Bible Passage: Luke 4:38-44
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: February 2, 2025

Bulletin – February 2, 2025

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Jesus was busy.  That doesn’t mean that Jesus was rushed or frenetic in his pace.  I am reading a book right now in which the author makes the interesting observation that Jesus did ministry at 3 miles an hour.  That is the average speed a person walks.  And Jesus walked everywhere.  He may have moved at only 3 MPH, but he was busy!  His days were filled!

Our text is a good example of that.  It begins on a Saturday in Capernaum.  A Sabbath Day.  Jesus has been to the synagogue.  There he taught the people.  There he also drove a demon out of a demon-possessed man.  It had been a busy day.  Preachers can tell you about the “preacher’s nap.”  That is the nap preacher’s like to take on Sunday afternoon because preaching in the morning is quite tiring!  One would certainly understand if Jesus was tired and wanted to go take a nap.

But he doesn’t.  After synagogue, Jesus goes to the home of Simon Peter.  Peter’s mother-in-law is sick in bed.  She’s got a high fever.  So they ask Jesus to help.  He rebukes the fever and immediately Peter’s mother-in-law gets up and starts waiting on them.  She felt really good!  Of course she did!  Jesus doesn’t do “partial miracles” or “half miracles.”  Ah, maybe now Jesus can get some rest!

Not so fast.  We are told that at sunset the people start lining up outside the house, bringing their sick and diseased loved ones.  Mark tells us, The whole town gathered at the door. (Mark 1:33)  Why would they do that at sunset?  Remember the Jewish calendar.  Each new day started at sunset.  So sunset was when the Sabbath was ending.  The restrictions on working and walking were ended.  They could go to Jesus now!  And they do! In droves!  We are told, …laying his hands on each one, he healed them. (v. 40)  Just like Jesus, isn’t it?  He doesn’t just make one sweeping gesture to the crowd and say, “There!  You’re all healed!  Go home now!”  One by one by one, he touched each one.  Each person got their own moment with Jesus!

The demonized were also brought.  Those tormented people in whom a demon or demons had taken up residence.  Jesus commanded the demons to come out.  In total compliance to the command of God’s Son, they come out confessing, You are the Son of God! (v. 41)  Jesus commands them to be quiet.  He does not want the testimony of demons.

Finally, finally, finally the long day ends!  I don’t know what time Jesus finally got to bed that night.  But we do know he was up very early the next morning.  He wants to spend some time with his Father alone in prayer.  But the crowds find him.  And they begin to prevail on him to stay there in Capernaum.  They liked having a 24-hour urgent care clinic in town run by Jesus where there was a 100% cure rate!

Jesus’ answer to those who were prevailing on him is important.  He says, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns, too, because that is why I was sent. (v. 43)  It is interesting to note that Jesus doesn’t say, “I have to go to the other towns to heal the sick and drive out demons.”  Don’t misunderstand the point.  The miracles Jesus performed were important.  Certainly they were to Peter’s mother-in-law and the sick in Capernaum who were healed that night and the demon-possessed who were now demon-free!  But Jesus’ words reveal a priority in Jesus’ ministry.  And for Jesus, preaching the good news took top priority at this point!

You see, God’s kingdom could still come even if Jesus didn’t heal a feverish woman or a leprous man.  God’s kingdom could still come even if Jesus didn’t cast out any demons and tell them to zip it.  But God’s kingdom cannot come without the Good News!  As we learned in our Catechism:  “God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven.” (The Second Petition of the Lord’s Prayer)  Nothing there about miracles!  Only the Word!  So Jesus said, I must preach…that is why I was sent. (v. 43)  Jesus HAD to tell people about his death and resurrection.  Jesus had to tell people the good news about a kingdom where they could live at peace under God’s rule through the forgiveness of sins that comes by trusting him.  That “good news proclamation” brought people into God’s kingdom then.  That “good news proclamation” people into God’s kingdom today.  That “good news” brought you into God’s kingdom.

Jesus’ preaching priority sets the tone for us and our churches today.  To adapt Jesus’ words to our congregation, we might say, “We must proclaim the Good News!  That is why we were sent!” Many churches today are all about humanitarian programs.  They run a soup kitchen and a homeless shelter and a food bank.  And there is NOTHING wrong with humanitarian efforts.  Jesus helped people with miracles!  But he first and foremost gave them “good news” about forgiveness of sins in the kingdom of God!  At Lord of Love, we host a blood drive and collect food for a food pantry and collect coats to donate.  All good stuff!  But our priority has been, is, and must remain giving people in our community the Good News about Jesus.

In the opening portion of Revelation, the Lord Jesus dictates letters to seven churches in Asia Minor.  And he has a different message for each church.  One of the churches that gets a letter is in the city of Sardis.  Here is what Jesus says to that church:  I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead…I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. (Revelation 3:1-2)  Sardis was a busy church!  They even had a reputation!  “Best soup kitchen in town!”  But they were barely holding onto Christ and his Word.  They had lost their priorities.  We are not here primarily to give the world a bowl of good soup; we are here to give the world the Good News of Jesus and his kingdom!  That is priority #1!  Amen.