Dear Family of Our Redeemer’s
There were two statements from the sermon resources I use that caught my attention while I was preparing to write this letter: 1) “The forces that diminish human life are rendered powerless by Jesus” 2) “Good news draws a crowd; the gospel is found in Jesus!”.
We heard from last Sundays Gospel reading that Jesus first public act recorded in Mark was the exorcism of a demon in the synagogue. This coming Sunday, the Gospel (Mark 1:29-39, see back of this bulletin) tells us that the mother-in-law of the disciple Simon was sick in bed with a fever: “He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.”
There are many forces in this world that diminish human life. Each of us can make a list from our own experiences: physical illnesses or handicaps, family crises, economic struggles, relationship breakdowns, threats to national and international security, political chaos, the pandemic, etc. Even though “Jesus came that we might have life and have it in all its fullness”, the destructive forces are still at work in our lives and in this world.
Where do you find strength and help as you struggle with the problems in your life? Where do you “discover hope”? There are messiahs of every kind claiming to have the answers. Many of the acclaimed solutions are “do-it-yourself” fixes that we are still trying to make work but with little success. We win some and lose some. We confess our failures and try again.
“The forces that diminish human life are rendered powerless by Jesus” “Good news draws a crowd: the gospel is found in Jesus!” The Christian faith is revolutionary and transformational. In our baptism, we are united with Christ. The Word has given us LIFE! We are empowered each day by the Spirit of God. The Word is made flesh within our bodies. Luther described our existence after Baptism as “Little Christs” , the presence of God still living and active in and through us in this world.
Have we caught the thrill and excitement of the Gospel? Of being disciples of Jesus? Of being called to bring Good News to hurting people? Of being connected with each other in this glorious mission? Of being the Communion of Saints? Of having the power and authority to change the world for the better?
Remember: “Good news draws a crowd: the gospel is found in Jesus!” You are a living Jesus!
Blessings on your “Jesus” journey,
Interim Supply Pastor, Fred Mai
