Abel – Offered a better sacrifice

Genesis 4:1-8, Hebrews 11:4, 12:24, Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:51

When Jesus Christ died upon the cross, He became your substitute. He entered time and space to take your place. He died the death that you deserve. He made the perfect payment for your sins. He died in your place.  He rose from the grave as a guarantee that you might have everlasting life with Him.  Abel made his sacrifice by faith. In the same way, we accept Jesus’ death by faith and are declared right before God. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 3, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." We "are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood" (Vv.22,24)

God declares you to be not guilty and He also declares you to be righteous.  He cancels the guilt of your sin and credits righteousness to you. No one lives a perfectly good, holy and righteous life. We are all sinners. Yet He declares everyone who puts his trust in Jesus to be not guilty and righteous. This declaration is valid because Christ died to pay the penalty for our and lived a life of perfect righteousness that can now be credited to us. 

Although we clearly deserve to be pronounced guilty before God He declares you righteous because of the redemption, which comes to us through Jesus Christ. This is what prompted Able to offer an acceptable sacrifice, for he offered it by faith. God doesn’t need your good works, or your pious actions, or your money.  Your neighbor, on the other hand, needs you. As we serve our neighbor, we serve in a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving. We act as God has acted for us. We show mercy as God has shown mercy. We forgive as God in Christ has forgiven.    

Almighty God, Whom to know is everlasting life, grant us perfectly to know Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the way, the truth and the life, that following His steps we may steadfastly walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS

Collect for a right knowledge of Christ Lutheran Service Book ©2006 Concordia Publishing House St. Louis

Eve, our first mother

Genesis 2:4b-25

Adam and Eve hid themselves from God

Eve was the first woman. Independent and curious, noticing the fruit to be good for food…pleasing to the eye…desirable for gaining wisdom, three aspects of temptation, she took of the tree and ate. She disobeyed God's command. She ate the forbidden fruit, initiating major changes in the Garden of Eden - and human history. Man will now have to struggle to survive in this world and death is introduced to the planet.

As sin entered the picture, so the image of God was destroyed. By its very nature, sin destroys that image since sin is an attitude in which the wishes, thoughts and deeds of man differ from those of God. Sin drove a wedge between God and man. With the loss of the divine image, also went man’s perfect knowledge and understanding of God’s Holy Will.

At the heart of the story is a new idea: that lawlessness is contrary to the will of God, and when it happens, the good as well as the wicked suffer. We live in a broken world, outside of Eden. Disease, disaster, drought, disability, death all find their root in the first catastrophe known to man. The serpent deceived and the land is cursed.

Yet, not all is lost. Every man, every woman, every boy, every girl is cursed. No other offspring of the woman would be able to overcome the tempter, except for one, who would be born of a woman (Galatians 4:4) one, who would come to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8) Jesus the promised Savior came to destroy the works of the devil. He took on flesh, and made His dwelling with us. (John 1:14) At just the right time, Jesus broke into time and space to be your substitute. He exchanges your sin for His righteousness. He bore you sin in His body and nailed them to the cross. In His glorious resurrection, He offers you a new and glorious life.

Faithful God, whose mercies are new to us every morning, we humbly pray that You would look upon us in mercy and renew us by Your Holy Spirit. Keep safe our going out and our coming in, and let Your blessing remain with us throughout this day. Preserve us in Your righteousness, and grant us a portion in that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission from WELS

Adam - The first sinner

Genesis 2:16-25

The fall – the Sin of Adam

Adam, crafted by the hand of His creator, received the breath of life as the Father Himself breathed into his nostrils. He became a living soul, perfect, innocent, created in the very image of God. He was given responsibilities, to be priest, provider, protector, and freedoms; “I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth, it shall be food for you.” He was given responsibilities, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God blessed him.

As husband and father, he was an instructor, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’”  He failed miserably in the application. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise she took from its fruit and ate; and give also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

He believed the lie. “You surely shall not die! For God know that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” His eyes now open, he knew he was naked. He heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden and hid himself. Confronted with his sin he blamed God and his wife for his failure, “The woman whom You gave to me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Using his own words, he receives a curse, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you…cursed is the ground because of you. By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken. For you are dust and to dust you shall return.”  With these words, we observe Ash Wednesday.

