20210207-5th Ord-B

Suffering and Struggle against Evil

Today’s scriptures

Common experience -

Why does it happen? What does it mean? What does God do?

Job - Lament is our own - months of emptiness, night, day, no hope

Never understates

Back story - conventional wisdom of two options

No, but I want an answer, God

God owes me an explanation

Wrong! Where were you? Cover my mouth and site down and shut up

God’s response is mysterious, unexpected. Never gives an answer but heals

Backdrop to the Gospel

One continuous day - LW, today and NW

Beginning to reveal who He is LW “amazed and astonished” by authority

Disciples expectations are high private home healing

Disregards culture taboos heals her

Sunset means end of Sabbath

People flock What do they bring? Brokenness, infirmities and demons

Light of Life exposes the demons to His light - makes them flee

Light of Life restores them to perfect human health - His fame increases

What happens next is most important for you and me

Deserted place, very early to PRAY

Jesus - 2nd person, Divine Healer, One in Ousis with Father NEEDED TO PRAY

Gratitude and request for future plan blessing

If Jesus needed Prayer so desperately when things are going so well, what about us?

not just when suffering but in good times and bad

Disciples come - hear the applause?

Twitter explodes, Fb likes make the most of it?

Not healer, exorcist or preacher - Revealed as Saviour

Illness taken away like sins Demons defeated like death is defeated

All on the Cross - Where the full meaning of Messiah will be revealed

Not what I heard in prayer

Stick to the plan - Proclaim the Gospel to all of Galilee - the world

St. Paul understood. Same commission, willingly or unwillingly