Posted on by pastorkevinjud

Jesus is Your Brother and Lord

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Pentecost 7 2024, Proper 9
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
July 7, 2024
Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Mark 6:1-13

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

            You have a great friendship with a co-worker who shares your work space.  You get along great, laugh at each other’s jokes, you commiserate about what a jerk the department boss can be.  Often you go for a drink together after work, your families love to get together, it is a great friendship.  And then the boss retires and your friend is promoted to fill the spot.  Now your friend — is your boss.  Being the boss and a friend is a tough balance because familiarity can breed contempt.  When you know someone very well it is hard to respect their authority. 

            In the military it is against regulations for officers to fraternize with enlisted personnel so not to prejudice good order and discipline.  Familiarity can breed contempt. 

            Jesus is unknown to the people of Capernaum and He is received at the synagogue there with astonishment at His new teaching with authority.  The people are amazed that He is able to command unclean spirits and heal the sick and disabled.  The more Jesus teaches and heals the bigger and bigger the crowds grow.  There is some opposition from the scribes and Pharisees, because they see Jesus going against traditional Jewish teaching.  They call in reinforcements from Jerusalem to try to stop Jesus, but the movement keeps growing and growing in Capernaum and the surrounding area.  Even Jairus, the synagogue ruler in Capernaum, comes to Jesus when his daughter is sick and dying and Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead. 

Jesus’ fame spreads throughout the surrounding region of Galilee all the way to Nazareth 40 miles to the southwest.  Jesus’ family hears about what is going on and they come to Capernaum to save Jesus from Himself.  Mark 3:21 (ESV) 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” They come to Capernaum and stand outside sending word to Jesus.  Mary certainly knows who Jesus is, but it must be confusing when He suddenly goes from being a normal carpenter from Nazareth to a famous religious teacher drawing large crowds and causing turmoil all the way to Jerusalem.  Jesus’ brothers do not seem to understand what is going on and they want to stop Jesus before He causes too much trouble.  Word passes and the crowd tells Jesus, Mark 3:32–35 (ESV) 32 … “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”  

            In today’s Gospel reading Jesus has left the adoring crowds in Capernaum and the region around the Sea of Galilee and with His disciples has walked to Nazareth.  On the Sabbath He begins to teach in the synagogue and the initial response is very much like in Capernaum.  The people are… Mark 6:2 (ESV) 2 … astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?”

            The people have heard about all the miracles Jesus has done and about His authoritative teaching, and now He is right here in their midst. “He is amazing…He is incredible…He is…hey!  Hold on just a minute!!  Let’s not get all carried away with the momentum of this Jesus movement.  Don’t forget.  We know Jesus.  He is Jesus of Nazareth.  This town of Nazareth only has  about 400 people, so everyone here knows everyone else and we know this Jesus fellow.  So, we don’t care what He has done, we don’t care what He has taught, because we have known Jesus His whole life.  He is a shameful man.  His parents were not married until after His mother Mary was already pregnant so no one knows who Jesus’ father really is.  And He is not a priest, or a teacher, or a religious leader, or even a respected member of the community.  He is a craftsman.  He works with His hands, not with His mind.  Why is this illegitimate construction worker teaching in the synagogue? He is way out of His depth.”  And the people of Nazareth reject Jesus out of their familiarity.  Mark 6:3 (ESV) 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”

            Familiarity breeds contempt.  Mark 6:4 (ESV) 4 And Jesus [says] to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 

Because the people think they already know Jesus, His work in Nazareth is fairly fruitless.  As we learn in the parable of the sower and the seeds, Mark 4:14–15 (ESV) 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.”

            Jesus is sowing the seeds of the Word of God but it is rejected because the people of Nazareth think they already know all they need to know about Jesus.  Even though they have heard of all that Jesus has done, that cannot overcome what they think they already know about Jesus.

            Familiarity breeds contempt.  Too often people think they know who Jesus is and therefore they can dismiss His teachings.  We are tempted to think we can know about Jesus because Jesus is human and we are human and we can understand human things.  Jesus has a body, I have a body.  Jesus was born, so was I.  Jesus died, and so will I.  We can think we know Jesus because we understand how things work in this world and we decide Jesus must fit into the natural law of the world; that He was conceived and born in the normal way, and that when He died He stayed dead because that is natural law.  By viewing Jesus as just another human, folks feel quite empowered to adjust His teaching to fit their understanding. 

