Jeffrey T. Howard
Vision Column
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
March 2009
From the Pastor’s Desk
When I was growing up Lent was something my Roman Catholics friends did. They would give up something like chocolate or ice cream and of course they would eat fish on Friday. All of these things were done to impress upon them the penitential nature of Lent. We are to give up something as a spiritual discipline.
In the medieval church Lent was a period when sinners were given an opportunity to repent and enter into the full life of the church. Lent was seen as a time of cleansing when sins were washed away in preparation for baptism or reaffirmation of baptismal vows on Easter.
Today it is doubtful that giving up candy for Lent is much of a sacrifice. Rather than giving something up, we should recapture the ancient meaning of this season by reflecting on whether or not we are leading the lives that our creator intended for us to live. Scripture teaches us that as baptized Christian we are being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of God. Lent is a time when we can consider if transformation is truly happening. During Lent we have ample time to consider what a holy lifestyle would look like.
So during Lent I urge you to pray and read scripture daily. Ask God to reveal to you where your lives should change. And pray that the Holy Spirit will transform you into what God wants you to be. If you do this the promise is that you will rise to new life on Easter.
Jeff
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sermon Mark 1:39-45 You can make me clean.
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Mark 1:39-45 You can make me clean.
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 15, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
Today I will be completing my series of sermons on the early ministry of Jesus as recorded in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark. We have watched four fishermen transformed by the power of gospel into followers of Jesus. We have witnessed demons cast out by the power of the gospel. And we have heard about Simon’s mother-in-law who was healed by the power of Jesus’ touch and began a life of service to other followers of Jesus. Today we will be following Jesus as he confronts a monster with the power of the Word of God.
Before we encounter the monster please pray with me. Holy Spirit, we ask that you enter our hearts and our minds this day to help us to understand what God is speaking to us through the Holy Scripture. Lift us up into the presence of the Father as worship today. And deliver our prayers to our savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Last Friday was Friday the 13th. We all know about Friday the 13th; it is unlucky. Bad things are supposed to happen on Friday the 13th. This year Hollywood chose to release yet another Friday the 13th movie staring Jason, the monster in a hockey mask. You remember Jason; he starred in several Friday the 13th movies in the 80s and 90s but disappeared when real monsters appeared as terrorists on 911. But as the horror of 911 recedes from our memories Hollywood has deemed it time to start releasing new horror movies. So Jason is back with his hockey mask terrorizing young people.
Why does the horror genre of movies and books fascinate us so much? Why do we watch Frankenstein and Dracula on the silver screen or read Stephen King novels? I have to confess that I love Stephen King novels. I probably shouldn’t admit this as a pastor, but I think that I have read almost everything Stephen King has written. Why do we love these things so much? The reason is, I believe, that we see in monsters a little bit of ourselves.
Stephen King creates monster by creating characters who are ordinary people like you or me and then, because of circumstances, they become monsters. We are fascinated by this because it could happen to us under the right circumstances. As we watch TV news or read the newspaper we are horrified by the people losing their jobs and their homes. And we realize that these people who have lost everything and many of whom now live on the streets are people just like us. A divorce, a health problem, the loss of a job, the foreclosure on a home and suddenly we are monsters, living on the street, unclean, not welcomed into polite society. We are frightened by the horror of homelessness, and yet we are fascinated by it because it could happen to us.
In ancient horror literature a common monster was the leper. Now a leper is worse the anything Stephen King could invent. Lepers had contagious skin diseases. Two full chapters in the book of Leviticus were devoted to protect the Hebrews from them. Every Hebrew mother taught her children to avoid lepers because their touch could be deadly. The law required lepers to have their hair a mess, their clothes torn, their upper lip covered, and to cry out “unclean, unclean” whenever they saw someone. And lepers were required to live in the wilderness, far from the city (Leviticus 13:45). Lepers were more frightening than anything Hollywood could dream of.
There is an ancient horror story about a leper in the book of 2 Kings. His name was Naaman and he was a great general of Israel’s neighbor Aram. Naaman was truly an ancient monster frequently invading villages in Israel. He married a young girl his army had carried off after one of their numerous raids. One day his wife told him about a prophet in Israel named Elisha who might be able to cure his leprosy. So Naaman assembled his army, horses and chariots and went to see this prophet. Elisha told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan, which, of course made the general angry because he thought Elisha’s God would show more respect and heal him on the spot. But Naaman’s wife urged him to follow the prophet’s advice and Naaman went down to the river. He dove into the water seven times and his leprosy was healed. Naaman proclaimed to everyone who would listen that the God of Israel was stronger than any other god.
And that brings us to today’s scripture reading. I am reading from my own translation of Mark 1:39-45.
Now Jesus was preaching and casting out demons in synagogues all over Galilee. Suddenly there was a leper. The leper should have stayed away and warned Jesus that he was unclean, but he came right at him, falling on his knees, and pleading with Jesus saying “If you want you have the power to make me clean.”
Jesus’ stomach turned over at the sight of the leper. Then he did the unthinkable; he reached out his hand. The leper and Jesus touched together. And Jesus said “Yes that’s what I want, be cleansed.”
Suddenly, the leprosy was gone and the leper was cleansed.
And Jesus warned him, sternly, as he was sending him away to say nothing to anyone about what had happened. He was to go straight to the priest for an examination as proof of his cleansing as Moses had commanded. But the leper, as he was going to the priest, preached about Jesus to many people.
Jesus, now ritually unclean, was unable to return to the city. So he remained in the desert with the lepers, and people came to Jesus in the wilderness from everywhere.
So far in the book of Mark we have heard about the first followers of Jesus, the four fishermen; the first evangelist of Jesus, the man with the unclean spirit; the first deacon of Jesus, Simon’s mother-in-law; and now the first preacher of Jesus, the leper. Let me repeat this, the first preacher was a leper. Jesus ordained him by laying his hand on him and making him clean. The still happens today. Preachers are sinners like everyone else. We live in the desert. We have our own fears that were a few circumstances to change we could become monsters. We have the same fears as you. But we are touched by Jesus through the laying on of hands at our ordination. This touch makes us ritually clean and allows us to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God has come near. Of course we have to pass examinations and submit to the authority of the church. But our passion is to preach and proclaim what Jesus has done for us to as many people as we can.
