THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY JANUARY 12,15 & 16, 2000

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Watertown, Wisconsin

JESUS CAME TO HELP MARK 1:29-39

In a recent interview with one of the men who is running for president of the United States, the candidate spoke about some of the questions that he struggled with as a young man during and shortly after the Vietnam War. He said he wrestled with questions like, "What's the purpose of life?" "What's our obligation to our creator?" "How do we invest our lives with meaning?" "How do we act and live in ways that are consistent with our deepest beliefs?" Most people wrestle with the same questions. "Why am I here?" "What is my purpose for existence?" "How do I find meaning and fulfillment in my life?" "What am I supposed to be doing?"

In this Epiphany season as Jesus reveals himself to us as God and Man and the Savior of the human race, we note that he understands the purpose for his existence on this earth. Understanding why he was here and what he was to do, he set out with resolve to carry out his mission. Because Jesus knew who he was and why he had come and he successfully fulfilled his mission on this earth, we now have meaning and purpose to our existence. As we examine Mark's account of early years in Jesus' ministry we note that JESUS CAME TO HELP. We note very clearly I) Jesus' Mission and we learn from him II) Our Mission.

JESUS' MISSION

When you know where you are heading, it is much easier to chart a course and stick to it. If you are planning a vacation to Florida, you don't drive down to I-94 and head west going to Minnesota. You chart a course that will take you south. Our Lord Jesus understood why he had been sent to this world. He was here to reveal himself as the God-Man Savior of the world and to proclaim good news to the people of this earth.

Jesus had been preaching at the synagogue in Capernaum one Sabbath day, when a man possessed with an evil spirit got up and shouted at Jesus, "What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!" (Mark 1:24) Jesus told the man to be quiet and then he drove the demon out of the man. The people were amazed at what he was able to do. He had already grabbed their attention by his authoritative teaching. He taught as someone who had authority. After that incident Jesus went with his disciples to the home of Peter. When they got to Peter's home the people there informed Jesus that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. Our Lord went to her bedside, took her by the hand and raised her up and the fever left her. Immediately she got up and began to wait on Jesus and all the guests and serve them food and drink. Later that evening after the sunset the people in town came to Peter's door. They brought with them all their sick relatives and friends and those who were possessed by demons. Our Lord cared about these people and he wanted to help. So Mark tells us that he healed people with many different diseases and cast out the demons of those who were possessed, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. Why didn't Jesus want the testimony of the demons? They knew he was the Holy One of God. Why wouldn't he accept their witness? Because Jesus wanted people to come to their own conclusion that he was the promised Messiah. After listening to Jesus and observing his miracles, people would ask "Aren't you the Messiah who is to come?" and Jesus would respond, "I am." But Jesus did not go out into Judea shouting, "I am the promised Savior of the world." Nor did he want the demons doing that either. And for that reason he silenced them and would not allow them to speak.

Through these miracles Jesus was revealing himself to the people as the Almighty God. He demonstrated his power over disease and sicknesses. He showed his power over the devil himself. When watching what Jesus did, people soon came to the conclusion that this was no ordinary man. He was different. He was special.

But Jesus had more to do than just heal people's diseases. Early the next morning our Lord got up and went out to a deserted place to pray. When Peter got up and didn't find Jesus in his room, he went out searching for Jesus. When they found him, they told him, "Everyone is looking for you." (v. 37b) Jesus understood his mission. He had more work to do than just go back to Capernaum and heal people of their illnesses. Listen to what Jesus says to Peter, "Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." (v. 38) Jesus' mission included preaching. He had good news to share with the world. What was that good news? It was the good news that God loved the world and sent his Son to save the human race and that everyone who trusts and relies on Jesus Christ as his or her Savior has eternal life. Jesus went out to assure people that their guilt and sins were paid for. He announced to them that they had peace with God, their sins were forgiven and forgotten. This is a message that changes the lives of everyone who hears and believes it. This message is the dynamite of God. This was Jesus' mission to proclaim this wonderful, life changing news and then to accomplish our deliverance by his perfect life, his death on the cross and his glorious resurrection from the grave.

