The Sermon No One Remembered

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The Sermon No One Remembered

FUMC, McMinnville         October 26, 2008

Isaiah 40:25-31

Mark 1:21-34

Isaiah 40:25-31 (NLT)
25 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. 27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? 28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

 

 

Mark 1:21-34 (NLT)
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!” 25 Jesus cut him short. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. 29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them. 32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.


The Sermon No One Remembered

Isaiah 40:25-31

Mark 1:21-34

Today all that remains of Capernaum are lots of stones and the outline of a once beautiful country town overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

When we think of the land of Jesus we immediately think of Jerusalem or Bethlehem or even Nazareth but Capernaum played a pivotal role in the ministry of Jesus.

At least four of Jesus disciples (Peter, James, John and Andrew) called Capernaum home.  It appears that Jesus operated his traveling ministry out of the home of Simon Peter.

If you visit Capernaum today one of the awesome sights you will see are the remains of a 3rd century synagogue. Excavation along the side of this structure reveal the foundation of the synagogue mentioned in today’s text.  

A few years ago, as I stood looking at the one remaining wall and the tall white columns and then down at the stone floor I could not help but wonder what it would have been like to hear Jesus preach that day. This is the first record we have of Jesus preaching in a house of worship after he began his ministry.

Don’t you wonder "What tone of voice he used?”  “Did he speak softly or loudly?"

This was an important occasion, Jesus' first sermon. I still recall the first sermon I preached. 

What did Jesus say?  Guess what?  We do not know.  Mark does not tell us.  Don’t you wonder why? 

Perhaps it was for the same reason some of you cannot tell me what I preached about last week. No one remembered.

What Jesus taught during his ministry was important. His sermons, his words would impact the ages, but at this particular point in time it did matter.  Jesus' preaching skills took the back burner.

At this particular moment in time Mark felt there was some that was far more important.  What mattered for Mark was the fact that Jesus recognized “the human condition.”  Jesus recognized “pain.” Mark wants us to see the essence of the man.  Jesus did not have a heart of stone.  Religion and worship is not just singing songs, preaching sermons and taking up an offering.  Jesus our savior and our example, when confronted with real life tragedy and was moved with compassion.

Let us notice some aspects of pain from this text. As Jesus was preaching a man possessed by an evil spirit interrupted the service.

1. This man was in the house of worship

  --pain and heartache occur in the church

  --being in church does not make us immune to pain

  --in some ways we become more vulnerable to it

  --Church is not to be a resort for saints but a hospital for                        sinners.

2. Jesus recognized the pain of a crisis.

  I would call demon possession a crisis.

3. Jesus went to the house of Peter and was told Peter's mother in law had a fever.

  --we are not told it was life threatening

  --All of us have had a fever. It is uncomfortable, inconvenient, difficult for others

What does this tell us?

  1.  great or small our pain matters to God

  2.  pain can come in all kinds of ways and places

            physical: illness; aging process

            emotional: physical; depression

            relational: mates; children; parents

            spiritual: emptiness inside; pain causes people to                       look in wrong places.

  3. Whatever the pain it matters!

Jesus reached out to these people. Jesus may not always take away the pain, but he is available. We are not told that Peter's mother in law never had another fever---most likely she did. God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient, 'I will be there.”

A few years ago Peggy Michael was selected by the Tennessee Education Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as the state's top secondary school teacher.

Peggy has always been a person who was full of energy and vitality. Athletics have been a part of Peggy's life every since the day in the sixth grade she outran the fastest boy in the class. She excelled as a college cheerleader and was most capable in volleyball, basketball and tennis. Her energy enabled her to take a floundering P E program in a Chattanooga school and transform it into a model of excellence.

When Peggy received this honor few individuals including the student body of her school knew she was suffering form a degenerative disease of the central nervous system known as multiple sclerosis.

Her sister, who is a dear friend of mine gave me a newspaper article that spoke about her courage and how her faith in God had enabled her to keep going even when she personally felt she couldn't. I would be glad to share the article with anyone who would like to read it. It is a beautiful story of faith and trust.

But there was one small part of her story that really touched me.

One day Peggy's youngest daughter wanted to go to a rowing meet on the Tennessee River and watch her boyfriend cross the finish line. Peggy and her daughter arrived at the location but because of the traffic people had to park quite a distance from the site.  They parked their car and began their long hike.  After a while Peggy wasn't walking too well and was really struggling.  Not wanting to hinder her daughter she said, "You go ahead and I'll catch up," Instead of rushing off her daughter quietly replied, "No, we're in plenty of time ... .lean on me and we'll get there together.” 

I believe in his own way this is what Mark wanted us to see about Jesus. Jesus understands our pain and quietly says, "lean on me."

“Problems at home?”  "lean on me."

“Sickness?”     "lean on me."

“Heartache?"  Don't Worry.  Lean on me and We will get there together."

Some of you may recognize the name Bill Withers.  Others may not but are familiar with this African Americans work.  In a interview he tells the following story.

"When I was in the Navy, I must have been about 18, 19 years old, and I was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. It was a holiday, I had this car that I was able to buy and I was driving up to West Virginia. As is the case with young people with cheap cars, the tires weren't that great, so one of my tires blew out on this rural Alabama road. This guy comes walking over the hill that looked like he was right out of the movie Deliverance. He says to me, 'Oh, you had a blowout.' Well, I didn't have a spare tire. This guy goes walking back across the hill, and I'm not too comfortable here because I know where I am. He comes back walking with a tire, and he actually helps me put the tire on the car. Just like the whole American experience, it's very complex and it has it's own little rules and stuff……….    It depends on your socialization. My socialization was, it was very likely and very practical to expect a Lean On Me circumstance to exist. My experience was trying to adjust to a world where that circumstance was not the rule rather than the exception." http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2989

Sometime after that experience Withers wrote this song and lyrics:

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'd understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...

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