            Some believe Jesus was just a good teacher who gave us instruction about how to love one another and care for the poor.  Some see Jesus as an inspirational leader whose teachings can motivate people to achieve great things in life.  Others believe Jesus is just a fraud; another messianic figure who claimed to be God but wound up dead.  So very many people have constructed their own Jesus.  This Jesus they can control because He is a product of their own imaginations.  So, when these folks hear something from the Bible that challenges the familiar Jesus of their own imaginations they are offended and they reject the truth and choose unbelief.  Entire church bodies are voting to reject the truth and follow their own understandings. These churches are choosing unbelief because they are offended by Jesus.

            Thomas Jefferson edited the Bible to fit his understanding of Jesus.  Jefferson literally made his own cut and paste Bible called “The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,” in which, using a razor blade and glue, he cut the Bible down to 86 pages, getting rid of anything referring to the miracles of Jesus and most supernatural mentions.  Jefferson ends the book with Jesus dead in the grave.  Like so many of His time, and so many of our time, Jefferson saw Jesus as a good teacher, but not as God.   

            The people’s initial reaction at the synagogue in Nazareth is our proper reaction to Jesus – astonishment; astonishment at Jesus’ teaching and wisdom and works.  Be continually astonished by Jesus because, despite His appearance, Jesus is not a familiar, fellow man.  Jesus is God in flesh.  Despite appearances, Jesus is not just another guy.  As we will soon confess, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus was crucified, died and was buried.  On the third day Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus is God in flesh.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Jesus has brought you close He has made you family. You are His brother, you are His sister and Jesus is Lord.  Jesus is your servant and Jesus is your King.

            In order for us to take control it is so tempting to reduce Jesus to a familiar, regular, manageable, fellow man, but that is not the truth. Jesus is God.  He teaches with authority because He is the author of life. So do what He says.  Mark 1:15 (ESV) 15 … “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

            Jesus is not a familiar, ordinary, fellow man, but Jesus has brought you close to Him.  You, a baptized follower of Jesus, gathered here with fellow believers to hear the Gospel and to receive Jesus’ gifts — you are a part of Jesus’ family.  As Jesus teaches, Mark 3:35 (ESV) 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”  You are Jesus’ sister.  You are Jesus’ brother. 

            Jesus has brought you close He has made you family. You are His brother, you are His sister and Jesus is Lord.  Jesus is your servant and Jesus is your King.  Jesus is God incarnate and He has redeemed you with His blood; He has forgiven you all your sins. You are one with Him through the Holy Spirit.  He is your Savior because you cannot save yourself. Jesus is your loving brother but you know who this brother is and you are in awe.  He is your caring brother, and you are astonished at what He has done for you.  Your brother, the Lord God almighty, has washed you clean and brought you into the Kingdom of God, to be with Him, now and forever.  Amen.   

Posted on by pastorkevinjud

Thanks be to God!

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BULLETIN

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Epiphany 4 2024
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
January 28, 2024
Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28

Sermons online: 
Text and Audio:         immanuelhamiltonchurch.com   click “sermons”
Text:                           pastorjud.org   
Audio:                         pastorjud.podbean.com 
itunes:                         bit.ly/pastorjud
Full Service Audio:    bit.ly/ImmanuelWorship

It is just another Sabbath day in Capernaum, a busy little city of about 1,000 on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  There is a bridge in Capernaum over the Jordan River where they tax anyone traveling from the territory of Herod Philip to the area of Herod Antipas and vice versa. Today, for the Jewish population, it is the Sabbath and all the Jews gather at the Synagogue in the center of town. The men sit in the main lower level and the women and children are up in the balcony area.  The men and women each talk amongst themselves and the children play underfoot as everyone waits for Sabbath services to begin.  It seems like just another ordinary Saturday, just like the Saturday before, and the Saturday before that.

It is an ordinary Sabbath except that there is a new visitor in town.  Lots of visitors pass through Capernaum, but this guy is different.  His name is Jesus and He is from Nazareth but he has come up from the area of the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea where the wilderness preacher John was baptizing people before he was arrested by Herod Antipas.  This Jesus is apparently starting some sort of movement and has recruited some of the local fishermen, but no one is really sure of who He is or what He is up to. 

            On Saturday, Jesus, and His fishermen followers, enter the Capernaum Synagogue and Jesus walks to the center, to the scroll stand, unrolls the scroll and starts to teach.  Who does this guy think He is to just waltz into the synagogue and start to teach?  Apparently He does not know His place. But then He starts to teach and the people are listening and mouths drop open in astonishment.  His guy does know His place.  He is not like the regular rabbis.  This Jesus is a great teacher and He teaches with authority.  It is like He is the author of the text and knows it inside and out. This Jesus is really causing some kind of buzz. 

