"Hear, know, believe, and trust that peace with God is once more made for you!" Trinity 21 2024
20. October 2024
Trinity 21
John 4:46-54
In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
St. John the Evangelist records three expressions of faith in the official nobleman of today’s Gospel. First, the official comes to Jesus after hearing “that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, and he went to Him and asked Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.” This is the first expression of the official’s faith in coming to Jesus for healing for his son.
Second, after Jesus tested him and received the good confession, the man demanded in strong faith: Sir, come down before my child dies. Jesus spoke these words: “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. Once again, the man expressed his faith, hearing and trusting in the Word of Jesus.
Third, after recognizing the healing promised by Jesus at the seventh hour of 1 p.m., the official confessed all the more boldly what he had received. This time, he himself and all his household believed.
From these three expressions, we see how Jesus takes our weak faith, barely a glowing ember, and tends it by His Word of promise until it is a bright flame so that the household and the world will see. It begins with simple faith: a belief that Jesus is the source of God’s gifts. Then Jesus will take the hungry heart of faith, challenge it with trial, and quicken it with the Word and Spirit. The believer who once sought only benefits in Jesus Christ now finds his every hope in Jesus. This living faith burns hot and bright until it cannot be contained and shines forth to household and neighbor.
This is how God works, most evident in today’s Gospel. After hearing one sermon, likely second-hand, and witnessing one miracle at the wedding at Cana, the certain nobleman and official for King Herod seeks after Christ. Every earthly solution for his son’s sickness had availed him nothing. Now, he must act in faith. Having heard of Christ and his benefits and feeling the need that the gifts of this world cannot meet, he seeks after the bread of life come down from heaven. His faith is weak, for he demands that Jesus must “come down and heal his son.” We know such a demand of the Lord of the universe is utterly unnecessary. Like the centurion, we know that for Jesus, speak the Word only, and my servant will be healed.
Therefore, Jesus knows this man’s faith is weak. But rather than stoke it with platitudes or a journey to this man’s house, He rebukes him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” No doubt, the man’s heart was set on miracles from Christ. But his faith needed suffering, a cross, to kindle it into a flame. Isaiah says, “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3). Surely such a rebuke would destroy this man and cause him to despair?
But Jesus doesn’t want faith that weakly holds onto him as long as things go well. He wants a faith that is firmly grounded in Him and His Word. He sends suffering and trials and crosses your way not to snuff out the flickering flame but to cause it to burn bright. The Lutherans call this anfechtung. God sends trials our way, allows the devils to haunt us, and even permits Satan to torment us, just like Job.
When the going gets rough, the rough get going… in faith in Christ. When you suffer under crosses that try your faith, run to the cross of Christ. When your lives seem beaten and broken, run to the one who was beaten and broken for you. When it seems your blood is being spilled all day, run to the Divine Service, where Christ’s blood is poured out for you and in you. We have a reason to hope (Hebrews 12:1-2).
When the light of faith wanes, the Father applies a cross to us to kindle it brighter and brighter. We don’t need to look far to see that this is how God acts, whether in our own lives, the lives of this church, the lives of the apostles, or the lives of the patriarchs. When the faithfulness of God’s people wanes, he burdens them with trials, exile, destruction, and even great suffering and death. Through our crosses, He means to teach us about how dark reality is apart from Him.
Our flesh and blood hate Him and His Word. Our reason opposes faith in that which is not seen. Our heart is full of dark evil and malice. Our desires are for wickedness all day long. When we fail to trust in our LORD completely for redemption, when we fail to call upon Him in every trial and need, when we act as though we don’t need a gracious God in our worship, our work, or our play, that’s when we allow the darkness in. Our flesh wants it and loves the dark. Our loving Father even allows us to suffer it. He wants us to know the darkness, to despair of it, and to turn to Him (Ephesians 4:18).
Jesus is the light who shines into darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. He is the voice of creation, begotten of the Father from eternity, spoken to create life, the universe, and everything where there was once nothing (Genesis 1:1ff). Just as then, it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6).
Weakness of faith is nothing for Jesus. That’s why weak faith is no barrier to fellowship. St. Paul even stipulated that the church in Rome receive one weak in the faith (Romans 14:1). Why? Because no one becomes a Christian, instantly burning bright. First, the witness and their need compels them to seek Christ where He is found. Then, He kindles this flame with His Word and trials. Faith must rely upon Jesus, even in the midst of the worst of times. Only then does faith give hope, and hope gives way to trust. Faith does not trust feelings or thoughts or even the eyes. Faith trusts the ears which receive the Word of salvation.
Those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death have seen a great light. Sin results in a darkened vision of our lives and future. Clarity comes from light, and the light is Christ. Clarity comes by faith through the hearing of the Word. Our LORD keeps his promises. We have heard them. Our hope is in them. Our trust remains in Jesus until our dying day.
Don’t let go of the promise until you receive the blessing. The LORD indeed visits His people with chastisement and discipline, crushing your ego and your will until you utterly despair of yourself. It is also true that the LORD visits His people with mercy and grace, founded in Jesus, testified in the Word, and believed in Holy Spirit-inspired faith (1 John 1:5-7).
Build upon this foundation. Trust not your eyes, but trust your ears. Diligently hear the Word, meditate upon it daily, apply it to your daily life, and let it bring you the joy it promises. This light shines into even the darkest place, kindling your smoldering wick into a bright burning flame. The Word calls you to repentance and grants you faith, transforming you from death to life, from darkness to the brilliance of the Son of God.
Your sorrow has been turned into joy. The good work of faith has been given to you in Baptism, renewed in Absolution, and strengthened in the blessed Communion. Be like the nobleman, the official of Herod. Having heard the Word of Good News, confess with your mouth and believe you and your household. Do not wait to feel the joy. Hear, know, believe, and trust that peace with God is once more made for you (Romans 5:1-4). Persevere in God’s gracious promise, so that whether you live or die, hold tight to him and never let go. God has justified you and will save you. Even when He sends you trials, He will help you in every need, never leaving you or forsaking you but stoking your still small flame until it burns bright in him (Matthew 5:14-16).
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guards your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
St. John Ev. Lutheran Church & School - Sherman Center
Random Lake, Wisconsin
