Opening Prayer
Lord, let Your Word chasten us for our unbelief and strengthen our faith. Amen.
Text: John 4:46–53
So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.” The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
Devotion
Not all believers have the same strong faith. There is a very clear difference between the man in our Gospel and the centurion who said to Jesus: “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed” (Mat 8:8). The Lord has pleasure in those who confidently believe in Him, but He does not reject those of weak faith if they are sincere. He chastens and humbles all His people, so that their faith may grow. That’s why this man’s son was sick, and that’s why you and I have trouble in the world. So the Lord spoke these admonishing words to him: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe,” and for that reason we often receive a different answer from God’s Word than we would wish.
Although that Canaanite woman stands high above this nobleman in humility and faith, yet there is a similarity in the Lord’s dealing with them. The woman He humbles earnestly (for she is patient), so that her faith can conquer gloriously. The man He humbles, as far as he can bear it, so that his faith may grow. Both continued to pray, and both were heard. Both came to Jesus for their children, both receive more than they ask.
For many the chastisement of earthly affliction is in vain, but for the sincere it opens the door for God’s Word. Look at this nobleman: first he hears a report about the Lord, but he didn’t seek Him. Then the sickness comes on his son, so he thinks about what he had heard, and goes to Jesus. Then the Lord chastens him with harsh words, then he humbles himself and prays humbly. Then the Savior puts the truth of faith in his soul, and now he is ready to receive it, to believe without seeing. Then he receives the sight – and he continues to believe with his whole household. That’s how the Lord deals with the sincere: He humbles and He creates faith, He humbles and He strengthens faith. As He said to the man: “Your child lives,” so He says to you: “Your soul lives. Your sin is taken away, your death is destroyed. Your prayer is heard, you and your house are saved. When your hour comes, then lie down and go to sleep, you are in heaven, and your body shall waken to glory.” The man went at the Lord’s word, he believes without seeing. You, do likewise. Was he disappointed? Neither will you be. No one who relies on the Word of the Lord is confounded. Gladly go your way. You shall find it as the Lord says.
But if your faith is weak, then the Lord shall test you, according to what you can bear, and He will speak chastening and strengthening words to your soul. Even though you may never have any struggle in faith like Paul and Luther, then still you shall surely obtain the victory. The more the devil wants to extinguish your flame of faith, the more brightly it shall burn.
Closing Prayer
O Lord Jesus, I am very weak, do not forsake me, but see if there is truth in me, and strengthen my weak faith. Amen.
Hymn
Well I believe that now
My weak faith will be tested;
If Satan had his way,
My faith would soon be wrested.
So, Lord, I come to Thee
In all my need and pain;
Lord, grant me strength and hope
Thy mercy to obtain.
O God in heav’n above,
Rekindle my faith’s glowing;
Thy Spirit lighten me
When death’s dark door is showing.
Although my faith be small
As tiny mustard seed,
Yet let it ever grow
Till it is full indeed.
Anon. O høie Herre Gud L 549:2-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: O Gott, du frommer Gott (ELH 470); alternate hymn: What God ordains is always good ELH 519