[Sermon Archive] - [Weekly Devotional Guide]

This Week's Sermon THE FOURTH SUNDAY after the EPIPHANY 31 January 2010 "The Power of Darkness Broken" Luke 4:31-44 LSB Series C Pastor Philip G. Meyer Soli Deo Gloria!

The perspective of the Epiphany season is like 04 June 1944, better known as D-Day, the day that the Allied Expeditionary Force invaded the Normandy beaches. Newspapers in the United States went into celebratory mode when it was announced. Few had any doubts that the beginning of the end of the war had begun. Epiphany announces that Jesus had come to earth with real authority to dispatch the powers of darkness which had enslaved all of mankind. With a word Jesus expelled the unclean demons which had controlled people. With a touch he healed many who were sick with various diseases and conditions. "See How He Sends the Pow'rs of Evil Reeling!" [LSB 825.2] is the way one of our Epiphany hymns puts it.

Satan's rule has always been characterized as darkness. Darkness and Light are old Scriptural themes. In Egypt, the ninth plague is pitch darkness, a complete absence of God's providential presence. The enemies of God groped around in the dark and were separated from Israel by a thick darkness. Sinful man is pictured as walking in darkness [Ps. 82.5]. Darkness is coupled with bondage in chains and the shadow of death [Ps. 107.14]. Our old enemy, Satan, is described as pursuing our souls, crushing our lives, and making us sit in darkness like those long dead [Psalm. 143.3].

On Christmas Eve we heard the prophet Isaiah announce:

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2, ESV)

As we hear the Holy Gospel in Epiphany we see the light and life that Jesus brings unfold in dramatic fashion. Not only does he announce the beginning of the end of the darkness of sin and death, he demonstrates it in loving actions. What wonderful words and actions are announced to us again this morning!

As Jesus went down to Capernaum and he was teaching the people with authority, a man with an unclean demon confronted him, shouting:

""Ha! 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."" (Luke 4:34, ESV)

The demons immediately recognized Jesus as the One who had come to defeat them. Even more, they knew that Jesus had come to destroy them, to make Satan's kingdom nothing. The curious word, "Ha!" is an exclamation of surprise or displeasure. Literally, it means "let alone." The demon did not want Jesus there! Jesus rebukes the demon, telling him to be silent and to come out of the man. The people are utterly amazed because with a word Jesus has demonstrated his power over the kingdom of darkness. Word began to spread all over about him. Here was One who taught and acted with authority.

In his healing ministry Jesus was restoring people to health. Few people today see the connection between our fallen, sinful nature and the breakdown of our bodies. The Bible makes it clear that there is a reason that we are subject to disease, accident, and death: it is because our first parents fell under Satan's control. In some ways I think it very ironic that much of our society simply does not believe in a personified evil, that is, Satan and all the angels that fell with him in the rebellion against God before Adam and Eve were created. At the same time, it seems to me that a noticeable proportion of the movies produced have other-worldly monsters and creatures which are always at war with human beings, seeking to destroy them. The horror film genre is very popular in our day. In Medieval times especially, people viewed Satan and his demons in this way.

Even outside of that, there remains a refusal to believe that evil has to do with the kingdom of darkness. The other day there was a news story in our local paper describing a new department at Gonzaga University dedicated to trying to solve the reason why people hate. Their institute claims to exist "for the purpose of eliminating hate within the University community, the Northwest region, and the nation. It will accomplish this mission through research, advocacy, and education." [Gonzaga University. http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/againsthate/guclasses.htm]. The local article pointed out that there is a push to get more such programs started in other universities.

Our society treats evil-in this case, hatred-as a psychological condition that can be alleviated through education. While society may take evil's consequences seriously, it does not take its origin seriously. The earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ does, however, and he meets Satan and the darkness head on. The good news is that Jesus overcomes the power of darkness throughout his earthly ministry. John records these words of Jesus: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, ESV)

When Jesus preached and healed people of demonic possession, illness or accident, he was demonstrating that he had authority to break Satan's grip on humanity and the created order. No wonder the demons were upset! These were previews of a coming attraction. That major attraction was his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Without question, when Jesus was crucified and died, Satan believed that he had won the victory and that the world and everyone in it would still belong to him forever. Clearly, Christ's resurrection disproves that! Not only must the forces of Satan yield to his powerful word, they must yield to his mighty resurrection from the dead. Because Jesus paid the price for this world's sin-once for all-his death covers all sins. Once the cause of death has been removed, then the kingdom of darkness has been undone. Satan cannot win the war. It has been decided. When Jesus died, he shouted, "It is finished!" [John 19.30]. His work of redeeming the world was finished, and even more, the kingdom of darkness was finished, too. Satan's iron grip was forever broken.