Jesus' mission was clear to him and he carried it out perfectly.

OUR MISSION

Because our Savior finished his mission, we now have a better understanding of who we are, why we are here and what we are to be doing. We are here to help people, to help and encourage one another. How can you and I help and encourage others? We have good news to proclaim and we are able to pray.

What's the good news that we are to be talking about? We can tell people of the love and forgiveness of our God. One of the greatest problems that everyone faces is how to deal with sin. Sin destroys people's lives. We see it around us everyday. Families are being torn apart because of unfaithfulness, broken promises, misunderstood communications, selfishness, unfulfilled expectations and anger. After years of counselors telling people, "if you don't like it, get out." suddenly the leaders of our society are seeing the great harms that are coming because of all the broken and hurting families. Now what can be done? Jesus has the answer. It is called forgiveness. When the Jewish leaders brought to our Lord a woman who had been caught committing adultery, they were going to stone her to death as the law of Moses commanded. What was Jesus' response? He said to the men who were going to stone her, "If any one of you is without sin, let him to be the first to throw a stone at here." (John 8:7) Then a few moments later he said to the woman, "I don't condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:11)

Sin also shows itself in each of our bodies. We get sick. Many of us during the past several weeks have been afflicted with the flu. As you get older, you find that it is not as easy to shake off this illness as quickly as when you were younger. You are reminded that you are mortal. The day of your death is getting closer. As age continues to march on, you find yourself not as sharp mentally. You cannot do what you could when you were 20 or 30 years old. You realize that the day will come when your life on this earth will end. It's going to end because you and I are sinful. "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23a) What did Jesus have to say about this situation? Remember the words he spoke to Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus? "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) Jesus promises us victory over death. We are going to live eternally even though we die physically. We will never experience eternal death, the suffering and punishment of hell. Why not? Because Jesus conquered that enemy for us. We also will live again physically because Jesus conquered physical death for us when he rose from his grave. And he tells us, "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19b)

This is the news that Jesus was busy proclaiming during his three year ministry. This is the news that you and I have the privilege of telling others today in the twenty first century. We share this news not just with our words, but also with our actions. Remember what Jesus said will happen on Judgement Day? He will say to those on his right, those who believed and trusted in him, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matthew 25:35-36) The help and kindness that we show to others is demonstrating the love and forgiveness of our God.

Here at St. Mark's there are many ways in which you are able to show that love and kindness. You may volunteer to be a St. Mark's visitor. You can be assigned to a member in our congregation who is alone without any family and friends and would appreciate someone coming and visiting, someone to talk to and listen to. You may wish to help those who experience a loss of a job, the financial burdens that a lingering illness causes or some other financial setback. What can you do? You may wish to bring an offering for our Good Samaritan Fund.

There are many ways in which you can share the love of Jesus with others and proclaim the forgiveness and life that he offers to all. Just look around you. Ask questions and respond as God gives you the strength and ability.

But there are times in our lives when we may say, "I can't visit." "I can't give of my monies." What can I do? Am I useless? Of course not. You are still able to pray. Jesus did that regularly. Mark writes, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed." (v.35) Jesus is God. Why on earth would he be praying to his Heavenly Father? Because Jesus was also a human being just as we are. He knew that he needed the guidance, direction and strength that only God can give. He needed to stay focused on his mission. So he talked to his heavenly Father daily, seeking the strength he needed to keep his priorities straight and to not forget the mission that he had been given in eternity to save the human race. There are times in our lives when we have great amounts of time to pray. Use them for that purpose. Talk to our loving God. Ask him to convert the hearts of more people to faith in him. Right now you have the opportunity to pray that God would answer our calls for a new teacher for our Christian school and a fourth full time pastor. As the Bible tells us, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

Jesus had purpose and a mission for his life. He was to reveal himself to us as the God-Man and our Savior and Lord. He accomplished his mission. What are we here for? We are here to proclaim the love and forgiveness of God to others with our words and actions.

Amen