Do you believe
in ghosts?
What about
the Loch Ness Monster?
The Yeti?
Fairies, pixies and little folk?
What would it take
for you to believe?
Photographic evidence?
A YouTube video?
Or would it have to be
something you see
with your own eyes?
[PAUSE]
A nobleman rushes to Jesus
and asks Him
to heal his dying son.
And Jesus tells him
"Except ye see signs
and wonders,
ye will not believe."
It's a strange thing
to say,
isn't it?
After all,
this nobleman
has only heard
of Jesus' fame
and clearly believes
that He can heal his son.
He's clearly
not after signs and wonders
but the healing of his son.
He's not after proof
to believe
but already believes.
So why does the Lord
tell Him,
"Except ye see signs
and wonders,
ye will not believe."
[PAUSE]
There is a great beauty
in using the language
of Cranmer, Coverdale
and King James
in our worship.
But often it reveals
something
that modern English
does not.
In particular,
Old English
can tell the difference
between
you singular
and
you plural.
We say "thou, thee and thine'
when we are speaking
to one person.
We say "you, ye and, your"
when we are talking
to more than
one person.
And Jesus is saying "ye".
"Except ye see signs
and wonders,
ye will not believe."
He is talking
to a group of people,
the man among the bystanders.
You see that
we know that the man
already believes
and so
Our Lord
is about to use
the faith of this man
as an example
to all those
who will not believe
unless they see signs
and wonders.
And what happens?
[PAUSE]
There is no flash or bang.
There is no waving of hands
or making clay
or anything obvious at all.
The man takes Jesus
at His word
and starts the journey home.
And we know that
this journey
took more than a day!
What faith
this man has!
And his household greets him
with the great news:
the son lives.
And St John
doesn't even bring us
to see the boy,
either.
We are just told
that the son lives
and that is that.
We leave the situation
with the father
going back to his house
rejoicing.
The miracle
isn't for us to see.
It is a miracle
for us to believe
because we trust
in Our Lord.
It is a miracle
that brings us
face to face with
the joy that we can't see,
the peace which passes
all understanding,
the love we see through
the glass darkly.
We don't need to see Christ
to believe Him
but when we do see Him
we shall be like Him
for we shall see Him as He is.
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