JESUS CASTS OUT
WHAT IS EVIL AND DELIVERS WHAT IS GOOD.
In the name + of Jesus.
There is a lament that is pondered by every generation: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” We recognize that disease and disasters are not good. We understand that this is not the way life is supposed to be, even if stories about disease and disasters are common. Most people don’t get maimed in car accidents. Most people don’t get Parkinson’s Disease. Most people don’t have birth defects. So, when they happen to you or to someone you love, grief, confusion, and anger overflow. They spill out into a question, or even an accusation against God: “Why is this happening?!”
You
know the answer to that question, although the answer is not really
satisfying. Why do bad things happen to
good people? Because there are no good
people. All people are sinners. While most people don’t share our confession,
we know what sins deserve. We said it
earlier: Lord, “I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity.” Part of the curse of sin is that our bodies
fail and that natural disasters affect our lives. These things don’t happen in a perfect world. But we are not in a perfect world. Nor are we perfect. So, bad things happen to sinners.
That still does not erase the grief, the
confusion, and the anger. We want to be
free from our sin, and we want to be free from its consequences. We hear that hospitals are full; we’d rather
hear that we don’t need them anymore.
Rather than hear that counselors will be on site to help people cope
with the latest tragedy, we want to hear that there are no more tragedies. We want a world that has no mental health
issues, knows no need for children’s hospitals, or has no use for caskets. The good news, dear friends, is that the day is
coming when you will be free from sin and from every consequence of sin. Jesus has come to save you from every effect that
sin has upon you and upon the world.
Jesus casts out what is evil and delivers what is good.
Jesus “went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the
Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word
possessed authority” (Luke 4:31-32). The people were amazed by Jesus’ message even
apart from his miracles. Part of the
authority of Jesus’ preaching was that he did not rely on the traditions of
other rabbis. We catch a glimpse of that
authority in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
There, for example, he declared, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not
commit adultery.’ But I say to you
that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). Jesus did not
appeal to other authorities. He came as
his own authority, and the people were in awe that he did.
Then Jesus showed that the kingdom of God does not only come with words;
it also comes with action. Yes, Jesus proclaimed
the good news of forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death, and his
sacrificial death on behalf of sinners. But
Jesus also acted to take away the consequences of sin. In other words, he dealt with the bad things
that happen to sinful people. Jesus
casts away what is evil and delivers what is good.
“In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an
unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ha! 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.’ But
Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him
down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm” (Luke 4:33-35). We don’t know how
it came about that this man was possessed by a demon. Chances are he had taken up magic arts or
some form of divination like a Ouija board.
Such activities are invitations for the devil to invade your life and
perhaps even to possess your body. It
doesn’t matter that the Ouija board is marketed by Hasbro; it is no game. Stay away from it. We also don’t know how a demon-possessed man
came to be in a synagogue. Nevertheless,
there he was.
Since Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work, Jesus delivered this man
from the demon which had possessed him.
The devil does not gladly surrender what he has taken, but when Jesus
gave the command, the demon had to obey.
Jesus’ word had authority that the devil himself cannot overcome. Jesus casts out what is evil and delivers
what is good.
While demon possession still occurs, it is not common—certainly not as common
as what Jesus had to face. What is more
common today would be demon oppression.
The demons seem to be tormenting the thoughts and emotions of people in increasing
numbers. People are filled with anxiety,
anger, loneliness, and hopelessness. This
leads to people bringing harm on themselves or to killing others. Mental illness may play a part in this. But it seems to me to be more than just a coincidence
that people are ignoring God’s word and the church as the level of violence is increasing. If you are not hearing the word of the Lord,
other voices will take its place. Do you
think the devil would pass up such an opportunity? He deceives and entices people into sin. He robs minds of peace and hearts of comfort. We need not be surprised by the results.
In some rites of Holy Baptism, there is a little exorcism that takes place. The pastor speaks to the one being baptized
and says, “Depart, unclean spirit and make way for the Holy Spirit.” That’s not to say that unbelievers are demon-possessed. Rather, it is the recognition that Jesus must
rescue us from the devil’s power. Only
Jesus’ words have the authority to do that.