When Jesus touches us, you and me, he makes us clean by taking our uncleanliness upon himself. Jesus takes our sin into his sinless body. Jesus frees us from the wilderness by taking our place in the desert. This is the offer Jesus makes to his people. So this is the message preachers are to proclaim.
Each of us has now heard the proclamation by Jesus of the good news. This makes us followers of Jesus. We have experienced the casting out in Jesus’ name of the demons that torment us. This makes us evangelists of Jesus ready to tell other about the good news we have experienced. We have experienced healing from Jesus. This makes us ready to serve others who are in need. And now whatever we fear is cleansed away and we are now ready to proclaim to many others that the kingdom of God in near and extraordinary things are happening.
We have also learned from Mark a little about who Jesus is. Jesus was a preacher who made followers by proclaiming the good news. Jesus was an exorcist who had power over unclean spirits. Jesus was a healer who helped people suffering from illness. And now we see that Jesus is a prophet like Elisha with the power to cleanse away leprosy. Jesus therefore is a super hero who slays the monsters within us. Like Batman or Superman Jesus calms are fears. But Jesus is far more powerful than any of these fictional characters because we know something else about Jesus from the first chapter of Mark. We know that Jesus is the Son of God.
Lord Jesus we are troubled today by our fears of the monsters within us. Be with us as we wander in the desert. We ask that your cleanse us of our fears and slay the monsters that menace us. Set us free to proclaim to everyone we meet all that you have done for us. We pray that God’s kingdom will come. Amen.
Sermon Mark 1:39-45 You can make me clean.
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 15, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
Today I will be completing my series of sermons on the early ministry of Jesus as recorded in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark. We have watched four fishermen transformed by the power of gospel into followers of Jesus. We have witnessed demons cast out by the power of the gospel. And we have heard about Simon’s mother-in-law who was healed by the power of Jesus’ touch and began a life of service to other followers of Jesus. Today we will be following Jesus as he confronts a monster with the power of the Word of God.
Before we encounter the monster please pray with me. Holy Spirit, we ask that you enter our hearts and our minds this day to help us to understand what God is speaking to us through the Holy Scripture. Lift us up into the presence of the Father as worship today. And deliver our prayers to our savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Last Friday was Friday the 13th. We all know about Friday the 13th; it is unlucky. Bad things are supposed to happen on Friday the 13th. This year Hollywood chose to release yet another Friday the 13th movie staring Jason, the monster in a hockey mask. You remember Jason; he starred in several Friday the 13th movies in the 80s and 90s but disappeared when real monsters appeared as terrorists on 911. But as the horror of 911 recedes from our memories Hollywood has deemed it time to start releasing new horror movies. So Jason is back with his hockey mask terrorizing young people.
Why does the horror genre of movies and books fascinate us so much? Why do we watch Frankenstein and Dracula on the silver screen or read Stephen King novels? I have to confess that I love Stephen King novels. I probably shouldn’t admit this as a pastor, but I think that I have read almost everything Stephen King has written. Why do we love these things so much? The reason is, I believe, that we see in monsters a little bit of ourselves.
Stephen King creates monster by creating characters who are ordinary people like you or me and then, because of circumstances, they become monsters. We are fascinated by this because it could happen to us under the right circumstances. As we watch TV news or read the newspaper we are horrified by the people losing their jobs and their homes. And we realize that these people who have lost everything and many of whom now live on the streets are people just like us. A divorce, a health problem, the loss of a job, the foreclosure on a home and suddenly we are monsters, living on the street, unclean, not welcomed into polite society. We are frightened by the horror of homelessness, and yet we are fascinated by it because it could happen to us.
In ancient horror literature a common monster was the leper. Now a leper is worse the anything Stephen King could invent. Lepers had contagious skin diseases. Two full chapters in the book of Leviticus were devoted to protect the Hebrews from them. Every Hebrew mother taught her children to avoid lepers because their touch could be deadly. The law required lepers to have their hair a mess, their clothes torn, their upper lip covered, and to cry out “unclean, unclean” whenever they saw someone. And lepers were required to live in the wilderness, far from the city (Leviticus 13:45). Lepers were more frightening than anything Hollywood could dream of.
There is an ancient horror story about a leper in the book of 2 Kings. His name was Naaman and he was a great general of Israel’s neighbor Aram. Naaman was truly an ancient monster frequently invading villages in Israel. He married a young girl his army had carried off after one of their numerous raids. One day his wife told him about a prophet in Israel named Elisha who might be able to cure his leprosy. So Naaman assembled his army, horses and chariots and went to see this prophet. Elisha told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan, which, of course made the general angry because he thought Elisha’s God would show more respect and heal him on the spot. But Naaman’s wife urged him to follow the prophet’s advice and Naaman went down to the river. He dove into the water seven times and his leprosy was healed. Naaman proclaimed to everyone who would listen that the God of Israel was stronger than any other god.
And that brings us to today’s scripture reading. I am reading from my own translation of Mark 1:39-45.
Now Jesus was preaching and casting out demons in synagogues all over Galilee. Suddenly there was a leper. The leper should have stayed away and warned Jesus that he was unclean, but he came right at him, falling on his knees, and pleading with Jesus saying “If you want you have the power to make me clean.”
Jesus’ stomach turned over at the sight of the leper. Then he did the unthinkable; he reached out his hand. The leper and Jesus touched together. And Jesus said “Yes that’s what I want, be cleansed.”
Suddenly, the leprosy was gone and the leper was cleansed.
And Jesus warned him, sternly, as he was sending him away to say nothing to anyone about what had happened. He was to go straight to the priest for an examination as proof of his cleansing as Moses had commanded. But the leper, as he was going to the priest, preached about Jesus to many people.
Jesus, now ritually unclean, was unable to return to the city. So he remained in the desert with the lepers, and people came to Jesus in the wilderness from everywhere.
