Sermon from November 10, 2024
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in the truth, for His word is truth. Amen
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity (2024)
Be Not Afraid, Trust in Christ Rev. Toby Byrd
Matthew 9:18-26 (ESV)
While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." [19] And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. [20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, [21] for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." [22] Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. [23] And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, [24] he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. [25] But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. [26] And the report of this went through all that district.
The world is full of fear and the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that all those who fear death are subject to lifelong slavery (Hebrews 2:15). However, when we look into the world of men, we cannot help but see that fear abounds. In spite of affluent societies, laughter, and bravado, fear abounds in every nook and cranny of the world. The poor are afraid of social insecurity, the rich fear poverty, the sick fear the outcome of their sickness, and the healthy fear becoming sick. There is a fear of war and famine, earthquake and tornado, drought and flood, fire and freeze and the list goes on and on and on.
Given that natural man is a man of fear we would do well to ask the question, “How can man overcome his fear? Truth is, there is no way that natural man can overcome his fear. Natural man is a creature of fear, defenseless against the enemies of life. Yet a path has been opened to natural man to lead him out of the pit of fear into the valley of peace. The prophet Isaiah opens our hearts to this path, saying: “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:4 ESV). And as God told Abram, He also tells us, “Fear not … I am your shield” (Genesis 15:1 ESV).
Thus, what a blessing it is to be a follower of Christ, cleansed in the waters of Baptism and made a child of God, an inheritor of the heavenly promise of eternal life with His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. When our Lord Jesus was born into this world the angels told the shepherds, “Fear not!” (Luke 2:10). When our Lord Jesus rose from the dead, the angel once again said to the women, “Fear not!” (Matthew 28:5 KJV) Throughout His ministry our Lord Jesus told His followers, whenever they exhibited fear, to fear not or not to be afraid. When they would exhibit fear, He would say to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26 ESV) In these words our Lord shines the light of truth on their fear, their struggling faith. Yet he also encourages them, saying; “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 ESV). And again, He says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Therefore, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27 ESV). Therefore, as Christians, we are encouraged to be emboldened as we travel through this temporal life with the eyes of our faith always on the blessings of our eternal life yet to come. We travel without fear because we know God and our blessed Savior Jesus Christ have our eternal welfare and safety first and foremost in mind and they have prepared us, through faith, to live in peace and tranquility for all eternity.
In our text this morning we witness a woman who has been afflicted with a debilitating illness for twelve years. During that time, in addition to her physical suffering she had to endure the inability of doctors to properly diagnose her disease. Moreover, both St. Mark and St. Luke tell us she had spent all her money on these physicians who were unable to heal her. In fact, rather than make her well, her condition continued to deteriorate. She is beside herself with fear and pain and hopelessness. But not all is lost; she has heard that Jesus, the One of whom everyone is speaking, is a miracle worker. She believes He can heal her. Then suddenly, as God has planned, this woman finds herself in the presence of Jesus, walking with a crowd, and she says to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well” (v. 21).
As is typical whenever Jesus moved among the people, He gathered a large crowd of followers. It was no different on this day. As He walked the streets of Capernaum, surrounded by a large crowd, this woman, “Came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased” (Luke 8:44 ESV). She was healed! Years of pain and suffering were erased in a moment, in a flash; the healing power of our Lord Jesus went out from Him and into her, curing her of her disease. How could this happen? How could this be? We do not try to answer this question, but simply say, Be not afraid, trust in Christ.
Faith: what a marvelous gift from God. St. Paul tells us “Faith comes from hearing … the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17 ESV). This woman had heard the reports of Jesus (Mark 5:27). She had heard that He was the Christ, the anointed One of God, our Prophet, Priest, and King. She had heard that He was the Son of the Living God and that He was able to perform miracles based on His own power. What she heard, she believed, this Word had gifted her with faith. She believed that Word. She believed that Jesus was wise enough, strong enough, and loving enough to help her where all human help had failed. She believed He was the Messiah, the promised One from God, divine yet human and able to answer all her needs. When she touched the fringe of His robe in that crowd, she poured out her heart to Him in silent prayer, seeking His divine healing. And what’s more, she believed that healing would happen. And the One who knows the hearts of men, turned to her and said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (v. 22).
Be not afraid, trust in Christ. As Jesus helped this woman, who was beyond human help, He can also help you in your illness. However, it must not be overlooked that your faith in His healing help, for your physical illness, can only be based on your faith in the eternal salvation He has won for you by His death and resurrection. So, you must first learn and believe in Christ as the Savior of your soul.
Our Lord reminds us, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 KJV). Since the soul is more valuable and more important than the body; it is therefore most important that you know Jesus as the Savior of your soul. You must know and believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is your Lord, who has redeemed you lost and condemned person, by His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, He purchased and won you from all your sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. Only after you know your Lord Jesus as the Savior of your soul can you then, in sickness, hear His comforting whisper; Be not afraid, trust in Me.
This comforting message is of great importance in the midst of a fearful world where sickness and death reign. Turn around and everywhere you look, you see the world as one huge waiting room filled with people crying out for medical attention. An although medical science is advancing at a rapid pace with doctors constantly making new breakthroughs in the control and elimination of disease, none of these breakthroughs answer the question of curing the soul of the oldest disease known to man, sin. This sickness is here, and it abounds. It compounds your suffering when you’re struck with a physical illness. As a disease attacks your body, Satan attacks your conscience adding to your burden. Overcome by the distress of your illness and the attacks of conscience you begin to fear; you fear your mortality and your immortality, but Jesus comes to remind you; Be not afraid, trust in Me.
The woman who sought out Jesus, hoping to touch the fringe of His robe is seized with fear and trembling. But when Jesus, feeling that His power had gone out from Him, asks; “Who touched my garments?” (Mark 5:30 ESV) not in a tone of anger, for He knew that it was the touch of a faithful soul. However, fearing that she had done something wrong, this woman, “when [she] saw that she was not hidden . . . came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed” Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (Luke 8:47-48 ESV). With these merciful and kind words, the fullness of our Lord’s love is poured out upon this woman.
Now it’s true than when we’re sick God wants us to use those human means which He has made available to help us, doctors and medicine. However, just as we use food and drink to sustain our bodies, God reminds us, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3 ESV). Thus, while we’re sick, using doctors and medicine, Jesus still comes to us and gives us His assurance: Be not afraid, trust in Me. Believe the Word that tells you Jesus rules over all creation; heaven and earth. Believe Him when He says He will never forget you, telling you, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 ESV). No, the One who gave His life for you upon the Altar of the Cross so you would not have to suffer the spiritual agony of God’s wrath is not about to abandon you in the midst of your physical trials. The woman wanted only to touch our Lord’s robe, and she would be healed, you, as a child of God, can reach out and grasp His hand for He who made you an heir with Him through the waters of Baptism willingly gave His life for you, even when you were His enemy, to heal you from the dreaded disease of sin. You did not have to touch Him for He loved you before you ever loved Him, and He will never abandon you for you are one of His loved ones.
Yes, the world is full of fear and all those who fear death are subject to lifelong slavery, but when that hour comes and we must face that foe, Jesus also comes and gently whispers into our hearts, Be not afraid, trust in Me. He says to you and to me, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV). And thus, we ask, “God, grant us Your Spirit that we may believe. Help us to look to Jesus, to hold Jesus, to believe in His Word of promise and peace that word which replaces our fear with faith so that in all things we can confidently sing: “‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55 ESV). In the name of Jesus. Amen.
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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