Lent 3 – Oculi March 20, 2022
Luke 11:14-28
Breaking and Entering
v.21-23 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Dear friends in Christ—there is a war going on. And I’m not just talking about what’s going on in Ukraine, as devastating as that is. No indeed, there is a battle being waged right now between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood—I speak, of course, of the titanic struggle taking place between Christ and the devil. Where is this epic war being fought? Not in Eastern Europe, but rather the hearts of mankind—your hearts and mine—a true world war.
Jesus alludes to this fact in our text for this morning, which follows on the heels of Jesus curing many of demon possession and then being accused by His critics of doing so by the power of Satan. He speaks of the strong man, fully armed, who guards his own palace in order to keep his goods safe. Who is the strong man? As we learn in the Scriptures, it is the devil, of course, who has taken up residence in the hearts of people and has barricaded himself inside, in order to bring chaos and death to human beings enslaved by their sin.
Satan fights against Christ and His church by his own followers—the heretics who change the saving message of Jesus Christ into our own personal works righteousness for salvation and heaven—the false teachers who obscure the clear teaching of Jesus crucified for sinners—and worldly powers who persecute, mock, and murder the members of Christ’s body—the church—such as is happening in various places around the world. And his wicked fallen angels—the demons—who sow the seeds of doubt and despair of God's love into sinners hearts.
This is an incredible war in which all humanity finds itself. There is no way to sit on the sidelines—there is no declaring oneself “neutral ground,” like Switzerland. Jesus firmly says, “Whoever is not with me is against me...” There is no middle ground when it comes to faith in Jesus-there is no declaring “undecided” or “unsure.” There is no fence upon which to sit. Either you are with Jesus and a child of the heavenly Father...or you are against him and a son of the devil.
By reason of our sin, which is a part of our very flesh—something we are all conceived and born in—guess where our natural inclinations lie. That’s right—as children of Satan—under his dominion and power—trapped by his lies—slaves to our own insidious thoughts and desires that would lead us farther and farther away from Jesus. Satan has firmly entrenched himself into our hearts and there is no way that we can get him out on our own—and, if we’re really being honest with ourselves—we don’t really want to, anyway—for Satan’s desires fall perfectly in line with our own fallen and sinful flesh—to do what we want to do—when we want to do it—who cares what anybody else thinks?—especially God!
What’s more—we cannot get him out. The devil holds us captive—binds us with the cords of sin and death. Struggle though we might—it does no good—he is simply too strong for us to kick him out. He has barred the door to our heart and chained us to his evil will so that we might be brought to everlasting death and damnation in hell with him.
Indeed, our Baptismal liturgy clearly states that “The Word of God teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Which again brings us to our text for this morning. For thanks be to God that Jesus has come! Jesus has come to undo the works of the devil—He has come to set the captives free!—to loose the bonds of sin and death that have so entrapped and killed us! That was exactly what He was exhibiting to the people when He drove out the demon that had kept the man mute. Jesus freed his tongue—showing—proving—His power over Satan and all our enemies. He is the Stronger One who has broken through our hard hearts of stone—to free us from the power of the devil and give the devil the boot.
Jesus’ great power to do this is rooted in His saving Word of the Gospel. The Word that proclaims to each and every one of you this day that you are a beloved child of God and one for whom Christ has died. He went to the cross—suffered and died in excruciating pain and misery—receiving the just condemnation for sin that was our due—so as to undo the works of the devil—to free you from his dominion and power—to bring you from death to life everlasting by His glorious name.
Now to be sure, wherever the Word or Kingdom of God comes there is going to be a battle—for Satan doesn’t want to give up his comfortable dwelling place that he has constructed in the hearts of men, women, and children. He wants to stay! And so the devil stirs up all sorts of adversity to the proclamation of the Gospel—stirring up heretics, false teachers, and many people to try and harm the message of Jesus. It seems that Jesus is up against a very powerful enemy. It seems as though Jesus is doomed to fail—for what can mere words do to harm the powerful rulers of the world or the hellish enemy?
But therein lies the power of God. For He uses the weak and despised and simple things of this world to destroy the power of Satan and his hold over people. Jesus’ power comes from the mouths of babes—His power flows through the waters of Baptism—His power rushes into your ears as you hear of the forgiveness earned and won for you by Christ on the cross—and His power strengthens you to bear the attacks of the evil one as the Lord Jesus Christ feeds you His very own life giving body and blood in the blessed Sacrament of the altar, which comes with bread and wine.
These simple, ordinary things are the very means by which Christ has smashed the defences of the devil and freed sinners from all sin and death. As His church proclaims His Gospel—baptizes children and adults—dispenses His body and blood at this altar—the devil’s work—all that he has long fought and striven for—comes unravelled. Those who have been held captive by Satan for their entire lives—are freed—with a word—instantly—by the He who is the Stronger Man! That is the amazing power of our Saviour! Satan cannot resist him. Just try to think of any example from holy Scripture where the devil, or his minions, actually opposed Jesus for any length of time. It never happens. Jesus commands—they leave—that is it—for He is far stronger than they.