So far in the book of Mark we have heard about the first followers of Jesus, the four fishermen; the first evangelist of Jesus, the man with the unclean spirit; the first deacon of Jesus, Simon’s mother-in-law; and now the first preacher of Jesus, the leper. Let me repeat this, the first preacher was a leper. Jesus ordained him by laying his hand on him and making him clean. The still happens today. Preachers are sinners like everyone else. We live in the desert. We have our own fears that were a few circumstances to change we could become monsters. We have the same fears as you. But we are touched by Jesus through the laying on of hands at our ordination. This touch makes us ritually clean and allows us to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God has come near. Of course we have to pass examinations and submit to the authority of the church. But our passion is to preach and proclaim what Jesus has done for us to as many people as we can.
When Jesus touches us, you and me, he makes us clean by taking our uncleanliness upon himself. Jesus takes our sin into his sinless body. Jesus frees us from the wilderness by taking our place in the desert. This is the offer Jesus makes to his people. So this is the message preachers are to proclaim.
Each of us has now heard the proclamation by Jesus of the good news. This makes us followers of Jesus. We have experienced the casting out in Jesus’ name of the demons that torment us. This makes us evangelists of Jesus ready to tell other about the good news we have experienced. We have experienced healing from Jesus. This makes us ready to serve others who are in need. And now whatever we fear is cleansed away and we are now ready to proclaim to many others that the kingdom of God in near and extraordinary things are happening.
We have also learned from Mark a little about who Jesus is. Jesus was a preacher who made followers by proclaiming the good news. Jesus was an exorcist who had power over unclean spirits. Jesus was a healer who helped people suffering from illness. And now we see that Jesus is a prophet like Elisha with the power to cleanse away leprosy. Jesus therefore is a super hero who slays the monsters within us. Like Batman or Superman Jesus calms are fears. But Jesus is far more powerful than any of these fictional characters because we know something else about Jesus from the first chapter of Mark. We know that Jesus is the Son of God.
Lord Jesus we are troubled today by our fears of the monsters within us. Be with us as we wander in the desert. We ask that your cleanse us of our fears and slay the monsters that menace us. Set us free to proclaim to everyone we meet all that you have done for us. We pray that God’s kingdom will come. Amen.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sermon Mark 1:29-39 Early Morning Prayers for Healing
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Mark 1:29-39 Early Morning Prayers for Healing
(Adapted from Ken Blue, Authority to Heal)
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 8, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
Today we are continuing our journey as we accompany Jesus and four disciples through Jesus’ early ministry as recorded in the first chapter of Mark. Two weeks ago we watched as Jesus proclaimed the good news that the kingdom of God was near which had an immediate transformative effect on four ordinary fishermen who then followed Jesus. Last week we entered into the synagogue with these five and witnessed Jesus rebuke and cast out unclean spirits that were tormenting one of God’s people. Today we will follow Jesus to a solitary place, early in the morning, before the sun rises, to pray for the power to heal the sick.
Before we continue this journey please close your eyes, bow your heads and pray with me. Lord Jesus, we ask that keep our joys and concerns in your prayers. As you talk with the Father early each morning we ask that you intercede for us and heal our illnesses and the illnesses of those we care about. We pray this knowing your desire to heal the sick and your great love and compassion for us. Amen.
Mark 1:29-39 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Every Sunday we gather here and share our joys and concerns and pray for each other. Every day I, with Grace and Gary Windberg, meet here in this sanctuary at 6am to pray for the church. Just like Jesus we gather early in the morning while it is still dark and we pray for all of your joys and concerns that that you give me each week. I write those prayer requests down in this little book and carry it around with me wherever I go. And each day at morning prayers I pray for each of you.
During these prayers we pray for healing. If you are in the hospital we pray for you. If your son’s cancer has returned we pray for his healing. If your daughter’s marriage is on the rocks we pray for her relationship to heal. Prayers for healing dominate our early morning prayers. But do they work? Does prayer actually lead to healing? Many Christians today are skeptical and others pray with great confidence.
Take, for example, Richard. Richard is a seminary student pursuing ordination. He came to the decision to enter the ministry after experiencing a stroke which essentially paralyzed the right side of his body. After months of physical therapy he decided to enter seminary. While working as an intern at a small church he went into the pastor’s study for his weekly supervision. The pastor asked Richard if he could pray for his paralysis to be healed. Richard said “no”. His suffering had brought him so close to God. Richard was certain the God had used the paralysis to bring him into the ministry. The paralysis was the thorn in the flesh described by the apostle Paul which brought Richard closer to God. So Richard left the pastor’s office without prayers for healing.
Or consider Carole: Carole has been a devoted Christian her whole life. She volunteered in the church for decades working with children. And as she got older she led the women’s group. One day Carole was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The pastor went to see her in the hospital and asked if he could pray for her. Carole said “no”. Carole believed that the cancer was part of God’s plan for her life. God had decided before she was born that her life would end because of this cancer. If God wanted to cure the cancer he was perfectly welcome to do so. But if God wanted Carole to die of the cancer, then, she thought, let God’s will be done. So the pastor prayed for comfort and for the reduction of pain but not for healing.
Or maybe Bev and Mark: Bev and Mark were very active in a large church on the edge of town. The hosted a Tuesday evening covenant group in their home. When Bev and Mark wanted to get pregnant they asked the covenant group to pray. And within a few months a beautiful baby named Brian was conceived. Bev and Mark strongly believed in prayer. So when the ten month old Brian came down with a fever they began to pray. They believed that if their faith was strong enough Brian would be made well. Their covenant group prayed, but Brian got worse. Bev asked the prayer warriors at her church to pray for Brian. Continuous prayers 24 hours a day were said for the sick baby. But Brian got worse, his temperature rose, he lost his hearing and became blind. On Sunday the pastor preached on the need for strong faith and that afternoon Brian died. An autopsy revealed that he suffered from meningitis, which could have been easily cured. Bev and Mark were filled with guilt, and a few months later they left the church.
