:01:54.580 reign over us. 00:01:56.150 --> 00:01:58.402 Our King who gives first 00:01:58.456 --> 00:01:59.970 of all himself, 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:02.654 his own gracious presence among 00:02:02.702 --> 00:02:05.720 us, to be received by us. 00:02:07.210 --> 00:02:08.758 So in our text today, 00:02:08.844 --> 00:02:10.502 Jesus doesn't in the first 00:02:10.556 --> 00:02:12.850 instance speak of receiving 00:02:12.930 --> 00:02:14.102 spiritual things or 00:02:14.156 --> 00:02:16.598 stuff from God, 00:02:16.764 --> 00:02:18.006 though he soon speaks 00:02:18.038 --> 00:02:19.398 of getting rewards, 00:02:19.494 --> 00:02:21.194 and we'll return to that later, 00:02:21.392 --> 00:02:24.010 but of rather receiving himself 00:02:24.750 --> 00:02:27.290 and ultimately, mysteriously, 00:02:27.710 --> 00:02:29.222 receiving the Father 00:02:29.286 --> 00:02:30.640 who sent Him. 00:02:31.330 --> 00:02:33.066 He speaks of receiving 00:02:33.098 --> 00:02:34.266 the apostles, 00:02:34.458 --> 00:02:36.810 his authorized representatives, 00:02:36.890 --> 00:02:39.918 whom He has sent. His 00:02:40.004 --> 00:02:40.986 mouthpieces, 00:02:41.098 --> 00:02:43.758 His ambassadors sent to speak 00:02:43.844 --> 00:02:44.942 the word of the true 00:02:44.996 --> 00:02:46.270 shepherd king. 00:02:47.090 --> 00:02:48.846 They don't represent themselves, 00:02:49.028 --> 00:02:50.080 but Him, 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:53.150 and He doesn't represent only 00:02:53.220 --> 00:02:55.522 himself, but the Father. Father, 00:02:55.666 --> 00:02:58.470 he who receives you receives me, 00:02:58.620 --> 00:02:59.730 and whoever receives 00:03:00.170 --> 00:03:02.880 me receives Him who sent me. 00:03:05.170 --> 00:03:07.406 So as those apostles went to the 00:03:07.428 --> 00:03:08.686 lost sheep of the 00:03:08.708 --> 00:03:10.330 house of Israel, 00:03:10.490 --> 00:03:11.706 as we heard earlier 00:03:11.738 --> 00:03:12.830 in the chapter, 00:03:14.130 --> 00:03:15.614 those who would receive and 00:03:15.652 --> 00:03:17.694 welcome them would receive and 00:03:17.732 --> 00:03:19.353 welcome Jesus Himself. 00:03:19.482 --> 00:03:20.522 And through Jesus, 00:03:20.586 --> 00:03:24.590 the Father himself mysteriously 00:03:25.050 --> 00:03:26.310 graciously 00:03:28.250 --> 00:03:30.322 For Jesus sent these apostles 00:03:30.386 --> 00:03:32.422 out with the same word, 00:03:32.555 --> 00:03:35.090 the same sermon that He began 00:03:35.170 --> 00:03:37.046 to preach and to say at the 00:03:37.067 --> 00:03:38.630 beginning of his ministry. 00:03:38.790 --> 00:03:39.738 The same word, 00:03:39.824 --> 00:03:41.786 the same sermon that John the 00:03:41.808 --> 00:03:44.006 Baptist declared as he prepared 00:03:44.038 --> 00:03:45.530 the way of the Lord. 00:03:47.230 --> 00:03:49.466 Repent for the reign of 00:03:49.488 --> 00:03:51.920 heaven is drawn near. 00:03:53.490 --> 00:03:54.410 The kingdom, 00:03:54.490 --> 00:03:56.522 the reign of heaven was breaking 00:03:56.586 --> 00:03:57.882 in because the King, 00:03:57.946 --> 00:03:58.986 the true King, 00:03:59.098 --> 00:04:00.826 the Messiah and incarnate 00:04:00.858 --> 00:04:01.694 Son of God, 00:04:01.812 --> 00:04:04.082 had come to reclaim his own, 00:04:04.216 --> 00:04:05.582 beginning with the lost 00:04:05.646 --> 00:04:07.090 sheep of Israel. 