Exodus 8:16-24; Ephesians 5:1-9; St Luke 11:14-28
Holy Baptism of Samuel John Busenberg
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Two exorcisms today. Two mute men. Did you catch them both? From the Gospel text, Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.
But that was not the first exorcism of the morning. The first was spoken over little Samuel, “I adjure you, unclean spirit, to depart and make room for the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When the demon had gone out, little Samuel spoke. For he was asked, “Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?” And in faith he shouted, “Yes!” Then he confessed his faith according to the baptismal creed. Didn’t you hear him? I heard him. Therefore I baptized him in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Well, the Finger of God baptized him. Traced the holy cross upon his little forehead and heart to mark him as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
Why do you not marvel at this the way the crowd did at the exorcism of the mute man? The way Pharaoh’s magicians did at the plague of gnats? Have your hearts grown cold and hardened, as Pharaoh’s did? Have you been deceived with empty words?
Our problem is that we don’t think demons are real. That Satan is real. We think the baptismal exorcism is just a quaint ceremony. A carry-over from less enlightened days when Medieval Christians still believed in those sorts of things. Now we know better.
The actions of Moses, the preaching of St Paul, the exhortation of Jesus, these are a warning to us. A warning to always be vigilant. For like Pharaoh sitting in his palace, like the mute man in the Gospel, like little Samuel before his Baptism, we too were once palaces for Satan, with a throne just for him. But Jesus overcame him and gave us the spoils of victory in our Baptism. But Satan wants his palace back. He wants Samuel back. He wants you back. He wants the good old days before your Baptism when you were like the mute man - curse, useless, and dead in your trespasses and sins.
And sometimes we get a glimpse of those good old days. There you were in the perfect position to defend your friend’s reputation, but instead, you stood there like a mute man saying nothing, showing to all what kind of friend you really are.
There you were, in a perfect position to compliment your classmate. Her accomplishment certainly deserved your praise, but you were jealous and showed it by standing there like a mute man.
There they were, badmouthing your Lord Jesus and His Church again. God placed you there to counter their slander and speak well of Jesus and your fellow Christians. But all you did was stand their like a mute man, showing God what a self-regarding coward you really are.
Repent. Return to your Baptism. Drown Satan’s ally, your old Adam, again. He is an amazing swimmer. Keeps popping his head above those baptismal waters every day, every moment. He may still cling to you, gnawing at your bones until the day you die, but do not become partners with him. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light and be imitators of God, as beloved children.
For this is the wonderful truth spoken to you today. Two exorcisms. Two mute men. But three Gospel readings. First from St Mark. Jesus laid His hands on the little ones brought to Him, took them up in His arms, and blessed them with His Word. Of such is the kingdom of God which has come upon them. Jesus rescues them from sin and slavery in the Egypt of death, under that tyrant Satan, and sets them apart into His Goshen, that is, into His holy Christian church, were they dwell securely, safe from Beelzebul, Prince Baal, and all false gods and empty words.
Second, from St Luke. Jesus not only drives out a demon, but moves into his home, takes over his palace. For Jesus is the Stronger Man who routes the devil’s kingdom and kicks him out of his palace, your heart. He shows forth His strength not with signs from heaven and displays of power as the crowds sought. His strength is displayed in weakness. He will disarm the strong man by suffering all the devil’s strengths and attacks. He will empty him of his poison until he has no strength left. Until he is spent. Satan will use everything he has to kill Jesus on the Cross. He will unleash the full armory of his demonic kingdom against the true King. The full venom of his malice and lies.
But the Stronger Man will overcome him. Jesus will become the Curse. He will hang upon the wretched Tree, useless; a worm and not a Man. He will be silent in the face of lies and slander; He will open not His mouth and remain the mute Man. By these He will take way the devil’s armor. In killing Jesus Satan falls on his own sword. No lies left. No accusations. The devil is the mute one.
So that the third Gospel reading. Its always there. Every week. From the lips of Christ Himself. Take, eat; this is My Body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. Drink of it, all of you; this cup it the new testament in My Blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. The Words of Institution are part of the Ordinaries. They are the never-changing Gospel, always there, week after week.
And in as much as Jesus places into your hands and into your mouths His Body and His Blood, He puts into your ears His Finger, that is, His Word. You heard how the Finger of God was at work in the days of Moses and how Pharaoh’s magicians were impressed with God because of the plague of gnats. But the Holy Spirit hasn’t gathered you here to be impressed with Jesus.
You heard of that admiring woman praise Jesus’ mother: Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which you nursed. But the Spirit hasn’t gathered you here to admire Jesus.
The Spirit has gathered you here to hear and receive His Word of Forgiveness: Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. To keep it means to cling to it. To hold it fast. To wrap your spiritual fingers around it and cherish is as the Word that has brought God’s eternal Kingdom upon you and to you and in you.
That Word of God expels the demons and finds a home inside of you. The Lord Jesus finds a home in you. As it is written, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (Jn 14:23). This is what St Paul has in mind when he urges in today’s Epistle: Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. Do not lose your inheritance given in Christ by letting the demons of sexual immorality, impurity or covetousness back in; do not invite them. Instead, as He who is the Light of the world lives in you, walk as children of the light.
