Pentecost 16; Proper 18B

 

5 September 2021

Mark 7:31-37
Jesus who has done all things well

Grant merciful Lord, to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

In this morning’s Gospel Mark assures us that there is absolutely no reason to doubt any of God’s promises or wonder about the sufficiency of His plans for us. Why?  Because His promises are all based on the One whose word and work are totally reliable. He has always delivered on what He has promised.

He has perfectly met all our needs. Mark convinces us to count on Jesus Christ because He has done all things well.

I.       “He has done all things well” says Mark. This is there definitive conclusion of the men who brought their deaf and speech-impaired from to Jesus for healing. It might sound strange the way Mark put it in the original Greek text but he writes it this way to bring out the emphasis of these friend’s exclamation “Well (Kalos) all things He has done!” A standard of excellence has been stamped on everything Jesus has done.

A.    Jesus does everything well. Christ always does what is exactly appropriate, just, right and totally sufficient for the situation. James uses the same word in our Epistle lesson to describe how rich men are seated in church in a way that is thought to be precisely commensurate with their social standing.  This is the same word the Savior will use in the parable to describe the house that stood on the cross and withstood the flood.

Everything that Jesus does is done in just the right way, the best way, - the perfectly sufficient and appropriate way.  The friends of the man who was healed praise the Savior’s action which is all inclusive. Literally everything Jesus has done meets the standard of perfection.

B.   These men were eyewitnesses of Jesus perfect healing of their friend in a way that was totally adequate and just for him.  They observed Christ’s deep compassion for their friend and His penetrating understanding of the man’s need. They watched as Jesus sensitively led their friend away from the confusion and sensation of the crowds so he could focus his full attention on the Healer.

They marveled when they saw the personal, reassuring, intimate touch Jesus gave to their friend’s ears and tongue.  And their exuberant exaltation of Jesus could be contained no longer when their friend, so long imprisoned by his impediments, was set free for the joys of hearing and speaking. No wonder they couldn’t contain their testimony about the Lord, even though He requested their silence. Who wouldn’t want to tell the world?  He has done all things well!

II.    These friends certainty about Jesus’ work can be ours as well. Remember what they said, “He has done all things well.”  This statement is all-inclusive. It means that everything Christ has also done for us and continues to do is done well – just right, perfectly appropriate, totally sufficient for you. His Word and work can be counted on to the fullest.  We need have no doubt or suspicion about anything Christ provides. He does everything well.

A.    When He promises that He and His Father will provide for our every need. It’s guaranteed. We can be absolutely certain that we shall have food clothing and shelter that are just fright for us according to the individual plans God has for our lives.

The same compassion, penetrating understanding and dynamic power, which brought healing to the impaired man, still characterize the way Jesus meets human needs today.

B.   And what of Christ’s promise of forgiveness for our sin? Nothing could be more certain. We may cast aside any doubt, fear or anxieties we have about the Savior not providing for us. The forgiveness of sin won by Christ at Calvary has the soundest warranty in the world. It never runs out. It’s written in blood – His blood, shed for all our sins. There are no exceptions to this warranty. Whoever we are, whatever we have done, however guilty we might feel, we may be certain that Christ lived, died, and rose –perfectly – for you. His life and death perfectly met all of God’s strict standards.

The forgiveness He offers is just, right, perfectly adequate, and totally sufficient for you. You can depend on it.

We may live with a certain amount of doubt and skepticism about the quality and reliability of goods and services provided for us today. But we have absolute confidence and trust in the goods and services God has provided in Christ Jesus. We know we can count on Jesus Christ. He has done all things well.

Words-825

Passive Sentences-13%

Readability – 70.0%

Reading Level – 7.2

Saturday prior to Proper 18

 

[1]

Psalm 146– Sunday’s hymn of the day, Praise the Almighty (LSB 797), is based on the appointed psalm for this week.  Having seen everything that Christ has done our only response is to return to Him our worship and praise. The psalm is an exhortation to trust in the Lord, Zion’s King. Psalm 146 is the first of five Hallelujah psalms with which the Psalter closes (Psalms 146-150).

1 Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him!
Yes, I will laud Him until death;
With songs and anthems I come before Him
As long as He allows me breath.
From Him my life and all things came;
Bless, O my soul, His holy name.
Allelujah, allelujah!

2 Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal;
Earth-born they are and soon decay.
Vain are their counsels at life’s last portal,
When the dark grave engulfs its prey.
Since mortals can no help afford,
Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.
Allelujah, allelujah!

Collect for Psalm 146: God of glory and power, happy indeed are those who have put their trust in you. Shine the brightness of your light upon us that we may love you always with a pure heart and praise you forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [2] -04 September, 2021

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[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © from WELS  used with permission for personal and congregational use

[2] Collect for Psalm 146, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church Vol. IV The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, © 1996 Delhi, NY

Morning Prayer #13

 

The Binding of Isaac 

Genesis 22:1-18 

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

 

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”;[b] as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”[c]

 

15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his[d] enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

 

Footnotes:

a. Genesis 22:5 Or young man; also verse 12

b. Genesis 22:14 Or will see

c. Genesis 22:14 Or he will be seen

d. Genesis 22:17 Or their

 

Illustration "The binding of Isaac" from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.

