The Reign of God is Now

This sermon can be listened to here

 Gate Pa – Year B  6^th Sunday in Epiphany, 2021

Readings:

Psalm-                         Psalm 30  

First Reading-              2 Kings 5:1-14            

Second Reading-        1 Cor 9:24-27                         

Gospel-                        Mark 1:40-45                         

What I want to say:

I want to explore what words we might use to describe Jesus, and what images of God that offers us. And then to ask

-          Where have we experienced those qualities of that in our lives?

-          What is the invitation as we enter Lent?

Then explore the story, getting behind the healing, and seeing it as a further example of what “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that blow your mind and change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” might mean.

What images of God do our stories this Sunday offer us?

What I want to happen:

How does all this help us be open to invitation in Lent to

Mark 1:40-45 - Common English Bible

⁴⁰ A man with a skin disease approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Incensed,^[a] Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” ⁴² Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was clean. ⁴³ Sternly, Jesus sent him away, ⁴⁴ saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead, he went out and started talking freely and spreading the news so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, but people came to him from everywhere.

 The Sermon

       1.     Introduction:

If you were asked to describe Jesus using 3 words – what would they be?

ð What images of God are offered in these words

-         Discuss

-         Plenary

ð Where do we experience this in our lives?

ð What invitation is there in this as we approach Lent?

       2.     Mark, Jesus and the Man with a Skin Disease

What words are offered in today’s gospel reading?

-         Wonder images of God it offers

-         In particular how it helps us understand Jesus opening teaching

“Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that blow your mind and change your hearts and lives. And trust this good news!”

Few things to note

The point of this story is not Jesus healing a man with a skin disease (leprosy)

Yes Jesus did heal some people

-         But also did not heal lots of people

-         All those who were healed got sick and died

The healing is not the point

It is a signpost to something else

This is a story about God’s kingdom

-         Which is coming now

-         And blowing our minds

-         And we can trust God.

What does it teach us about God’s kingdom?

       3.     God’s kingdom in a man with a skin disease – tell the story

Retell the story noting

Not leprosy

Man with skin disease is not doing what he should

-         Leviticus

-         Stay distant

-         Unclean unclean

-         Certainly not initiate conversation

Jesus is…

-         Filled with compassion

-         Incensed

Jesus is willing

Then snorts with distaste or anger

Orders him to tell no-one

And go to show him self to the priest

-         and offer the sacrifice for cleansing that Moses commanded.

-         This will be a testimony to them.

Doesn’t do that

Goes around telling everyone

-         Jesus no longer able to teach in synagogues that Now is time….

-         Instead switches places with man

-         Stays out in wilderness

-         Where spirit forced him – al part of next weeks reading

Hugely costly for Jesus

Willing to pay that

Points ahead to greater wilderness of cross

       4.     God’s kingdom

From first stories in Mark

Which set out what rest gospel enlarges on

God’s reign is restoration of blessedness

-         World where all thrive and flourish

Sound alot like Matthews beatitudes

All that brings freedom to all

What angers Jesus is everything that prohibits and inhibits that flourishing

Powers hold creation captive

Expressed in illness

Systems and values that ostracize because of

-         Illness

-         Caged by unclean spits

-         Poverty

-         Gender

Powers that are defeated on cross

So that good news of God’s mind blowing kingdom can continue to spread

Bringing freedom

Offering life to all

Begin that journey today

5.     Conclusion

we stand on verge of Lent

7 weeks prayer and fasting

7 weeks to reflect on who is God for us

as we read Gospels

invited to join God in creating a world where all can flourish

• what do we need to flourish

• how can we provide a place for people to flourish