The sin against the Holy Spirit can be described of those who think that Jesus is the devil. Some misinterpretations include suicide and that a

Transcription

1 Time after Pentecost Summer, Year B, June 7, 2015 Gospel: Mark 3:20-35, Sermon Title: The Struggle between Good and Evil Theme: Want people to think of the evil, their own lives and also receive comfort. Introduction: Where do you see evil in the world? Just think about that for a moment. Today s gospel story is a little different than most stories that we hear about Jesus and the disciples. As the listener we drop right into the middle of controversy. In the midst of the healings that Jesus has performed, the breath of the demon Beelzebul is coming out of Him He heads for home. In the first verse, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. What this means is that the crowds are packed so tightly together that they can t even get their arms free to grab some food. There is a sense of chaos and disorder and the desperate need of order and calm to happen in the midst of the craziness. The scribes think that Jesus is possessed and working with the devil. And then in the midst of the story, the words are shared that have caused much confusion within the church, verses 28 30, Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin for they had said, He has an unclean spirit. The sin against the Holy Spirit can be described of those who think that Jesus is the devil. Some misinterpretations include suicide and that a 1

2 person who has died by suicide is forever in hell. An interpretation that is wrong. Sin, death and the devil are all part of our world and are all in conflict against God. In the church, the talk of love surrounds us and brings us comfort and support. We are accustomed to hearing how God loves each and every one of us as His own, as a loved child of God. So where does evil, the devil and darkness fit in this picture of comfort? Evil and the devil and all of the dark powers are at work against God each moment of every day. Back to the initial question, where do you see evil in the world? Our minds may go straight to ISIS, the terrorist group that has been responsible for so many horrors in our world. Or we may think of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas that chooses to bring their protests about the military in their argument allowing people who are gay to serve in the military to funerals of our service men and woman. Their protests have caused disruption and have brought their concerns out in an evil way, a form of discrimination and while being insensitive to military families of the deceased. We could think of gang activity that has included many random acts of killing. Phone scammers that take advantage of people are evil. Examples of abuse in our world that takes all forms including both physical and mental of the young and old, children and elderly that are the most vulnerable. 2

3 Negative self talk that is difficult to be free from. Addictions of many forms whether chemical, gambling or poor choices in the use of the internet that allow the devil or evil to work into a person s life to cause destruction and harm and keeping them from being the best and healthy person that they can be for themselves and their families. Evil can be found in our world, wherever the world needs to be freed from oppression. Now this is the list that I just thought of while writing and I am saddened that the list is far greater. This past Wednesday night was the first Wednesday of the month so we had New Life Lutheran s Movie Night. We watched the movie Selma together. We were a small group and I suspect because of the subject matter of the movie, discrimination that is part of our past in our proud nation, it was poorly attended. We did have a new person from the Florence area that had wanted to see it in the theatre and missed it and has seen our note in the In Brief section of the Siuslaw News. It was a powerful movie and I encourage you to see it if you ever get the chance. While graphic at times, of course, it was the darkness of the evil and denial for the right to vote for African Americans. The life and involvement of Martin Luther King and his Wife and family made it personal for us as the viewers. Discrimination is darkness with evil that surrounds it as an attempt by the devil to take the value and human dignity away from a 3

4 person with the false assumption that being white somehow makes being white superior. There is victory in the march on Selma that makes its way to the State Capital of Montgomery, Alabama and the speech of Martin Luther King was powerful. the confrontation of good and evil compressed in the tiny community of Selma we have come over a way, that with tears hath been watered, we have come treading our paths, through the blood of the slaughtered, out of the gloomy past, till now we stand at last, where the white gleam of our bright star is cast and behind the dim unknown, stands God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He has loosed the fateful lighting of his terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat, O, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant my feet! Our God is marching on. Glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on!" 4

5 The march for the right to vote in Selma was a journey of faith. We are all on a journey in our lives of faith. The call to us from Mark s gospel is a call to stick around. Through the thick and the thin, through the darkness of our world and our lives where we will have failures, yet are called by a God to follow, a God who has already won victory. We are called to follow a God that is stronger than any oppressor that attempts to slip us up. This is the family of faith where we belong. This is my Father s world song recently sung at Janelle Marie Grigg- Brooklynn, Diana s daughter This is my Father s world; (Verse 3) Oh, let me ne er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father s world, The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and Heav n be one. (The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!) And to that may all of God s People say AMEN! 5