Sermon from Epiphany 4,B. LSB propers. It's a narrative type. Some might think it to be trite (or worse). But, for me, I think that it serves as a good vehicle to proclaim law and gospel to God's people. Certainly a steady diet of this form of sermon would get old fast for anyone. I probably preach only 3-4 of this type in a 12 mo. time frame.
Pr. Ron Rock ++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++ "ASTONISHED AMAZED AT PEACE" Epiphany 4, B Sun. & Wed., February 1 & 4, 2009 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL Sermon Text - Mark 1:21-28 OT Reading - Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Epistle Reading - 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Gospel Reading - Mark 1:21-28 In the name of Jesus. [Amen] Our sermon is of the type called a narrative sermon. That means that as I preach the sermon I'll pretend to be someone other than myself, telling you the story from a personal, first-hand perspective. May God bless this effort to His glory and for the eternal well-being of us all. Dear friends in Christ Jesus, Good morning! My name is Andrew and I've come back from my place in eternity to be with you this morning and to elaborate a bit more on the Gospel reading from St. Mark that was just read. Bear with me, would you, as I describe -- first hand -- what it was like to have been in the synagogue on that incredible day some 2000 years ago. As I said, my name is Andrew and yes Simon Peter is my brother. Just before all this occurred in the synagogue Jesus had called Peter and myself, along with James and John, to follow Him. He'd come up to us while we were working our day-to-day job of being fishermen. He simply said: "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (Mk 1:17, ESV) We immediately followed Him, and, as you heard in the Gospel reading, we went to the town of Capernaum. There all five of us entered the synagogue. But we ex-fishermen weren't ready for what happened next. Jesus began to teach, and along with everyone else present that day, we were "astonished!" You bet, prior to this we'd heard about Jesus of Nazareth we'd heard that He was a traveling rabbi of sorts. But the stories that we'd heard of Him well they didn't come close to describe the depth and breadth of His knowledge of the Scriptures. Everyone who heard Him sat almost as in a trance - spellbound. We hung on every word that came out of His mouth He was that good! We'd all heard fairly good teachers in our time but Jesus was the very best hands down for He thoroughly explained the Scriptures, inside and out, unlike how we'd ever heard before! We had the distinct impression that not even Moses nor any of the other writers of the Scriptures knew the Scriptures as well as did this Jesus who was now before us! In the crowd that day was a man possessed by a demon. Not the man but the demon within him cried out, for it couldn't take being in the presence of the truth of God's Word being taught to the joy of God's people. The demon said: "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" (v. 24) The demon's second question to Jesus indicated two things First, it already knew Jesus' complete identity Sure, He was Jesus of Nazareth, but He was also the almighty, all-powerful "Holy One of God!" Jesus, born of Mary who grew up in Nazareth, was also God, Himself come to His fallen creation to redeem it to restore it to give it hope. Besides knowing Jesus' complete identify, the demon also knew what it's eternal fate would be. The punishment for its rebellion would be eternal destruction. Dear people, I truly hope that you've heard me out on this. I saw it in my time... and I'm confident that it continues to this day So many people have Jesus in their very presence and miss His true identity or worse yet know His identity but ignore Him! They don't have time for Him. Week in and week out, Jesus can be found right here in His modern-day temple explaining the wondrous Word of God through its proper preachment. Week in and week out, Jesus is here offering His very Body and Blood to you, His beloved ones, for forgiveness of sins and a renewal and rejuvenation of your faith. For you see week in and week out Jesus is here in this sacred place, reaching out to hurting souls calling them to repentance and faith and new life in His saving name. For He is "the Holy One of God," who alone, was able to take on the sins of the world. He did this some three years after this day that we're describing now. In His crucifixion, death and resurrection from the dead 3 days later He made "clean" what was "unclean" in fallen mankind in you! You see, the demon was only partly right Jesus had come into the world to destroy evil and those who embrace it but He'd also come to seek and save the lost. He'd come to give hope to those who felt that what they'd done was too bad or too awful for God to ever forgive them. But, my new friends please hear me out on this as well This Jesus who could command demons to obey Him on the spot well He's not a wimp at all! You gotta know you gotta believe me when I tell you that even though He came into this world to redeem all mankind it's impossible for Him to deny Himself. What I mean is He's one of those who says what He means and means what He says. Only those who are reckoned to be righteous through faith in His death in their place will escape His righteous wrath on the Last Day. No one no one will escape His perfect judgment. Those who ignore Him will have their eternal destiny to be with the demons in hell apart from His presence and His love forever. Those who repent and confess His saving name well He will share His riches in heaven with them this too, lasting forever! It's rather interesting my friend, Mark, used two rather powerful words in this section from his Gospel. Early in the reading, he says that the people were "astonished" and toward the end, he uses the word "amazed" to describe them. But notice this even though a demon had erupted out of a man and had spoken so all could hear it and all that had happened in the middle of the synagogue. Even though all that had happened Mark doesn't use those words to describe the people's reaction to the demon. No! Even though that would make newspaper headlines today it wasn't the greatest thing that had happened there and then. The people were amazed and astonished at the teaching of Jesus! That that was the greatest thing that happened that day. For Jesus had come to His people met them in His house and showed Himself to be the Lord of all and "the God of love who understood" (LSB # 819, v. 1) His peoples' every need! Although Mark doesn't record it for you I'm here to tell you that we left the synagogue that day "Astonished Amazed and at Peace." We were astonished and amazed at Jesus' teaching He having opened the Scriptures for us to see God's power, promise, and perfect love for us. And through that, we could also leave that synagogue with a sense of peace that passes beyond all human understanding. For in this traveling rabbi from Nazareth, we had also seen God in the flesh... the Messiah come to save us for Himself! You soon will leave here to go about your lives. And I ask you to leave here as Peter, James, John, myself and all the others left the synagogue that day. Leave here "Amazed Astonished and at Peace" knowing that as a Baptized one of His, your future is secure - for time and eternity! Dear brothers and sisters, I must now leave you; but know this: I eagerly look forward to that day when you join me and heavenly host as together we sing: "To God all praise and glory!" (LSB # 819) [Amen.] Cong. Stand Sing #819, v. 5 again May the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. 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