Nevertheless, from the ashes, with repentance and faith we, like Adam, rise to live a new life.  For God has put enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent. HE will crust his head. The serpent can only strike at HIS heel. The first Adam brought death and destruction to this earth. The Second Adam, Christ our Savior, has triumphed and brought restoration to this broken world.  A new heaven and a new earth will come, according to His design.  Lent begins with Ash Wednesday with ashes of repentance and with the hope of life out of the ashes. With the Lord Jesus in His suffering, humiliation, agony, and bloody sweat; and at the cross where He took our sins unto Himself. That great exchange – God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cross of His own Son!        

Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission from WELS

Time in the Word - Lent 1

Jesus Does Battle in Our Place

In the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1–21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Matt. 4:1–11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Sam. 17:40–51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1–10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb. 4:14–16).

Collect for the First Sunday in Lent: O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land.  Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for Ash Wednesday: Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.  Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, 

Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord, 

Prayer in times of temptation: Almighty and everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that in our daily need, and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and, by a true and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You have promised; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Prayer for those afflicted by the devil: Almighty God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. We humbly ask You to assist [name] by Your heavenly aid and to shield [him/her] always from the evil foe. Grant that [he/she] may not be separated from You by any temptation but, trusting in Your mercy, may serve You without ceasing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

Monday, 11 February 2013—Psalm 91:1–2, 9–10, 13; antiphon: Psalm 91:15a, c, 16—The Sundays in Lent take their names from the first word of the Introit: Invocavit means he shall call. As the intensely penitential season of Lent begins, the Introit expresses confidence in the Lord that, when we call upon His name, He will answer us, He will show us His salvation. The last couple of verse of the Introit look forward to eternal life, when Christ our Lord returns in judgment and the disastrous effects of the Fall (recorded in the Old Testament reading) are reversed, and we will have no fear of anything, not even the things that are so terrifying in this life, such as the lion and the cobra.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013—Genesis 3:1–21—The reason why the Son of God had to assume flesh and suffer and die at the hands of sinful men is recounted in the Old Testament reading, where we learn of the Fall into sin by our first parents, Adam and Eve. The Fall has had disastrous consequences, regarding both our life here on earth, as well as our relationship with our Creator. Eve desired to be like God. When we sin, that is, show disregard and even contempt for the holy Law of God, we show that we are tainted with the same sin: we desire to be a law unto ourselves, we desire to be our own gods.

Wednesday, 13 February 2013—Psalm 32—This is one of the penitential psalms, a psalm of David. But, far from sounding a note of despair, this psalm revels in the happiness which comes from having received the forgiveness of all sins. David claims nor credit, no merit, no worthiness; rather, the forgiveness is a result of God’s grace and loving-kindness. If heavy guilt brings with it the agony of mind and body that are described in verses 3–4, then the relief that forgiveness brings can also be ours when we repent and rejoice in the remission of sins through Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Thursday, 14 February 2013—2 Corinthians 6:1–10—Is it possible to receive the grace of God in vain, such that it is wasted on us? Unfortunately, yes; just recall the parable of the sower and the seed from a couple of weeks ago. Paul’s concern is that some in the Corinthian congregation may be in danger of this very thing. Thus he urges them to remember the words of Isaiah (49:8): At a favorable time I have heard you; on the day of salvation I have helped you. Paul applies the prophecy to his day: Now is the favorable time! Now is the day of salvation! Don’t lose it! Don’t receive God’s grace in vain! Receive it and keep on clinging to it in faith.

Friday, 15 February 2013—Matthew 4:1–11—After His Baptism, our Lord was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil. When Adam and Eve were tempted by the cunning of the devil, they caved in and sinned. When Jesus was tempted, however, He did what we are unable to do: He withstood the devil’s wiles. He countered the devil with the Word of God, our best weapon in time of temptation. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us: We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15–16)

Saturday, 16 February 2013—Sunday’s hymn of the day is Martin Luther’s A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (LSB #656). It is a comfort to us in times of temptation to remember the words of this great hymn: This world’s prince may still / scowl fierce as he will. / He can harm us none; / he’s judged, the deed is done from stanza 3, and from stanza 4, that our victory has been won; / the kingdom ours remaineth.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Lectionary summary on first page from LCMS Commission on Worship

The Revd Jeffrey M. Keuning, Pastor of St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Casey, Iowa and Zion Lutheran Church Dexter, Iowa 

Transfiguration

“Almighty God, on the mountain you showed your glory in the Transfiguration of your Son. Give us the vision to see beyond the turmoil of our world and to behold the King in all his glory.”

