Sermons from the Pulpit of Our Savior

Inspirational and educational messages from our weekly worship service. Hear the Law and Gospel in its purest form.

Epiphany 5 – Mark 1:29-39

by admin on February 5, 2012

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Well, as most of you know,  it’s Super Sunday today.  A great proportion of our citizenry is focused on the Superbowl that will be played in Indianapolis later this evening.  Much has been happening all week and is happening today also in connection with this game.  Many are having friends over to their home to watch the game together and enjoy food and drink in a party atmosphere.  Stores are trying to capitalize on the whole frenzy by offering pizzas and other snacks at bargain sale prices.  Gamblers are trying to make a profit by placing bets on anything and everything about the game.  There is really no other Sunday like it during the whole year.  That’s why many call it “Super Sunday,” this superbowl Sunday.

The Saturday and Sunday of our text were also super days in the life of God’s people.  Jesus was with them.  When Jesus is with you there cannot be a more exciting experience.  As we learn more about this “normal” weekend in the life of our Lord and his people and hear about the special, yes, the super things that happened during that weekend we will be reminded of the many “super” things that our Lord blesses our lives with day in and day out. Yes, every day with the Lord is a super day!  On this super Sunday let’s consider that as our theme.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day.

1.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day Because He Heals Our Diseases.

Injuries will certainly be a determining factor in whether this will be a super Sunday for either New York or New England.  When a team loses a key player because of injuries they have to play a backup player.  Sometimes the backup rises to the occasion and does well.  Other times the team is weaker at that position and the other team will try to take advantage of that injury.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

On this super day in the life of God’s people there in Capernaum injuries were a factor in making this a super day in our Lord’s ministry.  Here is what Mark reports happened after Jesus drove the demon out of the man in the synagogue.  29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Simon and Andrew were brothers.  They lived in Capernaum.  Jesus and his disciples may have made Peter and Andrew’s home in Capernaum a kind of base for their ministry.  Their home was also a place that experienced some super events because of injury and sickness.  Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law.  She was not able to go to the synagogue that day because of the severe fewer she had, but after Jesus helped her she was completely healed of her fever so that she was able to wait on all the guests at her home. Trials spur us to seek Jesus help; his help spurs us to service.  Note Jesus’ super compassion for the sick.  Note his super power over sickness and disease.  Many more super shows of omnipotence happened on this day.  Mark writes that later that evening, once the report of Jesus’ healing of Peter’s Mother-in-laws fever had spread, “Jesus healed many who had various diseases.”  He also healed many other demon-possessed people that were brought to him at Peter’s home just as he had healed the demon-possessed man at the synagogue that day.  How many miracles did Jesus perform on this day?  How many “super” things did the people see?  Our text says “many,” so many that the “whole town” gathered at the door.  This was indeed a super day in the life of God’s people because of what the Lord did in their midst.

Every day is a super day for us, God’s children, for the same reason.  Because of sin, sickness and disease have also become a burden for God’s children.  Christians also get sick and come down with diseases just like the rest of the world.  Sometimes people question God’s love and ask, “Why does God let his children get sick?” Here is one of the reasons.  The Lord shows his love and compassion to us when he heals us from our diseases.  Every sickness and disease is an opportunity for the Lord’s glory to be revealed (John 11:4).  Jesus tells us this when Lazarus died.  “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it is for God’s glory, so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Have you had the flu or a cold recently?  Are you experiencing one now?  Did you get over it?  Or have you been healed of a more serious disease?  Were you healed of cancer?  Did you have a surgery that took care of a very painful condition?  God has given us doctors, surgeons, nurses and all the many medicines we have today, but these only work and are a blessing to us because Jesus is working through them.  The Bible is clear where the glory is to go when we are healed.  Psalm 103: 3 says, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”  How often has Jesus healed us of our diseases,  Friends?  How often have we forgotten this benefit in our life so that Jesus does not receive the glory?  Every day with the Lord is a super day because he heals us of our diseases.  Give him the glory in your life.  Tell your neighbors what Jesus has done.  Then many will gather at God’s house as they gathered at Peter’s home to see Jesus.  When they do they will also hear how they have been “healed by his wounds” (Isaiah 53), healed from their sins.  Jesus wounds and death on the cross paid the penalty God demanded for our sins.  We were sick with sin and dying, but the blood of Jesus purified us and made us well spiritually.  Now we will live forever.

2.  Every Day with the Lord is a Super Day Because He Loves All

Today’s Superbowl will be viewed all around the world.  We witnessed this in Japan often.  Usually we had our Superbowl gathering/party on Monday mornings because of the time change.  I guess that’s another reason why we call it “super.”  Many around the world want to watch the superbowl.