00:04:07.990 --> 00:04:09.906 So when John announced that the 00:04:09.928 --> 00:04:11.726 kingdom, the reign of heaven, 00:04:11.838 --> 00:04:13.058 is drawn near, 00:04:13.224 --> 00:04:14.930 he pointed to Jesus. 00:04:16.649 --> 00:04:18.114 And when Jesus announced 00:04:18.162 --> 00:04:19.125 this same message, 00:04:19.228 --> 00:04:20.994 proclaiming it in word and deed 00:04:21.042 --> 00:04:22.914 throughout his earthly ministry, 00:04:23.042 --> 00:04:24.882 that message was bringing 00:04:24.946 --> 00:04:26.150 what it announced, 00:04:26.730 --> 00:04:28.620 not just talking about it. 00:04:30.750 --> 00:04:32.682 And as he sends out 00:04:32.736 --> 00:04:34.598 the twelve Jesus, 00:04:34.694 --> 00:04:36.714 Jesus Himself would continue to 00:04:36.752 --> 00:04:38.374 speak this message that brings 00:04:38.422 --> 00:04:39.894 the very reign of God 00:04:40.032 --> 00:04:41.390 that it announces, 00:04:41.730 --> 00:04:42.766 because as he says 00:04:42.788 --> 00:04:43.978 to the apostles, 00:04:44.154 --> 00:04:45.470 whoever receives you 00:04:45.540 --> 00:04:46.880 receives Me, 00:04:47.730 --> 00:04:49.690 the Christ, the true King. 00:04:49.850 --> 00:04:52.918 And whoever receives Me receives 00:04:53.034 --> 00:04:54.500 Him who sent Me. 00:04:55.670 --> 00:04:57.409 Or as Luke puts it, 00:04:57.560 --> 00:04:59.700 he who hears you, 00:05:00.230 --> 00:05:01.700 hears Me. 00:05:04.070 --> 00:05:06.294 And the apostolic age was just 00:05:06.332 --> 00:05:08.322 the beginning. Jesus, 00:05:08.385 --> 00:05:09.794 the sent one of the Father 00:05:09.842 --> 00:05:10.822 who sent Him, 00:05:10.956 --> 00:05:12.630 remains personally present 00:05:12.700 --> 00:05:13.830 in the Church. 00:05:14.330 --> 00:05:17.080 He comes among us to speak, 00:05:17.470 --> 00:05:19.750 to teach, to absolve, 00:05:19.909 --> 00:05:22.313 to preside at the holy meal that 00:05:22.352 --> 00:05:25.062 He hosts among us. Liturgically 00:05:25.126 --> 00:05:26.586 He is present through the 00:05:26.608 --> 00:05:27.734 ministry of his servants, 00:05:27.782 --> 00:05:28.700 of the Word. 00:05:29.970 --> 00:05:30.874 The Holy Spirit, 00:05:30.922 --> 00:05:32.126 proceeding from the Father and 00:05:32.148 --> 00:05:33.662 the Son in and through 00:05:33.716 --> 00:05:35.289 these means of grace, 00:05:35.450 --> 00:05:37.230 these means of the Spirit, 00:05:38.210 --> 00:05:39.834 as He calls, gathers, 00:05:39.882 --> 00:05:41.870 enlightens and sanctifies, 00:05:42.210 --> 00:05:44.702 draws us into the very life and 00:05:44.756 --> 00:05:47.310 communion of the Holy Trinity. 00:05:48.370 --> 00:05:49.600 Think on that. 00:05:50.610 --> 00:05:52.782 What a wondrous thing that our 00:05:52.836 --> 00:05:54.542 God and King should come 00:05:54.596 --> 00:05:56.680 to us in this way. 00:05:57.289 --> 00:05:59.222 That God Himself should 00:05:59.276 --> 00:05:59.780 allow Himself 00:06:00.090 --> 00:06:04.026 will himself to be received 00:06:04.218 --> 00:06:06.334 by lowly creatures like you and 00:06:06.372 --> 00:06:08.526 me as our gracious Lord and 00:06:08.548 --> 00:06:11.070 King. That along with Him, 00:06:11.140 --> 00:06:12.926 we should receive all the good 00:06:12.948 --> 00:06:14.446 gifts that the Father longs to 00:06:14.468 --> 00:06:16.046 lavish upon His children. 00:06:16.228 --> 00:06:17.278 On you and me, 00:06:17.364 --> 00:06:20.574 whom He has received as His 00:06:20.612 --> 00:06:22.506 own royal household. 00:06:22.618 --> 00:06:24.206 His royal family through our 00:06:24.228 --> 00:06:26.280 baptismal union with Christ. 