The Third Sunday after Michaelmas – Pr. Anderson sermon
St. John 4:46-54 “Jesus is the One who Hears Your Cries”
October 20, 2024 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
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Almighty and everlasting God, by Your Son You have promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and everlasting life: We beseech You, by Your Holy Spirit so enliven our hearts that in daily prayer we may seek our help in Christ against all temptations, and, constantly believing His promise, obtain that for which we pray, and at last be saved; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, by Veit Dietrich, p. 164)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Rom. 1:7, etc.)
The sermon text for today is taken from the 4th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. We read selected verses in Jesus’ name:
So [Jesus] came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 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.
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you [people] see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
The official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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.”
These are Your words, heavenly Father. Sanctify us by Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen. (Joh. 17:17)
In Christ Jesus, who is your refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore you will not fear though the earth gives way (Psalm 46:1), dear fellow redeemed:
War is a topic that is as old as time itself. We can go back to Scripture when we hear about the war between the Archangel Michael and his angels against the Devil and his angels. The war was an utter defeat of the Devil against God seeing him cast out of heaven. Since the fall into sin, the world knows all too well the definition for war. War is so popular, that you can find many books and games on the subject. The reason war is popular is because it usually has the trope that one side is fighting for good and another side is fighting for evil. Most people want to be on the side that fights for good. As many believe they have the courage to fight in war, we can read about how tough it is for those who put their lives on the line for the defense of the country and we thank them for it. The same courage goes for us in the battles the devil continues to rage against us. There are many who would like us to believe we can wage the sword against him. The devil is also egging it on because we are weak humans and he does have power. When the devil has gotten us with his lies as we think we can take him on, instead of being fighters we are in need of help. Jesus tells us that we are not alone and He will fight on our behalf. Jesus is the One who hears our cries.
We are so thankful that Jesus hears us because oftentimes we don’t realize we are caught in a battle with the devil until it is far too late. We don’t want to go to God only at times of last resort. We should be going to Him at all times of the day. No matter what, we see how crucial it is to go to our Savior when we are in need. Very early in Jesus’ ministry, an official is doing just that. 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. Jesus was back in the area where He had turned water into wine. Even though it is early, this first miracle has already held weight with those in the area that Jesus can help. With little to go off of in Jesus’ ministry, the official goes to the person who he believes will help because the situation is now in dire straits.
Now we just heard how later on in His ministry, Jesus reveals to the people that He can read their thoughts. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you [people] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” Now the people are going to Jesus and that is a good thing, but we are seeing that their thoughts need to change. The people are caught up in the power that Jesus has. They will eventually want to use Jesus’ power as a means to get rid of their enemies who rule over them. This is not the reason for Jesus coming down from heaven. The people want Jesus to lead them into physical battle, but here is Jesus fighting battles that they can’t see, battles that they are losing as they lose sight of the reason for His mission. He is here to destroy the prince of this world. So, Jesus points out to them the errors of their ways. Their faith can’t be only in His miracles.
While this seems stern for Jesus to say this to this official, this is something we all need to hear. The official knows who can help him, but it can’t be based on the miracles alone. We can dive into Scripture and see how Jesus’ performs miracles, even right in front of His enemies, and they still don’t believe in Him. Jesus gives even more detail when He teaches about the rich man and poor Lazarus. He then proceeds to raise His friend Lazarus from the dead. This miracle wasn’t enough to win over His enemies, it only made them fear Him and want Him dead even more. So, as we see there is more to it than witnessing Jesus’ miracles, there are still many who fail to hear the warning when Jesus says, “unless you [people] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” People continue to look for signs and wonders. As Paul writes how these things will cease, the more we look to signs and power, the more we fall into the enemy’s trap. We can get wrapped up and forget about the weapons we have to defend ourselves.
That is the trick. To realize we are “defending” ourselves. We can’t go on the attack. Too often we forget who the battle is really against. St. Paul makes it clear when he writes that we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but that we are fighting against the super natural. Our enemies are the world, the devil and our own sinful flesh. By the time we realize how powerful these enemies are, we find ourselves in big trouble. We can forget we have prayer, the Word, and the Sacraments and our enemy turns when we are in them. We can put our faith in something we physically see, or we put our strength up against the devil and it never works. We will never have the strength to go on the attack. The only person we can and do attack is God. So, to avoid putting our strength in the things of this world and to avoid only searching for signs and wonders, we do as the Psalmist writes, I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6).
Our hope for survival in this life is to look to the Lord for our hope and defense. This is found not in the power of a miracle, but found in the power and might of His Holy Word. As we wait and hope, we will see Him coming to our rescue just like He came to the rescue of the official. The official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” The official once more is looking for Jesus to come down but even though He is asking for Jesus to come, his demeanor has changed. He puts His trust in the Lord. Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. Jesus didn’t say that He was coming with Him. He simply told Him, “It is done, I’ve done it.” A miracle still took place, but it wasn’t one the official could see. The official had to take Him at His Word and that is what He did.
Jesus heard the official’s cry. He knew He could take care of his son. He hears the cries of the people through the hope and faith He brings. The official had the same hope as Abraham. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Romans 4:18-21). Abraham didn’t have faith because of the miracle of having a son in his old age. He had faith because of the Word He was told. And Jesus reveals the power of His Word. He cures those who are ill and through it He reveals why He is the way to eternal life.
This way is found in believing what He was sent here to do. The official sees this with his own eyes when he goes home to see his son. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 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.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” Jesus didn’t leave him alone to fight death. The official couldn’t fight death even if he wanted to. All he could do was put faith in Jesus. He saw the fruit of that hope. He received the best news for a father to hear. His son was well and he was healed at the moment Jesus told him to “go; your son will live.”
Your cries are heard by your Savior. Just as He heard this official and revealed to him the power of His Word, He reveals His powerful Word to you. It is here you find your defense. You have seen with your own eyes that you can’t stand up to the world, the devil, and your sinful flesh. So, with faith in His Word, you hear how He stood up to the world by being a servant, He took on the devil defeating every temptation, and He put on your sin taking them to the cross. Jesus is your sure defense and He clothes you with it in His death and resurrection. The war has been won and every skirmish you face is taken care of. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
He endured your enemies and punishment in your place and He will continue to hear your cries and defend you. And as you see how He defends you from the harm and danger of your spiritual enemies, you see how the Word works in the hearts of those around you. The official went home, and he himself believed, and all his household. Here is the power of the Word in the world. The Gospel goes out for all to hear. The devil will try to disrupt it, but Jesus’ Word defends against him. St. Paul writes how the Word continues to go out for all to hear. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” (Romans 10:18). The Lord will continue to send out people to share the Word. It is only in the Word where you see that He hears your cries. So, as you continue to pray, hear His Word, and receive His sacraments, you will continue to be strengthened. It is through these gifts you see that you aren’t alone. Jesus is your sure defense, hearing your cries. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
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