Sermon on Mark 3:20-35, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost 2021 (B), "Warring Kingdoms"
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. God’s and the devil’s kingdom are at war in this world. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer: “ Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God, send your kingdom here on earth! God’s Kingdom has intense opposition. The devil is deeply entrenched and fights his losing battle to the bitter end. The devil’s kingdom and God’s are as different as darkness and light, evil and good, death and life. But the devil is a powerful Liar and Deceiver, ever since the beginning. The devil lies so well, that in Isaiah, God rebuked His people for getting things totally backwards. He says: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) . It’s deep trouble when we can’t tell right from wrong or good from evil. The devil is expert at keeping us confused! The devil is an expert