Brent Kuhlman

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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany “C”                                             
31 January 2010           

St. Luke 4:31-44

The news about Jesus spreads like a prairie wild fire in the dry hot summer!  He’s a celebrity!  He teaches with authority!  All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him.  He is the authority!  The very author of what He proclaims.  The very fulfillment of what He preaches.

He’s the holy one of God!  Come to destroy Satan and his demonic hordes.  To release sinners from satanic tyranny and captivity.  To bring the kingdom of God – God’s reign of peace – to the tormented.  And so in Synagogue Capernaum he rebukes a demon and exorcises it from a possessed member of the congregation. 

This is big time stuff.  Salvation stuff!  Celebrity Whiz Bang Jesus!  Kingdom of God On The Earth Jesus!  “All the people were amazed . . . And the news about Him spread throughout entire area!”

Where will He go next?  Where will He do another big, bright bang of Epiphany glory?  It’s off to the lowly, cluttered house of Simon Peter.  Everything’s a mess.  Needs a good vacuuming and dusting.  Dirty dishes stacked in the sink.  Crinkled clothes all over the place.  And the trash hasn’t been taken out in days!  What a disaster!  Mother in law usually took care of such things.  She’s there.  But she’s been coughing a lot.  And now she’s in bed with the flu.  H1N1 maybe with a very high fever.  No Tylenol.  No Theraflu.  She’s very, very sick. 

Does Kingdom of God All The Excitement Jesus have time for Peter’s mother in law?  “They ask Jesus to give her some help.”  And He does.  Holy One of God Jesus enters this little and lowly world of Peter’s house.  God’s reign comes even to her through Jesus Himself.  Look everyone!  The One who is mightier than unclean demonic spirits – who fear their very destruction in His presence -- comes right into her world.  Blaze of glory – all the buzz Jesus – ignores the messy house.  Walks right into the front door to visit mother in law.  Where most people in those days would say:  “That’s not the place for any man – let alone the Messiah who is all the rage!  She’s missed all her hair appointments, hasn’t been able to take a shower, or put on any make up!”

But mother in law is very precious to Him.  “How is she?”  “Oh, she’s very sick.”  So Peter and Andrew clear the way for Jesus to the guest bedroom.  He goes to her!  He’s right there -- just for her – this feverish, flustered woman!  With all that He is and all that He has!  The Holy One of God.  The kingdom of God in the flesh.  Nothing more important in all the world than for Him to be there FOR HER!  WITH ALL OF HIMSELF HE IS THERE – JUST FOR HER!  He stoops down right next to her sweaty bed and smelly sheets in this messy house.  Rebukes her fever like he rebuked the demon in the synagogue!  And the fever is gone!  Just like that!  His words authoritatively do what they say.  Give what they promise.

The kingdom of God has come to her!  And then she goes back to doing her mother in law stuff.  The text says:  “She began to wait on them.”  Sets the table.  Lights the oven.  Cooks the roast.  Mashes the potatoes.  Pours the coffee.  From that day she was never the same.  She knew to whom she was precious.  Even with all her old age, arthritis and crackling aches and pains – she was precious.  The kingdom of God had come to her in this preacher the boys brought home with all their new friends.  She lives not for herself.  But for the rest of the family, son in law Peter and all the friends he’s brought with him.  That’s what Jesus’ epiphany glory does to her.

And then all night long –- from evening until morning -- Jesus heals many more who are sick and demon possessed!  He’s there for them too.  And many others. “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God,” He says. “I was sent to proclaim the Gospel!”   
 
To you too.  You are very precious to Him.  There is no one more important in all the world than you for whom He died.  His reign has come to you.  Laid His Good Friday hands on you and marked you with His holy Name at the font.  And in your Baptism comes Christ’s very own authoritative good news promise of the Gospel:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved!”   Saved means to be forgiven.  And to be forgiven is to be delivered from death and the devil!  That’s His reign over you as the Holy One of God!

And now He sets a table before you in His house.  And He puts out the very best.  His Body and His Blood.  The benefits of His last will and testament.  “Given and shed for you,” He says.  And more of His promises:  “For the forgiveness of all your sins.” 

Where there’s forgiveness there is life and salvation.  All for you!  From the Lord Jesus Himself.  He stoops down into our messy midst.  He preaches the good news of God’s kingdom into your very ears.  And puts it into your very mouths.  You know to whom you are special.  So special that on the Last Day He will raise your body from the dead for eternal life with Him.  The very fruit of His epiphany glory forgiveness He gives week after week, month after month, year after year here at Trinity.  And your life is never the same. 

All because of Jesus.  Holy One of God!  Absolutely amazing! What joy!  What a Savior He is!  Yours!    

In the Name of Jesus.