Jesus then takes us as His own; we are the spoils of His just war. He takes us to be with Him in His heavenly kingdom forever. God’s liberating power was at work in the exorcisms that Jesus performed, which served as evidence and signs that God’s kingdom had come upon the people—now we see His liberating work in water, bread, wine, and Word—as they are applied to each of us, individually—God’s kingdom comes to you—He enters your heart and takes up residence. The great flood of His baptismal water clears our hearts for a new and better Master. As long as He remains, Satan can no longer gain entry—he has been served a permanent eviction notice.
We are transferred into Christ’s kingdom, not by our own power, but by the grace of God. For Christ overcame Satan by dying on the cross, destroying the power of death and sin and triumphed over all our foes that they might not injure us—His beloved church. Jesus has come in, cleaned house—setting our crumbled and broken hearts in order through His tender love and forgiveness. He has scrubbed us clean in the waters of Baptism—giving us His Spirit—and dwelling within us all the days of our life.
Problems arise when people get lazy and turn away from the gifts of God in Christ that are given through His church—rejecting Jesus—wanting Him out of their lives—simply to be left alone. But there is no middle ground. The heart that turns away from the grace of God in Jesus will not long remain vacant, for Satan’s minions wait just around the corner, ever anxious for another opportunity to get in. And when he finds an open window he enters with seven spirits more wicked than himself and the final state of that person is worse than the first.
These are strong words of warning for us not to forsake the gifts of God that are given through His church—but to remain strong in the faith through regular use and reception of His Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Each time we receive the forgiveness of our sins we are strengthened and the devil is weakened. When you are plagued and beset by the devil on every side, cling to the promises of God in Christ Jesus given for you on the cross at Calvary.
Know that as a baptized child of God, Jesus now dwells within your heart and He will not tolerate Satan as a roommate. As Luther once said, “When Satan comes to knock at the door of my heart—Jesus now answers the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but now I live here. Begone!’” Jesus is your sword and your shield. He is the Stronger One who has overcome the strength of the devil by giving up His life for yours. And He has broken into your heart and entered in—now and forevermore. And that sure and certain knowledge of the comforting presence of God in our hearts enables us to bear up under any trials and tribulations we may face—be it sickness, hardship, or literal war. For the Stronger Man lives in you—and He will not be overcome by anyone—or anything. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Luke 11:14-28
Breaking and Entering
v.21-23 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Dear friends in Christ—there is a war going on. And I’m not just talking about what’s going on in Ukraine, as devastating as that is. No indeed, there is a battle being waged right now between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and falsehood—I speak, of course, of the titanic struggle taking place between Christ and the devil. Where is this epic war being fought? Not in Eastern Europe, but rather the hearts of mankind—your hearts and mine—a true world war.
Jesus alludes to this fact in our text for this morning, which follows on the heels of Jesus curing many of demon possession and then being accused by His critics of doing so by the power of Satan. He speaks of the strong man, fully armed, who guards his own palace in order to keep his goods safe. Who is the strong man? As we learn in the Scriptures, it is the devil, of course, who has taken up residence in the hearts of people and has barricaded himself inside, in order to bring chaos and death to human beings enslaved by their sin.
Satan fights against Christ and His church by his own followers—the heretics who change the saving message of Jesus Christ into our own personal works righteousness for salvation and heaven—the false teachers who obscure the clear teaching of Jesus crucified for sinners—and worldly powers who persecute, mock, and murder the members of Christ’s body—the church—such as is happening in various places around the world. And his wicked fallen angels—the demons—who sow the seeds of doubt and despair of God's love into sinners hearts.
This is an incredible war in which all humanity finds itself. There is no way to sit on the sidelines—there is no declaring oneself “neutral ground,” like Switzerland. Jesus firmly says, “Whoever is not with me is against me...” There is no middle ground when it comes to faith in Jesus-there is no declaring “undecided” or “unsure.” There is no fence upon which to sit. Either you are with Jesus and a child of the heavenly Father...or you are against him and a son of the devil.
By reason of our sin, which is a part of our very flesh—something we are all conceived and born in—guess where our natural inclinations lie. That’s right—as children of Satan—under his dominion and power—trapped by his lies—slaves to our own insidious thoughts and desires that would lead us farther and farther away from Jesus. Satan has firmly entrenched himself into our hearts and there is no way that we can get him out on our own—and, if we’re really being honest with ourselves—we don’t really want to, anyway—for Satan’s desires fall perfectly in line with our own fallen and sinful flesh—to do what we want to do—when we want to do it—who cares what anybody else thinks?—especially God!
What’s more—we cannot get him out. The devil holds us captive—binds us with the cords of sin and death. Struggle though we might—it does no good—he is simply too strong for us to kick him out. He has barred the door to our heart and chained us to his evil will so that we might be brought to everlasting death and damnation in hell with him.
