Bible Passage: Luke 4:38-44
Pastor: Michael Willitz
Sermon Date: 

Bulletin January 30, 2022

³⁸Jesus got up, left the synagogue, and went into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. They asked him to help her. ³⁹He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. ⁴⁰As the sun was setting, they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases. He laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. ⁴¹Demons also came out of many people, crying out, “You are the Son of God!” He rebuked them and did not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

⁴²When it was day, he went out to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him. They went up to him and were trying to prevent him from leaving them. ⁴³But he told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴And he continued to preach in the synagogues in the land of the Jews.

Jesus Comes to Town

1. To Capernaum
2. To DeForest
3. To many other towns

Dear fellow redeemed in Jesus the Christ, who was anointed by the LORD to proclaim good news,

Jesus comes to town today. Jesus comes to the town of Capernaum. And when Jesus comes to the town of Capernaum, some very big changes take place. If we set ourselves there in that Galilean fishing village, and if we follow after Jesus, listening to what he says and watching what he does, then we will see the remarkable changes that occur when Jesus comes to town.

First, let’s walk with Jesus from the synagogue to Simon’s house, and we will see a bed-ridden sick patient become a gracious hostess instead. This sick patient turned hostess is Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. Apparently Simon Peter was married, and his wife’s mother was staying at his house in Capernaum. As we find her there in Simon’s house, we find her confined to her bed with a terrible fever. “Drink plenty of fluids,” you might say. “Take an asprin,” you might suggest. But let’s be silent and leave all the talking to Jesus. Listen, as He rebukes the fever. Watch as she rises, instantly better. The fever has fled, and it has left its victim entirely unharmed. In no time she is moving all about the house, rushing here, bustling there with new strength and new energy. This former sick patient is now a gracious hostess, and she wants her guests to feel at home.

Let’s stay awhile at Simon’s house, let’s not leave right away, because after sunset, we will see another remarkable change take place. We will see this small, village house transformed into a makeshift hospital. Just look out the door, and keep your eyes on the street. Look who’s coming! The sun is down now, which means the day of rest is now over. In the waning light of evening, you can see them approaching now: people, lots of people, people carrying other people. They are bringing their loved ones who are sick with many diseases. Now, where are Simon and his wife and his mother-in-law going to put all these people? Where are they going to find enough beds to accommodate all of them? But there is no need. You see, these patients have not been brought to any ordinary doctor. They have been brought to the Great Physician, and with a simple touch of his hand, He instantly makes every one of them well.

Let’s keep watching Jesus work, because His power extends not only over diseases. He makes another remarkable change when He sends even the demons fleeing. Apparently many poor people in Capernaum have been suffering demonic possession. What a terrible trouble to endure! But Jesus delivers them. Jesus frees every person who is brought to Him. He sends the demons away homeless and unemployed and defeated. They will no longer do as they please, not when Jesus comes to town. And so, as evening turns to night many changes are made. Many people are delivered. Many lives are restored.

If we stay with Jesus until the morning, and if we follow Him as He leaves the house and looks for a deserted place where He can pray, we will see yet one more remarkable change: the deserted place where Jesus seeks solitude becomes a congested place instead. Here come the people. Here come the crowds. They have gotten up early. They have come to find Jesus. They have come to detain Him and to never let Him go. But other towns need change too. Other towns need deliverance. Other towns need Jesus. So if we stand in the midst of the crowd, and if we listen to our Savior, we will hear Him tell us about His mission. He says, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns too, because that is why I was sent,” [43].

“That is why I was sent . . . I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God.” You see, all of these changes that happen when Jesus comes to town are not random changes. They are not accidental occurrences. This is a mission being fulfilled. This is a kingdom being extended. This is the Son of God fulfilling the command He received from His Father: “You must go, my Son,  and you must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to Capernaum in Galilee and to other towns too.” So Jesus comes to town. Jesus comes to Capernaum. He preaches. He heals. He rebukes fevers and evil spirits. He delivers poor souls from the dominion of darkness, and He brings them into His kingdom of light.