These examples show the diversity of the misconceptions Christians have about healing. Many of us believe that the suffering that comes from illness will bring us closer to God. Others believe that the suffering that comes for illness is part of God plan for our lives. And still others believe that if our faith is strong enough and if we pray in the right way healing is assured. All of these ideas are wrong. Let’s look at what Christian healing is all about.
The New Testament tells us that suffering is sometimes used by God to make us more holy. God uses suffering to refine to believer the way a blacksmith uses fire to refine metal. But the suffering that God uses to improve us is always the suffering that results from persecutions because of our faith. Suffering for our faith is our cross to bear, but suffering from illness is never used by God to improve us. Rather it is clear from scripture that God desires that all illness be healed. That is why Jesus healed those who suffered from disease. And that is why we pray for healing. The Apostle James put it this way,
James 5:13-16 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
We know that everything on heaven and on earth is governed by the will of God. So when we get sick it may seem that it is God’s will that we suffer. Our belief in God’s sovereignty often leads us to laziness and inaction. We think: “If God wants the church to grow he will grow it.” Likewise we think: “If God wants the sick to be healed then God will heal the sick. But this kind of thinking ignores that fact that we have a role to play in the kingdom of God. For the church to grow we all have to invite people to come to worship. If we want healing to occur then we need to pray for healing. But we have to remember that God is free to act and may not heal when our prayers request it. The Apostle Paul said it like this,
Romans 8:26-28 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
We know that prayer works, but some Christians believe that they have found a formula that ensures healing. They believe that if you have sufficient faith then your prayers for healing will be effective. These Christian try to banish from their minds all negative thoughts, confess positively, speak the word of faith, and then name and claim the blessing of complete and total healing. They believe that there is a causal link between sufficient faith and healing. But when the healing they pray for does not occur they experience great guilt for having insufficient faith. Prayer is not a magical spell and does not always yields the desired result if done in the right way. Since we live in an in-between time after Jesus’ first coming and before the final coming we should expect that the promises of the kingdom will not yet be fully realized. People still suffer from disease and death regardless of what we do. In our scripture today Peter’s mother did not come to Jesus in faith requesting healing. Rather Jesus, out of his love and compassion healed her first and then she followed Jesus by becoming the very first deacon and serving the other followers.
As we have been following Jesus through his early ministry we have seen that it consists of proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near. The primary way that Jesus showed the world this reality was by healing the sick. In healing Jesus demonstrated his compassion for us. Jesus also demonstrated God’s desire that everyone be healed. Healing today serves this same function. God heals the sick to demonstrate his compassionate love for all of us. God has not abolished suffering and death yet. But with healing we have a foretaste of what the kingdom of God will be like. Once God fully manifests his kingdom on earth there will no longer be disease and death. And it is this faith in the coming kingdom that allows us to pray for healing here and now. I am not satisfied with the rate of healings here in the 21st century. I would prefer to see everyone healed. But if we trust the God who loves us and cares for us then we can approach that God in boldness and pray for healing. And this faith in the kingdom of God will sustain us whether our prayers for healing are answered positively or not. So have faith in the God who sent his son to heal the sick.
Our faith in a God who loves us and desires healing is why we join with Jesus every morning before the sun rises to pray for the congregation. Join us at 6AM Tuesdays through Saturdays for this important work of the church. Help us to pray for healing and to pray with Jesus the words “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
Father in heaven, we long for the day when your kingdom will finally come and disease and death will go away. We thank you that you give us a glimpse of what this kingdom will be like when you answer our prayers for healing. Listen today to our prayers for healing for ourselves, our families and our friends. And listen to our prayers each day at 6AM. Amen.
Sermon Mark 1:29-39 Early Morning Prayers for Healing
(Adapted from Ken Blue, Authority to Heal)
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 8, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
Today we are continuing our journey as we accompany Jesus and four disciples through Jesus’ early ministry as recorded in the first chapter of Mark. Two weeks ago we watched as Jesus proclaimed the good news that the kingdom of God was near which had an immediate transformative effect on four ordinary fishermen who then followed Jesus. Last week we entered into the synagogue with these five and witnessed Jesus rebuke and cast out unclean spirits that were tormenting one of God’s people. Today we will follow Jesus to a solitary place, early in the morning, before the sun rises, to pray for the power to heal the sick.
Before we continue this journey please close your eyes, bow your heads and pray with me. Lord Jesus, we ask that keep our joys and concerns in your prayers. As you talk with the Father early each morning we ask that you intercede for us and heal our illnesses and the illnesses of those we care about. We pray this knowing your desire to heal the sick and your great love and compassion for us. Amen.
Mark 1:29-39 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38 He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Every Sunday we gather here and share our joys and concerns and pray for each other. Every day I, with Grace and Gary Windberg, meet here in this sanctuary at 6am to pray for the church. Just like Jesus we gather early in the morning while it is still dark and we pray for all of your joys and concerns that that you give me each week. I write those prayer requests down in this little book and carry it around with me wherever I go. And each day at morning prayers I pray for each of you.
During these prayers we pray for healing. If you are in the hospital we pray for you. If your son’s cancer has returned we pray for his healing. If your daughter’s marriage is on the rocks we pray for her relationship to heal. Prayers for healing dominate our early morning prayers. But do they work? Does prayer actually lead to healing? Many Christians today are skeptical and others pray with great confidence.
Take, for example, Richard. Richard is a seminary student pursuing ordination. He came to the decision to enter the ministry after experiencing a stroke which essentially paralyzed the right side of his body. After months of physical therapy he decided to enter seminary. While working as an intern at a small church he went into the pastor’s study for his weekly supervision. The pastor asked Richard if he could pray for his paralysis to be healed. Richard said “no”. His suffering had brought him so close to God. Richard was certain the God had used the paralysis to bring him into the ministry. The paralysis was the thorn in the flesh described by the apostle Paul which brought Richard closer to God. So Richard left the pastor’s office without prayers for healing.