00:06:27.770 --> 00:06:29.638 And what a wondrous thing that 00:06:29.724 --> 00:06:31.202 restored and refreshed 00:06:31.266 --> 00:06:32.306 and renewed. 00:06:32.418 --> 00:06:34.262 He should then send us 00:06:34.316 --> 00:06:36.294 out in His name too. 00:06:36.492 --> 00:06:38.530 To love and serve our neighbors 00:06:38.610 --> 00:06:40.006 in our vocations, 00:06:40.198 --> 00:06:42.262 to give as we have received, 00:06:42.406 --> 00:06:43.770 to be salt and light 00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:44.634 in this world, 00:06:44.752 --> 00:06:45.914 as we bear the name 00:06:45.952 --> 00:06:47.190 of the true King. 00:06:47.350 --> 00:06:50.254 That others may know Christ come 00:06:50.292 --> 00:06:53.562 to reclaim them and so receive 00:06:53.626 --> 00:06:55.920 Him as their King too. 00:06:59.400 --> 00:07:01.232 But we also know that Jesus 00:07:01.296 --> 00:07:02.788 instruction and commissioning of 00:07:02.794 --> 00:07:04.696 the Apostles also comes with a 00:07:04.718 --> 00:07:08.100 reality check not all receive 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.700 the reign of the true King 00:07:09.780 --> 00:07:10.409 well. 00:07:12.380 --> 00:07:14.984 Not all receive this Gospel as 00:07:15.022 --> 00:07:17.070 the Good News that it is. 00:07:17.520 --> 00:07:19.916 Not all heed that first word out 00:07:19.938 --> 00:07:21.192 of John's and Jesus 00:07:21.256 --> 00:07:23.260 mouths repent. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.740 Or as Mark reports it, 00:07:25.810 --> 00:07:28.552 repent and believe the Gospel, 00:07:28.696 --> 00:07:29.970 this Good News. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:33.324 As Jesus has said in various 00:07:33.372 --> 00:07:34.764 ways throughout this 10th 00:07:34.812 --> 00:07:36.320 chapter of Matthew, 00:07:36.659 --> 00:07:38.683 many would reject the Apostles 00:07:38.732 --> 00:07:40.210 and not welcome them, 00:07:40.900 --> 00:07:42.324 rejecting them and their 00:07:42.361 --> 00:07:43.830 proclamation of Christ. 00:07:44.440 --> 00:07:46.400 They were rejecting Jesus, 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:47.984 and rejecting Jesus meant 00:07:48.032 --> 00:07:49.024 rejecting the Father 00:07:49.072 --> 00:07:50.230 who sent Him. 00:07:51.720 --> 00:07:53.664 As God once said to Samuel, 00:07:53.712 --> 00:07:55.364 when the people asked for a King 00:07:55.412 --> 00:07:56.344 so they could be like 00:07:56.382 --> 00:07:57.400 the other nations, 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:00.164 it's not you they are rejecting, 00:08:00.212 --> 00:08:01.236 Samuel, 00:08:01.428 --> 00:08:03.364 but me they are rejecting 00:08:03.412 --> 00:08:04.840 as their true King. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:08.744 So Jesus words whoever receives 00:08:08.792 --> 00:08:09.996 you, receives me, 00:08:10.098 --> 00:08:11.820 and whoever receives me, 00:08:11.890 --> 00:08:13.724 receives Him who sent me, 00:08:13.842 --> 00:08:17.096 has another edge to it, a sharp, 00:08:17.207 --> 00:08:19.390 sword like edge to it. 00:08:19.780 --> 00:08:21.344 Do not think that I have come 00:08:21.382 --> 00:08:22.796 to bring peace to the earth, 00:08:22.828 --> 00:08:23.707 says Jesus. 00:08:23.804 --> 00:08:25.788 I have not come to bring peace, 00:08:25.884 --> 00:08:27.039 but a sword. 00:08:28.820 --> 00:08:30.530 And don't we know it? 