Matthew 22:15-22

            {Prayer}

            Since we moved a year ago, mornings have become interesting in our house. Before, the kids had their own bathroom and we had ours. Now, Heath essentially has his own bathroom upstairs and I have to share with two very wonderful and beautiful ladies. Granted, I’m a little bigger than the youngest lady of the house and I may or may not be making it more difficult for her to do her hair. Regardless, the eye rolling looks reflecting from the mirror are quite evident.

            But then there are those times when I do get the mirror all to myself. Getting ready for the day, looking into the mirror, I see the signs of aging. More and more white hairs are appearing in my goatee-ish beard and on the top of my head.

            But sometimes, while looking at what’s on the outside … we become painfully aware of what we’re carrying on the inside.

            We see the tiredness in the eyes. The stress of some of the responsibilities that lie ahead of us. How tired we feel before the day has even begun. There is a difference between how we appear and how we are doing.

            For me … I see the exhaustion that comes from being burnt out. The lack of desire to sometimes do anything. The depression of feeling inadequate, not good enough, and feeling trapped as if I’m running in a hamster wheel and can’t get out. …

            A mirror can show us our face. But to understand whose we are … we need to hear about something the mirror cannot tell us.

            Jesus is in the temple courtyard, merely days before He celebrates the Lord’s Supper with His disciples, is betrayed, and crucified. Over the last few weeks, we have heard about the different conflicts Jesus has had with the Pharisees and the chief priests. Getting nowhere with their plan, they bring in another party, the Herodians, in order to trap Jesus in His Words.

            The Herodians are supporters of Herod ruling family and are typically opponents of the Pharisees. But here they are working together.

            Together they try to flatter Jesus. “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men because you pay no attention to who they are” (Matthew 22:16).

            Then comes the question. “What is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (22:17).

            You see the trap? If Jesus says yes, pay taxes to Caesar, this could alienate Him from those who resent the Romans who are ruling the land. But, if Jesus says no, you shouldn’t pay taxes, it could be used against Him in that He is resisting Rome and wants to start an insurrection.

            But here’s the thing. Jesus knows what’s going on. He’s been down this road before. So, Jesus asks for a coin that is used to pay the tax. And they bring Him one.

            Now picture that moment. They’ve brought Jesus a question meant to trap Him … and now He directs their attention to the coin itself. “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” (22:20). They answer, “Caesar’s”. Jesus then goes on to tell them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (22:21).

            Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. His image is on the coin. But what about the person holding it? Caesar didn’t create that person. God did. And Genesis tells us something about how God created us.

            God said way back in Genesis 1, “Let us make man in our image” (1:26). And that is what He did. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female, He created them” (1:27).

            The person looking into the mirror … that is God’s creature. Made in His image. And that person staring back … their life matters to Him more than any of their accomplishments or what other people may think of them.

            But sin has devastated God’s good creation. We no longer live in the perfect trust and love for which He created us. And in a fallen world, we suffer in ways other people cannot always see.

Over and over again we live our lives as if our worth is found in the things we do, how we look, how we’re needed. And so, we neglect who we are called to be. We fail to love God like we should. We fail to love our neighbors as He’s commanded us to.

Our sin … it needs forgiveness. Our suffering … it needs compassion. …

Please hear this clearly. Depression, anxiety, and exhaustion are not proof that you have failed to trust God enough. I trust in Jesus as my Savior … and yet I battle with these things.

And when we are struggling, even faith can become another thing we think we’re failing at. “If I believed more firmly! If I prayed a little harder! Maybe then, then I wouldn’t feel this way.”

This puts us right back in front of the mirror … looking at ourselves … trying to find enough strength somewhere inside. …

But look again at the One asking for the coin.

Jesus knows what these men are doing. He knows the question is a trap. And He knows where this hostility is leading. In a few days, Jesus will be handed over to the Roman governor. He will be mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross.

And knowing that … Jesus continues on. He continues to the cross for us.

The One standing before the them has come to bear the sins that we cannot undo. The failures we cannot go back and fix. The times we have hurt someone while trying to protect ourselves. The times we have failed to love God and the people He has placed in our lives.

He takes those sins all upon Himself. Jesus gives His life for you.

And then on the third day … He rises.

Your forgiveness rests on what Jesus has done. His death and resurrection, they do not become less true on the days when you’re exhausted. His promises don’t become less certain when you are struggling to feel His comfort.

Earlier, in the explanation to the Second Article of the creed, we confessed why Jesus has redeemed us … “that I may be His own.”

His own. …

This is where the question, “Whose are you?” finds its answer. Jesus Christ has purchased and won you with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. In your Baptism, He placed His name upon you. He joined you to His death and resurrection.

And when you look in that mirror again … you may still see tired eyes. The hard situation may still be waiting. The depression, the anxiety, the exhaustion … they may still all be there. Their presence doesn’t mean Christ has abandoned you.

I know when I look in the mirror tomorrow morning, I may struggle with the person looking back at me. And maybe you will too.

Jesus knows that person. He knows everything we carry, including the things we struggle to put into words. And Jesus has gone to the cross for us. He has risen from the grave. In Baptism, He placed His name on us.

When it’s difficult to pray, we can still receive the prayers of others. When we are worn out, we can receive their care. We belong to Christ even when we need someone else to remind us of His promises.

So tomorrow morning … as you get ready for the day … you may notice another white hair. You may notice how tired you look. You may even wonder, “How am I going to manage everything ahead of me.”

Whatever it is that you see … hear this. Jesus Christ has redeemed you. Your sins are forgiven. You are baptized into His name.

Whose are you? …

You are His. Amen.