February 12, 2012
Dear friends in Christ.
Over the past number of years the TV series,
Mythbusters has revealed the truth behind some very popular myths in our
society. Using scientific method,
curiosity, and quite a bit of ingenuity they have revealed the truth behind
some myths, the sheer implausibility behind others, and even revealed that some
myths, as ridiculous as they might seem, are at least a possibility. Well, in many ways, this is the very thing
that Jesus is doing in our lesson today as he reveals himself as the Savior of
the World who holds authority over all things!
For as we meet Jesus in our lesson today, we see him revealing his
authority over sickness, over satan, and over all of our sins. In fact, I invite you to open your Bibles to
our lesson today and we’ll see just how Jesus is revealing his authority.
Now, as you are opening your Bibles to Mark 1:29,
let me remind you of what was going on.
As we heard in our gospel lesson last week, it was the Sabbath day. Jesus had been teaching in the synagogue,
amazing the people because he was teaching with such authority, when suddenly a
man with an evil spirit cried out, “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!”
(Mark 1:24, NIV84) Immediately, Jesus
had told the evil spirit to be quite and come out of the man, which amazed the
people all the more. Now, as our lesson
begins in verse 29, we see what happened after Jesus and his disciples left the
synagogue. In fact, let’s start with
verse 28: “News about him spread quickly
over the whole region of Galilee. 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." (Mark 1:28–31, NIV84)
Though it had already been a busy day for Jesus, his
day would soon be getting busier. Although Jesus was now heading to the home of
Simon and Andrew, undoubtedly for a meal and some relaxation, he would soon be
facing crowds of people who would come to see him. But now, as Jesus was in the
home of Peter and Andrew, he had an opportunity to reveal his authority over
sickness to the disciples who were present. For as our text told us, Simon’s
Mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, yet, when Jesus took her hand
and helped her up, the fever left her. Not only did the fever leave her, but
Jesus healed her so completely that she got up and started to serve them the
evening meal. That in itself was quite an amazing miracle. For if you think
about it, you all know what it’s like to suffer with high fevers. You know how
exhausted and how relived you feel when the fever finally breaks. You know how
good it feels to curl up and sleep soundly knowing that you are on the road to
recovery. But that’s not what happened with Peter’s Mother-in-law. When Jesus
healed her, she was so completely healed and undoubtedly so completely thankful
that she was immediately able to get up and work without the slightest bit of
weariness.
This is how Jesus revealed his authority over
sickness in our lesson today, and this is how Jesus reveals his authority over
sickness in our lives as well. Though we have never had Jesus physically take
our hands and help us out of bed when we’ve suffered with a fever, Jesus is the
one who heals us. Though we are used to taking Aspirin or Tylenol, Advil or
Aleve, or even Zicam for our cold symptoms, it is our Savior who makes them
work. Though we are used to going to the doctor and getting some kind of
prescription medicine to help us over come specific illnesses, it is our Savior
who allowed us to discover them. For it is our Savior who has authority over
our sicknesses and it is our Savior who sometimes allows our sicknesses to
linger, but even if they should linger, even if head cold develops into
Pneumonia, even if we should someday contract a terminal illness, it is still
our Savior who heals us. It is still our Savior who demonstrates his authority
over our sickness by taking it from us, or by taking us from it. For in his
grace, when we are ill, Jesus either heals our sickness so that we can continue
in our lives here on earth, or he heals them completely by taking us to his
side in heaven. Either way our Savior’s authority reigns supreme.
But this is only one of the ways in which Jesus
reveals his authority in our lives. For as our Savior, Jesus not only reveals
his authority over sickness, but he also reveals his authority over our enemy
the devil. In fact, this is what Mark is assuring us of as our lesson
continues. Take a look at verses 32-34: “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." (Mark 1:32–34, NIV84)
As we said, earlier that day, Jesus had been
preaching in the synagogue, he had healed a man suffering from demon possession,
and the news had spread like wild fire! Now, after the Sabbath had come to a
close at sunset, the people from all over the area brought the sick and the
demon possessed to Jesus. They brought them because they knew and believed that
Jesus could heal them. They brought them so that Jesus could drive out the
demons that were tormenting some of the people, and that is exactly what Jesus
did. Jesus showed his authority over satan by driving out those demons. He
showed his authority over satan by not allowing any of the demons to speak as
they came out of the people. As he did this, Jesus showed in no uncertain
terms, that satan’s power was no match for his own; Jesus showed that he was
truly the Son of God who had authority even over our enemy, the devil.