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:33.364 Many of us know personally the 00:08:33.402 --> 00:08:34.751 division of which Jesus 00:08:34.816 --> 00:08:35.830 speaks here. 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:38.084 Perhaps, as we heard last week, 00:08:38.122 --> 00:08:40.063 it manifests in an awkwardness 00:08:40.111 --> 00:08:41.424 at the dinner table among 00:08:41.472 --> 00:08:42.710 family and friends, 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:45.972 even hostility or argument when 00:08:46.026 --> 00:08:48.624 conversation turns to your faith 00:08:48.752 --> 00:08:50.032 or your convictions, 00:08:50.175 --> 00:08:52.260 or your vocational choices. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:55.572 Perhaps you or people you know 00:08:55.626 --> 00:08:57.036 have received the sacrament of 00:08:57.058 --> 00:08:58.764 baptism at the cost of being 00:08:58.802 --> 00:09:00.640 cut off from family. 00:09:01.650 --> 00:09:03.146 Or perhaps you've witnessed 00:09:03.178 --> 00:09:05.486 division when the scourge of 00:09:05.508 --> 00:09:07.422 false teaching lures people away 00:09:07.476 --> 00:09:09.150 from the truth of God's word, 00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:11.326 as people prefer teachers and 00:09:11.348 --> 00:09:13.246 teachings to suit their 00:09:13.268 --> 00:09:14.430 itching ears. 00:09:14.930 --> 00:09:16.960 This stuff happens in our world. 00:09:17.410 --> 00:09:18.842 We should not be surprised 00:09:18.906 --> 00:09:19.422 by it 00:09:19.476 --> 00:09:20.960 Jesus is telling us. 00:09:23.090 --> 00:09:25.302 So it's also no surprise, then, 00:09:25.356 --> 00:09:27.846 that right after Jesus says that 00:09:27.868 --> 00:09:29.714 his coming is as a sword 00:09:29.762 --> 00:09:30.946 that divides, 00:09:31.138 --> 00:09:32.882 that he takes up the prophet 00:09:32.946 --> 00:09:34.310 Micah's lament. 00:09:35.210 --> 00:09:37.302 The prophet Micah's lament when 00:09:37.356 --> 00:09:40.134 the people in his day rejected 00:09:40.182 --> 00:09:42.134 the prophetic call to repentance 00:09:42.182 --> 00:09:45.094 and faith and with tragic 00:09:45.142 --> 00:09:45.830 consequences. 00:09:45.910 --> 00:09:47.114 There really is nothing new 00:09:47.152 --> 00:09:48.620 under the sun, is there? 00:09:49.150 --> 00:09:50.942 Micah speaks of son 00:09:50.996 --> 00:09:52.250 mocking father, 00:09:52.410 --> 00:09:53.710 daughter rising up 00:09:53.780 --> 00:09:54.746 against mother, 00:09:54.858 --> 00:09:56.622 mother in law against sorry, 00:09:56.676 --> 00:09:57.578 mother against daughter 00:09:57.594 --> 00:09:58.510 against mother in law, 00:09:58.580 --> 00:10:00.474 and entity within one's 00:10:00.522 --> 00:10:01.360 own family. 00:10:03.350 --> 00:10:05.022 By taking Micah's lament 00:10:05.086 --> 00:10:06.126 on his lips, 00:10:06.238 --> 00:10:08.098 our Lord reveals the cost 00:10:08.184 --> 00:10:09.806 of discipleship, 00:10:09.998 --> 00:10:11.746 whether in these ways or in 00:10:11.768 --> 00:10:13.378 any other number of ways, 00:10:13.544 --> 00:10:15.086 the cost that comes with the 00:10:15.128 --> 00:10:16.486 apostolic ministry as 00:10:16.508 --> 00:10:17.960 he sends them out. 00:10:19.050 --> 00:10:21.142 Costs and realities that we 00:10:21.196 --> 00:10:22.422 Christians are often 00:10:22.476 --> 00:10:23.718 no strangers to, 00:10:23.804 --> 00:10:25.894 or even suffer ourselves or 00:10:25.932 --> 00:10:28.186 witness them as we strive to 00:10:28.208 --> 00:10:29.014 live out our faith 00:10:29.062 --> 00:10:29.980 in this world. 