Trinity 21
Beloved. As we come toward the end of the Church Year, the theme of “spiritual warfare” becomes strong. Jesus’ Church here on earth is called the “Church Militant” because we are always fighting spiritual battles against the devil and his allies. The Church in heaven is called the “Church Triumphant” because the saints have fought the fight of faith; by God’s grace and strengthening they have won and now rest from their struggles in the joy and bliss of heaven.
In today’s epistle, St. Paul reminds us of our spiritual battles we fight here on earth: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Our battle is not against earthly, bodily enemies but against the devil and his allies—spiritual enemies. This battle is over us—our immortal soul and where we will spend eternity soul and body. Either we will be in heaven with our Lord or in eternal damnation in hell with the devil and the evil angels.
Dear Christian, if you want to spend eternal life in heaven with our Lord, if you want to escape the judgment, St. Paul says in today’s Epistle: stand against the schemes of the Devil and Jesus tells us [Rev. 3.20]: Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. This is where the spiritual battle comes in. It does us no good to believe for a while and then fall away from the faith. We are to be faithful until we die. Whether or not we have faith in Jesus and His work at the moment of death determines where we will spend eternity. The devil knows this. That’s why he’s trying to destroy our faith in Jesus. That’s why we can never rest. That’s why we hear in the epistle: stand against the schemes of the Devil. Notice that St. Paul writes stand against the devil. We are called simply to be faithful; to cling to what God, in grace, has given us. We stand and fight for our faith. The armor of God— the belt of truth buckled around your waist, … the breastplate of righteousness fastened in place,… the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace tied to your feet like sandals… the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One… the helmet of salvation –are all defensive weapons. We stand where we are and resist the wiles of the devil and hold our ground—that is, stand in the faith. With the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, we fight off the onslaughts of the devil. In short, our entire lives as Christians are nothing else but fighting the good fight of faith.
Today’s Gospel, is an account of one man’s growth in faith—the royal official who came to Jesus. There Jesus dealt with him so that his faith would grow. The same with us: in each trial that we face, let us be assured that through it the Lord wants to work to strengthen and deepen our faith. And He does this in grace. As we go through the various trials, Jesus’ word to us is—go and believe! May this royal official in today’s Gospel be an example to us in time of trouble.
In spite of his great position, this royal official, a distinguished servant at Herod’s court, was utterly helpless. He was still mighty but was now humbled. All his power, prestige, position could not help him—his little son is deathly ill. This royal official made the 18 mile trek from his home in Capernaum to Cana, where Jesus was. Following this official’s example, let us in our time of need, sorrow or hardship humbly go to Jesus and seek His help. This is faith, faith in action. A person whose heart is centered on Jesus and from the heart desires Jesus’ help and grace, has the glorious gift of faith.
When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, because his son was about to die. Even though faith is a gift of God, that faith is often weak and imperfect. This is not because the Holy Spirit works a “better” or “stronger” faith in one but not another; it’s not as if He works a “defective” faith in some. He creates one and the same faith in all Christians. Instead, the fault lies with us, with the weakness of our flesh. If our faith is weak, imperfect, faulty in spots, it’s because of us. The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts; but the devil works with our sinful flesh to try to weaken and eventually destroy that faith. But, as we see in today’s Gospel, Jesus does not let faith—be it weak or strong—stand as it is but tries to strengthen and purify it.
Jesus shows this royal official the weakness/ the imperfection of his faith. This man asked Jesus to come down and heal his dying son. What was Jesus’ response? “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you certainly will not believe.” The weakness of this man’s faith—and the faith of those around Jesus and had seen all that He had done—was that they saw the miracles and based their faith not on what Jesus had taught them about who He is, but on the miracles. This is the complete opposite of what Jesus wanted. If faith is only based on what is seen, what kind of faith is that? The Bible defines faith as being sure of the things we hope for, being convinced of the things we cannot see. Jesus did not set Himself up as some sort of miracle-worker to gain fame for His healing powers, but through His miracles He wanted to show that what He said about Himself and His doctrine is truth. By the miracles, the signs, that Jesus did, He showed that He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. What Jesus says, His Word, gives meaning and significance to the miracles. If people simply marvel at the signs and don’t listen to what Jesus says, then they miss their true importance.
This royal official went to Jesus, trusting that Jesus could heal his son. That’s good! That’s faith! But it was a weak faith because it was not built on the word of Jesus but on outward visible signs. If it was not Jesus’ will to heal this man’s son, his faith would have died: “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you certainly will not believe.” Jesus, in effect, says here: “If I don’t help, what will become of your faith?” Jesus is trying to get this royal official to examine himself. He is trying to purify this man’s faith by turning it away from the miracles and basing it instead on the word. Faith relies on the power and goodness of our holy Triune God—that He can and wants to help, beyond and against all reason.