Another reason why this day in the life of God’s people there in Capernaum was super was because our Lord revealed his love for all people.  Yes, every day with the Lord is a super day because he loves all people.  Mark writes, “35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus’ love for all is shown in these verses in a number of ways.  It’s early Sunday morning   Our text says that it was dark yet.  Where do we find Jesus.  Not sleeping in on Sunday like many of us like to do.  No, he is out and about in the dark finding a solitary place, a place where he would be alone, where he could pray.

What was he praying about?  Our text doesn’t reveal the content of Jesus’ prayer.  Maybe what follows is an indication of what might have been on our Lord’s mind.  When the disciples find him and indicate that everyone was looking for him, Jesus replies, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Was Jesus praying for guidance in his mission?  Jesus’ answer to his disciples reveals his great love for all people.  It would have been easy, perhaps convenient, to stay in Capernaum during his ministry.  He was popular there.  He had friends that he could have lived with.  But there were others who needed to hear the good news, others who lived in all parts of Galilee.  Jesus’ love for all is revealed in his many Galilean circuits to preach the good news.  This was the will of his heavenly Father.  “God will have all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

It’s that will of our heavenly Father, that is reflected in our Lord’s ministry in Galilee,  that is such a comfort to us and also shapes our ministry as a congregation.  The comfort part is this, if God loves all, then we know without a doubt that he also loves us.  “God laid on Jesus the sin of us all.”  (Isaiah 53: 6) Because Jesus died for all, all need to hear of that message.  This shapes our mission as a congregation.  We have a world-wide ministry.  We support mission work not just in our backyards, but all around the world.  Doing this work makes our life here on earth a wonderful life, a life filled with purpose.

Just as many around the world want to see the superbowl, and that’s another reason why we call it super, so also do we call life with Jesus super.  He loves all and wants that love shown also in our lives.  How super it is to be part of this mission and witness the marvelous effect Christ’s love has on people. People all around the world love Jesus and want to know more about him.

 (Share the email from Kato San in Tokyo:  “Hello, Jachie san, How are you? Tonight I got a phone call from Setsuko san from Kesennuma. She met Jesse and had a class in English about the Ten commandments. She was so happy that she could study the Bible in English.  She told me that Nidaira sensei and Jesse shoveled away the snow for her. She was so thankful for them. Her neighbor came and wanted to have an English class for her son. And there were more people who would like to study English conversation. Setsuko san sounded so happy when she was talking to me over the phone. She said this was a very good starting with Jesse. One more thing I have to tell you. This is something different from Setsuko san. A friend of mine has a niece in Sendai and her family suffered from the earthquake. I applied one quilt for her family and sent it to her last Sunday. They were so happy and they could not think to get something like that. And a friend of mine called and said it was so kind to make handmade quilts and send them over here.”) 2-4-12

Every day with Jesus is a super day.  The superbowl comes only once a year and it isn’t always the most interesting game to watch.  The Lord is with us every day.  His mercies are new every morning.  That means that every day is a super day for us followers of the Lord.  No matter what happens.  For as President Zarling reminded us all of in his lecture last Wednesday,  “There is nothing good you and I can do to make the Lord love us more, nor is there any bad thing we can do to make the Lord love us less.  God is love.  We have that continuous, faithful love everyday as an anchor in our lives!  That love is what makes every day with the Lord super!  Amen.

Epiphany 4 – Mark 1:21-28

by admin on January 29, 2012

Mark 1:21-28

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[a] spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Breaking News!  When you see those words across your computer screen or T.V, screen your attention is diverted from what you were doing to hear or read the message that follows.  This past week some of the stories that merited the words “Breaking News” were stories like the rescue of the two hostages in North central Somalia, the signing of Cecil Fielder by the Detroit Tigers, etc.  Breaking News is often shocking!  Sometimes it’s very happy news, but it can also be sad news as well.  It’s usually news that most, if not all, of the public has an interest in.  It’s news that is certain to be the topic of many a conversation after it airs.  Everyone will have a comment on it.  Has anything ever happened to you or involved you that might have been “Breaking News” in your home or community?

If the technology of our day would have been possible in Jesus day, there’s no doubt that what Jesus did on that Sabbath in Capernaum would have been BREAKING NEWS.  Perhaps the following message would have moved across the screen:  BREAKING NEWS!  JESUS OF NAZARETH IS A MAN OF AUTHORITY!  The news for that day would have highlighted at least two points:  1.   His teaching is with authority.  (vs. 21-22) (His is the final word)  2.  Demons bow to his authority.   (vs. 23-27) (commands)  Let’s take a closer look so that we will see why this breaking news is important for each of our lives.