00:10:31.790 --> 00:10:33.882 But even as we lament those 00:10:33.936 --> 00:10:37.130 costs and realities like Micah, 00:10:37.790 --> 00:10:39.402 we ought to remember what comes 00:10:39.456 --> 00:10:42.014 next in Micah chapter seven too. 00:10:42.212 --> 00:10:43.294 Right after the bit 00:10:43.332 --> 00:10:44.830 that Jesus cites. 00:10:45.490 --> 00:10:47.834 Micah responds to this mixed, 00:10:47.962 --> 00:10:50.400 divided response to God's word 00:10:50.850 --> 00:10:54.020 with his own but as for me 00:10:55.110 --> 00:10:57.454 but as for me, says Micah, 00:10:57.582 --> 00:10:59.794 in the Lord will I hope. 00:10:59.912 --> 00:11:01.714 I will wait for the God of my 00:11:01.752 --> 00:11:05.117 salvation. My God will hear me. 00:11:05.304 --> 00:11:07.622 Do not rejoice my enemy over me. 00:11:07.676 --> 00:11:09.634 When I fall, I shall rise. 00:11:09.762 --> 00:11:11.602 When I sit in the darkness, 00:11:11.746 --> 00:11:13.880 the Lord is my light. 00:11:17.050 --> 00:11:18.569 For what Jesus says 00:11:18.640 --> 00:11:20.714 next in Matthew, chapter ten, 00:11:20.832 --> 00:11:22.726 just after echoing Micah's 00:11:22.758 --> 00:11:25.174 lament drives the apostles, 00:11:25.302 --> 00:11:27.514 you and me also to that same 00:11:27.632 --> 00:11:30.866 but as for me response. Amid 00:11:30.918 --> 00:11:33.146 our fears, our worries, 00:11:33.338 --> 00:11:35.918 our sorrow and our pain at the 00:11:35.924 --> 00:11:37.386 mixed reception that our Lord 00:11:37.418 --> 00:11:38.638 gets in this world, 00:11:38.804 --> 00:11:40.640 and what that can mean for us. 00:11:41.810 --> 00:11:43.242 For our Lord knows 00:11:43.306 --> 00:11:44.720 our hearts too. 00:11:45.410 --> 00:11:47.002 He knows the divisions 00:11:47.066 --> 00:11:48.190 that are often there. 00:11:48.260 --> 00:11:49.982 As we struggle with the same 00:11:50.036 --> 00:11:51.630 fears and anxieties. 00:11:53.090 --> 00:11:54.910 Jesus continues, 00:11:55.450 --> 00:11:57.682 whoever loves father or mother, 00:11:57.746 --> 00:11:59.780 son or daughter more than 00:12:00.170 --> 00:12:01.950 Me is not worthy of Me. 00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:03.854 And whoever does not take up his 00:12:03.892 --> 00:12:05.854 cross and follow Me is 00:12:05.892 --> 00:12:07.360 not worthy of Me. 00:12:08.610 --> 00:12:11.594 Jesus reminds us that receiving 00:12:11.642 --> 00:12:14.240 Him means getting a cross too, 00:12:14.850 --> 00:12:17.834 taking up our crosses regarding 00:12:17.882 --> 00:12:20.666 our life as lost for his sake, 00:12:20.858 --> 00:12:23.150 saying also promising, 00:12:23.490 --> 00:12:26.200 you'll find it your life in Me, 00:12:26.650 --> 00:12:28.760 and you will really find it. 00:12:30.170 --> 00:12:31.206 With these words, 00:12:31.308 --> 00:12:33.302 Jesus pursues you and me 00:12:33.356 --> 00:12:34.822 relentlessly with the great 00:12:34.876 --> 00:12:36.054 either or of the First 00:12:36.092 --> 00:12:37.010 Commandment, 00:12:37.170 --> 00:12:38.794 reminding us that there can be 00:12:38.832 --> 00:12:40.346 only one God in our life, 00:12:40.448 --> 00:12:41.946 only one whom we fear, love, 00:12:41.968 --> 00:12:42.906 and trust above all 00:12:42.928 --> 00:12:43.820 other things. 00:12:44.910 --> 00:12:47.340 And he will be that God. 00:12:48.030 --> 00:12:50.060 He will be your God, 00:12:50.850 --> 00:12:52.814 and he is more than enough, 00:12:53.012 --> 00:12:53.950 more than anything, 00:12:54.020 --> 00:12:55.310 you fear losing. 