Though the demon possession of people is something
that we don’t hear about too often in our day and age, the things we do hear
about are ghosts, ghost hunters, hauntings, and paranormal activity taking
place all around the country. In fact, all you have to do is turn on the TV and
you can see any number of shows talking about houses that attract seemingly
benevolent spirits that seem to protect and care for the people living in those
places. But at the same time we also hear about evil spirits who seem only to
want to hurt or harm those around them. All you have to do is turn on your TV
and you’ll find trailers for movies whose main focus is all about paranormal
activity. You’ll see adds for video
games talking about the darkness that is used and “controlled” by some
characters. You’ll find any number of
shows about psychics and other “ghost hunters” who go into houses to study,
examine, try to explain, or finally attempt to drive those spirits away. Though
many in the world hang on these shows and wonder about what is happening or
find themselves becoming very spiritual because they are attracted to these
things beyond their explanation, we as Christians see these things and know
that satan and his evil angels are still at work in our world. When we see these
things we know that satan is still working in these subtle ways to distract us
away from the truth of God’s Word and even to make us wonder if our God really
isn’t powerful enough to deal with satan.
But even though this is what our enemy is working to
do, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus not only has authority over
satan, but when Jesus went to the cross, he defeated satan once and for all.
For there on the cross, satan did indeed strike Jesus’ heal, but in turn, Jesus
crushed Satan’s head. There on that cross, satan thought he was sure to win
when Jesus died, but by his death, Jesus not only crushed statn’s head into the
ground, he completely and utterly destroyed any power that satan ever held over
us. Then, as his body lay in the grave, Jesus triumphantly marched through hell
itself to proclaim his victory over the devil.
Because of this, we know that satan cannot touch us. Though he tempts
us, we can resist him through the power of God’s Word. Though there will be
times when he succeeds and lead us into sin, we know that we are forgiven
through Jesus’ blood, and because we have been covered with Jesus’ blood, we
know that nothing can harm us. Though there are evil spirits lose in the world
causing hauntings, sightings, paranormal activity, and even masquerading as
benevolent spirits, we know that these are nothing more than the panicked
fallings of our defeated enemy who cannot touch us because we are protected by
our Savior. This is the authority that
Jesus reveals to us as he demonstrates his power and authority over satan, his
evil angels, and yes, even over our sins.
What greater revelation of authority could there be
for us! What greater comfort could there
be for us as Christians than the knowledge that Jesus reveals as he reveals his
authority over our sins. For when Jesus
went to the cross, he not only defeated satan once and for all, by his bloody
sacrifice he finally and completely washed away each and every sin we had ever
committed and every will commit. This,
in fact, was the message that Jesus was sent to proclaim, as Mark tells us in
the last verses of our lesson today: “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." (Mark 1:35–39, NIV84)
While Jesus was in Capernaum, he preached the Gospel
and called many to faith. He showed his power and authority as the Son of God
by healing people and driving out demons. But now, when his disciples found him
that morning, Jesus expressed the desire to continue on so that he might preach
the Gospel in other places as well. He expressed the desire to move on so that
he might teach others that he was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world.
This is what Jesus is doing for you and me today! He
is revealing his authority as our Savior who cleanses us from our sins. He is
assuring us that he is the one who went to the cross to forgive our sins, to
make us children of God, and to make us heirs of eternal life. He is assuring
us that no matter what sins we might have committed, by his authority, he is
able to wipe the slate clean. So, no matter what sins you might be dealing
with, you can be assured that Jesus has forgiven them. Though you might feel that your sins are like
leaches that simply won’t let go, Jesus has sprinkled the salt of his blood
upon them and made them release. Though
you may feel that your sins have covered your souls like the burned on grease
and grime that covers the drip trays beneath your stove’s burners, Jesus has
come with the grease bomb of his blood and completely cleaned us. Though you may feel that your sins have
completely over run and killed your souls like the salt spray from the roads
kills off the grass on boulevards every year, Jesus has come with the True
Green treatment of his blood, cleansed away the salt of our sins, revitalized
us, and made us whole, strong, and healthy blades in the field of his kingdom!
What greater authority could Jesus reveal to us
today! What greater comfort could we
receive from the pen of the Evangelist Mark!
For today, Jesus has gone head to head with some very popular myths
about his power and revealed his authority over all things. In such a clear way he has revealed his
authority over our sicknesses, over our enemy satan, and even over our
sins. He is truly the Son of God our
Savior who has taken care of all these things for us and continues to care for
us each and every day. What greater
comfort could there be than the comfort that comes in knowing that Jesus is our
Savior who has revealed his authority over all things.
Amen.
Pastor
David M. Shilling
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church--Le Sueur, MN
