Something we can learn about with our readings today is
faith. In the Old Testament reading we hear about a foreign general named
Naaman. He did not believe at first. Eventually he came around to trying out
the word of the prophet Elisha. He was healed of his disease. In the Gospel
readings we hear about the faith of the leper and then of the Centurion. Both
believed in Jesus. Both received healing—the leper, for himself; the Centurion,
for his servant. Today we will learn more about faith.
First of all, faith is not something that is limited to
Christians, or even to religious people, but all people employ faith everyday
as they go about their business. Let’s use a car as an example. When we get
into our cars and turn the key, we have faith that the ignition will engage and
the engine will start. If we didn’t believe that, then we would not even turn
the key. When we back the car out into the street we believe that the car will
work properly. The brakes will stop us, the wheel will turn us. If we did not
have faith in these things we would not dare to go out on the streets. Not all
cars are worthy of our faith. Perhaps if the car is old, then we will not take
it on long trips. We stay close to home just in case the car turns out to be
unreliable. A car that has our faith is something that we use and rely upon in
order to get us around so that we can live our lives. A car that does not have
our faith is something we do not rely upon. We are aware of the possibility of
being disappointed if we trust in it. So it goes. We have hopes and
expectations in all sorts of things that make up our daily life. We trust in
cars, in people, in institutions, and also in God.
Faith in God is something that is just as specific as the
faith in our car. We believe that a trustworthy car will bring us good by
operating properly. It is the same with our faith in God. Faith in God means
that we believe he will do what he has said to us. Believers believe that God
will do good to them. This is the faith that you see in the different stories
that we have in our readings for today. Naaman, the leper whom Jesus met and
cured, the Centurion whose servant was healed—all of them believed God would do
good to them. Just as we trust in the various parts of our car working, so also
these men believed that turning to God would help them in their troubles. We
see in all three cases that their faith was proved true. They all got what they
hoped for—the goodness of God. But also in all three of these examples, their
faith in the goodness of God was tested in various ways. Their faith is
remarkable, because it prevailed against this testing as they held on to the
promise of goodness in God.
In our Old Testament lesson there is the example of Naaman. He
was a Syrian who heard that the God of the Israelites was good. A captured
Israelite girl told him. She said that the God of Israel was with the prophet
Elisha. If Naaman would go to him, then he could be cured of his disease of
leprosy. It was by faith that Naaman sent a letter to the king of Israel,
telling him that he was going to come. It was by faith that Naaman went to the
prophet Elisha. But his hopes and expectations were put to the test by the
unexpected way Elisha acted. Naaman was expecting Elisha to come out and wave
his hand over him, and examine him, and then figure out what to do. Elisha did
no such thing. He didn’t come out to see him. He sent a message through a
servant. This was very offensive to Naaman. It appeared that Elisha didn’t care
about him, and Naaman was an important man.
Furthermore, the instructions that were given were
offensive. He was supposed to go wash in the Jordan. The Jordan isn’t that
impressive compared to the mountain streams that Naaman knew from his homeland.
It would be a bit like you being told to wash in some drainage ditch. If there
were any waters that could cure him, then surely it would have to be a mountain
spring that is known for its purity, wouldn’t it? At this point Naaman loses
his faith in God and in God’s prophet Elisha. His reason told him that the Word
God spoke through Elisha was ridiculous. He could do better on his own.
Thankfully Naaman had some good friends. The best friends
that anybody can have are the ones that help us believe God’s Word. These
friends were his servants. They gently argued with Naaman until he finally
overcame his unbelief. Reluctantly, he washed in the Jordan and was cured. He
even got more than he bargained for. His skin was not just healed of the
disease, but was made like the skin of a young person—no wrinkles or liver
spots. His faith in the goodness of God was confirmed by his healing. He makes a
good confession when he says, “Surely there is no God except the God of
Israel.”
