Sermons

"THE GOOD NEWS"

January 30, 2022

BELOVED SAINTS AND FRIENDS OF OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH
Grace, peace and mercy from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Amen

My theme for today's sermon is taken from the Luke 4:43;

And he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well"

What is the good news?

We must understand the difference, first, in the words of Jesus: "I must preach the good news to every town" and second, the same words as applicable to us today.

When Jesus says He must preach the good news it does not mean he has come to talk of 'some thing' a philosophy or a way, or give a lecture that will bring you peace and give you life. He means 'He is Himself the good news proceeding from God, the Father.' In Him is the redemptive plan of the Father. He is Himself the kingdom of God. He is the King who can save you and there is no other. This is what all the gospel writers and the whole of Bible is speaking out and preaching. The Holy one of God, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, the righteous one, the root of Jesse, the Son of David, the suffering servant, the Saviour is here. He has come to redeem the poor, the sinner and proclaim the year of the jubilee that is come to start the period of grace for all sinners on earth. What He is doing and ultimately does on the cross and rising from the dead is the good news to be preached, firstly, here now, and to our neighbour, and from town after town by us.

In my sermon last week, "The Anointed" we saw that Jesus is the true Priest (in the order of Melchizedek), the true prophet (the one greater than Elijah, seen at the transfiguration), the true King (the Lord of David and one greater than Solomon).

Priest - eternal in the order of Melchizedek. King of Salem
Prophet - One like Moses who talked face to face with God
King - The son of David who was to be the eternal King

The world is a witness to his marvelous deeds which no man has ever done or will do. The crowds see in Jesus' words and deeds that the demons are correct- He is the "Holy One," the "Son of God," the "Christ." What we have read in today's gospel reading is clear evidence of the person and authority of the man and His work. Jesus is the preacher of the Gospel to the poor, is also the kingdom preacher who must preach the Father's redemptive plan, for this is His mission. The purpose of the Good News is to seek and save.

Jesus came to seek:  Firstly, to seek and destroy and secondly, to seek and save. In today's gospel reading we find Jesus casting out the evil spirits, we understand that Jesus firstly came to seek and destroy the work of the devil. When the evil spirit or the demon threw the person down it did not harm him. Jesus saves and protects His own. He has the authority over the unseen World which only the divine can have. There is authority and power in His word.

"The poor" include the man with the unclean spirit, Peter's mother-in-law, and the sick. What Isaiah prophesied is now coming to fulfillment in Jesus' release of those captive to Satan and disease. Jesus came to seek and save the poor and the lost, the sinners like you and me.

Jesus came to seek and save the poor because He loves all sinners. The Good news is that Jesus not only loves all sinners, but He came to give Himself as a sacrificial lamb for all sinners.

Jesus loves sinners;   we hear in the gospel time and again "This man receiveth sinners" Jesus received sinners because he loved them; loved them with a love high as heaven, deep as the depths of the sea, wide as immeasurable space; pure as the freshly fallen snow.

1 Cor 13 is a chapter most read by Priests in India at multi religious functions. It baffles all those who hear it. Yet the Christians continue to pound their hearer's with it. Quite confusing but when it is read in the light of the Christ is the most beautiful piece of literature and soul lifting. You can now connect it with the summary of the readings. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, and who never fails.

Paul uses the word 'Agape' in Greek which means the unconditional Love of God. Christ's Sermon on the Mount would be incomplete if we do not see the cross. For who can love an enemy? The one who commanded to love enemies must do it to the end and He did love us till the end. Paul therefore writes in Romans 5:10; "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

He uses similar words in Colossians that we were alienated from God. John writes the famous 3:16 but in his first letter 1 John 4: 10; 10. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us first and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. 19. We love Him because He first loved us.

In 2 Cor 5: 18-21 Paul writes; "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. If God is love than Jesus is the epitome of God's love. Jesus is Love. Jesus never fails.

Lastly, this good news brings joy in heaven with every sinner saved. Jesus was not mighty in word only, but also in power. Whenever, the Good News is preached by the power of the Holy Spirit, faith is created in hearts that are poor and at the mercy of God. His steadfast love, which He showed to us, on the cross, becomes an everlasting truth and reality. Repentance and forgiveness of sins is received in the hearts, as the words of Jesus have authority and power. The same words are spoken by Pastors today in the confession and absolution and we receive the forgiveness of our sins.

Yes, the cross is foolishness for many and a stumbling block as it was for the disciples at first, but it is the power of God to life for those who believe. The cross is a mystery only understood by the power of the Holy Spirit. You know we have two big crosses in our church. One outside and one here. But I also like going to Risen Christ and worshipping there. They also have two crosses at the Altar. One on top, which is empty and one below, a painting of Jesus carrying the cross. It explains it all, just so easy to understand, the cross on top is my cross which is empty because Jesus is carrying it for me. Yes, the story of the cross is finished but another story of the new creation has started, and it has its start in the cross and will finish in the second coming in glory of the one who ascended to His throne.

Take courage therefore
Jesus is the priest in the order of Melchizedek who brought gifts of wine and bread, yet of a higher order because Jesus brought the gifts of his own body and blood for you and me which we will soon share for the forgiveness of our sins.

Jesus is the prophet, of the most high God, not only like Moses but one greater, for he proceeded from the bosom of the Father and His prophecy is sure He will come again to take you and me along.

Jesus, is the King, in lineage of David, yet a greater King for He is eternal, He has been victorious over sin, death and the devil and reigns to eternity. He is the Lord of Lord's and the King of Kings seated at the right hand of majesty, in the glory of the Father.

Jesus is not only the way, the truth and the life but He is the resurrection and life too.

Jesus has an open invitation for you and me from the cross, his bleeding hands still open with wounds of suffering and full of grace, mercy and love shout out, "Come unto Me and I will give you rest".

Jesus is the first apostle of the Good News of the kingdom, and His disciples will become the apostles of the same message. This mission comes from God and through Jesus. It is messianic, in fulfillment of the OT. It is a balance of teachings and miracles. It is the releasing power of the new era of salvation. It causes the demons to recognize the presence and dominion of God in the World. When Jesus says, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; because for this purpose I was sent." His announcement is one of an event and is not a lecture on the nature of God's kingship or kingdom.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your only begotten and beloved Son, the Holy One. You did forsake Him that we may not remain forsaken but yes, for his being forsaken we now know the love you have for us, not that we loved you but you loved us first. We pray that when in this world people are in fear and despair to the very trying conditions in the World, grant that we may love one another we may know and remember that love comes from you and your son and the cross. Give us courage to preach this Good News here and to our neighbour. Please receive our prayer for we ask in the one and only name of Jesus who was forsaken for us.

Amen

Pastor Joseph Singh