"THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR " Sermon Text - Luke 10:9 St. Luke, Evangelist Sun. & Wed., October 18 & 21, 2009 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL OT Reading - Isaiah 35:5-8 Epistle - 2 Timothy 4:5-18 Gospel - Luke 10:1-9
In the name of Jesus. [Amen] Our sermon is based on the Gospel of the Day read a moment ago. I re-read the following: [Jesus said:] "Heal the sick and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (Luke 10:9, ESV) Dear friends in Christ Jesus, "St. Luke, Evangelist" is what we're observing today. Just as dates are set for other events in the life of the church such as September 14th for Holy Cross Day, and December 25th for Christmas, likewise, October 18th is the appointed day for the Christian Church on earth to consider the Evangelist, St. Luke. And no, as we observe St. Luke's "day" we certainly haven't come here to worship him, rather we come here to do something else. In the second stanza of the hymn that we just sang it's described for us exactly what the day "St. Luke, Evangelist" is all about. For that belov'd physician All praise, whose Gospel shows The Healer of the nations, The one who shares our woes. Your wine and oil, O Savior, Upon our spirits pour, And with true balm of Gilead Anoint us evermore. (Lutheran Service Book, #518, v. 26) You see, that second stanza unique to St. Luke describes why October 18th has been selected as "his" day. On October 18th the church honors Luke for what he did. For besides being a trusted Christian companion of St. Paul caring for his physical needs as a medical doctor Luke also wrote two of the 66 books of Holy Scripture. And those two books - The Gospel According to St. Luke and The Book of Acts - they're known for their clear witness of what the message of God is! That message of God is before us again here and now just as it is every time that we enter this holy place. That message "The kingdom of God has come near to you." Yeah that's what Luke the Physician, Luke the Evangelist is known for. He's known for thoroughly researching the accounts of Jesus' ministry of which he'd heard. To do that Luke spoke to eyewitnesses. He meticulously accumulated details. And then he recorded those great accounts for Theophilus and for all who would follow in all times and in all eras in the one true faith. It's because of Luke, you see, that we have the beautiful account of the birth of our Lord Jesus and that we know of the 12 year old Jesus already at a young age going "about [His] Father's business" in the temple. And it's because of Luke, that our faith is informed and strengthened by the parable of The Good Samaritan and the accounts of The Rich Man and Lazarus and Jesus on the Road to Emmaus with two disciples among so many other accounts. In other words, because of Luke's diligence to research and write down these great narratives found in Scripture, we're blessed to have that much clearer of an understanding of the purpose of Holy Scripture that is to let God's people know that "the kingdom of God has come" upon the earth! But, I ask you and be honest would you be completely comfortable with "the kingdom of God" coming upon you at any time and at any place in your life? For example would you want the kingdom of God to come upon you during every discussion that you have regarding your neighbor? Would you want the kingdom of God to suddenly appear when you think that no one is looking and no one will know what you're doing? At such times you'd rather wait, wouldn't you, to have the kingdom come to you. For at those times you'd be caught red-handed seeking what's not yours lusting after what's forbidden to you or attempting to glorify yourself at the expense of others. But dear Baptized ones of God, knowing that we are that way, is why we thrill at St. Luke's writings. We thrill at hearing them and reading them, for we know that God in Christ brought His kingdom to us in spite of our sinfulness! In fact, He brought it to us because of our sinfulness because of our being helplessly lost! What St. Luke describes in Holy Scripture is nothing less than an account of God's love for fallen man God's love for you! Luke shows that Jesus Christ, God's Son, was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises of God to redeem His people who betrayed Him all so often. Luke shows that God, Himself, in the Second Person of the Trinity took the sins of the world upon Himself to the cross and endured the punishment that was due to sinners dying and rising again so that He might have them once again as His own, to live with Him forever. Luke shows that God eagerly desires to wash His people in His Baptism feast with them at His table and tell them over and over again "Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace!" in His absolution. And that's why we observe this Minor Festival of St. Luke, Evangelist. We do so because it's not only Luke's "day " but because it's also "our" day! For all that Luke describes in Scripture ultimately has to do with us. Yeah he writes of our sin but he also writes of our salvation from sin, death, and the devil given to us as a gift through faith in Christ Jesus. Do you see it? In a great twist, Luke the Physician trained to be a healer of broken bones and disease ravished bodies was used by God to write of the true Healer of mankind! Luke wrote of Jesus, who came to "heal the sick" and to "say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you!" And because of this, Isaiah's words (Isaiah 35:5-8) are fulfilled: "a highway the way of holiness" is opened to us. We who were lame with sin now leap like deer! And those whose tongues were shackled in sin now sing praises to Him who has healed our wounds for time and eternity! Thanks be to God! [Amen.] May the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. [Amen.] ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYdWPhvn5M5jaGXhGOUgCB2Hzj2RO9Ya9pQkgA8TzIPYxOsAzYk/ ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: sermons...@cat41.org Unsubscribe? 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