00:12:56.210 --> 00:12:57.742 And thanks be to God that 00:12:57.796 --> 00:12:59.706 by his redemptive mercy, 00:12:59.898 --> 00:13:02.160 He has reclaimed you. 00:13:03.270 --> 00:13:06.242 He has become your God and made 00:13:06.296 --> 00:13:08.610 you His royal son and daughter. 00:13:11.590 --> 00:13:13.826 This despite yourself 00:13:13.928 --> 00:13:14.798 and myself, 00:13:14.984 --> 00:13:16.962 who so often put our fear, 00:13:17.026 --> 00:13:18.790 love and trust elsewhere. 00:13:20.410 --> 00:13:23.186 Jesus says to us to turn Micah's 00:13:23.218 --> 00:13:26.246 words around. But as for you, 00:13:26.428 --> 00:13:27.750 my disciples, 00:13:28.270 --> 00:13:29.900 put your hope in Me. 00:13:30.590 --> 00:13:32.282 Wait on Me 00:13:32.415 --> 00:13:34.170 the God of your salvation. 00:13:35.069 --> 00:13:37.100 I hear you 00:13:38.270 --> 00:13:39.430 every lament. 00:13:39.590 --> 00:13:42.670 I hear you every prayer. 00:13:43.170 --> 00:13:45.114 In Me you will rise, 00:13:45.162 --> 00:13:46.480 even if you fall. 00:13:47.330 --> 00:13:48.670 When all else about 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.510 you is darkness 00:13:51.090 --> 00:13:52.640 I am your light. 00:13:53.350 --> 00:13:55.086 In vain does your enemy, 00:13:55.117 --> 00:13:55.758 the Devil, 00:13:55.854 --> 00:13:58.050 rejoice over your suffering. 00:13:59.110 --> 00:14:00.030 In Jesus 00:14:00.110 --> 00:14:01.602 victory and life are 00:14:01.656 --> 00:14:02.862 already assured, 00:14:03.006 --> 00:14:05.117 for Jesus himself took up the 00:14:05.144 --> 00:14:07.346 cross. He took up His cross, 00:14:07.378 --> 00:14:08.738 and on it he died, 00:14:08.834 --> 00:14:10.326 taking all your sins and 00:14:10.348 --> 00:14:13.686 uncleanness with Him to the 00:14:13.708 --> 00:14:15.622 short lived rejoicing of His 00:14:15.675 --> 00:14:18.134 many enemies of the enemy, 00:14:18.262 --> 00:14:20.794 as they witnessed him fall 00:14:20.992 --> 00:14:22.630 and sit in the darkness, 00:14:22.710 --> 00:14:23.866 or being laid in the 00:14:23.888 --> 00:14:25.450 darkness of a tomb. 00:14:26.750 --> 00:14:30.206 For God his Father heard Him and 00:14:30.228 --> 00:14:31.866 vindicated Him by raising 00:14:31.898 --> 00:14:33.150 Him from the dead. 00:14:33.490 --> 00:14:35.710 He who is the light of the world 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:38.910 now shining in resurrected glory 00:14:39.970 --> 00:14:41.758 and united with Christ 00:14:41.844 --> 00:14:43.069 by baptism. 00:14:43.490 --> 00:14:45.230 His victory has become 00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:46.350 your victory. 00:14:47.010 --> 00:14:49.200 His life, your life. 00:14:50.290 --> 00:14:52.640 He your God 00:14:54.450 --> 00:14:54.962 for Jesus. 00:14:54.986 --> 00:14:57.282 still has more to promise 00:14:57.425 --> 00:14:58.646 in our text when it 00:14:58.668 --> 00:14:59.810 comes to receiving. 00:15:01.130 --> 00:15:03.294 He says the one who receives a 00:15:03.332 --> 00:15:05.466 prophet because he's a prophet 00:15:05.578 --> 00:15:07.550 will get a prophet's reward. 00:15:08.370 --> 00:15:09.758 And the one who receives a 00:15:09.764 --> 00:15:11.146 righteous man because he's 00:15:11.178 --> 00:15:12.286 a righteous man, 00:15:12.468 --> 00:15:13.754 will get a righteous 00:15:13.802 --> 00:15:14.990 man's reward. 