Dear saints, we are sometimes tempted to think that those of notoriety are somehow and for some reason exempt from the realities of life. Now, we know it is not true. Celebrities, politicians, sports stars, and CEOs are constantly in the news with some struggle of some sort. But they are often looked at as ‘above’ things like cancer. Perhaps that is why there is such a shock when news breaks of someone like Chadwick Boseman or Norm MacDonald dying from it. Or, maybe, it is because people have made gods out of celebrities and are astounded when their god is toppled. Even when the man or woman would resent being seen as such a deity.
This morning brings a lesson about a nobleman whose family is struck with certain disaster. The man’s son is near death. But alas! The nobleman hears that Jesus has come from Judea into Galilee once again. This news begins a three-stage journey for the man. It is a journey that begins with fear and sorrow but ends with rejoicing and life.
As the man hears Jesus is back in the area, he journeys from Capernaum uphill to Galilee, some sixteen miles, to meet Him. When he arrives, he asks Jesus to come down and heal his son, adding that the boy was close to death. We see a young and imperfect faith in this request. The nobleman has surely heard of the miracle of water made wine. He may have heard of the other works Jesus has done. He believes Jesus can heal his son.
But this faith is small and imperfect. He seems to think Jesus must be physically present to heal the boy. And the addition of before my child dies indicates he thinks that, while Jesus can heal, he cannot deliver one from the dead. What the nobleman does not understand is that Jesus not only knows of the boy, but He knows what He will do for the boy and for the entire family. Jesus looks at the man and says, “Unless y’all see signs and wonders y’all will not believe.”
Our Lord is saying that the people looking for signs and wonders are looking for the wrong thing. Such signs, and the awe they brought, were not for the sake of the sign and accompanying wonder. They pointed to the doer of the sign. It is as if Jesus were saying, “Oh that you would think less about signs and more about Me!”
The man responds in a similar way to the Syrophoenician woman. He looks to the Lord in his weak faith and says, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” But Jesus does not come down. He does not need to. Instead, He says, “Go. I grant you his life.”
It is as if He said, “It is not at all necessary for me to go to Capernaum to save your child’s life, not necessary that I should thus prolong your suspense and anxiety—right here and now I grant your prayer and give you your little son’s life.” (Lenski, adapted)
The man’s journey turns from sorrow to hope with these words. He believes the words of Jesus and he went back down to his home. He is eager to see his son and rejoice in the life that the boy has. The small faith it took to come to Jesus in the first place has been tested by the Lord and has begun to grow as the nobleman leaves Christ’s presence. He did not need a sign because trusted Christ’s word.
Our lesson records Jesus saying, “Go; your son will live.” The Greek certainly may be translated like that, but the more natural reading is, “Go; your son lives.” The reason for this is what happens as the man heads back to Capernaum: servants meet him along the way. Literally what these slaves tell him is, “Your child lives.”
If the child had begun to get better, there certainly would be hope among the household. But slaves would not have been summoned to seek out the nobleman, for what would happen if the child regressed and died before his father returned? The news, “The child is getting better!” would certainly encourage the father, but there would still be fear the rest of the journey. But the word to him is far better: “Your child lives.”
The journey which began in fear and morphed into hope, is about to conclude in peace. The father asks what time, what hour, the child got better. “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The seventh hour! The hour Jesus said, “Go; your son lives.”
That little spark of faith which the nobleman carried with him to Cana began to grow in the presence of Jesus. And now, upon hearing of the miraculous healing of his son, that spark burst into a great blaze. Upon his return home, this blazing fire of faith proclaims to the entire household what Christ, their Messiah, did for them. And not only the man, but the entire household believed. Jesus sustains life in the boy, but also performs a greater miracle in the giving eternal life to the entire household.
The lesson closes with John telling us, “This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.” Remember the purpose of the signs, and the entire Gospel according to John for that matter: That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
The nobleman knew that Jesus could heal but thought He must be present to do so. Our Lord does not reject the man’s request due to a weak faith or a lack of understanding. Instead, your Lord helps the stumbling and weak in faith. The nobleman and his increasing faith simply take Jesus at His word. Though his faith was not fully developed, this is the definition of saving faith: taking God at His word.
John records this sign for your comfort. The faith you have you did not muster. It was given to you as a gift. You may feel like your faith is a roaring fire, or you may think it is a smoldering wick. Remember that our Lord does not break the bruised reed or snuff the smoldering wick. Call out to Him for mercy and peace. Ask that He, as the author and perfector of your faith, bring forth its fire. And remember that you are not saved because of faith, but that you are saved through faith.
Finally, because faith and salvation are not your work, but the work of God for you, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. In His mercy, God provides you all you need. And as His household, he keeps you in His continual godliness and protection. You, therefore, return to your homes in peace. You gather here to hear His mercy and grace proclaimed to you and to receive it tangibly as you gather around His altar. In song and thanksgiving, you receive His Divine Service as you await your call to His side in Paradise. Amen.
Rev. Brent Keller
Peace Lutheran Church
Alcester, SD
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