            And then all hell breaks loose; literally.  While this Jesus of Nazareth is teaching and the people are silently listening in astonishment, suddenly a man cries out, Mark 1:24 (ESV) 24 “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.”  The man has a demon and the demon identifies Jesus of Nazareth.  What a bizarre scene. 

            The teacher stops teaching and rebukes the demon, Mark 1:25 (ESV) 25 …“Be silent, and come out of him!”  Who does this guy think He is?  He is yelling at a demon that possesses a man.  Who has authority over a demon?

            But then the unclean spirit obeys Jesus’ command and comes out of the man.  Mark 1:27 (ESV)  27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”  

            Jesus and his four fishermen followers exit the synagogue and head south toward the sea.  The people left behind are stunned.  You’ve got to think that there are a lot of mouths hanging open in amazement at what they just experienced.  Could it be true?  Could this Jesus, who teaches with authority, and commands demons, really be the Holy One of God?  It is an astonishing morning at the synagogue in Capernaum.  The people are astonished and they do not really know who Jesus is. 

            Today is a regular Sunday here at Immanuel.  You got up this morning, brushed your teeth, had your coffee, got everyone ready and came to church.  Most everyone is sitting in about the same places they sat last week.  It is just another Sunday at Immanuel.  Nothing too special. 

            But what if we had a visitor?  What if a new teacher was here to teach with authority?  What if Jesus Himself would come into our midst to be here with us in this place on this ordinary Sunday morning?  That would be astonishing; Jesus arriving with authority.

            Now, we do not have Jesus here in the flesh, but He is still here with His authority.  Jesus gave authority to forgive sins to the Church through the apostles.  On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection He appeared to the disciples and commissioned them, John 20:21–23 (ESV) 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

            Jesus’ Church has the authority to forgive and retain sins and here, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Hamilton, Ohio, you have called me to be your pastor and to announce Jesus’ forgiveness to you as the one you have called to act for the Church under Christ’s authority.  By Jesus’ authority your sins are forgiven.  

            And then, remarkably, the Lord God speaks to you in His Word.  “This is the Word of the Lord,” and you respond, “thanks be to God.”  Now, you can get kind of used to hearing God’s word, and familiarity may reduce your amazement, but it is truly astonishing that God speaks to you through His authoritative Word.  Thanks be to God!

            And then comes the reading of the Holy Gospel and you hear Jesus’ own Words in your own language and you begin by declaring, “Glory to You, O Lord.”  Afterwards you exclaim, “Praise to You, O Christ.”

            Pondering how astonishing it is that God is speaking to you, respond with astonishment in your voice, thanks be to God!  God is speaking to you, with authority, at this ordinary Sunday gathering.  All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus and He gives us His Word and tells us to make disciples; baptizing and teaching.  At this weekly gathering of the baptized, recognize the astonishing authority of God’s Word.  Praise to you, O Christ!

            Jesus astonishingly transforms the Passover meal into the Lord’s Supper and declares that this bread is His Body and this cup is His Blood for the forgiveness of sins, and commands, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  It does not make sense but Jesus says that it is true and so it is true.  

            Unlike that Sabbath in Capernaum, Jesus did not, this morning, walk in here in His body that ascended into heaven, but He is here.  He sends His authorized representative to forgive your sins.  He gives you His divine Word.  He gives you His Body and Blood in, with and under the bread and wine.  He dwells in your heart, and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is astonishing.

By rejecting Jesus’ authority as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, they reject His baptism, they reject His declaration of forgiveness, and they reject forgiveness offered in the Body and Blood of Jesus in Communion. 

            Jesus is astonishing, but so many are unimpressed.  There are so many who reject Jesus’ authority and His teaching because they want to control Jesus’ narrative.  They want to pick and choose what they take from Jesus and what they reject.  They are not astonished at Jesus’ teaching; instead they are offended by Jesus’ words and substitute their own ideas.  Just like what is taught in Jude 8 (ESV) 8 … these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.” 

            By rejecting Jesus’ authority as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, they reject His baptism, they reject His declaration of forgiveness, and they reject forgiveness offered in the Body and Blood of Jesus in Communion. 

            Repent of the times you have rejected Jesus’ authority, and the times you did not marvel at His authoritative teaching.  Ponder how amazing it is that Jesus comes to you to deliver the forgiveness of sins earned for you on the cross of Calvary, and eternal life won for you at His resurrection.  And when you hear, “This is the Word of the Lord,” respond in astonishment, “Thanks be to God!”  Amen.