Something similar can happen today in Christ’s Church. Jesus
has given us a similar washing as the washing in the Jordan river. This washing
is the washing of Baptism. The promises attached to baptism are so glorious
that they are hard to believe. Baptism forgives us all our sins, rescues from
death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this. But
reason looks at baptism and finds it lacking in impressiveness. How can water
do this? Shouldn’t salvation come from great striving after purity and
righteousness? How can it be that this water and this word can bring about
salvation? And so there are many today who are just like Naaman. They reject
this word of God because it doesn’t not suit their fancy. They feel that this
is not how people should become clean and holy before God. But it doesn’t
matter what people think. What matters is what God promises. Therefore, whoever
believes and is baptized shall be saved. Whoever does not believe will be
condemned.
In our Gospel lesson we hear about two individuals who have
faith in God. They both believe in Jesus. These two are remarkable examples of
faith. They believe against the odds. They hold fast to the goodness of God
despite expectations. The Leper who comes to Jesus is bold. Lepers were
condemned by the Law of Moses to live outside of society as those who were
unclean. Uncleanness meant that they were unable to participate in the temple. They
had to stay at a great distance lest their uncleanness should infect other
people. It’s kind of like how pastor does not want to infect all of you with
his influenza.
But this Leper believed that Jesus was powerful. He believed
that Jesus was not just any ordinary man who would catch his uncleanness and
not be able to do anything about it. Jesus would help him. That is why he came
and asked. He received what he believed. The Leper was cleansed.
This Leper is remarkable in his faith in a different way
than Naaman. It was not just his reason that opposed his faith, but the very Law
of God that opposed him. The Law of God condemned him. He didn’t belong among
the good, holy people of Israel. Nevertheless, even though the Law condemned
him, he believed in the goodness of God and the mercy of Jesus Christ. In this
way he is a very good example of faith for us as well. According to God’s own Law,
you have no right to come before God to be blessed by him. You deserve
punishment according to the Law. Faith, however, looks to the fulfillment of
the Law that is promised in Jesus Christ. He has come not to condemn sinners
but to forgive them and reconcile them to God with his own righteousness.
Finally, there is the example of the Centurion. The
Centurion was not a Jew. He was a Gentile. He worked for the Roman government. He
was the commander of several hundred soldiers. Jesus says that his faith is
greater than the faith of any Jew. So what made his faith great? We see what we
see in the other two examples. He did not allow reason, nor the law, to stop
him in his quest for the goodness of God. Naaman wanted Elisha to come out in
person and deal with him. The Centurion says that there is no need for Jesus to
deal with his servant personally. No examination or waving of his hands was
necessary. If Jesus would just say the word, then the servant would be healed. By
nature all people like to believe in show and ceremony. The more marvelous the
show is, the better it seems stuff should work. The Centurion is satisfied with
a simple word, contrary to what our reason thinks should work. That’s the one
part of his great faith. The other part of his great faith is similar to the
Leper’s faith. He does not let the Law stop him from his quest for grace. The
Centurion was an uncircumcised Gentile. He didn’t belong with the people of
God. The Law of Moses said he didn’t belong. But his faith was not in the Law.
His faith was in Jesus. Nobody is saved through faith in the Law, for the Law
only condemns us. Jesus is the Savior. Through faith in him we receive
salvation.
In the Old Testament lesson and the Gospel lesson we have three
examples of faith. Faith is important. All people use faith. Faith is very
practical. What Jesus has sent out Christians to say is that we should believe
in him. The Gospel, or good news, is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who
takes away the sin of the world. Believe in this promise and it is yours. With
the Word of the Gospel, and in the Gospel-laden sacraments, Jesus does to us
today what he did long ago to that Leper and Centurion. We are forgiven,
rescued from death and the devil, and given eternal salvation. The faith that
we have in his promise will not be put to shame. Jesus tells the Centurion,
“Let it be done to you as you believe.” Since the Centurion expected good
things, and not bad things, from Jesus, that is exactly what he received. All
those who trust in Jesus Christ will not be disappointed. Their faith will be proven
right. Believe in Jesus. His promises come true.
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