It was Jesus’ custom to go to the synagogue every Sabbath.  It was the custom of the synagogue to have some teacher, rabbi or scribe expound on a portion of the Scriptures.  Jesus was invited to speak.  Our text tells us, “21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.”  You’ll remember that last Sunday we heard that Jesus had called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him and become fishers of men.  They were with Jesus.  Capernaum was their home.  Jesus probably went to the synagogue that these men were accustomed to going to.  There may have also been other synagogues that Jesus also went to.  Imagine having Jesus come with you to your church.  What a privilege and honor that would have been to be associated with Jesus.

Out text says that the people who heard Jesus “were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.”  What did they mean when they said that Jesus was one who taught “with authority?”  We have a clue with the words, “not as the teachers of the law.”  When they taught the people,  the teachers of the law usually quoted past rabbis and their commentaries to interpret the law.  Often their lessons focused on what particular legalistic regulations that portion of the Law demanded the people do.  They felt that it was their calling to uphold the traditions of Judaism, traditions that often became like a millstone around the necks of the people.  Listen to how Jesus himself describes their teaching in Mark 7:9,13:  “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! …13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”  The teachers of the law delighted themselves on the minute points of external etiquette they burdened the people with while at the same time neglecting the real truth of God’s Word and what God was trying to accomplish through the people.  For example:  God commanded “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.”  The teachers of the Law were more concerned about what moment of the day the Sabbath began and ended and what you could or could not do during that Sabbath then they were concerned about the purpose God gave the Sabbath.  For that reason they made rules like how many steps you could take on the Sabbath before you would be working and breaking this commandment.  They totally missed the point that the Sabbath was a shadow of Christ.  As they were getting needed rest for their bodies God wanted them to worship so that they would be reminded of the spiritual rest or relief that the Messiah would someday bring to them when he suffered and died for them and earned forgiveness for them before God for their sins.  These teachers of the law focused on the Law and totally neglected the gospel.

Jesus’ teaching, both the content and method, was totally different.  Jesus always proclaimed the Gospel of God.  He quoted no experts, but proclaimed the good news on his own authority.  Jesus was the final authority on God’s love!  His is the final word!  He is the one who in word and deed reveals to us the undeserved love of God for sinners.  No wonder that Jesus could speak authoritatively about God’s love.  For he is God and God is love.  You and I are experts on ourselves, aren’t we?  We know our deepest feeling and attitudes in our hearts.  Jesus did too and not only spoke truthfully about his love, but also lived that love perfectly.

As we deal with our loved ones at home or our neighbors and friends or our fellow church members here at Our Savior whose message and method of communication do we promote, the teachers of the law or Jesus’?   Do we focus on God’s love toward us and let that love motivate us to love God and our neighbor back in thankfulness?  Do we always find opportunity to speak of that love to our children and friends?  Or are we more like the teachers of the law.  We focus on the law.  We constantly remind our loved ones of what they should be doing or not doing and become angry with them when they don’t.  Do we seem to focus on punishment instead of forgiveness?  Have we filled our lives with traditions that we have done so often that we now think that they are commands from God?  Listen to Jesus, he speaks with authority.  He says, “I am the way, the truth and the light.”

Jesus demonstrated his authority in another way on this day – through his miracles.  Our text tells us about one that Jesus performed right inside the synagogue that day.  2.  Demons had to bow to his authority.  We read, “23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[a] spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”  Mark calls it an “unclean spirit.”  Luke calls it “a demon.”  A demon had possessed this man.  He screams at Jesus saying, “What do you want with us?”  The Greek here could be paraphrased, “Leave us alone!”  The plural “us” may refer to more than one demon or to the man and the demon.  Notice the fear of the demon.  He fears Jesus!  He fears Jesus because he knows who he is, “The Holy One of God.”  The devils know what many humans do not know and will not acknowledge.  The demons know that God has power over them and can destroy them.  They have already been punished by God.  Note also that the demon is in church.  Even though the demon has spoken the truth, Jesus is the Holy One of God, Jesus will not accept this confession from a demon.  Who will believe a follower of the Father of lies,  Satan.  So Jesus shows his authority and power over the demon by exorcizing him from the man.  Jesus said, “Be quiet!” (be muzzled)  “Come out of him.”  The demon must leave the man, but tries to harm the man as he leaves.  Wherever devils are there will be destruction, but only if Jesus allows it.  Jesus authority was evident!  Listen to the eyewitness’s words.  “He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”

Jesus once again shows us that he is God by demonstrating his almighty power.  He demonstrates that power by showing that the demons, who are more powerful than man, must obey him.  Jesus is God.  He had to be, to be the “Holy One of God.”  For every man is born sinful.  Jesus had to be the Holy Son of God in order to live the sinless, perfect life God demanded of man and man’s substitute to be an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.  Jesus had to be God so that his precious blood would be a ransom that would redeem the whole world.  He was God.  Therefore the Scriptures tell us that his blood covered all the sins of the world.  Your and my sins were also covered by Jesus’ blood.  God has forgiven us and the whole world because Jesus’ blood purifies us and all people of every sin.