Friday prior to Proper 18

 

[1]

Mark 7:31-37—Jesus privately heals a deaf man with a speech defect.

When Jesus returns from his trip to Tyre, a man with deafness and a speech difficulty is brought to Jesus. The method of healing is touching – Jesus put his finger in the man’s ears and touched his tongue Jesus looked to heaven in prayer for power to heal. He sighed – a sign of compassion or weariness, or both? The miracle was performed privately and he asks for silence about it. But the people were so impressed that they could not remain silent. They gave Jesus an evaluation; “He has done all things well.”

There was a crowd present for the healing. Here was Jesus’ opportunity to get favorable publicity. Yet, he shunned it by taking the man away from the crowd to heal him. Later Jesus demanded that they tell no one of the miracle. Why the secrecy? Jesus did not want people to follow him because of his miraculous power. Although he was concerned about the people’s physical needs, he was more concerned with the spiritual needs. Moreover, Jesus wanted the people to see that he came to suffer and die for the sin of the world, and this could not be revealed at this time.

They remembered Jesus’ original word in Aramaic, Ephphatha – “Be opened!” In answer to that command, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was freed. To be opened is to be freed, released, and liberated. We are bound tightly together by sin, Satan and our fears, tensions and anxieties. Christ relaxes us, frees us from fear, and we are opened to health and salvation.[2]

The original translation of verse 37 literally reads, “Well! All things He has done!” A standard of excellence has been stamped on everything Jesus has done. He is able to make the deaf hear. This should not surprise us. Everything Jesus is doing is what God had promised to do when He came to redeem His people see Isaiah 35:5-6.

Collect for Proper 18 –O God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us Your humble servants, Your whole inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. [3]– 03 September, 2021

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[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © from WELS  used with permission for personal and congregational use

[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff, © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

[3] Collect for Proper 18, Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Morning Prayer #12

 

Sodom & Gomorrah 
Genesis 19:1-3, 12-15, 24-26

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

 

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

 

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 

 

24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

Illustration "Lot flees Sodom and Gamorrah"  from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use. 

 

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Thursday prior to Proper 18

 

[1]

James 2:1-10 14-18 —Showing partiality is a sin, for true faith issues in good deeds.

This passages in context condemns the showing of partiality to the rich and the humiliation of the poor (Vv.1-5) because it is a violation of the law of love, partiality is a sin (Vv.8-10).

Verses 14-18 refer to faith as intellectual assent only which does not issue in deeds of compassion. True faith expresses itself in deeds of live. This harmonizes with Paul’s teaching that faith works through love. Faith and works are inseparable. Since you have faith it will be demonstrated by works to the neighbor in love.

Let’s face it; we are profit-oriented people. We ask, “What will we get out of it?” What is there to gain?” James asks, what good is it to have faith but not works. If a needy person is given only empty words and not physical help, what good will the words do? The Christian faith must be of some value, some help to others. Otherwise, it is a useless, profitless religious experience, shallow and of little use.[2]   

Favoritism is forbidden – faith and deeds are explained. It’s quite easy to say, “I believe,” “I have faith,” “I trust,” etc. Too often these are empty words and phrases. James explains that the sign of a genuine faith is shown in deeds. The key verse is verse 17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

A prayer for guidance in our calling – Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. [3]– 02 September, 2021

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[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © from WELS  used with permission for personal and congregational use

[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

[3] Collect for guidance in our calling, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Wednesday prior to Proper 18

 

[1]

Isaiah 35:4-7a—When God comes, there will be redemption and release for His people

The children of Israel are captives in Babylon and the people are assured that the LORD will come with vengeance to deliver them and bring them back to their country and temple. They are not to be afraid, for the LORD is in control of human history. The nations that persecuted Israel shall be punished. The good news is that God will come and save his people from bondage. When he comes, there will be deliverance for all who are bound in various ways; blind, deaf, dumb and lame. The dry, burning desert will become a place where there is plenty of water. 

This is a message only for the “fearful heart.” Who does not have fear? Does this not include everyone? We all have some kind of fear; we differ only in that our fears may be different types. In this passage of Scripture the LORD tells us not to fear. Is it as easy as that? God goes farther in saying he is coming to save us. Fear puts us into captivity. God releases us by coming to us and giving us faith which is the antidote to fear.[2]

Be strong and do not fear; God will come.  The coming Messiah will bring a standard of excellence. When God comes to redeem His people, health and healing will be evident. The eyes of the blind will be opened; the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame with leap and the mute will speak. Jesus will quote this passage in Matthew 11:5 to prove that He is the Lord’s chosen and anointed one, the Messiah.

A prayer for God to guide us – Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Your most gracious favor, and further us with Your continual help, that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally, by Your mercy, obtain eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. [3] -01 September 2021

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[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © from WELS  used with permission for personal and congregational use

[2] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

[3] Collect for Guidance, Lutheran Service Book ©2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis