Text of Sermon for the Wednesday of Pentecost 22
Wednesday of Pentecost 22 November 12, 2025
Collect of the Day: O Lord, keep your household, the Church, in continual godliness that through Your protection she may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve You in good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Epistle reading for this 22nd Wednesday after Pentecost is from Ephesians, the sixth chapter. (Ephesians 6:10-17)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, This is the Word of the Lord
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 4th chapter. (John 4:46-54)
46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 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. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 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.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. This is the Gospel of the Lord
O Lord, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
Along with recording Jesus’ words, John also records seven signs. The signs are miracles. The first two signs happen in Cana of Galilee. The first sign is the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast. The healing of the official’s son is the second sign.
On the surface the two signs appear to be wildly different. Can saving a family from social embarrassment and potential shame for not providing enough wine for the celebration be compared to the dramatic healing of the official’s beloved son? No, I don’t think so. Surely, restoring the son’s health is to be move valued. However, both signs occur because people trust Jesus’ words.
Jesus’ mother has faith in her son. She is the one who directs the servants to do whatever her son says to do. At Jesus’ request, the servants fill the containers with water. Then, at Jesus’ request, some water from the containers is taken to the Master of the feast. After tasting the newly made wine, the master of the feast offers his critical applause for saving the best for last.
The reason this sign is given to us is so that we know that belief in Jesus flows from the miracle. John 2:11 says, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
That the official sought out Jesus in Cana points to the kind of hope that the official has in Jesus. The hope is that Jesus will come with him and heal his son. When Jesus directs him to return home saying, “Go; your son will live.” We are told, “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” (John 4:50) The official trusted Jesus’ word. His trust in Jesus’ word was affirmed when he met his servants. The timing of Jesus’ word of promise and the event of his son’s healing was confirmed. Jesus did not have to be there. Jesus Word is all powerful. Even from a distance, he effects miracles.
When this happens, Dad, is not the only one who believes in Jesus, but the whole household. The whole household believed the word of Jesus. Their faith is in Jesus the Christ.
In between these two signs is a conversation that we are privileged to overhear. The Pharisee Nicodemus comes to Jesus. As dear Nicodemus is trying to wrap his mind around Jesus’ announcement that those who receive him must be born again, Jesus explains his greater purpose as the Incarnate Word. He is destined for the cross.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Ultimately, the signs of Jesus’ miracles point to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the salvation of the world. Jesus comes to heal us of our sin-sickness that left unattended leads to certain, eternal death. The cross is the sign of God’s love for the world. The Holy Spirit creates faith in us to believe in Jesus as our Savior. He is our Christ. His forgiveness brings us peace.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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