Today is Transfiguration Sunday. We conclude Epiphany. Now we set our sights toward Jerusalem. We sing our Hosannas only to say farewell to our Hallelujahs. With the Savior, we walk His road from the Mt. of Transfiguration to another holy hill, Mt. Calvary.

The Transfiguration was Jesus’ experience with God.  Not the first.  Nor the last. But it was an experience so intense that the glory of God transfigured Him into the brightness of the sun. Through the season of Epiphany, we have witnessed the glory of God manifested in Jesus.   Today God’s full glory is reflected in Jesus.

Jesus’ glory is shown by the brightness of His physical appearance, the appearance of Moses and Elijah and the presence of the Father evidenced by cloud and voice. Since Jesus has come to the full possession of God’s glory, He is prepared to fulfill His mission as Messiah by going to Jerusalem to the cross. Because of this, the Transfiguration is a preparation for our Lenten pilgrimage to suffer and die with Jesus. The importance of the Transfiguration experience led the church to make the Transfiguration a festival of the church. The liturgical color changes to white to express the joy and celebration of the event.

What the Transfiguration says to them and to you this day.

1.       For them then

A.      Peter James and John were invited. They were a part of the Savior’s inner circle. What a privilege to be invited by the Savior. 

B.      Moses and Elijah appear suddenly. Why these two?

1.       They were the chief persons of the Old Testament. Moses wrote the Law. Elijah was the chief prophet.

2.       From which they spoke and Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Scripture.

3.       God used them at the great moments in the history of His people.

a.       Moses – moved in faith, when the children of Israel left Egypt.

b.      Elijah – believed he was the only one left, yet the Lord reserved 7K who had not bowed the knee to Baal  - Romans 11:4

In good times and in challenging times, God used these two, Moses and Elijah in the history of His people. When they appeared on the mountain, they were speaking to Jesus concerning His trip to the cross. That was then. This is now. How do these two speak to us today?

2.       For you now

A.      You too are invited to walk with Jesus. Journey with Him through all of life’s challenges, blessings and opportunities. Jesus walks with you through all the changes and chances of life. In good times as well as in trying times Jesus remains with you. He will never leave you He will never forsake you.

B.      Moses and Elijah still speak.

1.       Read the numerous prophecies predicting the Savior’s life, passion, death and resurrection. They were all fulfilled by Jesus’ life, which He lived for you. He became your substitute. He lived the perfect life for you. He bore your sin in His own body on the cross that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. 

2.       Know you follow Him through all life’s events. No matter your circumstance, He walks with you.

3.       Into the future, He will continue to direct your path. He will order your days. He will direct your life. Your life is not left to chance. You might not always see His guiding hand. You might not always understand what is happening to you. Yet still He gives guidance.   With the Lord begin your task, Jesus will direct it.

Our Lenten journey is about to begin. We walk it not alone. We journey with the Savior. As He leads, we follow trusting in Him to complete our life and bring significance to every moment. 

Time in the Word - Transfiguration

Prayer for Transfiguration- O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your only-begotten Son You once confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the ancient fathers, and in the voice that came from the bright cloud You wondrously foreshowed our adoption by grace. Therefore mercifully make us coheirs with our King of His glory, and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. 

