WE WORSHIP WITH JESUS IN GOD’S HOUSE (Outline)
MARK 1:21-28 - January 30, 2005 - EPIPHANY 4
INTRO: Once again the Lord has provided us with another day of his grace, and especially another day of/for worship. As believers we value our Sundays as the day in which we are privileged and blessed to come into the Lord’s house, in his very presence, to worship and praise our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sunday is a special day, but not always for everyone. Sadly, our society has turned Sunday into just another ordi-nary day. Many consider their Sunday as the day of shopping, a hunting day, fishing day, meeting day, or sleep-in-late day. Today’s text reminds us of the important value of Sunday, our day of worship. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting to-gether, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching"(HEBREWS 10:24,25).
Today we have gathered together to hear God’s word, to encourage one another as we grow in our own Christian faith. Together we consider God’s blessings for us today with the theme: WE WORSHIP WITH JESUS IN GOD’S HOUSE. I. We see Jesus’ authority and II. We share Jesus’ miracles.
I. WE SEE JESUS’ AUTHORITY
A. Many events in Jesus’ happen in this first chapter of Mark. In the first verses John prepares the way.
1. Next, John baptizes Jesus. Jesus is tempted in the wilderness and John is imprisoned.
2. In the verses right before our text Jesus calls his first disciples: Simon, Andrew, James, John.
B. Thus our text begins: They went to Capernaum. This was Jesus and his first disciples.
1. Jesus called, they followed, and ministry begins. Capernaum becomes Jesus headquarters.
2. Nazareth had rejected Jesus. Verse 21. The Sabbath came and Jesus goes to worship.
C. He was invited to speak. Verse 22. The people were amazed at the authority of Jesus’ teaching.
1. After all, Jesus was only the carpenter’s son and from Nazareth. Jesus taught God’s gospel!
2. The teachers of the law were overly concerned with laws and traditions.
3. The gospel teaching of Jesus seemed new. Verse 27a. The gospel was fresh and refreshing.
D. Our world does not always see the authority of Jesus. All to often, too many are looking for a display of earthly power, might and strength. The authority of Jesus is in the power of the word of God. When the disciples wondered about Jesus claim of being the bread of life, Jesus reminded them of the impor-tance of the authority of Scripture. "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life"(JOHN 6:63).
E. Believers see the authority of Jesus in God’s holy word. Without the word of God mankind, everyone would be lost for time and for eternity. How disastrous that would be. We began to see the importance of being able to gather around God’s word and be strengthened by hearing, reading, singing and studying the Gospel of God together. Jesus’ authority, which we are privileged to see with eyes of faith, is in that word of God and that word of God alone. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ"(ROMANS 10:17).
F. It is also important for us to understand that Jesus was not a usurper. Jesus did take his power but was given it by virtue of being part of the triune God. Jesus is far more than the carpenter’s son or the son of Mary. Jesus is also God’s Son. As God’s Son Jesus has divine power and authority to do and control all things. "And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way"(EPHESIANS 1:22,23).
TRANS: WE WORSHIP WITH JESUS IN GOD’S HOUSE as we see Jesus’ authority in the holy pages of divine Scripture. As believers we also worship with Jesus in God’s house as
II. WE SHARE JESUS’ MIRACLES
A. The setting is the Sabbath. God’s own Son is in God’s house to worship. Jesus teaches with authority.
1. Verse 23. A demon-possessed man had come into the synagogue. This was extraordinary.
2. The unclean were not allowed in the synagogue. The people were to see and hear more.
B. Verse 24. The man possessed knows Jesus. He confesses that Jesus is the son of man and God.
1. This man is also frightened of Jesus’ power. The divine always threatens Satan.
2. No wonder. Verse 25. Simple commands: Be quiet…come out! Satan obeys.
C. The man once possessed by a demon is set free. Verse 27. The people see Jesus’ authority.
1. The people are amazed at Jesus’ miracle. They do not keep this news to themselves.
2. Verse 28. The authority of Jesus and his miracle would not be kept hidden, but spread.
D. Every day you, I, every believer have the privilege of experiencing Jesus’ authority and seeing his miracles. Jesus’ authority and his miracles are very personal for every one of us. We see daily the depth of our sinfulness, wickedness, and rebellion. Each and every day of God’s grace on this earth we also experience the depth of God’s great love. "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (LAMENTATIONS 3:22,23). In faith we believe God’s great love for us every morning, not just Sunday morning.
E. It is a miracle of miracles that any of us would be saved at all! Each day each one of us finds all too many opportunities to sin and rebel against God. This sinfulness, wickedness, and rebellion condemn every one of us in God’s sight. But what does God do? With his divine power and authority God sends his only begotten Son to sacrifice his life in our place. The precious blood of Christ forgives our sins. By the miracle of God’s grace our sins are forgotten. "He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his an-ger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities"(PSALM 103:9,10). What joy is ours! We are anxious to share Jesus’ miracle of forgiveness with those still lost.
F. The privilege to share Jesus miracles is ours. The Lord God provides opportunities to help those who are hurting. The precious healing balm of forgiveness can be applied to the open wounds of sin. What a miracle that God would use sinners such as ourselves to help spread the healing message of forgiveness. Our world lives under an ever-increasing cloud of sin and darkness. Believers are the lights in this world to chase away the doom and gloom of sin and darkness. We have the joy of Jesus’ forgiveness in our hearts meant to shine in our lives. "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be-come blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life"(PHILIPPIANS 2:14-16a). That miracle that you and I hold out is simply word of life. By this miracle mankind is saved!
CONCL: Sunday is a special day for believers. We are reminded today that Jesus was never too busy or distracted to miss his worship time. As come to worship in God’s house on Sunday we also worship to-gether with Jesus. We also come to see Jesus’ authority in His word and are moved to share Jesus’ mira-cle with those in darkness. We also realize we do not have to wait until Sunday to worship with Jesus. Each day we see Jesus’ authority and experience the miracle of Jesus’ forgiveness in our lives. Each day we are able to worship with Jesus. On Sundays we are especially blessed to be able to worship together as believers with Jesus in God’s house. May we also value every Sunday as special worship days to see Jesus’ authority. As we see Jesus’ authority in God’s word we are moved to share Jesus’ miracle of for-giveness. "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you…Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (ISAIAH 60:1,3). Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 4 readings (ILCW – A): MICAH 6:1-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31; MATTHEW 5:1-12
