Jeremiah 26:1-16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; St John 15:12-21
Holy Baptism of Ella Raye Fickel
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
This morning we give thanks and praise to God for the apostle Simon. Don’t confuse him with the Apostle Simon Peter. Today we remember Simon the Zealot; which means that he was among that Jewish movement which was zealous for keeping the Torah of Moses. You can bet he was determined, committed, even fanatical about what he believed. If Luther were an apostle, he’d probably have gotten along with Simon the Zealot.
At the same time we also give thanks and praise to God for the apostle Jude. This is a shortened form of the name, “Judas.” But don’t confuse him with Judas Iscariot. Today we remember Jude, a relative of Jesus and the author of that short epistle in the New Testament. But the Church has also referred to St Jude as Thaddeus, which means, “courageous heart.” What a perfect pair. Simon the Zealot and Jude the Courageous Heart.
But that’s about it. We don’t know much about them. If only we had some good stories, a little embellished, sure, as the stories of the saints tend to be, but that would at least supply us with some moral example material this morning. That’s how our Lutheran Confessions rightly say to remember the saints. “Our churches teach that the history of the saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling” (AC XXI). “Right. Okay. Now you go and be more like St Simon and/or St Jude.” Yeah, sorry, its pretty much a blank. Maybe they were martyred together in Persia?
Great. Thanks, Pastor. We moved the Festival of the Reformation to celebrate a saints’ day about some guys we know nothing about? What are we to supposed to make of St Simon and St Jude?
Well, we can’t get it much more backward than by asking that question. Its the wrong question. The only good question is the one our Lord Jesus has, in fact, given us the answer to: What did He make of Simon and Jude? Here we are on solid ground. The Lord made them apostles. Third and second last, but always on the list, before Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord (cf Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Ac 1:13).
This means that they witnessed the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River by John. They were present at the wedding at Cana and the miracle of the water to wine. They distributed bread and fish to the 5,000. They saw the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the casting out of demons, Lazarus called forth from the tomb. They heard His preaching and teaching. They were there when Christ instituted the Holy Ministry, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and Holy Absolution. They were present and praying when the Holy Spirit fell like fire on Pentecost. They preached in other languages. They were apostles. Unmistakably, no uncertainty, Simon the Zealot and Judas the Courageous.
Which means they were there on the night on which Jesus was betrayed. The night when He washed the disciples’ feet and instituted the Sacrament of the Altar. They heard the teaching which you just heard. A hard teaching. One that cuts against the way we naturally think. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. In fact, the more Christ-like they were, the more vicious the hatred would be. But they weren’t to take it personally, because it is actually Christ Himself whom the world hates in His apostles and in those who abide in His love.
So, Simon the Zealot, I have a question, “Where was your zeal when they came to arrest your Lord and take Him away that night?” The Scriptures say that you were zealous to turn and scamper away. And Jude the Courageous: “Where was your courage when your Beloved Teacher really needed some?” The Scripture says you ran away and abandoned Him. And both of you guys: “Aren’t you a little bit embarrassed that just before Palm Sunday, when your Master’s mind was on His impending death, your mind was on personal ambition, arguing about who’s the greatest?”
Students of all ages, elementary, high school and college. You are zealous for many good things. Zeal for getting good grades. To have a job when you graduate. To be a good friend. But oh how your zeal melts like butter in the sun if it means being laughed at and losing friends.
Adults, new homeowners, newly married, first time parents. You are courageous to take on all that debt, to enter into that holy estate, to raise your kids in the fear and instruction of the Lord, even though your overworked and overstressed and not sleeping enough. Bleary eyed you forge ahead. But where is a little bit of that courage when your attempt to lead a godly life is mocked and labeled as “extreme” by those around you?
All of us. Where’s the strength to resist when the devil tempts us to be more zealous for our own glory, rather than the glory of God? We like to think of ourselves as zealous, courageous and strong; like Jeremiah standing upon the Word of the Lord and standing up to the people. But our track record shows that when the pressure’s on, we are more like whimpering cowards.
That’s why its so good we are here this morning, all of us, gathered around our Lord’s Word, read and preached. He sent out His light and His truth and they have led you to His holy font and altar, to receive His love and life. For we are not here just to give thanks for Simon the Zealot and Jude the Courageous. Above all, we are here to give thanks and full-throated praise to Jesus the Christ, the Savior of cowardly apostles, stumbling students, and ambitious adults.