He has opened your lips and your mouth shows forth His praise. In prayer and hymnody, liturgy and confession. You are God’s own child. Gladly say it. You are baptized into Christ.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Holy Baptism of Samuel John Busenberg
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Two exorcisms today. Two mute men. Did you catch them both? From the Gospel text, Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.
But that was not the first exorcism of the morning. The first was spoken over little Samuel, “I adjure you, unclean spirit, to depart and make room for the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” When the demon had gone out, little Samuel spoke. For he was asked, “Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?” And in faith he shouted, “Yes!” Then he confessed his faith according to the baptismal creed. Didn’t you hear him? I heard him. Therefore I baptized him in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Well, the Finger of God baptized him. Traced the holy cross upon his little forehead and heart to mark him as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
Why do you not marvel at this the way the crowd did at the exorcism of the mute man? The way Pharaoh’s magicians did at the plague of gnats? Have your hearts grown cold and hardened, as Pharaoh’s did? Have you been deceived with empty words?
Our problem is that we don’t think demons are real. That Satan is real. We think the baptismal exorcism is just a quaint ceremony. A carry-over from less enlightened days when Medieval Christians still believed in those sorts of things. Now we know better.
The actions of Moses, the preaching of St Paul, the exhortation of Jesus, these are a warning to us. A warning to always be vigilant. For like Pharaoh sitting in his palace, like the mute man in the Gospel, like little Samuel before his Baptism, we too were once palaces for Satan, with a throne just for him. But Jesus overcame him and gave us the spoils of victory in our Baptism. But Satan wants his palace back. He wants Samuel back. He wants you back. He wants the good old days before your Baptism when you were like the mute man - curse, useless, and dead in your trespasses and sins.
And sometimes we get a glimpse of those good old days. There you were in the perfect position to defend your friend’s reputation, but instead, you stood there like a mute man saying nothing, showing to all what kind of friend you really are.
There you were, in a perfect position to compliment your classmate. Her accomplishment certainly deserved your praise, but you were jealous and showed it by standing there like a mute man.
There they were, badmouthing your Lord Jesus and His Church again. God placed you there to counter their slander and speak well of Jesus and your fellow Christians. But all you did was stand their like a mute man, showing God what a self-regarding coward you really are.
Repent. Return to your Baptism. Drown Satan’s ally, your old Adam, again. He is an amazing swimmer. Keeps popping his head above those baptismal waters every day, every moment. He may still cling to you, gnawing at your bones until the day you die, but do not become partners with him. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light and be imitators of God, as beloved children.
For this is the wonderful truth spoken to you today. Two exorcisms. Two mute men. But three Gospel readings. First from St Mark. Jesus laid His hands on the little ones brought to Him, took them up in His arms, and blessed them with His Word. Of such is the kingdom of God which has come upon them. Jesus rescues them from sin and slavery in the Egypt of death, under that tyrant Satan, and sets them apart into His Goshen, that is, into His holy Christian church, were they dwell securely, safe from Beelzebul, Prince Baal, and all false gods and empty words.
Second, from St Luke. Jesus not only drives out a demon, but moves into his home, takes over his palace. For Jesus is the Stronger Man who routes the devil’s kingdom and kicks him out of his palace, your heart. He shows forth His strength not with signs from heaven and displays of power as the crowds sought. His strength is displayed in weakness. He will disarm the strong man by suffering all the devil’s strengths and attacks. He will empty him of his poison until he has no strength left. Until he is spent. Satan will use everything he has to kill Jesus on the Cross. He will unleash the full armory of his demonic kingdom against the true King. The full venom of his malice and lies.
But the Stronger Man will overcome him. Jesus will become the Curse. He will hang upon the wretched Tree, useless; a worm and not a Man. He will be silent in the face of lies and slander; He will open not His mouth and remain the mute Man. By these He will take way the devil’s armor. In killing Jesus Satan falls on his own sword. No lies left. No accusations. The devil is the mute one.
So that the third Gospel reading. Its always there. Every week. From the lips of Christ Himself. Take, eat; this is My Body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. Drink of it, all of you; this cup it the new testament in My Blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. The Words of Institution are part of the Ordinaries. They are the never-changing Gospel, always there, week after week.
And in as much as Jesus places into your hands and into your mouths His Body and His Blood, He puts into your ears His Finger, that is, His Word. You heard how the Finger of God was at work in the days of Moses and how Pharaoh’s magicians were impressed with God because of the plague of gnats. But the Holy Spirit hasn’t gathered you here to be impressed with Jesus.
You heard of that admiring woman praise Jesus’ mother: Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which you nursed. But the Spirit hasn’t gathered you here to admire Jesus.
The Spirit has gathered you here to hear and receive His Word of Forgiveness: Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. To keep it means to cling to it. To hold it fast. To wrap your spiritual fingers around it and cherish is as the Word that has brought God’s eternal Kingdom upon you and to you and in you.
That Word of God expels the demons and finds a home inside of you. The Lord Jesus finds a home in you. As it is written, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (Jn 14:23). This is what St Paul has in mind when he urges in today’s Epistle: Walk as children of light for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. Do not lose your inheritance given in Christ by letting the demons of sexual immorality, impurity or covetousness back in; do not invite them. Instead, as He who is the Light of the world lives in you, walk as children of the light.
He has opened your lips and your mouth shows forth His praise. In prayer and hymnody, liturgy and confession. You are God’s own child. Gladly say it. You are baptized into Christ.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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