Indeed, our Baptismal liturgy clearly states that “The Word of God teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Which again brings us to our text for this morning. For thanks be to God that Jesus has come! Jesus has come to undo the works of the devil—He has come to set the captives free!—to loose the bonds of sin and death that have so entrapped and killed us! That was exactly what He was exhibiting to the people when He drove out the demon that had kept the man mute. Jesus freed his tongue—showing—proving—His power over Satan and all our enemies. He is the Stronger One who has broken through our hard hearts of stone—to free us from the power of the devil and give the devil the boot.
Jesus’ great power to do this is rooted in His saving Word of the Gospel. The Word that proclaims to each and every one of you this day that you are a beloved child of God and one for whom Christ has died. He went to the cross—suffered and died in excruciating pain and misery—receiving the just condemnation for sin that was our due—so as to undo the works of the devil—to free you from his dominion and power—to bring you from death to life everlasting by His glorious name.
Now to be sure, wherever the Word or Kingdom of God comes there is going to be a battle—for Satan doesn’t want to give up his comfortable dwelling place that he has constructed in the hearts of men, women, and children. He wants to stay! And so the devil stirs up all sorts of adversity to the proclamation of the Gospel—stirring up heretics, false teachers, and many people to try and harm the message of Jesus. It seems that Jesus is up against a very powerful enemy. It seems as though Jesus is doomed to fail—for what can mere words do to harm the powerful rulers of the world or the hellish enemy?
But therein lies the power of God. For He uses the weak and despised and simple things of this world to destroy the power of Satan and his hold over people. Jesus’ power comes from the mouths of babes—His power flows through the waters of Baptism—His power rushes into your ears as you hear of the forgiveness earned and won for you by Christ on the cross—and His power strengthens you to bear the attacks of the evil one as the Lord Jesus Christ feeds you His very own life giving body and blood in the blessed Sacrament of the altar, which comes with bread and wine.
These simple, ordinary things are the very means by which Christ has smashed the defences of the devil and freed sinners from all sin and death. As His church proclaims His Gospel—baptizes children and adults—dispenses His body and blood at this altar—the devil’s work—all that he has long fought and striven for—comes unravelled. Those who have been held captive by Satan for their entire lives—are freed—with a word—instantly—by the He who is the Stronger Man! That is the amazing power of our Saviour! Satan cannot resist him. Just try to think of any example from holy Scripture where the devil, or his minions, actually opposed Jesus for any length of time. It never happens. Jesus commands—they leave—that is it—for He is far stronger than they.
Jesus then takes us as His own; we are the spoils of His just war. He takes us to be with Him in His heavenly kingdom forever. God’s liberating power was at work in the exorcisms that Jesus performed, which served as evidence and signs that God’s kingdom had come upon the people—now we see His liberating work in water, bread, wine, and Word—as they are applied to each of us, individually—God’s kingdom comes to you—He enters your heart and takes up residence. The great flood of His baptismal water clears our hearts for a new and better Master. As long as He remains, Satan can no longer gain entry—he has been served a permanent eviction notice.
We are transferred into Christ’s kingdom, not by our own power, but by the grace of God. For Christ overcame Satan by dying on the cross, destroying the power of death and sin and triumphed over all our foes that they might not injure us—His beloved church. Jesus has come in, cleaned house—setting our crumbled and broken hearts in order through His tender love and forgiveness. He has scrubbed us clean in the waters of Baptism—giving us His Spirit—and dwelling within us all the days of our life.
Problems arise when people get lazy and turn away from the gifts of God in Christ that are given through His church—rejecting Jesus—wanting Him out of their lives—simply to be left alone. But there is no middle ground. The heart that turns away from the grace of God in Jesus will not long remain vacant, for Satan’s minions wait just around the corner, ever anxious for another opportunity to get in. And when he finds an open window he enters with seven spirits more wicked than himself and the final state of that person is worse than the first.
These are strong words of warning for us not to forsake the gifts of God that are given through His church—but to remain strong in the faith through regular use and reception of His Gospel in Word and Sacrament. Each time we receive the forgiveness of our sins we are strengthened and the devil is weakened. When you are plagued and beset by the devil on every side, cling to the promises of God in Christ Jesus given for you on the cross at Calvary.
Know that as a baptized child of God, Jesus now dwells within your heart and He will not tolerate Satan as a roommate. As Luther once said, “When Satan comes to knock at the door of my heart—Jesus now answers the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but now I live here. Begone!’” Jesus is your sword and your shield. He is the Stronger One who has overcome the strength of the devil by giving up His life for yours. And He has broken into your heart and entered in—now and forevermore. And that sure and certain knowledge of the comforting presence of God in our hearts enables us to bear up under any trials and tribulations we may face—be it sickness, hardship, or literal war. For the Stronger Man lives in you—and He will not be overcome by anyone—or anything. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.