Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church

You Will Live

St. John 4:46-54

November 9, 2025 anno Domini

This was now the second sign Jesus did. The first sign was changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. That’s probably how the nobleman knew about Jesus. He had enjoyed the best glass of Cabernet he ever had at that wedding. At the end of the wedding, when most hosts are watering down the worst wine they have because everyone has drunk enough (or too much), the servants bring out a wine above all wines. And not in meager measure, but as much as you wanted. How did this happen? Jesus of Nazareth simply told the servants to fill some water jars, and bring a sample to the master of the feast. Jesus spoke and it was so.

The first sign was at a wedding. The second sign was at a funeral. And here’s what you should learn from this – if you’re married to Jesus by faith, you don’t need to worry about death.

The nobleman had faith. He believed that Jesus could change the course of nature. He made water into wine, not in 28 days, but simply by His Word – fill those jars with water, bring some to the master. He said it and it was so.

That’s because Jesus is God – the same God who created the world. God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation” and zucchinis sprang forth.  “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night” and down the road the government decided on daylight saving time so we could figure it out. God spoke and it was so. Jesus spoke and it was so, water into wine. Jesus of Nazareth is God in flesh – that’s what the first sign told the nobleman. He couldn’t forget that glass of cabernet and therefore he couldn’t forget Jesus of Nazareth.

Then his son got sick. First his son was tired. Then he stopped eating. Then he couldn’t get out of bed. Then came the fever. He was a rich man, so every specialist was consulted, every treatment was purchased, but to no avail. He maxed out his deductible on the first day. It didn’t matter.

It’s what we do, isn’t it? We are always trying to ward off death, whether by actively pursuing every treatment under the sun, or by passively ignoring death thinking it won’t come.

The world has answers of those afraid of death. You may have caught the news this week that the Governor of Illinois has a bill on his desk to sign or veto. The bill called “The Sanitary Food Preparation Act” was proposed by a Democratic senator. Even Republicans should be in favor of sanitary food preparation. During debate, an amendment was offered by another Democratic senator. The amendment replaced the entire bill with an assisted suicide bill, and it passed the senate 30-27. I believe it is still called the “Sanitary Food Preparation Act” except now it offers assisted suicide to the residents of Illinois. This is how you know evil when you see it. Evil never calls a thing what it is Suicide is self-murder.

If you want to know how assisted suicide serves people, here’s a story from my former homeland Canada. A disabled veteran asked for government assistance to have a lift installed at his house. The government health care system offered him assisted suicide instead. He wanted to live. It was more efficient for him to die.

We mask over funerals by calling them celebrations of life. Ironic that the cause of the celebration is death. Once again, not calling a thing what it is.

Today’s text offers a much better remedy. Get married to Jesus by faith and enjoy the resurrection of your body. Jesus is not only the God whose Word does what it says, but He is the God of the living and the dead.  

The nobleman came to Jesus with death – the death of his son was imminent. Like us, that nobleman had his own notion of what Jesus should do. He wanted Jesus to come and see his son. Surely seeing his son, seeing how sick he was, seeing how much he meant to his father, all this would convince Jesus to heal the boy.  But Jesus had to teach that nobleman some things, some truths we need to learn as well. Faith is not God doing what you want. You are not in control of life and death – Jesus is. Jesus did not answer the man’s prayer. He did not go to Capernaum. He did not see the man’s son. He was not swayed by this father’s love for the boy.

All Jesus gave the man was a Word, His Word, God’s Word. “Go, your son will live.” Now we know how that ended. The father finds out from his servants that his son was healed at the very moment Jesus said those words. But the father did not know at the time what Jesus meant. Jesus could have meant – your son will live in the resurrection. Or Jesus could have pulled a Lazarus, and let his son die and raise him from the dead to live some more on earth. That Word of Jesus called the nobleman to trust that whatever Jesus meant it was good for him and good for his son. Even as everything God spoke in Genesis resulted in good.

Believe the Word of Jesus when it comes to your death. Believe His word, “You will live.” You can believe that Word because life and death are solely in the hands of Jesus Christ. By His death on the cross, He destroyed death. By His resurrection from the dead He has brought life and immortality to the world, to you. Christ Jesus has taken away your sins – that’s the reason you will die – nothing else – not cancer, not old age, not a coronary event – sin. By His death on the cross, not only has He robbed death of it’s power, but after the resurrection and by His ascension the Father has put all things under His feet. Everything in the world, everything, including the day of your death is under Christ’s reign.

Now I know you want to be in charge of your death. I want to die many years from now, in my sleep, without any suffering, still able to do everything I want to do, just like that nobleman who wanted Jesus to come down and see his son. But Jesus knows better. He’s got the whole world in mind, all the children of God. He knows what my wife and children and what you need. He knows what I need.

You can trust Him about the time and manner of your death. He might know a great tribulation is coming so He uses death to spare you. Or He might know your faith needs strengthening through affliction so He allows you to live longer and be tempered by suffering. But better Him than you because all that He says and does is good, more than that it is good for you, for the church, and the world. Learn from the nobleman to trust the Word of Jesus when you’re facing death – You will live. In the name of Jesus. Amen.