And Jesus’ words have the authority to keep the devil away so that minds
are not tormented and we maintain control of our emotions.
Jesus casts out what is evil and delivers
what is good. Jesus removes from us the
sin that condemns us. He takes from us
all that is bad and suffers the worst for us.
Jesus made himself the victim of the sins of wicked men who slandered, schemed,
and plotted his death. Jesus made himself
the victim of sacrifice as he bore our sins for us. He delivers us from the curse of sin and
death and delivers to us pardon and peace in its place. He took all the bad from us and delivers to us
all that is for our eternal good. Thanks
to Jesus, the Lord does not regard you as bad people or even flawed
people. He sees you clothed in the
righteousness of Jesus. Before God, you
are not merely good; you are blameless.
Jesus casts out all that is evil and delivers all that is good.
We still live in a sinful world, and bad
things still happen. Bad things will always
happen in a sinful world. But Jesus
remains our hope. The people Galilee recognized
that too. “Now when
the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases
brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed
them. And demons also came out of many”
(Luke 4:40-41). All the miracles of Jesus give us a glimpse of
the heavenly kingdom that God has prepared for us. He will deliver us into that heavenly kingdom
where the evils are cast out forever. In
the heavenly kingdom, the demons will neither possess nor oppress anyone. There will be no memory of sins, no regrets
to stew over, no grudges to ruin our day, and no shame that would make us want
to hide. No one will have to ask, “Why
do bad things happen?” because there will be no bad things. Jesus will bring healing to everyone. Just as he drove out the high fever of Simon’s
mother-in-law by a word of rebuke, so he will cast away every sickness and disease. In heaven, there will be no high fevers, no viruses,
no allergies, and no runny noses. Just
as Jesus delivered healing by laying his hands on people, so his hand will cast
away every debilitating problem. In
heaven, there will be no need for hearing aids or corrective lenses. There will be no birth defects or handicaps. Jesus will cast away everything that is evil
and everything that comes from evil.
Jesus will deliver what is good and make it to be good forever.
Jesus preached
in the synagogue at Capernaum about the kingdom of God. He gave a glimpse of that kingdom’s glory
when he cast out the demon and rebuked the fever. When the Sabbath had officially ended, the
sick from all over town came to Jesus. In
mercy, he healed all those who were brought to him. Is it any wonder they wanted to keep Jesus
around? But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the
kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke
4:43).
And so he went forth to cast out what was evil and to deliver what is
good.
Today, this
Gospel has been entrusted to you. While the
Lord seems to have chosen to suspend his gifts of healing, we still have words
which are proclaimed with authority. They
are meant for all. We know people who
need these words. It is not fever or
blindness or paralysis which keeps people out of the kingdom of God. It is sin and unbelief. By the preaching of the word, the devil is cast
away from so that people are relieved of harassment and torment. By his word, Jesus drives away the guilt that
hounds you and nullifies fears that plague you.
When sin is cast away, comfort and peace are delivered. Jesus casts out what is evil and delivers
what is good.
What is more,
Jesus also delivers people from the oppression of the devil. When people hear and believe the words and
promises of God, the Lord delivers healing to troubled hearts and minds. Those who feel rejected and lonely discover
that Jesus is the friend of sinners. Those
who are struggle with anger or emotional issues will learn that Jesus is meek
and gentle with them. Those who feel hopeless
will find that God invests himself in their lives now and assures them of an
eternal hope in heaven. The Lord never forsakes
his people. Rather, he delights to hear your
prayers and gives you strength to endure your problems. He even joins you together with fellow
Christians who support and encourage you and pray for you when bad things come
your way. No matter what bad we must
still endure in an uncertain world, we have promises which are reliable. We have a Savior who is steadfast in mercy
and boundless in love.
Jesus casts out what is evil and delivers what is good. And the day will come when he will deliver us out of this sin-filled world and bring us to the perfection of eternal life. This is the good news of the kingdom; and it is enforced by divine authority.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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