+ 4th Sunday after the Epiphany – February 2nd, 2025 +
Series C: Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:31-44
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
With his powerful, creative word, the Lord said “Let there be light. And it was so.” With personal care he formed Adam from the dust of the earth and built Eve from Adam’s side. When our Lord speaks his word it is powerful, but also personal, and full of promise.
With his powerful, life-giving word, the Lord called the prophet Jeremiah, just has he calls all the prophets and apostles. With personal care and craftsmanship, he formed Jeremiah in the womb and appointed him to be a prophet of God’s promises. God’s word is powerful, yet personal, and full of promise.
It’s no different when the Lord, the eternal, powerful Word of God, takes on human flesh to dwell among us. Jesus is the Word through whom all things are made…he is powerful and so are the words he speaks. Yet he is also personal and full of promise. The Word became flesh and dwells among us. Where and how you might ask?
In his word. Always by his word. For when our Lord Jesus speaks his word to you, his word is powerful – it does what he says; and his word is personal - all of his promises are for you.
The same is true when Jesus shows up in Capernaum. Jesus is in the synagogue again. On the Sabbath. Teaching God’s word. His word. The crowds are astonished. Amazed. Jesus teaches with authority…from reading and hearing God’s word we know why. Jesus not only speaks the word of God…he is the Word of God made flesh. He not only possesses God’s authority, he is the authority. What he says happens. When he speaks it is done. God’s word never returns empty. It always accomplishes God’s purposes.
But not everyone in the synagogue is appreciative of Jesus’ preaching. There’s a party crasher. A demon – who knows what Jesus has come to do - starts heckling during his sermon. 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.
Jesus, however, doesn’t let the demon speak another word. He rebukes it. “Be silent. Come out of him.” Jesus’ word comes with power. Jesus’ Word comes to undo the brokenness of our fallen world. In the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus cast out the demon with his Word. The same Word he uses to cast out the devil at your Baptism, and to destroy the devil by the great exorcism of the cross.
When our Lord speaks his word it is powerful, but also personal, and full of promise. Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to the home of Peter’s mother-in-law. She’s sick, suffering from a fever. Not as dramatic as a demonic disruption on the Sabbath day, but no less important to our Lord.
What does Jesus do? He stands over the woman and rebukes her fever – same word in fact that he used to rebuke the demon. For Jesus there’s no clear cut separation of physical and spiritual – both matter to him, for both belong to him. For our Lord spiritual things are given in physical things – water, word, bread and wine. And physical healing that he brings Peter’s mother-in-law, is a sign of his spiritual authority…that his word is powerful, yet personal and full of promise.
Here, we see another facet of God’s gracious reign in our midst. Jesus, who has just cast out a demon, heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. The one who controls the gates of Hell cares about the common cold. Here, we see the amazing extent of the compassion of Jesus. He is a God who cares about the smallest thing. He cares enough to enter your house and bring you recovery from a cold. With this small event of healing, God throws open His throne of grace for you. Regardless of how small your concern, you can bring it before Jesus. He sees and cares about the smallest moments of suffering in your life.
And with the same word that he created the heavens and the earth, and the same word he spoke to Jeremiah and the prophets, and the same word that he cast out demons and rebuked diseases…it is the same word that is powerful and personal and full of his promises for you.
This is why Lutherans call what happens on Sunday morning, Divine Service. From the baptismal invocation to the closing benediction, God is serving you with his word. Take a look in your hymnal today or this week and you’ll notice every page of the Divine Service is full of God’s word. We hear God’s word. Pray God’s word. Sing God’s Word. Proclaim God’s word. Receive forgiveness by God’s word. Eat and drink Jesus’ body and blood by his word.
When our Lord speaks his word it is powerful, but also personal, and full of promise. Here our Lord takes water and pours it over you and says this washing away of sins, and says…this is for you.
Here our Lord declares to you by his word – the same word that rebuked the demons and disease – that your sin and death are also rebuked and you are restored. His word of forgiveness is powerful yet personal. Jesus’ word of forgiveness is for you.
Here our Lord places his promise and word in ordinary bread and wine – where the physical and spiritual are joined together, heaven comes to earth, and you receive a medicine of immortality. All by his word that says, take eat and take drink…this is for you.
And on days when you are at the bedside of a loved one. When you’re listening to your neighbor’s cares and concerns. When you’re alone at dining table that used to be full of people. When you’re standing over the graveside of a loved one. When you’re staring in the mirror at your own failures and sinful flesh. On those days, remember the word our Lord spoke to Jeremiah and the crowds in Capernaum. Remember that our Lord’s word comes not only with power – to do what he promises – but his word is personal. For you.
“Do not be afraid… for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
