October 9, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 10:24-42
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Matthew 10:24-42
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
History is full of men and women who fearlessly confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord. They could not deny him. James the Great, one of the twelve disciples who heard these very words of Jesus, was killed by the sword by King Agrippa. Even to this day, those who confess Jesus as Lord are persecuted and put to death. It has been estimated that one in seven Christians face persecution around the world, and twenty-five Christians die for their faith every day. Yet our Lord Jesus says, “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). That should get our attention!
What does it mean exactly to confess Jesus? First, it means we get Jesus right. We are bold to believe who Jesus is according to the Scriptures, without adding or subtracting from them. So, if we deny Jesus, we also deny the Scriptures. If we deny that Jesus is the Christ, then we deny every promise God made in the Scriptures, “for all the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus]” (2 Corinthians 1:20). If we deny that the promises of God have been fulfilled in Jesus, then where do we go with our sin? What assurances do we have in the face of death? What are we living for? What are we willing to die for?
Secondly, to rightly confess Jesus, we need to get his gospel right. Confessing Jesus is not simply admitting who he is, like getting a test answer correct. No, we actually join our voices to John the Baptist and confess, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We profess what Jesus came to do and what he actually did for us. He came to rescue real sinners who cannot save themselves. We faithfully confess Jesus when we believe in his promises, as outlandish as they may seem. Faith grabs hold and says, Yes, Lord, you’re all I got! How can I deny you? Where will I go? Who else can I trust?
Confessing Jesus is the Christian life, the daily life. What is there to fear that Jesus has not covered? What is there to be afraid of that Christ has not already promised? Jesus will never deny you. He stands before his Father’s throne pleading his case for you (1 John 2:1). How can we deny him? Don’t hedge your bets, put it all on Jesus. You can’t lose, because he’s already won, and so have you!
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. (LSB 575)
Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.
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