Faith is based on the word alone. Even today, many Christians do not base their faith on Jesus’ word alone, but on what they feel and experience. When they feel the power and presence of Jesus in their life, then they are sure and certain of their faith. But what about when you don’t feel that? What will happen to faith?
Not only do many Christians base their faith on feeling and experience, but they also do not care about who Jesus is and what He teaches. Can such a faith stand against the wiles of the devil? Can such a faith fight the good fight? Like the royal official in our text, may each of us examine self to see if “my faith” is based alone on the word of Jesus. Luther comments: Therefore I have said that all else must be rejected, and one must cling to the Word alone; if we have taken hold of that, then let world, death, sin, hell and all misfortune rage and storm. But if you give up the Word, then you are bound for destruction.
Our Gospel shows the super abundant grace of our Lord Jesus. This royal official comes to Jesus in faith—but a weak, imperfect faith, one based on miracles. Does Jesus turn him away? Does Jesus say to him, “Your faith has to be at a certain level before I help you?” In no way! Not only does Jesus rebuke the man to show him the weakness of his faith, but Jesus also grants the man his prayer.
In faith, but a weak faith, this royal official says to Jesus. “Lord, come down before my little boy dies.” To this Jesus responds: “Go, your son is going to live.” Because of the weakness of our flesh, our faith will always need purifying and strengthening; it will never be perfect. But even in this weak faith—which is still faith—we go in our hurts and trials to our Lord Jesus, for every heavenly and earthly blessing. We know that He will not turn us away but that He will help us in His time and in His way. We go to Jesus because of Jesus’ word and promise: Anyone who comes to Me I will never turn away” and Come to Me, all you who are working hard and carrying a heavy load, and I will give you rest and Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you. In His grace and mercy toward us, our Lord will not turn us away, no matter how weak our faith may be. He wants us to go to Him trusting His mercy, His help, His merit, His word. Not only will he not turn us away, but, like the royal official in our text, He will work to purify and strengthen our faith so that strengthened by Him we might fight the good fight of faith and stand against the wiles of the devil.
Notice this official said to Jesus: “Lord, come down before my little boy dies.” In his weak faith, he follows natural human reasoning. He thought Jesus would have to go to the boy and that Jesus would have to get there before the boy died. It never entered his mind that Jesus could raise the boy from the dead. And so he tries to dictate to Jesus how He should heal his son. Yes, Jesus granted his request, but not in the way the man thought. So too with us. Often we try to dictate to Jesus the when’s, how’s, ways He should help us. In His grace, Jesus ignored this man—as He often does us—but grants our prayers in His time, in His way, according to His wisdom. As true God, Jesus knows the best for us and the best way.
“Lord, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus didn’t go with him but merely said, “Go, your son is going to live.” By this He turned this man to the word alone. In this father’s deepest trial, “Lord, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus gave him nothing but the word: “Your son is going to live.” All that he had was Jesus’ word. And in his faith that Jesus had just purified and strengthened here: The man believed this word that Jesus spoke to him and left.
Jesus deals with us in the same way. He only gives us His word: I am with you always; I forgive you all your sins…; I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; This is My body given for you, This is My blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. All we have is simply the word of Jesus, but it is precisely to that word that faith clings. When it seems that God is against us, we only have His word that we are His dear children and that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Jesus. We have the promise of eternal life. In faith we believe and cling to this promise even though we feel the opposite in our heart.
This believing and clinging is not brought about by our own powers or strength, but by Jesus’ own word, through which the Holy Spirit works. In and through the word, Jesus gives us the strength and power to believe and to cling to that word. That’s why it’s vital that we daily read, study, and ponder the word. Here the Holy Spirit works so that we believe what we don’t see and cling to the word even if we only feel and see the opposite in us.
Jesus told the father: “Your son is going to live.” He didn’t see any of it but he believed at once! By Jesus’ gracious working, He not only gave the man his son, but also a faith in the word that did not depend on signs. He went home in the confidence that Jesus’ word would perfectly be fulfilled. We have that same peace when we trust Jesus’ word, even when it seems that all is against us. With that assurance of Jesus we can go out joyful, confident and at peace. When the royal official met his servants, he had the great blessing of experiencing the truth of Jesus’ words; he found out God keeps His promises; his faith was confirmed and greatly strengthened and he shared that faith with his family. In each trouble and trial we find ourselves, may we hear Jesus’ words: Go your way and believe. May He grant this unto us all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.