Sermon - Trinity 21

TEXT: John 4:46-54
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus healed the son of an official of King Herod with His Word…. And ONLY His Word. It was the second sign (miracle) that Jesus had done in Cana. The first was turning water into wine at a wedding feast. Jesus had a reputation in Cana. He had a reputation of manifesting the glory of God…. that is, showing or demonstrating the honor and distinction that only God has.
The official Himself was not a resident of Cana but lived about 15 miles to the east, in Capernaum. His son was very ill and near death.

What a terrible thing that must’ve been for this father… for any father or mother. A sick child. Near death. We expect someone who is old to die… but not a child. Children are full of energy and life… death is supposed to be far way from them. Every parent thinks that he will out live his children. How helpless this father felt. Surely he had tried everything to bring health to his son…. But death only drew nearer.

The official had a simple prayer to the Lord Jesus: “Come with me, travel with me to Capernaum, it’s only a short trip from here. Please come with me. Jesus, come and heal my son.”
It was a simple prayer prayed in faith. The father believed that Jesus had the authority to heal his son. It was a simple faith…. a faith that was kindled in this man’s heart by grace. A faith that was given to him by hearing the Word of Christ. A faith that had its beginning not in his son’s need but by God Himself, even as the Scriptures say, “The Lord God is the beginning of faith.”
And even while this father believed that Jesus could heal his son, he expected that Jesus could do it only if He were to go to Capernaum. If Jesus were to Go to Capernaum, then He would be physically present at the bedside of his son. In Capernaum Jesus could touch His son or speak to his son. But in Cana, Jesus seemed too far away to manifest the glory of God. “No, Jesus…. Leave Cana, travel with me only 15 short miles so that my son will know the presence of God.”

But Jesus said, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” His words seem so cold and calloused. But the omniscient (all-knowing) Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. “No dear man, don’t get all caught up in signs and wonders. Don’t look for extravagant display of power… some abracadabra, circus sideshow… no not signs and wonders… but the Word. Trust My Word. In My Word, the glory of God is manifested.”

Words seem so powerless. Ever been to a doctor who walked into the room and said, “Get better” and then walked back out? You’d be upset if you got a bill for that kind of office visit! But the Word of God is like no other. The Word of God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it “out of nothing.” The Word of God fills the earth and accomplishes the purpose for which it was sent forth. The Word of God cannot be reduced to simply a wise man’s advice for living a prosperous life. The Word of Jesus is efficacious! That means, the God’s Word has the authority to DO whatever God wants it to DO. If the Word of God says “Your son will live” during the seventh hour of the day some 15 miles away from where your son is dying, then don’t doubt it but believe that your son will live!

And the son lived.

And the father who had heard the Word of God travelled back to his son. And as the father spoke the Word of Jesus to the rest of His household about Jesus, his faith was in action, and the Word of God that he repeated created more faith…. and all his household believed. Wow! The unstoppable faith-creating Word of God. It’s awesome.

So often, we do not believe that God’s word has any authority at all. Many Christians use the Word simply as some sort of emotional inspiration…. Sort of as a pep talk when things aren’t going so well. But that is so short-sighted. Imagine owning a screw driver and thinking that the only thing it was really useful for was opening a can of paint. Never mind that it can be used for many more useful things. The same is true of the Word of God. We forget that it is a gift from God that creates faith “out of nothing” in poor miserable blind and beggarly sinners…. Not only does it alone create faith, but it also keeps us in true faith. Without the Word of God there would be no Christians, no Church, no pastors, and no Sacraments. If God were to take away His Word we would have no hope, no salvation. If the Word of God had not come to each of you, imagine what you’d be. You’d be like the official’s son, even worse, you’d be dead. Dead in trespasses sins. With no knowledge of God. No hope of heaven.

That Word of God that healed that offical’s son some 2000 years ago is still a creative, unstoppable faith-creating Word of God today. When God’s Word is added to plain water, faith is kindled in the hearts of little sinful dying little babies. When God’s Word is added to bread and wine and placed into your mouth, you who are weak in faith and bruised and beaten by the club of sin are healed. That precious Word of God proclaimed for you to hear is the balm of Gilead and the ointment that has cured your sin-sick souls…. So that, you too shall live! Look around you and see all of you who are believers. See what WONDERS God’s Word has done… surely, His glory has been manifested among us!

No, don’t look for signs and wonders. Hear the Word of God and believe.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.