Or consider Carole: Carole has been a devoted Christian her whole life. She volunteered in the church for decades working with children. And as she got older she led the women’s group. One day Carole was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The pastor went to see her in the hospital and asked if he could pray for her. Carole said “no”. Carole believed that the cancer was part of God’s plan for her life. God had decided before she was born that her life would end because of this cancer. If God wanted to cure the cancer he was perfectly welcome to do so. But if God wanted Carole to die of the cancer, then, she thought, let God’s will be done. So the pastor prayed for comfort and for the reduction of pain but not for healing.
Or maybe Bev and Mark: Bev and Mark were very active in a large church on the edge of town. The hosted a Tuesday evening covenant group in their home. When Bev and Mark wanted to get pregnant they asked the covenant group to pray. And within a few months a beautiful baby named Brian was conceived. Bev and Mark strongly believed in prayer. So when the ten month old Brian came down with a fever they began to pray. They believed that if their faith was strong enough Brian would be made well. Their covenant group prayed, but Brian got worse. Bev asked the prayer warriors at her church to pray for Brian. Continuous prayers 24 hours a day were said for the sick baby. But Brian got worse, his temperature rose, he lost his hearing and became blind. On Sunday the pastor preached on the need for strong faith and that afternoon Brian died. An autopsy revealed that he suffered from meningitis, which could have been easily cured. Bev and Mark were filled with guilt, and a few months later they left the church.
These examples show the diversity of the misconceptions Christians have about healing. Many of us believe that the suffering that comes from illness will bring us closer to God. Others believe that the suffering that comes for illness is part of God plan for our lives. And still others believe that if our faith is strong enough and if we pray in the right way healing is assured. All of these ideas are wrong. Let’s look at what Christian healing is all about.
The New Testament tells us that suffering is sometimes used by God to make us more holy. God uses suffering to refine to believer the way a blacksmith uses fire to refine metal. But the suffering that God uses to improve us is always the suffering that results from persecutions because of our faith. Suffering for our faith is our cross to bear, but suffering from illness is never used by God to improve us. Rather it is clear from scripture that God desires that all illness be healed. That is why Jesus healed those who suffered from disease. And that is why we pray for healing. The Apostle James put it this way,
James 5:13-16 13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
We know that everything on heaven and on earth is governed by the will of God. So when we get sick it may seem that it is God’s will that we suffer. Our belief in God’s sovereignty often leads us to laziness and inaction. We think: “If God wants the church to grow he will grow it.” Likewise we think: “If God wants the sick to be healed then God will heal the sick. But this kind of thinking ignores that fact that we have a role to play in the kingdom of God. For the church to grow we all have to invite people to come to worship. If we want healing to occur then we need to pray for healing. But we have to remember that God is free to act and may not heal when our prayers request it. The Apostle Paul said it like this,
Romans 8:26-28 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
We know that prayer works, but some Christians believe that they have found a formula that ensures healing. They believe that if you have sufficient faith then your prayers for healing will be effective. These Christian try to banish from their minds all negative thoughts, confess positively, speak the word of faith, and then name and claim the blessing of complete and total healing. They believe that there is a causal link between sufficient faith and healing. But when the healing they pray for does not occur they experience great guilt for having insufficient faith. Prayer is not a magical spell and does not always yields the desired result if done in the right way. Since we live in an in-between time after Jesus’ first coming and before the final coming we should expect that the promises of the kingdom will not yet be fully realized. People still suffer from disease and death regardless of what we do. In our scripture today Peter’s mother did not come to Jesus in faith requesting healing. Rather Jesus, out of his love and compassion healed her first and then she followed Jesus by becoming the very first deacon and serving the other followers.
As we have been following Jesus through his early ministry we have seen that it consists of proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near. The primary way that Jesus showed the world this reality was by healing the sick. In healing Jesus demonstrated his compassion for us. Jesus also demonstrated God’s desire that everyone be healed. Healing today serves this same function. God heals the sick to demonstrate his compassionate love for all of us. God has not abolished suffering and death yet. But with healing we have a foretaste of what the kingdom of God will be like. Once God fully manifests his kingdom on earth there will no longer be disease and death. And it is this faith in the coming kingdom that allows us to pray for healing here and now. I am not satisfied with the rate of healings here in the 21st century. I would prefer to see everyone healed. But if we trust the God who loves us and cares for us then we can approach that God in boldness and pray for healing. And this faith in the kingdom of God will sustain us whether our prayers for healing are answered positively or not. So have faith in the God who sent his son to heal the sick.
Our faith in a God who loves us and desires healing is why we join with Jesus every morning before the sun rises to pray for the congregation. Join us at 6AM Tuesdays through Saturdays for this important work of the church. Help us to pray for healing and to pray with Jesus the words “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
Father in heaven, we long for the day when your kingdom will finally come and disease and death will go away. We thank you that you give us a glimpse of what this kingdom will be like when you answer our prayers for healing. Listen today to our prayers for healing for ourselves, our families and our friends. And listen to our prayers each day at 6AM. Amen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
2008 Annual Report to the Congregation
2008 Annual Report to the Congregation
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
Reverend Jeffrey T. Howard
"Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47)
Evening Worship Service – Our 5:30 Service of Worship has experienced tremendous growth. A year ago around 15 people gathered each week for worship and a fellowship dinner. Now that number is between 40 and 50 in worship with approximately 20 more attending dinner. This growth has been fuel both by our evangelism effort and the increasing number of homeless people living in their cars. As the economy worsens we can expect to see further growth in these numbers as the poor in our community seek the good news of Jesus Christ and a hot meal. Trader Joe’s in Glendale has generously been provided food for our meal, and Ed Munter continues to lead the music. Please keep this congregation of our church in your prayers.
Christian Education – Providing education for all ages is vital for a growing church. I want to thank Rosie Zacow and Vern Koehn for their work in our English as a Second Language program. Also I thank June Wilson for her work with the Wednesday Bible Study. We have three seminarians helping us. Sterrett Collins is our Seminary Intern from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Herman Ng has just come on board as an Intern from Fuller Seminary. And Erwin Marojahan, a member of ERPC, is a student at San Francisco Theological Seminary. I am very grateful for the work of our seminarians with college, youth and children ministries.
