Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity
The Collect.
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RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed[1] from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As this biblically-based prayer of Collect clearly reveals, forgiveness and comfort can only come to those who are faithful to the Lord. We must know and believe that the Blood of Christ is sufficient to cover our sins, and that He is ready and willing to grant pardon according to our faith. It is through this means of faith and pardon that our minds can be still and stayed on Him during every turbulent storm on the seas of life.
GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace. Who, among the peoples of the world, are beneficiaries of pardon and peace? It is only those who are the faithful people of the Lord as clearly elucidated in the prayer. We are pardoned through the blood of Jesus Christ, and we receive that peace which surpasses all understanding in our hearts thereby. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7) The peace of the Christian is not a peace from the noise and tumult of the world, but an inner peace granted IN SPITE of that noise and tumult of the world. It is a peace, as the above verse avers, of the heart and mind and that only through Jesus Christ.
There is a beautiful hymn entitle ‘Blessed Quietness’ or ‘Joys are Flowing Like a River’ that gives an excellent summary of that quiet comfort given by faith in Christ.
Blessed Quietness
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
And the billows cease to roll.
In the above refrain, note that Christ speaks in the midst of the storm. He speaks peace to our HEARTS, not to the sea. It is when this peace is transported to the heart that the sea billows cease to roll. They are no longer threatening to the child of God. There is no other way whereby we may be cleansed from our sins except by pardon of Christ and the attendant peace which that pardon grants.
Peace is not a result of surrender to the world, but a surrender to God. Once we have surrendered our sin-burdened hearts to Him, the battle ceases, and the battlefield is hushed and quiet.
…and serve thee with a quiet mind How do we serve with a quiet mind, and what IS a quiet mind? There are a number of salient virtues of Anglican worship which are not characteristic of most of the mainline denominations – virtues such as a reading of much greater numbers of Scripture texts based on the Reformed Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer. But another virtue of Anglican and biblical worship is the great reverence demonstrated both before, during, and after our worship services. In the Anglican service, the people gather quietly and unobtrusively as they enter the very doors of the church. There is no show of gossip or chatter in our foyers. The worshippers take their pews in an attitude that will be conducive to a reverence in both worship AND attitude. The worshippers often kneel as if they are coming before God personally, and surely they are if the counsel of Christ is believed: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) We gather at church for one purpose, and one purpose only: to worship and reverence the Lord. If the President of the United States were to attend our services, would we gather outside the sanctuary and chatter as neighborhood gossips, or respectfully enter on our best behavior? Christ is a far greater dignitary than any earthly potentate! Do we recognize this fact?
At the conclusion of the service, we do not follow the modern fad of hugging, and kissing, one another and telling them how much we love them. There will be opportunity for this in the fellowship hall. Once the last prayer is spoken, the worshippers remain in silent meditation until the candles are extinguished and a respectful silence is observed. This is Anglican worship and it differs from every other church of which I am familiar, unless we might add the beauty and dignity of the traditional Lutheran service.
Can you see the quiet beauty evidenced in this form of worship? We have a Prayer Book for a reason. That reason is to keep us reverent and respectful in the presence of the Lord during our worship of Him. We are kept from innovating and from adding worldly additions by either officiant or worshipper. This form of worship has existed since long before our Savior came bearing gifts of mercy, grace, truth, and salvation; in fact, from ancient Israel. Dare we sell out in order to satisfy the modern trend toward ‘informality?’
I will quote an anonymous source whose words seem to beautifully illustrate the beauty of that Godly quietness enjoyed by God’s chosen people at every place and at all times: The dew which so bountifully baptizes the flowers and grass, on quiet summer evenings, does not distill in wind and storm. So the dews of grace come down on calm and trustful souls. If we would receive the Holy Spirit of which the dew is an emblem, we must abide in patience and prayer, down low, as the grass waits for the dew.
I will quote another source that is not anonymous: Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. (Psalm 107:30) Do we come to church to know God better? Then heed this counsel: Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10) Perhaps we would profit to remember this admonition next time we approach the sanctuary for worship. Will you?
The Epistle
Ephesians vi. 10.
