410. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. I.
Lord, let thy word
punish us for our unbelief
and strengthen our faith. Amen.
Gospel Lesson, John 4, 46-53. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
❦
The faith of all believers is not equally strong. There plainly is a wide difference between the man in our gospel lesson and the centurion who said to Jesus: “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” The Lord has pleasure in them that believe in him with full trust and confidence; but neither does he disown those of weak faith, if they but be upright. He chastens and humbles all his own, and thus increases their faith; for this reason the son of this man was sick, and for this reason both you and I have our afflictions in the world. For this reason the Lord reproached the nobleman in our text, saying: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” For this reason also the word of God often gives us a different answer from that which we desire. — Although the woman of Canaan stands high above this nobleman in humility and faith, yet the Lord’s manner of dealing with them is somewhat similar. She can bear it, and is therefore most thoroughly humbled, in order that her faith may gain a glorious victory; he is humbled to the limit of his strength to bear it, in order that his faith may increase. Both continue to pray; and the prayers of both are answered. Both have come to Jesus on behalf of their children; and both find more than they seek. — In the case of many the discipline by means of temporal affliction is in vain; but in the case of the upright it opens the door to the word of God. Look at the nobleman in our text. He had heard accounts concerning the Lord, but did not seek him. Afterward his son fell sick; then he remembered what he had heard, and went to Jesus. The Lord then reproached him in severe terms; and the nobleman humbles himself and sues for mercy. Thereupon the Lord brings the truth home to his soul; and now he is able to receive it. He believes without having seen, and then he is permitted to see also; — and he believes, and his whole house. Thus it is that the Lord deals with the upright; he humbles them, and creates faith; humbles them, and strengthens their faith. In like manner as he said to this man: “Thy son liveth,” so he says to you: “Your soul lives, your sin is taken away, your death is destroyed; your prayer is answered, you and your house are saved. When your time comes, lay yourself down to sleep; you are in heaven, and your body shall be called forth to glory.” The man went his way at the Lord’s word, believing without seeing; go thou, and do likewise. He was not deceived; neither shall you be. None who trusts in the word of the Lord shall be disappointed. Go your way gladly; you shall find the Lord’s words come true. — If your faith be weak, the Lord shall try you according to the measure of your ability to bear it, and chasten and strengthen your soul. Even though you may never become a mighty giant in faith, like Paul and Luther, yet you shall without any doubt obtain victory. The greater effort the devil makes to quench the spark of faith in you, the more brightly it shall burn. — Lord Jesus, I am full of frailties. Do not cast me off; but try, if there be truth in me; and strengthen my weak faith. Amen.*
Lord, I believe; thy power I own,
Thy word I would obey;
I wander comfortless and lone
When from thy truth I stray.
Lord, I believe; but gloomy fears
Sometimes bedim my sight;
I look to thee with prayers and tears,
And cry for strength and light.
[suggested tune: Azmon (TLH 281); listen here]
411. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. II.
Lord, put on me thy armor,
and give me thy sword. Amen.
Epistle Lesson, Ephesians 6, 10-17. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
❦
In the fight against the devil our own strength is as nothing; but in the power of the Lord’s might we are strong; so strong that “we are more than conquerors.” The purpose of the apostle is to make us earnest by impressing us with the character and strength of the enemy. Let your mind dwell on the terms used to designate the enemy: “Principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places.” The “wiles” of the devil, the strongest and most cunning of all created spirits, you must be able to withstand “in the evil day”; these terrible powers you, a poor broken reed, must overcome in the battles of life and in the agony of death, if you are to reach your crown. — The purpose of the apostle, however, also is to make our souls intrepid. I may be completely overawed on beholding the strength of the enemy; but then again, I am inspired with dauntless courage “in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” I have been baptized into the Lord; by faith I am united to God the Almighty, who allowed himself to be attacked by all the power of wickedness, and has gained the victory. In him, and in the power of his might; mark you, in the power of the Lord’s might, you shall surely tread the devil and his hosts underfoot. It is a case of fighting for your life, while you are here; but the victory is assured, and its spoils shall last forever. Put on the armor; work with one hand, but carry a sword in the other. “The whole armor of God.” The apostle repeats it: “Put on the whole armor of God,” and “take unto you the whole armor of God.” First of all, you must be girt about with truth. This is the belt by which the garments are held in place; truth, truth in your innermost heart! Walk in the light before God and men, or you will stumble and be trampled underfoot. In the next place, you must have on the righteousness of Christ; the breastplate which protects the heart and conscience against the dagger of every accuser. Furthermore, you must have your “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” That is to say, you must live all the time in the covenant of peace with God, in all your life gladly confess Christ, and suffer with him the ignominy of the cross. Do this, holding up the “shield of faith” against all the fiery darts of the wicked; that is, feeling assured of the presence of the invisible God, and of the truth of his promise; thus mortifying all the wicked thoughts and desires which are kindled in you by the tempter. The “helmet of salvation” is hope; that is, the soul’s certain expectation of eternal glory, which gives you courage to hold up your head in all afflictions. Finally, you must use the “sword of the Spirit”; for you are not only to protect yourself, but to put your enemy to rout. Use the sword of the Spirit, the sword which is the Spirit; but the Spirit is the word of God. The Spirit of the Lord in the word shall, then, be your strength of soul and hand, wherewith you smite the devil, as did Christ in the wilderness. — That we shall in this way conquer in the strength of the Lord is as certain, as it is that we can by no possibility conquer in our own strength. Brethren, the crown of glory beckons; “put on the whole armor of God,” and “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might!”
Almighty faithful God, be with us in the evil day, and protect us against the cunning and violent attacks of the devil. Lord God, make us strong in thee, and put on us thy whole armor; give us victory, and let us stand, having done all. Amen.*
As true as God’s own word is true,
Nor earth nor hell, with all their crew,
Against us shall prevail.
A jest and byword are they grown;
“God is with us;” we are his own;
Our victory cannot fail.
[TLH 263, LSB 666, ELH 375; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.