John Class – I have been continuing my Sunday Morning class on the Gospel of John. I am grateful for the faithful attendance of so many people each week.
Early Morning Prayers – I am very thankful for Grace who has been leading our Service of Morning Prayers each day, Tuesday – Saturday, at 6am. She has led meditations on the Books of Acts, Isaiah, and Romans. We now have 3 regular participants. Please come if you are able. It is a great way to start the day.
Memorial Services – We gathered this year to celebrate the lives of Lois Shilts, Vi Vandruff and Mark Miller.
Community Involvement – I have been involved in the Eagle Rock Community in several ways. I now serve as the Faith Based Director of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. I serve on the Police Clergy Council for NE Los Angeles. I am on the steering team of CAN, Churches Assisting Neighbors, a network of churches dealing with the homeless living in our community. And I attend monthly gatherings of the Church of the City, a ministerial group of pastors in NELA. ERPC participated in a community march in August called “Peace in the North East.”
Special Services – In addition to our regular programs we had several special worship opportunities. We held a Service of Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday. During Lent we gathered for soup suppers follow by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “Perspectives of the Cross”. On Maundy Thursday we gathered for a dramatic reading of Matthew 26-28. On Good Friday we participated in a Service of the Seven Last Words of Christ with San Francisco Theological Seminary. We joined with the Filipino church on World Communion Sunday and Reformation Sunday. On Thanksgiving Day we held a special Service of Thanksgiving followed by a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In Advent we gathered for Pot Luck Suppers followed by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “You Shall Call Him Immanuel.” And on Christmas Eve we joined with Occidental Presbyterian Church in a dramatic reading called “People and Places of the Nativity.”
Self Development of People – We received a grant from the Presbyterian Church’s SDOP program. It will be used by Dirk Lowther to start a micro business employing the homeless in our community to manufacture and sell Lighted Safety Vests. Many homeless people in our community are now being trained by Dirk to sew LED lights on reflective safety vests. Nearly $8000 for startup costs has been provided by the PCUSA.
New Members – I have taught 3 New Members Classes this year for 6 new members: Vern Koehn, Ellery Atienza, Ben de la Rosa Jr., Erwin Marojahan, Dirk Lowther, and Jin Ung Chung. Dirk was baptized at our evening service.
New Worship for 2009 – Based on the success of the evening service we will be starting a new worship service on Sunday afternoons at 3pm. Rev. Nancy Moore, who is well known by many in the congregation, will be leading worship with Grace’s assistance. Our hope is that this service will attract seekers who are searching for Jesus Christ.
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard, Pastor
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
Reverend Jeffrey T. Howard
"Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47)
Evening Worship Service – Our 5:30 Service of Worship has experienced tremendous growth. A year ago around 15 people gathered each week for worship and a fellowship dinner. Now that number is between 40 and 50 in worship with approximately 20 more attending dinner. This growth has been fuel both by our evangelism effort and the increasing number of homeless people living in their cars. As the economy worsens we can expect to see further growth in these numbers as the poor in our community seek the good news of Jesus Christ and a hot meal. Trader Joe’s in Glendale has generously been provided food for our meal, and Ed Munter continues to lead the music. Please keep this congregation of our church in your prayers.
Christian Education – Providing education for all ages is vital for a growing church. I want to thank Rosie Zacow and Vern Koehn for their work in our English as a Second Language program. Also I thank June Wilson for her work with the Wednesday Bible Study. We have three seminarians helping us. Sterrett Collins is our Seminary Intern from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Herman Ng has just come on board as an Intern from Fuller Seminary. And Erwin Marojahan, a member of ERPC, is a student at San Francisco Theological Seminary. I am very grateful for the work of our seminarians with college, youth and children ministries.
John Class – I have been continuing my Sunday Morning class on the Gospel of John. I am grateful for the faithful attendance of so many people each week.
Early Morning Prayers – I am very thankful for Grace who has been leading our Service of Morning Prayers each day, Tuesday – Saturday, at 6am. She has led meditations on the Books of Acts, Isaiah, and Romans. We now have 3 regular participants. Please come if you are able. It is a great way to start the day.
Memorial Services – We gathered this year to celebrate the lives of Lois Shilts, Vi Vandruff and Mark Miller.
Community Involvement – I have been involved in the Eagle Rock Community in several ways. I now serve as the Faith Based Director of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. I serve on the Police Clergy Council for NE Los Angeles. I am on the steering team of CAN, Churches Assisting Neighbors, a network of churches dealing with the homeless living in our community. And I attend monthly gatherings of the Church of the City, a ministerial group of pastors in NELA. ERPC participated in a community march in August called “Peace in the North East.”
Special Services – In addition to our regular programs we had several special worship opportunities. We held a Service of Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday. During Lent we gathered for soup suppers follow by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “Perspectives of the Cross”. On Maundy Thursday we gathered for a dramatic reading of Matthew 26-28. On Good Friday we participated in a Service of the Seven Last Words of Christ with San Francisco Theological Seminary. We joined with the Filipino church on World Communion Sunday and Reformation Sunday. On Thanksgiving Day we held a special Service of Thanksgiving followed by a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In Advent we gathered for Pot Luck Suppers followed by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “You Shall Call Him Immanuel.” And on Christmas Eve we joined with Occidental Presbyterian Church in a dramatic reading called “People and Places of the Nativity.”
Self Development of People – We received a grant from the Presbyterian Church’s SDOP program. It will be used by Dirk Lowther to start a micro business employing the homeless in our community to manufacture and sell Lighted Safety Vests. Many homeless people in our community are now being trained by Dirk to sew LED lights on reflective safety vests. Nearly $8000 for startup costs has been provided by the PCUSA.
New Members – I have taught 3 New Members Classes this year for 6 new members: Vern Koehn, Ellery Atienza, Ben de la Rosa Jr., Erwin Marojahan, Dirk Lowther, and Jin Ung Chung. Dirk was baptized at our evening service.