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Y brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour 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 armour 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: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
If we were to cringe and withdraw into our desert dugouts, we would need no armor. A non –belligerent needs no armor. But we are soldiers of the cross locked in mortal combat with the very enemy of the soul of man – the Devil and his legions. Our battle must be more of offense than of defense since we bear the advantage of the higher terrain and every resource of heaven. So our armor is to protect ourselves, but also to inflict devastating blows to the enemy in the field. He has attempted to misappropriate and corrupt the Creation of our Lord. But the decisive victory has already been won by the Captain of our souls at Calvary. We must now occupy the land and eliminate his pockets of resistance and silence his vedettes and lines of pickets. Truth is our strength and support. Our hearts are covered with the imputed righteousness of Him who has commissioned us to His Army. The Gospel of Peace, having been instilled in our hearts through study and preparation, is the liberty of movement and maneuver which we enjoy on the field. Our main protection against the blows of the enemy is our Faith. The helmet of our salvation is the strength of our learning and belief. Our Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God which is a Two-Edged Sword to either condemn, or convict of sin. Prayer is our communications network whereby we are in constant supplication for the entire army and for each other. This, and the Prayer of Collect, join together as a hand to the glove the Imperative of Faith as our most treasured possession of victory!
The Gospel
John iv. 46
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O 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. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea 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. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 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. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 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. 53 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. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
An interesting passage in John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Upon what mysterious foundation is faith based? Is it upon great signs and wonders performed, or is it based on a more personal level?
We see magicians frequently do amazing feats of deception which appear real, and we are unable to discover the means by which they performed their mysteries. But do we trust them with our sacred honor and souls? No way. There must be something else that gives us cause for trust.
Let us examine the narrative…..
This is the early beginning of Christ’s ministry. We are told in the last verse of our text that this was the second of all miracles that Jesus performed.
He has returned to his home country of Cana and, specifically Capernaum where he had spoken in a synagogue at which time they tried to stone him…
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ND he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4)
There is a nobleman who lived nearby who had heard just rumors of His words and His deeds. His son was dying. There was no hope in any healing except, perchance, through this great man, Jesus, of Galilee. So he came to Him.
And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea 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.
What was Jesus’ response, and to whose benefit was it uttered? Not for the nobleman because his very belief and faith were confirmed by his request of Christ. If he doubted that Christ could heal his son, he would not have left him to die alone and come to ask Jesus to heal him.
Jesus’ response: Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
This man had seen no signs or wonders but, yet, he believed. His knowledge of Christ was meager, but his faith in the small knowledge he did have was tremendous!
The Nobleman paid no mind to the seeming dismissal of Christ. He KNEW Christ, and he KNEW Christ would heal his son – so he simply persisted in his prayer to Christ. Moreover, he knew distance was no object.
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
Once you know Christ, you have the boldness to ask that which is most vexing in your heart. Love was the motivator. The result Jesus’ had elicited was accomplished through the persevering testimony of the nobleman. He would not take ‘no’ for an answer because he knew Christ and he knew it was not the Will of Christ that his little boy should die…so he had the courage to press for the answer he sought.
That is called effectual prayer, and many of us do not have it.
When we have prayed a righteous prayer, and have met the righteous Lord, we must believe that what He has told us in His Word will surely come to pass:
Look at how the nobleman reacted: And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
What happens next? All that he had accepted on faith was born out in reality:
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ND as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 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. 53 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.
Christ will always confirm His seal upon the answers to our prayers whether it be yes or no.
And at last we read this was only the second miracle that Christ had wrought. The first miracle was to transform the water into wine at the marriage feast at Cana of Galilee.
This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee
You may say: “Ah, yes, but the nobleman must have been at the feast and saw this miracle and so believed.” Really? There would seem to me to be a large gulf between turning water into wine and healing a child at the point of death. There was something more, and that was the fact that the nobleman saw in the Person of Christ a truth that escapes many observers…this was the Son of God who was able to do all that willed.
When we lift our prayers to God, do we pray in earnest for a righteous cause, as this nobleman?
Do we pray for the good of others, as this nobleman, before our own interest are pursued?
Do we pray knowing the Person to whom our prayers are directed, as this nobleman?
Do we pray, as this nobleman, knowing that it is already the will of the Father to grant our petition because we already have learned His will for us?
Do we leave our prayers at the portals of heaven and return to our daily business, as this nobleman, knowing that the answer, yes, or no, will be the right answer?
Do we state our case, as this nobleman, and then wait for the answer?
Finally, do we cease to pester God in unbelief and go our way believing in faith?
If we do so, our prayers shall be answered and the answer will always be the right answer.
[1] We need not be reminded our souls are no more self-cleansing than the barnyard stall. Having been found more spiritually dead than was Lazarus in his physical death, there needs to be heard that same Voice that calls us forth from the tomb of spiritual death just as Lazarus was called forth from the stone-carved tomb at Bethany That Voice belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ. Lazarus had nothing to do with Christ coming to Bethany and standing without his tomb. In fact, he knew NOTHING of it, or of anything else, for he was DEAD. So were we ere Christ called us forth. Our service and worship should be in humility and not in flamboyant ways to attract the attention of men. When we flee to our closets, or the quiet of the wilderness, it is then that our spiritual ears are most keen to hear the voice of God.
