By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sermon Text: Luke 4:38-41
Sermon Theme
Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He needs to pass through a section of Samaria. The Samaritans and Jews were bitter opponents. Not surprisingly, the Samaritans refuse Jesus. James and John want to call down fire from heaven on the town. Jesus rebukes, not the Samaritans, but his disciples. To rebuke is to give a sharp criticism. We don’t often think of Jesus being sharply critical. However there are a number of things he rebukes. This is an example of his power as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). We need to be prepared to rebuke the things which Jesus rebukes in his name.
Sermon Outline
I. Chaos
It is important to remember that Jesus is the agent of all creation (Colossians 1:15-16). All things were made by him (John 1:3). In him all things consist. He is the very embodiment of the Word of God which called the world into being. Yet we need to remember that we do not have the picture of an initial creation out of nothing. Creation is described in Scripture as having come out of a form of chaos symbolized by a “formless void,” “darkness,” and ancient sea serpents (“Leviathan” and “Rahab”) (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 74:12-17; 89:9-11; Isaiah 51:9). Apart from Christ, the world is always in danger of returning to its original chaos. This chaos emerges as those forces which would destroy the order of God’s creation. They include everything from sickness to storms (Luke 4:39; 8:22-25). Jesus, the Lord of creation, rebukes them and overcomes their destructive power.
II. Conflict
Throughout his ministry, Jesus is in conflict with the forces of evil. In scene after scene he confronts the demons (Luke 4:31-41; 9:37-43). The demons are signs of opposition against humanity. They seek to destroy adults and children. Jesus rebukes them, casting them out. The demons cry out identifying Jesus. This can be seen either as an appeal for mercy or an attempt to control Jesus by speaking his true identity. In either event, Jesus rebukes them, casts them out and restores those who had been imprisoned by these evil forces. As in the case of Satan earlier, Jesus does not engage in any debate or discussion with the demonic. He rebukes them and they are powerless. To be a disciple of Christ is to have this same authority to rebuke the forces of evil (Luke 10:17-20). We are to expose the powers of evil in the name of Jesus Christ.
III. Confidence
The problem with the disciples is that they do not see clearly the boundary between themselves and their Lord. They have seen Jesus rebuke a fever, the winds and the waves and a number of demonic forces. They are aware that to be a follower of Jesus is to share his power. Yet Jesus calls them faithless and even perverse (Luke 9:41). The disciples see the opposition of the Samaritans and they want to rebuke them, calling down fire on them (as Elijah had done against his enemies) (II Kings 1:9-16). The Samaritans, however, are not a sickness. Nor are they the forces of chaos. In spite of Jewish prejudice they could not be called demons (John 8:48). Jesus rebukes the disciples not the Samaritans. This must have seemed shocking to them. We become over confident when we think we can judge others in a superior way (Luke 6:37; Matthew 7:21-23). We are in fact called to rebuke each other but always as those who suffer from the same sins (Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1). When it comes to people, even those who do not know the gospel, Jesus is always more accepting and forgiving than we are. Jesus’ rebuke leads us to the right balance between spiritual confidence and humility. Jesus rebukes us as a sign that he will never abandon us (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Questions for Us
- How are we to understand Jesus’ overturning the forces of chaos? What does that mean for us when we face tragedy and sickness?
- What would be an example of our rebuking the power of evil in our own time?
- Have you ever experienced being rebuked by a brother or sister in Christ? Did that help you in your spiritual growth in Christ? How?
