The Gracious Crisis for FAITH - John 4:46-54

7 Signs in John • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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Jesus’ second Sign/Miracle in John is healing the son of a royal officer. Surely this man had resources of politics and money that would’ve been used to help his son, but they were useless as he was at the point of death. It was at this point that the officer turned to the only One who can grant life - to Jesus. This is another miracle displaying Jesus’ supernatural power.

Notes

Transcript

What will it take for you to believe?

Good morning. And, MERRY CHRISTMAS! What a wonderful time of year!! What a SPECIAL time!

WALMART CUSTOMER SERVICE: Yesterday morning, we had a return. With one child awake, Liz and I slipped out for a quick date to Wally World to return a Christmas tree. It was early and not many people were in the store, it was pretty quiet. The Customer Service rep was nice, but fairly impersonal. The transaction was quick, but as we were walking off, I said, “Thanks, and Merry Christmas”. When she heard those words, she smiled and her face brightened. Why?

Well, for me Christmas is obvious. We celebrate the Kenosis. We celebrate Philippians 2:6-7 - the Holy Incarnation - the birth of the Savior.

But, for her, I’m not sure. Does she believe in the miraculous birth?

What about you? What do you believe and how does that belief affect your life?

Passage:

John 4:46–54 NASB95

Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

PRAY

This is the Second Sign Miracle in John:

John 20:30–31 NASB95

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

SIGN - or ATTESTING MIRACLE - A FLAG

Teaching Point #1: the Setting - the CRISIS

John 4:46–48 NASB95

In JOHN

John 2 - Jesus turns water to wine in CANA of Galilee, then heads to Jerusalem for the PASSOVER.

He clears the temple of money changers

He was doing other miracles (John 2:23 & John 4:45)

John 3 - Nicodemus - YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN & John the Baptist

John 4 - Woman at the Well

Jesus is back in Cana

Royal official from Capernaum

maybe 15-20 miles of travel from Cana

All we know is that his job title is given to show some level of prominence above a common person. He had access to resources - to the most modern healthcare of his day

The PROBLEM - Son was sick to the point of DEATH

unknown illness that the world was unable to treat

At least ONE DAY’s travel from Capernaum. So at least 2 days away from his dying son!

He assumed Jesus must operate in a humanly logical way - Jesus had to come to the boy AND He must do it before the boy dies.

Was imploring - IMPERFECT, ACTIVE - he was persistent

JESUS’s response - John 4:48 “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””

you - PLURAL

John 2:23–25 NASB95

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

They had FAITH! But in what…?

These people believed in Jesus, but He did not believe in them! They were “unsaved believers”! [Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 293.]

Teaching Point # 2: the Chance to BELIEVE IN JESUS!

John 4:49–50 NASB95

The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

The official does not debate with Jesus about faith. He is in a LIFE or DEATH crisis. This is a real as it gets.

Jesus graciously gives him the opportunity to BELIEVE in HIS WORD!

It is not just belief in WHAT WE SEE, WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, WHAT WE KNOW.

New Indiana Jones movie: “I don’t believe in magic, but a few times in my life I’ve seen things I cannot explain. And I’ve come to believe that it’s not so much WHAT YOU BELIEVE, but IT’S HOW HARD YOU BELIEVE IT”

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

IT IS BELIEF IN WHO GOD SAYS JESUS IS THAT SAVES!

My brief testimony:

Teaching Point #3: The confirmation of FAITH leads to contagious FAITH

John 4:51–53 NASB95

As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.

The man started back home. Some believe he waited until the next day - no traveled at night. Either way, he stopped begging for his son’s life, convinced by Jesus.

The servant’s had left as soon as the boy was better to come get his dad.

Side note: the other people in Cana were not witnesses of the miracle.

THE MAN BELIEVES THE WORD OF GOD AND STARTED OFF! His FAITH led to ACTION. In that order!

Jesus spoke. He believed. Then, he left.

He left Jesus and headed back home BEFORE he had confirmation of the healing. The healing happened WHEN JESUS SPOKE.

When what was hoped for was confirmed, others believed, too!

So What?

The boy was saved

The family believed. A potentially family of influence, too.

No one else, though, saw or believed because of this - not at that time.

John 20:31 NASB95

but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

The Son of God:

Gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, good to all

Physical healing over a distance with just a word

The Christ:

Salvation came to the man and his family

Salvation comes through FAITH IN JESUS!!!

GOD LOVES TO BE TRUSTED!! HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT HE SENT JESUS FOR US!

John 17:3 NASB95

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

What about you? What do you believe?

Why is Christmas joyful for you? Is it just the festivities? The lights? The music? The VIBE?

OR…do you really believe that

God the Son left heaven to be born as a HUMAN in order to

LIVE AMONG US

to GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES to KNOW GOD

to SHOW US HOW TO LIVE, HOW TO LOVE!

to DIE FOR US!!!

to be RAISED AGAIN!

For those who don’t know Jesus:

I’m not sure if you are in a normal, everyday season of life - like the wedding. Or, if you are near or in a time of crisis. But I do know that God loves to be trusted, and He wants you to TRUST in HIM.

What will it take for you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?

Here is the message from God to you:

John the Baptist preached in Matthew 3:2 , ““Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

Jesus says in Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

REPENT = BELIEF

For those who profess faith in Jesus:

Is your faith contagious? Are you living out the life you have been given?

Jesus in Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.””

John 17:20–21 NASB95

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Go, tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain - Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God is born!!

PRAY