New Worship for 2009 – Based on the success of the evening service we will be starting a new worship service on Sunday afternoons at 3pm. Rev. Nancy Moore, who is well known by many in the congregation, will be leading worship with Grace’s assistance. Our hope is that this service will attract seekers who are searching for Jesus Christ.
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard, Pastor
Sermon Mark 1:21-28 Teaching With Authority
Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Mark 1:21-28 Teaching With Authority
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 1, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
I am continuing today with my series of sermons on the early ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Book of Mark. Last week we followed Jesus to the banks of a lake called, in the Bible, the Sea of Galilee. There Jesus saw four fishermen and proclaimed the good news that the kingdom of God was near. This proclamation of God’s word had an instant transformative effect on the four fishermen who immediately left their nets, boats, families and businesses to follow Jesus. Thus we saw how the Word of God can, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, immediately transform a person receptive to it. But today we are looking at the reverse of this. What if the Word of God is proclaimed to someone who is not receptive to it, and in fact is down right hostile to it? What if the Word of God is proclaimed to an evil spirit?
Before we begin this important work let us bow our heads and pray to Almighty God. Father in heaven we thank you that your words are still proclaimed by your church. Send your Spirit upon us, so that we may hear you though the words of scripture and the words I am speaking today. Silence in us any spirit but your own. Fill us with the Holy Spirit. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.
Mark 1:21-28 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, "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." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Jesus and the four fishermen left the coastline and walked into a fishing village called Capernaum. The sun was going down and all five knew that the Sabbath was almost there. God had provided for his people a time of rest every week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. At the Sabbath the Hebrews remembered that their creator God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Therefore the seventh day was set aside as a day of rest for all of God’s people.
As usual Jesus and his four followers entered the synagogue during the Sabbath. They sat down with other men from the village. Someone opened one of the scrolls and began to read from the Torah, or book of instruction. We know the Torah; it is the first five books in our Old Testament. After reading the scripture one of the men would then read from the Mishnah. The Mishnah was a book containing interpretation of the laws contained in the Torah. For example the following teaching might be heard in the synagogue concerning the Sabbath.
If a person left his house and went to spend the Shabbat in another town, whether a non-Jew or an Israelite, then he restricts; so Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says: he does not restrict. Rabbi Yose says: A non-Jew restricts, an Israeli does not restrict for it is not the custom of an Israelite to come on the Shabbat. Rabbi Shimon says: Even if he left his house and went to spend the Shabbat with his daughter in the same town, he does not restrict, because he had already dismissed it from his mind. (http://www.moreshet.net/oldsite/mishna/12-3-00/shabbat.htm)
This kind of detailed interpretation based on the opinions of previous rabbis would be read in the synagogue on the Sabbath. But when Jesus entered the synagogue with the four fishermen that evening he spoke as one with authority of his own. Jesus had no need to quote his predecessor rabbis because Jesus’ interpretation of scripture was new and inspired directly by the Holy Spirit. This just amazed the men sitting in the synagogue that night.
But among the men in the synagogue was one with an unclean spirit. As I read this story in Mark I realized that the authority of Jesus was not what Jesus said, but what Jesus did. Jesus had great compassion for the man with an evil spirit because the man was ill and needed help. He did not need a medical diagnosis or a magical spell. What he needed was a God who loved him very much. And it was this, God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ that satisfied his needs and drove out the evil spirit that tormented him.
Let’s talk for a moment about unclean spirits or demons. The New Testament is very clear that in the first century people believed in the spirit world. Spirits, both good and bad, coexisted with people on earth. And these spirits could effect how people felt and behaved. Today many people have a hard time believing in spirits. The modern mind looks for natural explanations of things. So what might have been interpreted as an evil spirit in the first century may now be explained as symptoms of a psychological problem. But increasingly we are seeing that modern psychology is having difficulty dealing with many of the problems that people face. And sometime the only relief that they can find is in prayer and the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Because of this I believe that spirits do exist, whether scientists acknowledge this or not. And the only way to deal with an evil spirit is with the power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.
The men in the synagogue that night knew Jesus as a teacher or rabbi. But the evil spirit knew exactly who Jesus really was; Jesus was the son of God. Jesus ordered the spirit to be silent because Jesus was not ready to have his identity as God’s son revealed. But Jesus was ready to reveal his great compassion and power by forcing the evil spirit out of the man it possessed. Jesus’ power of exorcism combined with his authoritative teaching convinced the men in that synagogue that night that Jesus was a very special teacher indeed. And Jesus’ fame spread throughout the region.
I have been wondering how this man with the evil spirit got into the synagogue in the first place. The synagogue was a holy place and you had to be ritually clean to enter. But as I look out at the congregation today I realize that many of you have brought evil spirits right here with you into this holy sanctuary. Some of you have brought in the spirit of worry and you are worried about your children’s heath, or worried about your job and finances, or worried about finding a place to live. Some of you have brought in the spirit of addiction and you can’t stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Some of you have brought in the spirit of giving up and you no longer try to find a job or make your life better. Others have brought in a spirit of anger because forgiveness seems so elusive.
All of these spirits know that you have brought them into the presence of Jesus Christ and they know that Jesus is the Son of God. These spirits are afraid that they might be destroyed right now and your worries, your addictions, your giving up, or your anger will go away. So they remain hidden deep in your hearts fearing what might happen during this worship.
What these evil spirits don’t know is that you are about to do something that has the power to destroy them. You are about to gather around this table, the table of the Lord Jesus. And right here on this table is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. As you eat this bread and drink from this cup I pray that the spirit of Jesus Christ will enter your hearts to silence, rebuke and cast out the evil spirits that are lurking there. I pray that the spirit of Jesus Christ will command your evil spirits to be silent and come out. I pray that you will experience the peace of Jesus Christ’s spirit in your heart.
Lord Jesus Christ, we have assembled in your name to break bread and drink wine as you instructed. Like that day so many years ago when you entered the synagogue of Capernaum evil spirits are right here in the hearts of these people. We ask that you send your spirit to our hearts to confront the spirits that have tormented us for so long. Silence, rebuke and cast out all the spirits that keep us from your love. Prepare our hearts to receive your body and blood in the sacrament prepared for us. And bless us with your compassion and love. Amen.