When Matthew writes about Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum, he says that this is the fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah said, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned,” [Matthew 4:16]. When Jesus comes to Capernaum, He shines His light for the people to see. He undoes all the damage worked by Satan and by sin. He shows Himself to be a Savior with power to rescue from every trouble. The people don’t need to hear the testimony of demons. In Jesus’ words and in His works, it is evident: He is the Christ, the Son of God.

And He must shine His light to other towns too. He must bring the kingdom of God to other places where Satan and sin have wreaked havoc. He must show Himself and His glory to His people. He must show them that their Savior has come. And then He must go and win the decisive battle. He must break the power of sin and Satan once and for all. Just a few chapters after our text, Jesus uses the word “must” once again, as He further unfolds the mission on which He has been sent by His Father. Jesus says, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law. He must be killed and be raised on the third day,” [9:22].

Jesus’ mission from His Father led Him from Capernaum, and it led Him to many other towns and villages, and then it led Him to Jerusalem and to a cross made of wood. There Jesus took up our infirmities. There Jesus carried our sorrows. There Jesus was pierced for our transgressions and was crushed for our iniquities. There He suffered punishment to bring us peace. There He was wounded so that we are healed.

Jesus suffered and died to win salvation, and His salvation is not just for the people of Capernaum. His salvation is also for the people of DeForest. Jesus still comes to town. He comes to the village of DeForest. Having died in our place, He has risen from the dead, and He has ascended into heaven, but He isn’t far away. He comes to us. He comes to town today. He comes in His Word. He comes with water. He comes with bread and wine.

Jesus comes to town, and when He comes to town some very big changes take place. When Jesus comes to DeForest, guilty sinners become forgiven saints. Isn’t that what happened right here today? You confessed yourself to be sinful and unclean. Then through the mouth of your pastor, your Savior Jesus declared you forgiven.  When Jesus comes to DeForest, the dead become alive. You and I, we were dead. We once were dead in our trespasses and sins as the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2. We could do nothing good; we could only do evil. But Jesus raised us from our death beds, just like He raised Simon’s mother-in-law from her sick bed. And Jesus gave us new life, a new life of good works, so that just like Simon’s mother-in-law was busy serving her guests, we too are occupied with service, serving our Lord and serving His people. When Jesus comes to DeForest, the power of Satan crumbles. No more can Satan deceive you when you are led by the light of Christ’s teaching. No more can Satan accuse you when the Holy Absolution is ringing in your ears, and when the holy washing of Baptism has been splashed upon your forehead, and when the holy body and blood of Jesus have been placed upon your tongue. Yes, when Jesus comes to DeForest, some very big changes take place. And we won’t ever have to say goodbye to Jesus. Every time two or three of us are gathered in His name, He has promised to be with us. Yet He must go to other towns too.

Other people in other towns are living in darkness and in the oppression of the devil. Other people in other towns are living in the guilt of their sins and in the fear of God’s wrath. The people walking in darkness must see the great light, Jesus, the Light of the world. It is the will of God that repentance and forgiveness of sins be proclaimed to all nations in Jesus’ name. That’s part of why we have a synod. That’s why we send to our synod a congregational mission offering. 10% of whatever is placed in that offering plate out there goes toward the training of pastors and the opening of churches and the sending of missionaries in this country and to the ends of the earth. The kingdom of God is extending and good news of the kingdom is being preached throughout the world. Let’s pray for God’s blessing in every place where the gospel is shared. Let’s support that mission work with generous offerings. Let’s rejoice in the deliverance that Jesus has brought to us. Let’s share his light with our neighbors and with our families, and let’s gather around Him again and again. Jesus comes to town. Still today He comes to town. And when Jesus comes to town, some very big changes take place. To Him be glory both now and forever.

Amen.

Permission to podcast / stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-716390. All rights reserved.

If you would like to give an offering after today’s worship, click here.