Prayer for aid against temptation: O God, You justify the ungodly and desire not the death of the sinner. Graciously assist us by Your heavenly aid and evermore shield us with Your protection, that no temptation may separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

Prayer in times of temptation: Almighty and everlasting God, through Your Son You have promised us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. Govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that in our daily need, and especially in all time of temptation, we may seek Your help and, by a true and lively faith in Your Word, obtain all that You have promised; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Prayer for patience: O God, by the patient endurance of Your only-begotten Son You beat down the pride of the old enemy. Help us to treasure rightly in our hearts what our Lord has borne for our sake that, after His example, we may bear with patience those things that are adverse to us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Prayer for steadfast faith: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because of Your tender love toward us sinners You have given us Your Son that, believing in Him, we might have everlasting life. Continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may remain steadfast in this faith to the end and finally come to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Prayer of hope of eternal life in Christ: Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Monday, February 4, 2013 - Acts 2:42 - We celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord on the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. For our verse for today, I have used to describe what we are trying to accomplish here at Zion. Luke gives us a description of the first century church and this is what is needed as we enter the 21st century. We are to be one in doctrine, fellowship, sacramental living, and in prayer. These are the four legs upon which the table is set. All that we do at Friedheim needs to relate to this verse. God has blessed us greatly these past 175 years. May He continue to bless us mightily in the years to come. 

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 - Deuteronomy 34:1-12 - Moses sees God face to face and the promised land - Just before his death, Moses climbs Mount Nebo and from there is shown the Promised Land. He would not be permitted to cross over, but he was able to see it. Moses had faithfully led the people of Israel, and at last his work was done. He had done all he could, his time had come, and it was time for him to cross over to an even greater land than that which his eye beheld. The Scriptures remind us that Moses’ eye was not dim – he had perfect vision. What secrete did Moses possess? Verse 10 gives us a clue. Moses was a man “whom the Lord knew face to face.” Moses was able to make keen decisions because he kept his eye on God. May that be our legacy, to keep our focus on God. May that be our vision for our parish, to keep our focus on Christ. 

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 - Christians see the glory of God in Jesus - Who is this Jesus? That is the question the world has been asking for close to 2,000 years. Paul reminds us that by faith we are able to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ. He is more than just a mere man. He is more than just a prophet. He is, as Thomas will confess in the Easter season, “My Lord and My God.” The world wants Jesus to be anything but God. A true confession calls for us to say that above anything else He is the Lord of life. 

Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Luke 9:28-36 - The Disciples see the glory of God -The disciples early on might have had some misgiving of just who or what to make of this Jesus. After the transfiguration, there wasn’t any doubt in their minds. They knew that He was the promised Savior of the world. There on the mountain Jesus manifested all of His glory as the Father spoke His approval of His only begotten Son. But why Moses and Elijah? Both came from a storied history of God’s people of old. In Moses’ time, the people followed willingly as they escaped Egypt. At the time of Elijah, only 7,000 were left who had not bowed down to Baal. These two men represent high and low points of God’s people of Israel. There have been highs and lows in our parish history; yet One remains constant to this day. His Name is Jesus. May Christ Jesus remain the center of all that we do here at Zion. 

Friday, February 8, 2013 - Psalm 77 - David reminds us that he cries out to God. David cries out loud and God promised that He would hear. What a wonderful promise. What a wonderful picture of prayer. Why do we pray? We pray because of our need and the Father’s promise to answer our cry. Need we any other reason to pray? Zion, Friedheim, is a unique and special place. God has been good to us. No, we are not perfect and, yes, there have been times in which we have had to cry out to God. But every time we needed Him, He has always been there for us. One hundred sixty three years is a long time. It’s nothing to God. He has not changed and will not change. Cry to Him. He is near to hear your prayer and to answer you according to His good and gracious will. 

Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Matthew 17:4 - “It’s great to be here!” That’s how Peter put it. Maybe it wasn’t the most eloquent way of expressing himself, but again, Matthew reminds us that Peter, “Didn’t know what to say.” As we consider both the wonder of Christ’s glorious Transfiguration and the many blessings we have been permitted to experience here at Zion Friedheim these 175 years, it is good, it is great to be here! May the Lord continue to shower down His blessings upon us as we enter our 175th year of mission and ministry and as we take a pilgrimage into Lent to the cross and empty tomb. Yes, ‘tis good, Lord, to be here! 

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House 

Woodcut by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, a nineteenth-century German artist known especially for his book Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (‘The Book of Books in Pictures’), ©WELS.

