LCMSU Event, Immanuel - Terre Haute, IN
1 Peter 2:21-25
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
I watch a lot of Netflix. I like to think that because I’m an anthropologist I do it to study the human condition, the nature of man. Good television is art. And art mimics life. Therefore my Netflix binging is, while not purely, at least somewhat academic and edifying. Or its that I’m just lazy and prefer movies over reading. The latter is more likely the case.
Either way I’ve been watching the show Daredevil. Its the screen adaptation of Matt Murdock, the blind son of a boxer from the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. Like most terrestrial superheros, Matt lost his sight by a freak accident and in exchange gained heightened awareness in his other senses, especially hearing. He can hear the heart beat of a man three six stories below him. He can isolate the cries for help from the voluminous city noises. Plus he’s got super-cool martial arts training and does wicked crazy parkour tricks off buildings and stuff. By day he’s a lawyer with his best friend Foggy. And they’re both pretty good at that too.
What’s all this have to do with 1 Peter 2? Good question. In addition to being a lawyer and a superhero, Matt Murdock, Daredevil, is also a practicing Roman Catholic. He goes to Mass and confession. His priest knows of his superhero alter-ego and encourages him along the lines of serving his neighbors in need according to his ability within his vocation. Okay, he doesn’t say it quite that way, that’s Lutheran speak.
But he does abide by the law. Daredevil has a conscience and he exercises it. Matt never kills anyone; doesn’t execute any villains. He works to stop evil and defend the good, but in the end he leaves them for the police and allows the legal system to handle it. I suppose we could say that he entrusts them to Him who stands behind all authority and judges justly. All the while the politicians and police think he’s evil and dangerous and needs to be stopped.
And in this way, though a bit odd and maybe farfetched, Matt Murdock, the Daredevil, is like Christ; that is, he is Christian. Maybe that’s why I like him. Most superheroes become substitutes for God. Daredevil acknowledges the true God and exemplifies Him in his own vocation: despised and rejected by men, scorned, hated, reviled, unknown to His community and even among His family. An example to those who love the good and abhor evil and ultimately combat true evil in a brutal and violent way. (In that last one their methods are quite different, though.)
First Peter 2:21 is the only time in the entire New Testament were Christ is specifically said to be our example! And notice its context! Not in His Baptism, not in His miracles, not in His care for the poor, but specifically and especially in His suffering, is Christ said to be your example; leaving behind for you a pattern that you may follow; walking in His very steps as you daily take up your Cross and come after Him.
For to this - St Peter says - to this you have been called. That is, if when you do good you suffer for it, you endure; this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called. Called to defend life at all stages. Called to uphold traditional marriage. Called to protect family. Called to keep sexuality sanctified. Called to love your neighbor, not merely as yourself, but as Christ Jesus has loved you.
This may be the other time in the New Testament that Jesus is spoken of as example. Where He says, For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:15, 34-35).
In this way Christ loved you: He Himself bore your sins, your failures, your weaknesses, and inadequacies, your broken promises and silent confessions, He took them into His Body and put them to death on the tree. Christ, the Son of God, came in the “costume,” if you will, that is, in the form of Man, Jesus of Nazareth, and allowed Evil to have its ultimate way with Him: to put Him to death in the most violent and bloody way. For He is not merely your example, but chiefly your substitute. He battled the forces of wickedness, your villainous foes: sin, death, the power of the devil, hell, and defeated them in a bloody showdown in which He gave Himself up for the life of the world. By His wounds you have been healed.
I like Daredevil. We live vicariously through such characters. But we receive Life through the vicarious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But you are not called to don mask and costume and go galavanting over the rooftops to stop evil. But you are called to die to sin and live to righteousness, to daily halt the wickedness of your own flesh and drown that foe the Old Adam, with the weapons of God own Word, emerging as new man through the waters of Holy Baptism, entrusted to Him who judges according to the Righteousness of Christ Jesus, your Savior and Hero.
And then, living in that freedom of sins forgiven, tread in the footsteps of your crucified and risen Lord Jesus, submit, in faith toward God and love for your neighbor, to rulers and those in authority, doing good and silencing the ignorance of foolish people.
Love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pray for your enemies, even those with whose worldviews, politics, and ethics you disagree.
Do not be overcome by evil, but fight evil with good.