Whether it is the healing of the man with an unclean demon or the healing of Peter's mother-in-law sick with fever, or the man born blind, or countless other sad conditions, it is clear that the power of darkness has been broken by Jesus. By his word he drives out Satan, by a word and/or a touch he heals. He raises the dead to demonstrate that he has authority over death, foreshadowing his mighty resurrection.

So Luke records these important words at the end of our Gospel reading as the people tried to keep Jesus from leaving them:

"but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." (Luke 4:43, ESV)

This ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ has continued without interruption down to our day and will continue right up to the last day when this Lord will return in glory with all his holy angels to bring about the consummation of his kingdom. The liberating words of Jesus are spoken through Word and Sacrament. While we continually pray for healing for our bodies, we know that our bodies will eventually die. It is the way that God finally rids them of our inborn sin. But in the meantime, because Christ has broken the power of darkness, the life begun in you in Holy Baptism is sustained and nourished. In Holy Absolution the healing word is spoken into your ears to assure you that your sins are indeed forgiven by God. Listen to the words of a few of our hymns [the concordance to our hymnal lists some 40 specific references to God's healing of you, to say nothing of the additional synonyms which speak of the same thing].

The first one is from the section entitled Confession and Absolution:
609 Jesus Sinners Doth Receive

2 We deserve but grief and shame,
Yet His words, rich grace revealing,
Pardon, peace, and life proclaim;
Here our ills have perfect healing.
Firmly in these words believe:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Text and Music: Public domain. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Our third distribution hymn today includes these words which speak of the Sacrament of the Altar:
620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing

1 Jesus comes today with healing,
Knocking at my door, appealing,
Off'ring pardon, grace, and peace.
He Himself makes preparation,
And I hear His invitation:
"Come and taste the blessèd feast."

6 Now have I found consolation,
Comfort in my tribulation,
Balm to heal the troubled soul.
God, my shield from ev'ry terror,
Cleanses me from sin and error,
Makes my wounded spirit whole.

Text: © David W. Rogner Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, number 100010193. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

In taking care of matters for Flynn Snyder, I came across some notes she had made. I don't think she ever thought anyone else would ever read them or hear them, but I thought her comments appropriate in light of the suffering she endured with her illness and how she longed to be healed. These words should be understood in the context of our Holy Gospel today, that of forgiveness and healing.

"Sat. 15 November 2008
At 10 AM today I made three decisions.

I was daily going to record my thoughts and feelings. It will be mostly ramblings. Nothing poetic or anything that will mean anything to anyone but me. My ups and downs and continued faith and trust in God who will guide me through this part of my journey of life."

It is the third one that I think speaks to us in the context of our Gospel reading:

"It looks damp and chilly outside. I feel a little lonely today, [am] looking forward to [in] the morning. Divine Service where Christ will feed my soul with his Body and Blood. I look forward to the peace and refreshment."

Peace and refreshment. We could call that continued healing for that is exactly what Christ gives you in his body and blood. Hear again one of our hymns:

642 O Living Bread from Heaven

1 O living Bread from heaven,
How well You feed your guest!
The gifts that You have given
Have filled my heart with rest.
Oh, wondrous food of blessing,
Oh, cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing,
With praises overflows.

2 My Lord, You here have led me
To this most holy place
And with Yourself have fed me
The treasures of Your grace;
For You have freely given
What earth could never buy,
The bread of life from heaven,
That now I shall not die.

3 You gave me all I wanted;
This food can death destroy.
And You have freely granted
The cup of endless joy.
My Lord, I do not merit
The favor You have shown,
And all my soul and spirit
Bow down before Your throne.

4 Lord, grant me then, thus strengthened
With heav'nly food, while here
My course on earth is lengthened,
To serve with holy fear.
And when You call my spirit
To leave this world below,
I enter, through Your merit,
Where joys unmingled flow.

Text (sts. 1-4) and Tune: Public domain. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Whatever healing you experience physically on earth is temporary, but Christ does bring perfect healing, even if it is eschatological, that is, at the end. Flynn looked forward to that. Again, two hymn stanzas.

716 I Walk in Danger All the Way

2 I pass through trials all the way,
With sin and ills contending;
In patience I must bear each day
The cross of God's own sending.
When in adversity
I know not where to flee,
When storms of woe my soul dismay,
I pass through trials all the way.

6 My walk is heav'nward all the way;
Await, my soul, the morrow,
When God's good healing shall allay
All suff'ring, sin, and sorrow.
Then, worldly pomp, begone!
To heav'n I now press on.
For all the world I would not stay;
My walk is heav'nward all the way.

Text and Music: Public domain. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

With ultimate authority our Lord Jesus Christ has broken the power of darkness so that Satan no longer has any claim over you. You are his and he is yours. He nourishes and sustains you with the healing medicine of immortality, his true body and blood, so that you will know and experience the final healing on the last day. May God the Holy Spirit graciously keep you in the healing wounds of Christ until your end and you see the eternal light of Christ!

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.