The devil is still active today, friends.  He even comes into church often.  Recently a brother in the ministry told me about one of the saddest events of his ministry.  He witnessed, and had to intercede in, an argument between two members of the church in the church narthex before the church service.  The devil was there, you can be sure.  He may even be possessing people today although we don’t identify many such cases.  Perhaps the trouble is with us.  We fail to recognize Satan prowling around in our church like “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  But we can be sure that Satan still tries to undermine the Scriptures and its teachings wherever he can.  He still tries to do anything he can wherever he can to bring disunity into the church.   He wants us to focus on the law and forget the gospel.  Ultimately, all false doctrine and practice, all cults, pagan religions, science that rejects Scripture are the works of the devil.  These things attack us on all sides.  They cause fear and make us all sad.  But, remember this, we have one more powerful than the devil, whose word is more powerful than the screams of the devil.  Jesus, the Holy one of God, who is almighty, is our refuge and strength!  He is our ever-present help in time of trouble and  need.  When he speaks, the demons must listen.  When he acts, his will is done.  And “his will is that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

The final verses of our text tell us why this would have been breaking news in our day.  27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.   We also need to spread the news about Jesus quickly!  Souls that are dying and need to hear of Jesus’ love depend on it.  The people in our text had no telephones, telegraphs, newspapers or radios, and yet this breaking news spread quickly, far and wide, by word of mouth.  Shall it be said about us some day that we had all of these marvelous tools of technology, radio, internet, tv, etc. and yet the neighbor next door to us has not heard about Jesus from us.  Are we ashamed of Jesus so that we muzzle our own mouths and the good news is not spread?  Are we too lazy  that we do not want to take the time or effort to utilize the technology for the Lord, or are we too greedy that we don’t want to spend the money to promote Christ?  Jesus is a man of authority!  He has authority over us too, friends.  He is the Head of the church!  When he says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” he is speaking with authority to us his followers.  We must obey him.  His love compels us.  Woe to us if we don’t do what he says, in love.  For then we shall also some day hear his voice speak with authority, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Then by his authority we will have to go away to eternal punishment.  When Jesus speaks we must listen!  We listen though, not because we fear his punishment, but because he loves us and has come to give his life as a ransom for our sins!  And because he has done that for our neighbor too!

BREAKING NEWS! JESUS IS A MAN OF AUTHORITY! :  His teaching is with authority.  (vs. 21-22) (His is the final word)  Demons bow to his authority.   Does your friend know what Jesus did that day in the synagogue there in Capernaum?  TELL HIM!  Amen.

 

 

A Study of the Book of Colossians for the New Year – Chapter 4

January 15, 2012

Colossians 4 Last Sunday, in connection with chapter three of Colossians, we talked about the section entitled, “The Table of Duties” in Luther’s Catechism.  Paul reminded the Colossian wives, husbands, children, fathers and employees of what their duties were as Christians.  He continues that reminder in chapter 4 by reminding the masters (employers), that is, [...]

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A Study of the Book of Colossians for the New Year – Chapter 3

January 8, 2012

Colossians 3 (Set your hearts and minds on things above) No doubt you’ve already spent some time contemplating what you’d like to see happen in the new year.  Maybe you’ve set some goals for your physical wellness and have looked into a membership for a local health center.  Perhaps you have some family events you’re [...]

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A Study of the Book of Colossians for the New Year – New Year’s Day 2012

January 1, 2012

Colossians 2 1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, [...]

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A Study of the Book of Colossians for the New Year – New Year’s Eve 2012

December 31, 2011

Colossians 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the holy and faithful[a] brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.[b] When Paul was working in the city of Ephesus during his third missionary journey a man by [...]

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Epiphany 3

January 23, 2011

Jesus Begins to Preach 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and [...]

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Epiphany 2

January 16, 2011

TEXT: 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Dear Friends in Christ, the Lamb of God, People often ask me, “Why are there so many churches and denominations today?”  The short answer is because there are many [...]

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Epiphany

January 9, 2011

Matthew 2:1-12 January 9, 2011 TEXT:  1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” [...]

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One of Us

January 2, 2011

One of Us by Joan Osborne [oh... one of these nights at about twelve o'clock this whole earth's gonna reel and rock... things thay'll tremble and cry for pain for the Lord's gonna come in his heavenly airplane.] If God had a name, what would it be And would you call it to His face [...]

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