For you were once straying life sheep, but have now returned, been welcomed home, safely and soundly, by your Champion and Defender, the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul and body, even Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:21-25
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
I watch a lot of Netflix. I like to think that because I’m an anthropologist I do it to study the human condition, the nature of man. Good television is art. And art mimics life. Therefore my Netflix binging is, while not purely, at least somewhat academic and edifying. Or its that I’m just lazy and prefer movies over reading. The latter is more likely the case.
Either way I’ve been watching the show Daredevil. Its the screen adaptation of Matt Murdock, the blind son of a boxer from the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. Like most terrestrial superheros, Matt lost his sight by a freak accident and in exchange gained heightened awareness in his other senses, especially hearing. He can hear the heart beat of a man three six stories below him. He can isolate the cries for help from the voluminous city noises. Plus he’s got super-cool martial arts training and does wicked crazy parkour tricks off buildings and stuff. By day he’s a lawyer with his best friend Foggy. And they’re both pretty good at that too.
What’s all this have to do with 1 Peter 2? Good question. In addition to being a lawyer and a superhero, Matt Murdock, Daredevil, is also a practicing Roman Catholic. He goes to Mass and confession. His priest knows of his superhero alter-ego and encourages him along the lines of serving his neighbors in need according to his ability within his vocation. Okay, he doesn’t say it quite that way, that’s Lutheran speak.
But he does abide by the law. Daredevil has a conscience and he exercises it. Matt never kills anyone; doesn’t execute any villains. He works to stop evil and defend the good, but in the end he leaves them for the police and allows the legal system to handle it. I suppose we could say that he entrusts them to Him who stands behind all authority and judges justly. All the while the politicians and police think he’s evil and dangerous and needs to be stopped.
And in this way, though a bit odd and maybe farfetched, Matt Murdock, the Daredevil, is like Christ; that is, he is Christian. Maybe that’s why I like him. Most superheroes become substitutes for God. Daredevil acknowledges the true God and exemplifies Him in his own vocation: despised and rejected by men, scorned, hated, reviled, unknown to His community and even among His family. An example to those who love the good and abhor evil and ultimately combat true evil in a brutal and violent way. (In that last one their methods are quite different, though.)
First Peter 2:21 is the only time in the entire New Testament were Christ is specifically said to be our example! And notice its context! Not in His Baptism, not in His miracles, not in His care for the poor, but specifically and especially in His suffering, is Christ said to be your example; leaving behind for you a pattern that you may follow; walking in His very steps as you daily take up your Cross and come after Him.
For to this - St Peter says - to this you have been called. That is, if when you do good you suffer for it, you endure; this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called. Called to defend life at all stages. Called to uphold traditional marriage. Called to protect family. Called to keep sexuality sanctified. Called to love your neighbor, not merely as yourself, but as Christ Jesus has loved you.
This may be the other time in the New Testament that Jesus is spoken of as example. Where He says, For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:15, 34-35).
In this way Christ loved you: He Himself bore your sins, your failures, your weaknesses, and inadequacies, your broken promises and silent confessions, He took them into His Body and put them to death on the tree. Christ, the Son of God, came in the “costume,” if you will, that is, in the form of Man, Jesus of Nazareth, and allowed Evil to have its ultimate way with Him: to put Him to death in the most violent and bloody way. For He is not merely your example, but chiefly your substitute. He battled the forces of wickedness, your villainous foes: sin, death, the power of the devil, hell, and defeated them in a bloody showdown in which He gave Himself up for the life of the world. By His wounds you have been healed.
I like Daredevil. We live vicariously through such characters. But we receive Life through the vicarious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But you are not called to don mask and costume and go galavanting over the rooftops to stop evil. But you are called to die to sin and live to righteousness, to daily halt the wickedness of your own flesh and drown that foe the Old Adam, with the weapons of God own Word, emerging as new man through the waters of Holy Baptism, entrusted to Him who judges according to the Righteousness of Christ Jesus, your Savior and Hero.
And then, living in that freedom of sins forgiven, tread in the footsteps of your crucified and risen Lord Jesus, submit, in faith toward God and love for your neighbor, to rulers and those in authority, doing good and silencing the ignorance of foolish people.
Love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pray for your enemies, even those with whose worldviews, politics, and ethics you disagree.
Do not be overcome by evil, but fight evil with good.
For you were once straying life sheep, but have now returned, been welcomed home, safely and soundly, by your Champion and Defender, the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul and body, even Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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