John 4:46-54; Ephesians 6:10-17; Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What does faith look like? What does faith sound like? What does faith do? St. James famously says, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Faith is something that can be seen and identified, primarily by our works. The problem, however, is that our judgment and evaluation of our own works, not to mention the works of others, are fallen, tainted, and corrupted by sin. We measure and evaluate according to our values, beliefs, and opinions rather than the truth and all-knowing wisdom of God. We value what God does not value, deem virtuous what has no virtue, and esteem as great what is nothing in His eyes.
Today’s Gospel reveals the nature and characteristics of faith: how it begins, grows, increases, and at last is perfected. Faith grows and matures throughout our lives. A seed does not ripen at once. It first springs up as a shoot, then grows into a stalk, and finally produces grain. So, too, the heavenly seed, God’s Word, is scattered. Received in faith, it brings forth fruit as we learn to trust God, love our neighbor, and discipline our bodies. We become a new creation in Christ, not all at once, but throughout our lives until the grave.
We see this in the Galilean official who came to Jesus, pleading that He heal his son. The father believed Jesus could and would heal his boy. His faith was real, true, and salvific, created in him by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Yet his faith was not fully mature. He insisted that Jesus come physically to his home and heal his son. He did not yet fully trust that Jesus needed only to speak His Word. Like the centurion, he should have confessed, “Only speak your Word and my son will be healed.” He wanted signs and wonders to support his faith.
Look how Jesus responds to this man of weak faith, but of faith nonetheless. Our Lord rebukes him: “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” I sense disappointment in our Lord’s words. Some Christians have difficulty imagining Jesus as frustrated or angry, but to deny such emotions is to deny His humanity. Jesus was truly human, in every way except sin, and truly God in the one person of Jesus Christ. He was sorrowful and wept real tears at the death of Lazarus. He expressed righteous anger against the Pharisees and the moneychangers. And He was disappointed when those who believed in Him struggled to trust His Word.
That is why one of my favorite confessions of faith in all of Scripture comes from another father seeking healing for his son: “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.” And that is precisely what Jesus does for the official. He rebukes his weakness of faith, but then He gives him a promise: “Go; your son will live.” This Word is both a challenge and an invitation to believe. The father believes Jesus, and as he makes his way home, his servants meet him with the news that his son is recovering. When he learns that the healing began at the very hour Jesus spoke, he and his entire household believe. The father wanted a sign when he did not need one. Jesus had given him something better: His Word. And through that Word, faith was strengthened.
The Word alone. Sola. The Word comes to us by grace alone, sola gratia. It is given to us in Holy Scripture, sola Scriptura. The Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, solus Christus. And this Word is received through faith alone, sola fide. Only by the gift of the Holy Spirit, working through the Word, can we believe in Christ and cling to Him for forgiveness, life, and salvation.
For who is this Jesus in whom we trust? He is the very Word of creation, through whom the Father spoke all things into existence: “Let there be light,” and there was light. He is the Word by whom all things were made, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, upon whom He has built His Church, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail. This confession is the mature fruit of faith, made evident in good works that serve our neighbor and glorify God.
So, what signs and wonders are you looking for, O you of little faith? Do you hope that political leaders will restore godly order and morality? That violence and crime will disappear and peace and security return? That this congregation will be filled to standing room only, with overflowing coffers and programs to meet every need? Or do you simply hope your spouse will love you, your children will respect you, and you will have enough money to retire without sacrificing your comforts?
Perhaps some of these things will come to pass. Perhaps they will not. Thanks be to God that your faith does not rest upon these things, but upon Jesus Christ and His Word. For the Word of creation, Jesus Christ, is present with you now through His Word and His Wounds. He does for you precisely what He promises: your sins are forgiven. Your faith is restored and strengthened. His life-giving blood cleanses you from all sin, and you are declared holy and righteous in Him. He gives you life that will never end and promises to raise your mortal body from death, to be reunited with your immortal soul in everlasting life.
So, what does faith look like? What does faith sound like? What does faith do? Faith believes in Jesus, trusts in Jesus, clings to Jesus, and receives Jesus. Yet faith is never alone. It produces good works, works counted as good in the eyes of the Lord because of the atoning blood of Jesus.
Faith in Christ and His Word clothes you in His righteousness, as with defensive armor, making you strong in the might of the Lord against the spiritual forces of evil. The shield of faith extinguishes the flaming darts of the evil one, and the Word of God, the Word made flesh, is the sword of the Spirit that fights for you, defends you, preserves you, and keeps you through every trial and tribulation, even through death, unto life everlasting.
Faith is a continually growing and maturing thing. And yet it remains true faith at every stage. May the Holy Spirit who created this faith within you continue to nourish, strengthen, preserve, and protect you throughout all your days. May Jesus Christ, whose blood has cleansed you from all sin, remain your strength, life, and salvation as you receive forgiveness and life through His Word and His Wounds. And may the Father who created you work through you to give life to others, using your hands, your heart, and your voice in loving service, that others may know His Son and live, and that His Name may be glorified to the ends of the earth.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment