When Jesus Came … all hell broke loose

Sermon for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, year B
Bible reading: Mark 1:21-28

I believe the devil exists, and that the devil is in constant opposition to God and to good, and to God’s people seeking to follow God and to do good. I believe the devil commands legions of demons or evil spirits or unclean spirits. These spirits aren’t just floating around in the sky, but embody themselves in people, and in institutions, and lead these people and institutions to be enslaved to evil behaviour, and unable to love & serve God.

  • today there is a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue;
  • yesterday we heard of President Obama castigating the leaders of the money market for scooping billions of dollars of other people’s money for themselves – over and over we see evil spirits take over the decision making of rich and powerful people, who lose all contact with reality;
  • every day we hear of the shocking evils of Zimbabwe, and we see a man and his cronies totally captive to evil powers;
  • in recent weeks many of us have seen the movie Slum Dog Millionaire, and we have seen the mafia, captive to evil spirits, committing atrocious evils against children;
  • in the week of Easter we will see Jesus entering the temple and confronting those money changers who are captive to evil spirits, even in the name of religion.

When Jesus came, all hell broke lose. When Jesus came he was first confronted by the temptations of the devil, which he resisted, and then by the presence of the evil spirits which he cast out. Jesus came proclaiming: The kingdom of God is near, and this immediately drew out the opposition to the kingdom of God – the devil and his demons.

Jesus wasn’t just rabbiting on, putting people to sleep in their pews. Jesus was speaking as though it came straight from the mouth of God.

Jesus was teaching with such authority, and they were astounded. Jesus wasn’t just rabbiting on, putting people to sleep in their pews. Jesus was speaking as though it came straight from the mouth of God. Jesus spoke with such authority that the evil spirits felt threatened and cried out, what have you do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. The unclean spirit recognizes the Holy One of God, on this Holy Day, in this Holy Place, amongst the Holy People.

How does Jesus handle the unclean spirit in the synagogue?

  • Jesus deals with the demon, not with the man,
  • Jesus expelled the demon from the man, not the man from the synagogue,
  • Jesus dealt with the demon as though it was part of his normal work. From here on whenever Jesus preached and healed he also cast out demons from people.
  • When Jesus sent out his disciples to do ministry he said: as you go, proclaim the good news: the kingdom of God has come near. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

God’s Kingdom is good news that Jesus conquers sin, death and the devil. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, your sins are forgiven, the devil is defeated, and you will be raised to eternal life. Defeating the devil and demons is not in our power, but it is accomplished through Jesus’ death on the cross. In our Baptism we are joined to Jesus Christ and renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. It is a good practice to renew our Baptism each day – to renounce the devil and to confess our faith in God.

Do you believe demons still exist and come to church today? I do.

In a former parish, a woman who looked very agonized came to church. All hell seemed to break out in the service. I had trouble leading the liturgy. I had trouble preaching because a child screamed all through the sermon. It was the worst service I can remember. At the end of the service I spoke with the woman. She said she was a devil worshipper. She asked to see me during the week. My little congregation was shocked into action – they prayed, and an elder came with me to meet the woman. She did not appear, and we never saw her again.

The devil and his demons still exist. They seek to prevent you from believing in Jesus and following him faithfully.

In the same parish a number of people in the community asked me to come and cast out evil spirits which they believed were disturbing their families. I went through their homes with them, reading Scripture, praying and renouncing the devil in the name of Jesus. They had no more problems.

The devil and his demons still exist. They seek to prevent you from believing in Jesus and following him faithfully. They embody themselves in institutions and corporations and governments and demonise them.

They are defeated on the cross. They are defeated in your Baptism. They are defeated as you hear God’s Word and live according to it, by the power of the Holy Spirit. They are defeated as you pray in Jesus name, and renounce the evil spirits in the name of Holy, Triune God.

Be amazed at Jesus’ authority. Be amazed at Jesus’ love.

Jesus came to destroy the devil and his demons. Jesus came to love you, and set you free from oppression, and make you whole. Be amazed at Jesus’ authority. Be amazed at Jesus’ love. Face the world this week, trusting in Jesus, and living like Jesus. Amen.

Pastor David Christian