Third Sunday After Pentecost (B) 2018

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Mark 3:20-27
Theme: The Intervening God.

Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

Sanity is not a gift to be taken lightly. Cherish it. Apparently, some members of Jesus’ own family thought He was going crazy. Indeed, claims to the be the Messiah are always going to be provocative! Jesus was attracting huge crowds and His family was becoming concerned. So, they planned an intervention. Marks tells us, “When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind.’”1 The religious authorities suggested He was possessed by Satan. Evidence was growing that He was more than just a religious zealot. A volatile situation was brewing. But performing an intervention on Jesus, even by those who thought they knew Him best, would be no easy feat. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself at one time or another “Am I the only one in this situation who isn’t crazy?” “Or, am I the only one that is?” Imagine, then, how Jesus felt! Only He had perfect knowledge of the truth.

The accusation that Jesus was an agent of the devil certainly raises the level of tension. Just imagine how differently the scene might be perceived today. Modern skeptics doubt or flatly deny the existence of Satan. They deem him to be a relic of the ancient or medieval past; a fabrication of religious superstition. They swiftly dismiss him along with his dominion called hell. It’s embarrassing for many, or at least, unfashionable, to engage in public discussion that recognizes his existence.

But it’s no use wringing our hands over such unbelief. The Holy Spirit must teach the truth about demonic spirits to unbelieving souls. Trying to offer tangible proofs will not be convincing. It’s worth considering, though, that as our society becomes more overtly secular, more people are trying to fill the emptiness in their lives through various ‘spiritual practices’. These range from palm reading to channeling of angels, fortune-telling to attempts at contacting the dead. Current trends say we should expect to see a growing interest in occult-related practices right across the board. In the expanding emptiness and uncertainty there will be many opportunities to convey the presence of the Messiah who is Immanuel- God with us.

Today Jesus makes it clear that denouncing the Spirit’s work is a serious matter. He could hardly say it more plainly, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”2 It’s an understatement to say that this declaration is confronting. It’s like punch in the gut to all who think they might malign the work the Spirit with impunity. So, why does Jesus use words with such decisiveness and finality? The stakes are high because the consequences are ultimate. The Holy Spirit is the agent by which the human heart is convicted of sin and comforted with forgiveness. To allege that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan is a contradictory claim. Why would a servant of the devil be driving out demons? Jesus rebukes them forthrightly, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”3 Then He says, “No one can enter a strong man’s house and carry of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man.”4

Christ was referring to Himself. Jesus carried off Satan’s possessions. That is, He redeemed sinners from the influence of the devil according to the apostolic description, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”5 The weapon of Satan’s defeat was the cross. Jesus did not conquer the devil in a physical confrontation. (Though his defeat has physical implications for believers) The victory was gained through Jesus’ perfect obedience and willing sacrifice. He did it for us and for our salvation. He was crucified. He rose. He lives.

Satan has been conquered. Jesus is restoring the fallen creation. Jesus did exactly what no one else could do. He bound Satan, the strongman, and plundered his house. The father of lies could not outwit the keeper of truth. The ancient dragon could not out-duel the immortal Son. The betrayer could not seduce the faithful one. Remember the time in the wilderness. “The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’”6 But Jesus did not yield. The devil could not push Jesus off the road to the cross. He could not lead Him on a wrong turn or blockade the road. At the crucial moment, when Jesus hung there with the fate of the world in the balance Satan made one last attempt, saying through his agents, “Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.”7 But all the devil’s attempts were in vain.

Still, Satan will ply his trade until the Second Coming of Christ. Many are willingly or unwittingly his followers. The Scripture says, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.”8 All are called on to renounce Satan’s works, something we first do in baptism. The same verse finishes saying, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”9 Jesus has done that by atoning for our guilt. He has done that by absorbing the wrath of the heavenly Father against sin.

Dear friends, you have God’s forgiveness in Christ freely and fully, here and now. You don’t have to wait until the day of judgment to find out if God will grant it to you. And this forgiveness is not limited by Satan’s accusations of “This person is not deserving look at all the terrible things he has done!” You need not worry about having some partial or conditional forgiveness. It’s a delight of the devil to limit the comfort of forgiveness and the peace of mind it brings. But Christ has come to destroy the devil’s works. You are God’s baptized child and Satan has no authority to challenge your claim in Christ’s inheritance. He has no authority to question why you are welcomed to dine at the Master’s table.

Our account began today with the family of Jesus attempting an intervention. They had no real hope, of course. Christ was actually the One doing the intervening. The Son of God was now present among the children of men. He was breaking into people’s dark and wayward lives with light and truth. He was halting illness. He was repairing brokenness. He was renewing what was decaying, reconditioning what was declining, reviving what was dying. He was restoring hope. He will continue to do these things. They are previews of eternity. Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Third Sunday After Pentecost
10 June 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Mark 3:21 2 Mark 3:28-29
3 Mark 3:23-25 4 Mark 3:27
5 Colossians 1:13-4 6 Matthew 4:3
7 Matthew 27:42 8, 9 1 John 3:8