Epiphany 4

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Friedheim

10653 N – 550 W

Decatur, IN 46733

260.547.4248

www.zionfriedheim.org

A 21^st Century Parish with a 1^st Century Faith

Acts 2:42

Chartered February 25, 1838

Celebrating our 175^th Year

03 February 2013

Epiphany 4

Luke 4:31-44

Jesus demonstrates much authority. Not as others then or now. How will you perceive Him? Deliberately Jesus will demonstrate His authority. In Nazareth, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah -that Messiah has come. The exorcism in Capernaum is a fulfillment of Isaiah's prediction. 

The Messiah would bring release to those captives of Satan. It is a statement on what the kingdom and its king offer to those who are willing to become its citizens.

1.       Jesus shows great authority by proclaiming the Word.

³¹ Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people.³² They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

Mere opinion is not His to give. He comes speaking with the power and the authority of the Lord. He speaks God’s honesty. He heralds God’s reality. Not the views of men. Not the beliefs of the current day.

Not the attitude and outlook of popular opinion. He speaks with truth and power. He speaks as the one sent from God for He is God’s one and only Son. The people are amazed at His teaching for He teaches not as the scribes and teachers of the Law. He teaches with both confidence and conviction for all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him.  

2.       Jesus shows great authority in casting out unclean spirits.

³³ In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, ³⁴ “Go away! 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!”

The "good news concerning the kingdom of God" is release from the captivity of Satan as demonstrated by healings, and especially by exorcisms.

At His command, demons are driven out. Jesus rebuked the demon inside the man in the synagogue.  And later that evening, when the demons were coming "out of many, crying, 'You are the Son of God!' … [Jesus] rebuked them and would not allow them to speak." 

His authoritative Word grabs them by the throat.  Jesus speaks and the demons are silenced immediately.  And more than that, they give up their victims.  The man in the synagogue is unharmed.  The many are healed.  Jesus speaks and the people's mouths are opened to declare His praise.

   

“You are the Christ.” They say. They know His authority. They know His power. His ultimate authority will be seen at the cross when He cries out, “It is finished” His final glory will be seen when He will say to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." John 20:27

The exorcised demons identified Jesus, crying out, "You are the Son of God" (vs. 41) The demons speak and identify Jesus before they are silenced. Isaiah’s words are being fulfilled in the presence of these witnesses. Release for the captives. Only God could do something like that! Who alone has the power to silence demons? Jesus? Yes, Jesus!

3.       Jesus shows great authority by acts of healing.

³⁸ Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹ So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

  

In freeing the sufferer, Jesus rebuked the source of the illness and yanked the victim from his power. The message of Luke is clear: this miracle illustrates Jesus' power to free the captives from Satan's power

Jesus comes to free us from every effect of sin. Jesus left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Did you notice how Luke said Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law?  He found Simon's mother-in-law stricken by a high fever. Jesus "stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them."

Jesus rebuked the fever.  He treated it the same way He treated the demons. He addressed the fever as though it possessed intelligence, or was caused by an intelligent being.   

This verbal rebuke, given by Jesus, shows that the fever was having a demonic effect.  This demon had to be brought under control. Jesus addresses the fever as a living creature, a fever demon, an instrument of Satan, by which he torments humans.

He considers disease as foreign to us as demons and death.  It is all the same to Jesus. They are all the outcome of the fall. Divorce, addictions, violence, depression, abuse, poverty, - are all invaders that do not belong in His Creation.

Still, others are healed. As “the sun was setting on the Sabbath the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.” They came. Jesus responded. Every. Single. Time.

“They were astonished by His authority of healing”. “Who is He?” they ask. He’s the Lord! He’s a liar! He’s a lunatic! What say you? Who is this Jesus?   

He was sent for this purpose. To release those held prisoner from the captivity of Satan. To set free those who were bound.  In Galilee and other cities, He will do this mighty work until it is completed, finally, at the cross, on a hill called Golgotha.

It continues to this day. For 175 years, this message of Jesus releasing those who were bound is being proclaimed. It has been shared across the kitchen table, at the shop, in our school, in our Sunday school, and in countless other places and circumstances too huge for us to count. Christ continues to be center in our lives and His release of those who were bound is the story of redemption, which we all need to hear.

Rejoice this day. You sin is forgiven. Release has been granted to you. Peace has come to this house! Forgiveness has come to this home! The demons hear and they must obey. He has been granted authority – authority of which He speaks, commands, and acts - on your behalf and on behalf of all to whom He calls by name.