You want to see a zeal for God that never melts? Don’t look to yourself. Look to Jesus the Zealot. He was so zealous to do His Father’s will of saving you that He forged ahead despite the world’s insults and hatred, despite the abandonment of His closest friends. His zeal got His holy Body to the Cross to atone for Simon and Jude’s disloyalty. And ours too.
You want to see true courage? Look to Jesus the Courageous. Who never flinched as He faced down all the hatred that Satan and hell could dish out on His body and soul. He “contended for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and it killed Him. Truly a “Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art; visit us with Thy salvation, enter every trembling heart” (LSB 700:1).
That death is your triumph. That death is the end of death. And on the Third Day He rose from the dead, putting an end to death and bringing life and immorality to light, ready to bestow the benefits of this death-defying, life conquering love in Holy Baptism; a full portion to you of the Father’s forgiveness, the Son’s everlasting life, and the Spirit’s eternal favor. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
This morning we also give thanks and praise to God that little Ella is immersed in this death-defeating, life bestowing Holy Baptism! Not much is known about her. She hasn’t done a lot. But that’s the wrong question. The Lord Jesus chose her. He has made her His own. She is His friend. He laid down His life for her. He has washed her with water and His Word. She is God’s own child, gladly say it. She is baptized into Christ! Seth, Kaitlynn, Ben and Sarah, take seriously your vows. As she grows, put that Word into her hands and into her ears, that she and you be sustained in His Word and faith all the days of your life.
She is now your sister in Christ, dear Christians. Joined to you and with you in His one, holy, Christian and apostolic Church. You will never win the world’s approval. Simon and Jude sure didn’t. But that’s okay. Jesus chose them. His approval was enough. It led them to live up to their names in the end, both dying courageously as martyrs.
In your Holy Baptism Jesus has chosen you too, chosen you out of this world. Out of the world, into His Church. Which means the world hates you. But Jesus loves you. He approves of you. He delights in you. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Holy Baptism of Ella Raye Fickel
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
This morning we give thanks and praise to God for the apostle Simon. Don’t confuse him with the Apostle Simon Peter. Today we remember Simon the Zealot; which means that he was among that Jewish movement which was zealous for keeping the Torah of Moses. You can bet he was determined, committed, even fanatical about what he believed. If Luther were an apostle, he’d probably have gotten along with Simon the Zealot.
At the same time we also give thanks and praise to God for the apostle Jude. This is a shortened form of the name, “Judas.” But don’t confuse him with Judas Iscariot. Today we remember Jude, a relative of Jesus and the author of that short epistle in the New Testament. But the Church has also referred to St Jude as Thaddeus, which means, “courageous heart.” What a perfect pair. Simon the Zealot and Jude the Courageous Heart.
But that’s about it. We don’t know much about them. If only we had some good stories, a little embellished, sure, as the stories of the saints tend to be, but that would at least supply us with some moral example material this morning. That’s how our Lutheran Confessions rightly say to remember the saints. “Our churches teach that the history of the saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling” (AC XXI). “Right. Okay. Now you go and be more like St Simon and/or St Jude.” Yeah, sorry, its pretty much a blank. Maybe they were martyred together in Persia?
Great. Thanks, Pastor. We moved the Festival of the Reformation to celebrate a saints’ day about some guys we know nothing about? What are we to supposed to make of St Simon and St Jude?
Well, we can’t get it much more backward than by asking that question. Its the wrong question. The only good question is the one our Lord Jesus has, in fact, given us the answer to: What did He make of Simon and Jude? Here we are on solid ground. The Lord made them apostles. Third and second last, but always on the list, before Judas Iscariot who betrayed our Lord (cf Mt 10:2-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Ac 1:13).
This means that they witnessed the baptism of our Lord in the Jordan River by John. They were present at the wedding at Cana and the miracle of the water to wine. They distributed bread and fish to the 5,000. They saw the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the casting out of demons, Lazarus called forth from the tomb. They heard His preaching and teaching. They were there when Christ instituted the Holy Ministry, Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, and Holy Absolution. They were present and praying when the Holy Spirit fell like fire on Pentecost. They preached in other languages. They were apostles. Unmistakably, no uncertainty, Simon the Zealot and Judas the Courageous.
