Worship Helps for Epiphany 5
Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law
John Bridges
Worship Theme: Though the call to faith is general and
always miraculous in its capacity to create a willing following, it is also always
individual. It comes to each in his own special or unique set of circumstances.
Jesus both arranges and takes those circumstances into account when he calls us
to follow him. He so rules over history that he allows and then overcomes the
obstacles in each of us to heeding his call. Again he shows himself glorious,
but hides the glory in apparent weakness.
Old Testament: Job 7:1-7
"Does not man have
hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? 2
Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly
for his wages, 3 so I have been allotted months of futility, and
nights of misery have been assigned to me. 4 When I lie down I
think, 'How long before I get up?' The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and
festering. 6 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and
they come to an end without hope. 7 Remember, O God, that my life is
but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
1. How was Job feeling about his life?
2. Why did Job feel the way he did?
3. Job had not lost his faith in God. How can
you tell?
Epistle: Romans
8:28-30
And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified.
4. Earlier Paul has said that we know that the whole world
is groaning as in pains of childbirth. What else do we know?
5. God's purpose is not necessarily to make us happy now.
What is his eternal purpose?
6. What unbroken chain does Paul want us to picture?
Gospel: Mark
1:29-39
As soon as they left
the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus
about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.
The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening
after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed
many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not
let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in
the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off
to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions
went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed:
"Everyone is looking for you!" 38 Jesus replied, "Let
us go somewhere else-- to the nearby villages-- so I can preach there also.
That is why I have come." 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee , preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
7. How did Jesus
feel after a long day of ministry?
8. How did Jesus respond to the demands of the people?
Answers:
1. Job was frustrated with his lot in life. Tired and
depressed, Job figured that he would never be happy again. Job had lost his
desire to proclaim good news about his Savior God.
2. Job had lost his fortune, his children and his
reputation. Then he lost his health, too. His friends figured that he had done
something terrible to deserve such treatment from God. Job resented them and
their accusations. God seemed distant and unfair. Job's suffering led him to
discouragement and despair.
3. Though frustrated, tired, and depressed due to all the
calamity touching his life, Job still addressed God in prayer (verse 7).
4. We also know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, whom God has called to faith.
5. God's purpose now and forever is to conform us to the
likeness of his Son. This is why he chose us to be believers before he made the
world. (What grace.)
6. The unbroken chain of God's grace is that those God
predestined in eternity to be his children, he also called to faith in Jesus
here in time. Those he called he also declared innocent in his courtroom, for
Jesus' sake, and those he justified, he also glorified. We are not on the new
earth yet, shining like the sun, but because of God's grace it is as good as
done. (What amazing grace.)
7. Jesus was worn out and looking for solitude. People
were demanding an audience with him. Sadly, it seems that they were more
interested in earthly blessings (miracles of physical healing) rather than the
heavenly blessings that Jesus had to offer: the forgiveness of sins and eternal
life.
8. Jesus left and went to other villages, realizing that
his primary mission from the Father was to preach the gospel and bring eternal
healing to souls. He had a tireless compulsion to preach the gospel.
Life this side of the veil can be oh, so difficult. And
why shouldn’t it be? It isn’t God’s fault that sin entered this world. What we
often experience are simply the consequences. In fact, the only relief from the
misery, hurt, and seeming futility of living life in a sinful world is God’s
answer to that sin. Unmerited forgiveness through Jesus is what gives us relief.
Promised protection for God’s family is what gives us hope. Unending life in
heaven is what grants us peace. Our natural response? Thankful living and
giving despite our troubles. That’s the “thank you card” each believer has the
opportunity to write every single day.
Christ gave the apostles only spiritual power (i.e., the
command to teach the Gospel, to announce the forgiveness of sins, to administer
the Sacraments, to excommunicate the godless without bodily force ‹by the
Word›). He did not give them the power
of the sword. For Christ says, “Go …
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew
28:19–20). Also, “As the Father has sent
Me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21 ).
It is clear that Christ was not sent to bear the sword or
possess a worldly kingdom, as He Himself says, “My kingdom is not of this
world” (John 18:36 ).
[A Contrast between Christ and the Pope]
Christ in His passion is crowned with thorns and led forth
to be ridiculed in royal purple. This
symbolizes that in the future, after His spiritual kingdom was despised (i.e.,
the Gospel was suppressed), another kingdom of a worldly kind would be set up
with the appearance of churchly power.
(So the Constitution of Boniface VIII and similar opinions are false and
godless, for they argue that the pope is by divine right the ruler of the
kingdoms of the world.) From this notion,
horrible darkness has been brought into the Church. The ministry of the Gospel was neglected and
knowledge of faith and the spiritual kingdom became extinct. Christian
righteousness was assumed to be the outward government the pope had
established. – Power and Primacy of
the Pope (paragraphs 31-34)
1 When peace like a
river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll—
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul).
It is well, it is well with my soul.
2 My sin—oh, the
bliss of this glorious thought—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain
3 And, Lord, haste
the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain
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