Sermon Mark 1:21-28 Teaching With Authority
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
February 1, 2009
Listen to this sermon.
I am continuing today with my series of sermons on the early ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Book of Mark. Last week we followed Jesus to the banks of a lake called, in the Bible, the Sea of Galilee. There Jesus saw four fishermen and proclaimed the good news that the kingdom of God was near. This proclamation of God’s word had an instant transformative effect on the four fishermen who immediately left their nets, boats, families and businesses to follow Jesus. Thus we saw how the Word of God can, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, immediately transform a person receptive to it. But today we are looking at the reverse of this. What if the Word of God is proclaimed to someone who is not receptive to it, and in fact is down right hostile to it? What if the Word of God is proclaimed to an evil spirit?
Before we begin this important work let us bow our heads and pray to Almighty God. Father in heaven we thank you that your words are still proclaimed by your church. Send your Spirit upon us, so that we may hear you though the words of scripture and the words I am speaking today. Silence in us any spirit but your own. Fill us with the Holy Spirit. And may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.
Mark 1:21-28 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, "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." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Jesus and the four fishermen left the coastline and walked into a fishing village called Capernaum. The sun was going down and all five knew that the Sabbath was almost there. God had provided for his people a time of rest every week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. At the Sabbath the Hebrews remembered that their creator God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Therefore the seventh day was set aside as a day of rest for all of God’s people.
As usual Jesus and his four followers entered the synagogue during the Sabbath. They sat down with other men from the village. Someone opened one of the scrolls and began to read from the Torah, or book of instruction. We know the Torah; it is the first five books in our Old Testament. After reading the scripture one of the men would then read from the Mishnah. The Mishnah was a book containing interpretation of the laws contained in the Torah. For example the following teaching might be heard in the synagogue concerning the Sabbath.
If a person left his house and went to spend the Shabbat in another town, whether a non-Jew or an Israelite, then he restricts; so Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yehudah says: he does not restrict. Rabbi Yose says: A non-Jew restricts, an Israeli does not restrict for it is not the custom of an Israelite to come on the Shabbat. Rabbi Shimon says: Even if he left his house and went to spend the Shabbat with his daughter in the same town, he does not restrict, because he had already dismissed it from his mind. (http://www.moreshet.net/oldsite/mishna/12-3-00/shabbat.htm)
This kind of detailed interpretation based on the opinions of previous rabbis would be read in the synagogue on the Sabbath. But when Jesus entered the synagogue with the four fishermen that evening he spoke as one with authority of his own. Jesus had no need to quote his predecessor rabbis because Jesus’ interpretation of scripture was new and inspired directly by the Holy Spirit. This just amazed the men sitting in the synagogue that night.
But among the men in the synagogue was one with an unclean spirit. As I read this story in Mark I realized that the authority of Jesus was not what Jesus said, but what Jesus did. Jesus had great compassion for the man with an evil spirit because the man was ill and needed help. He did not need a medical diagnosis or a magical spell. What he needed was a God who loved him very much. And it was this, God’s love expressed in Jesus Christ that satisfied his needs and drove out the evil spirit that tormented him.
Let’s talk for a moment about unclean spirits or demons. The New Testament is very clear that in the first century people believed in the spirit world. Spirits, both good and bad, coexisted with people on earth. And these spirits could effect how people felt and behaved. Today many people have a hard time believing in spirits. The modern mind looks for natural explanations of things. So what might have been interpreted as an evil spirit in the first century may now be explained as symptoms of a psychological problem. But increasingly we are seeing that modern psychology is having difficulty dealing with many of the problems that people face. And sometime the only relief that they can find is in prayer and the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Because of this I believe that spirits do exist, whether scientists acknowledge this or not. And the only way to deal with an evil spirit is with the power of prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.
The men in the synagogue that night knew Jesus as a teacher or rabbi. But the evil spirit knew exactly who Jesus really was; Jesus was the son of God. Jesus ordered the spirit to be silent because Jesus was not ready to have his identity as God’s son revealed. But Jesus was ready to reveal his great compassion and power by forcing the evil spirit out of the man it possessed. Jesus’ power of exorcism combined with his authoritative teaching convinced the men in that synagogue that night that Jesus was a very special teacher indeed. And Jesus’ fame spread throughout the region.
I have been wondering how this man with the evil spirit got into the synagogue in the first place. The synagogue was a holy place and you had to be ritually clean to enter. But as I look out at the congregation today I realize that many of you have brought evil spirits right here with you into this holy sanctuary. Some of you have brought in the spirit of worry and you are worried about your children’s heath, or worried about your job and finances, or worried about finding a place to live. Some of you have brought in the spirit of addiction and you can’t stop drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Some of you have brought in the spirit of giving up and you no longer try to find a job or make your life better. Others have brought in a spirit of anger because forgiveness seems so elusive.
All of these spirits know that you have brought them into the presence of Jesus Christ and they know that Jesus is the Son of God. These spirits are afraid that they might be destroyed right now and your worries, your addictions, your giving up, or your anger will go away. So they remain hidden deep in your hearts fearing what might happen during this worship.
What these evil spirits don’t know is that you are about to do something that has the power to destroy them. You are about to gather around this table, the table of the Lord Jesus. And right here on this table is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. As you eat this bread and drink from this cup I pray that the spirit of Jesus Christ will enter your hearts to silence, rebuke and cast out the evil spirits that are lurking there. I pray that the spirit of Jesus Christ will command your evil spirits to be silent and come out. I pray that you will experience the peace of Jesus Christ’s spirit in your heart.
Lord Jesus Christ, we have assembled in your name to break bread and drink wine as you instructed. Like that day so many years ago when you entered the synagogue of Capernaum evil spirits are right here in the hearts of these people. We ask that you send your spirit to our hearts to confront the spirits that have tormented us for so long. Silence, rebuke and cast out all the spirits that keep us from your love. Prepare our hearts to receive your body and blood in the sacrament prepared for us. And bless us with your compassion and love. Amen.
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