00:15:15.890 --> 00:15:17.742 You see what's going on here? 00:15:17.876 --> 00:15:19.514 They receive what's owing 00:15:19.562 --> 00:15:20.720 to someone else. 00:15:21.250 --> 00:15:23.230 The one that they're receiving. 00:15:23.970 --> 00:15:25.682 Could it be that as we receive 00:15:25.746 --> 00:15:27.750 Jesus because he is the 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.458 true King and Lord, 00:15:29.554 --> 00:15:31.286 the righteous one, 00:15:31.468 --> 00:15:33.874 that we receive the rewards owed 00:15:33.922 --> 00:15:36.610 to the true King and Lord, 00:15:36.690 --> 00:15:38.220 the righteous one. 00:15:38.830 --> 00:15:40.806 To be members of God's 00:15:40.838 --> 00:15:41.900 royal family, 00:15:42.590 --> 00:15:43.990 to have the status 00:15:44.070 --> 00:15:45.500 of sons of God, 00:15:46.270 --> 00:15:48.294 having the same resurrected 00:15:48.342 --> 00:15:48.940 life, 00:15:50.050 --> 00:15:51.306 his innocence, 00:15:51.418 --> 00:15:53.098 righteousness and purity, 00:15:53.194 --> 00:15:55.360 all imputed to you and to me. 00:15:56.130 --> 00:15:56.880 Yes. 00:15:57.410 --> 00:15:58.906 All is yours and mine. 00:15:58.938 --> 00:16:01.440 On account of Christ in Christ, 00:16:02.470 --> 00:16:04.594 who comes so that we may 00:16:04.632 --> 00:16:06.690 receive Him personally. 00:16:08.470 --> 00:16:10.510 You have already heard Jesus 00:16:10.590 --> 00:16:12.914 voice absolving you again this 00:16:12.952 --> 00:16:14.594 morning. Through those, 00:16:14.632 --> 00:16:16.518 He is authorized to declare it 00:16:16.604 --> 00:16:18.370 in His stead and by His command 00:16:18.450 --> 00:16:20.086 to declare His own, 00:16:20.188 --> 00:16:23.400 the Father's own. I forgive you. 00:16:24.810 --> 00:16:26.818 And here at this altar, 00:16:26.994 --> 00:16:28.854 we receive our true King, 00:16:28.902 --> 00:16:31.222 who comes among us personally, 00:16:31.366 --> 00:16:33.850 giving us His own life giving 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.290 body and blood. 00:16:36.110 --> 00:16:37.946 As we receive Him, 00:16:38.128 --> 00:16:40.362 we receive all that the Father 00:16:40.426 --> 00:16:42.240 desires to give to us 00:16:42.610 --> 00:16:44.750 Christ's own purity, 00:16:45.170 --> 00:16:47.760 holiness and divine life, 00:16:50.450 --> 00:16:52.270 the forgiveness of sins. 00:16:53.910 --> 00:16:55.854 So, dear brothers and sisters, 00:16:55.982 --> 00:16:58.434 rejoice to receive your Lord and 00:16:58.472 --> 00:17:00.530 King again this morning as He 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:03.122 comes to you. He who has 00:17:03.176 --> 00:17:05.358 already received you, 00:17:05.544 --> 00:17:08.310 acquired you redeemed you, 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:11.094 adopted you to be His own, 00:17:11.212 --> 00:17:12.214 to live under Him 00:17:12.252 --> 00:17:14.262 and His kingdom and to serve Him 00:17:14.316 --> 00:17:16.177 in everlasting righteousness 00:17:16.273 --> 00:17:18.614 innocence and blessedness just 00:17:18.652 --> 00:17:20.306 as he has risen from the dead 00:17:20.418 --> 00:17:21.538 and lives and reigns 00:17:21.554 --> 00:17:22.790 to all eternity. 00:17:23.849 --> 00:17:24.790 Amen. 00:17:25.690 --> 00:17:27.014 And the peace of God which 00:17:27.051 --> 00:17:28.514 passes all human understanding. 00:17:28.561 --> 00:17:29.918 Keep your hearts and minds in 00:17:29.964 --> 00:17:32.110 Christ Jesus, now and forever. 00:17:32.930 --> 00:17:33.946 Amen.