Which means they were there on the night on which Jesus was betrayed. The night when He washed the disciples’ feet and instituted the Sacrament of the Altar. They heard the teaching which you just heard. A hard teaching. One that cuts against the way we naturally think. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. In fact, the more Christ-like they were, the more vicious the hatred would be. But they weren’t to take it personally, because it is actually Christ Himself whom the world hates in His apostles and in those who abide in His love.
So, Simon the Zealot, I have a question, “Where was your zeal when they came to arrest your Lord and take Him away that night?” The Scriptures say that you were zealous to turn and scamper away. And Jude the Courageous: “Where was your courage when your Beloved Teacher really needed some?” The Scripture says you ran away and abandoned Him. And both of you guys: “Aren’t you a little bit embarrassed that just before Palm Sunday, when your Master’s mind was on His impending death, your mind was on personal ambition, arguing about who’s the greatest?”
Students of all ages, elementary, high school and college. You are zealous for many good things. Zeal for getting good grades. To have a job when you graduate. To be a good friend. But oh how your zeal melts like butter in the sun if it means being laughed at and losing friends.
Adults, new homeowners, newly married, first time parents. You are courageous to take on all that debt, to enter into that holy estate, to raise your kids in the fear and instruction of the Lord, even though your overworked and overstressed and not sleeping enough. Bleary eyed you forge ahead. But where is a little bit of that courage when your attempt to lead a godly life is mocked and labeled as “extreme” by those around you?
All of us. Where’s the strength to resist when the devil tempts us to be more zealous for our own glory, rather than the glory of God? We like to think of ourselves as zealous, courageous and strong; like Jeremiah standing upon the Word of the Lord and standing up to the people. But our track record shows that when the pressure’s on, we are more like whimpering cowards.
That’s why its so good we are here this morning, all of us, gathered around our Lord’s Word, read and preached. He sent out His light and His truth and they have led you to His holy font and altar, to receive His love and life. For we are not here just to give thanks for Simon the Zealot and Jude the Courageous. Above all, we are here to give thanks and full-throated praise to Jesus the Christ, the Savior of cowardly apostles, stumbling students, and ambitious adults.
You want to see a zeal for God that never melts? Don’t look to yourself. Look to Jesus the Zealot. He was so zealous to do His Father’s will of saving you that He forged ahead despite the world’s insults and hatred, despite the abandonment of His closest friends. His zeal got His holy Body to the Cross to atone for Simon and Jude’s disloyalty. And ours too.
You want to see true courage? Look to Jesus the Courageous. Who never flinched as He faced down all the hatred that Satan and hell could dish out on His body and soul. He “contended for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and it killed Him. Truly a “Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art; visit us with Thy salvation, enter every trembling heart” (LSB 700:1).
That death is your triumph. That death is the end of death. And on the Third Day He rose from the dead, putting an end to death and bringing life and immorality to light, ready to bestow the benefits of this death-defying, life conquering love in Holy Baptism; a full portion to you of the Father’s forgiveness, the Son’s everlasting life, and the Spirit’s eternal favor. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
This morning we also give thanks and praise to God that little Ella is immersed in this death-defeating, life bestowing Holy Baptism! Not much is known about her. She hasn’t done a lot. But that’s the wrong question. The Lord Jesus chose her. He has made her His own. She is His friend. He laid down His life for her. He has washed her with water and His Word. She is God’s own child, gladly say it. She is baptized into Christ! Seth, Kaitlynn, Ben and Sarah, take seriously your vows. As she grows, put that Word into her hands and into her ears, that she and you be sustained in His Word and faith all the days of your life.
She is now your sister in Christ, dear Christians. Joined to you and with you in His one, holy, Christian and apostolic Church. You will never win the world’s approval. Simon and Jude sure didn’t. But that’s okay. Jesus chose them. His approval was enough. It led them to live up to their names in the end, both dying courageously as martyrs.
In your Holy Baptism Jesus has chosen you too, chosen you out of this world. Out of the world, into His Church. Which means the world hates you. But Jesus loves you. He approves of you. He delights in you. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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