photo #7941118

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANYFebruary 2, 2025Pastor Tom SteersChrist the Saviour Lutheran Church, TorontoOPENING HYMN: 842 “Son of God, Eternal Saviour” The Invocation Page 184 Confession and Absolution Page 184-185The Introit Psalm 10:16-18, Antiphon Ps. 10:1212 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.Glory be to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning,is now, and will be forever. Amen. 12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) Lord have mercy,Christ have mercy,Lord have mercy. The SalutationP: The Lord be with you.C: And with thy Spirit. Collect Prayer: Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 1: 4-10, 17-19 Psalm 71:1-11 Epistle Reading 1st Corinthians 12: 31b – 13: 13 Gospel Reading Luke 4: 31-44 THE APOSTLES’ CREED Page 192 HYMN OF THE DAY: 544 “O Love, How Deep” THE SERMON – Today we see Jesus revealed again in this Church time of Epiphany.And we see the reaction of evil forces pitted against Christ, and how Jesus overcomes them to free His beloved children that He came to save.You, and me.We don’t talk much about satan and demons on the average Sunday.But these verses from Luke remind us of their presence then; just as daily newscasts remind us of their effect on the world today. Christ preaches at the synagogue in Capernaum.And people marvel at His words. The Apostle Matthew helps us understand why, he wrote, “When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matt. 7:28–29)The scribes taught by quoting other people. One important teacher said this, another that, still another said something else. By the time they concluded, listeners had no better understanding of the truth than when the scribes began.But now Jesus was pointing to Holy Scripture, and unpacking its meaning clearly. His words could bring both the terror of the Law of God and the comfort of the Gospel, the Good News of the Saviour. Either way, the meaning came through with confidence from this man who was also true God.Yet as wonderful as Jesus’ teaching was, there was something in the synagogue that day that couldn’t stand it. A man possessed by a demon, yells out, “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.” (Luke 4:33–34) The clear preaching of God’s Word brings terror to the evil angels, the demons who joined satan in his treason.There’s no comfort for them … no salvation. Only a future of punishment. As James wrote, “The demons believe – and shudder! (James 2:19) God created these unclean spirits as good angels, but they rebelled.They know they’re creatures of God, and they hate Him. They know the Bible is true, and they hate it. They know God loves you, and so they hate you.Notice that a demon showed up in the synagogue. This teaches us they have no respect for holy places. But now Jesus is there. The demon can’t stay hidden. The presence of the Holy One of God is more than he can stand. His cover is blown. His only choice is one last act of rebellion.Jesus says, “Be silent and get out of him!”And when the demon threw the possessed man down, he did come out of him, but couldn’t do the man any harm. (Luke 4:35) There’s no contest.This Jesus is the Word of God – God in human flesh. The people are amazed and say to each another, “What is this word?For with authority and power he commands unclean spirits, and they come out!” (Luke 4:36) The demonic outburst backfired.Now, all the people in the synagogue know Jesus has authority to overcome evil.The demon inadvertently provided an opportunity for the people of Capernaum to have an ‘epiphany’ – to see God.It is Jesus, who comes to His Church, and frees those within it, from the devil.With His Word, with the Gospel of salvation.With His absolution after the confession that the Pastor speaks as Christ commanded in John Chapter 20.With His Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper where we receive His true Body and Blood.So, back in Capernaum reports about Christ go out to surrounding towns. (Luke 4:37)But as amazing as the events of the day were, it’s not over. It was the custom for a member of the synagogue, or church at that time, to provide a meal for the preacher of the day. So, Jesus went home with Simon, the man we’d later know as the Apostle Peter. Simon tells Jesus his mother-in-law is very ill with a high fever. Once again, Christ demonstrates His power and authority. He stood over her and tells the fever to get out, and it leaves her. She rises and begins to serve them. (Luke 4:39)Christ’s healing was so complete Simon’s mother-in-law didn’t even need time to recover. It wasn’t long before word of this got around. As soon as the sun went down, and the Sabbath officially over, everyone from the surrounding towns brought their sick and injured to Jesus. And Christ healed them all. He even deals with more people who are demonically possessed.The message here is the absolute power and authority of Jesus. He talks to both spiritual entities and diseases, and they listen and obey. Christ brought His power and authority to us in His incarnation to undo the damage sin had done. Every illness Jesus healed, every demon cast out, every person He raised from the dead was a reversal of the curse of sin. These miracles were a sign that pointed to the ultimate healing Christ won for us.And that eternal healing Jesus brought happened on a cross. At Calvary, Jesus made complete payment for our sin, all of it.As He said from the cross, “It is finished.”The prophet Isaiah wrote, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)The healing Christ gives you was proven by His being raised from the dead. Through His resurrection you have the promise that all His work, His perfect life, His sacrifice on the cross, is for you. He promises that one day you, believer, will rise from the dead, just as He rose. He promises you’ll live with Him in heaven forever.What’s behind that promise? The power and authority of His Word.The same Word that created the universe out of nothing.The same Word that continues to keep all things in this world in existence.The same Word that became flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary.All things are possible through Him, no matter what you’re facing now.By the power of His Word joined to the water of Baptism, Jesus unites you to Him in His life, His suffering, death, and resurrection, no matter what you’ve done.His righteousness, becomes your righteousness.The punishment He suffered on the cross was credited to your account. No extra payment needed, because that would only be self-righteousness and pride, the devil’s weaknesses.As the Apostle Paul wrote, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-8)By the power of His Word, Jesus gives us His body and blood, in and under bread and wine for Christians to eat and drink in communion. Through this Sacrament, Christ offers forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.He strengthens us in the one, true faith that leads to eternal life.Through this Word, the Holy Spirit changes unbelieving enemies of God into faithful Christians. We can’t produce faith, our own, or anyone else’s. Instead, the Holy Spirit calls people by God’s Word. He gathers us together in one, holy Church united with Jesus.Christ’s Word is powerful. It has what we need. It does what it says. It gives eternal life. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT Page 194 Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Page 195 The Lord’s Prayer Page 196 Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) Page 962 (Our Communion Hymn is “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Saviour”) Nunc Dimitis (Song of Simeon) Page 199 Post-Communion Collect (Left-hand column) Page 201CLOSING HYMN: 590 “Baptized into Your Name Most Holy”