A Famine Not of Bread

"The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law" by James Tisso t Click here to listen to this sermon. And immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told Him about her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let us go on to the nex...

"The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. "Immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told Him about her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. “That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’ And He said to them, ‘Let us go on to ...

"Christ Preaching at Capernaum" by Maurycy Gottlieb Click here to listen to this sermon. “They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath [Jesus] entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! When you mention the word “authority,” it’s likely you’ll have to qualify what you mean. Depending upon the audience’s background—and the current context—“authority” may have an extremely negative connotation. It may suggest oppression by a dictatorial governmental official, an overbearing boss, or an abusive parent. In that setting, an “authority” is a ruler—a ruler who uses you for his own advantage. And so, it’s no wonder that many of us have authority issues. But there are good authorities as well—ones who use their authority for the benefit of others instead of themselves. This use o...

Click here for a link to an audio version of this sermon. Jesus Rebukes the Unclean Spirit in the Synagogue by James Tissot The text for today is our Gospel, Luke 4:31-44, which has already been read. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s the Sabbath in Capernaum, and where do we find Jesus?   He’s in the synagogue—the synagogue was the “congregating place” for God’s people.   That’s what the word “synagogue” means—“a place to gather.”   We say “congregation.”     This was nothing new.   Take a look at the gospels.   Every Sabbath that is mentioned (except for the one between Good Friday and Easter where He was fulfilling the Sabbath in Himself), we see Jesus going to the congregation.   If He’s in Jerusalem for the festivals, He goes to the temple—to the house of the Lord—for prayers and sacrifices and the hearing of God’s Word.   Every other Sabbath we find Him in the synagogue with the bel...

The text for today is our Gospel, Mark 1:29-39, which has already been read. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Straight from the Capernaum synagogue, Jesus goes off to Simon Peter’s house along with brother Andrew and James and John.   Simon’s mother-in-law isn’t feeling terribly well.   “She’s been running a bit of a fever lately, which is why she missed services today,” they tell Jesus.   “Probably one of those 24-hour bug things.   A little rest, some chicken soup, a couple of aspirins, and she’ll be fine.” Yet there is Jesus, in the little house, completely there for this woman with the flu.   He comes to her bedside, bends down, takes her by the hand and lifts her up.   At that very moment, it’s as though there was no one else in the world but this woman.   And there is no doubt as to why Jesus is there.   He is there for her. He gently lifts her up by the hand, an...