Sermon Tone Analysis

Where is God?

PRAY…

PRAY…

As the recovery from Hurricane Harvey continues in Texas and Hurricane Irma is beating on Florida, as the northwest portion of our country is on fire, and earthquakes are happening in other places around the globe, there is one question that many people are asking.

Where is God?

The problem with that question is that it assumes something about God that just isn’t biblical.

It assumes that God MUST do everything He CAN do.

In other words, it says God has to stop hurricanes or wildfires or earthquakes just because He has the ability to stop them.

But the Bible doesn’t talk about God that way.

God has a purpose for everything He does.

I agree with - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can’t fully comprehend all that God is doing even in the midst of horrible disasters like we are seeing.

And even though we can’t fully comprehend all of God’s purposes, there is at least 1 overarching principle that God works under.

And this particular overarching principle is found in the reason the Spirit of God inspired John to write this Gospel.

But not only is this principle found in the entire Gospel, it is also demonstrated in the verses before us today.

I actually would not be surprised if the official in this story was asking the very question that may be on the tip of our tongues this morning.

Where is God?

Where is God?

But not only is this principle found in the entire Gospel, it is also demonstrated in the verses before us today.

I actually would not be surprised if the official in this story was asking the very question that may be on the tip of our tongues this morning.

Where is God?

Just to set the context, Jesus has just completed the ministry in Samaria that saw many people believe.

It began with that lone woman at the well and spread throughout the town.

Jesus stayed 2 days and then, as we read in verse 43-45, He finished the trip to Galilee.

Many of them had seen Jesus clean out the money-changers from the temple in Jerusalem and so they came to Him.

Probably wondering what He would do next.

And that is where we will pick up the story this morning.

1.1.

This official’s son was nearing death.

But he had heard that Jesus was nearby.

He might have heard something about the fantastic wine that had been served at a wedding the last time Jesus was there.

He might also have heard about the ruckus Jesus had made in the temple in Jerusalem.

Either way, this man had heard that Jesus was someone special.

He was desperate.

His son was deathly ill.

So he pleads with Jesus to come and heal his son.

Where is God?

1.1.

This official’s son was nearing death.

But he had heard that Jesus was nearby.

He might have heard something about the fantastic wine that had been served at a wedding the last time Jesus was there.

He might also have heard about the ruckus Jesus had made in the temple in Jerusalem.

Either way, this man had heard that Jesus was someone special.

He was desperate.

His son was deathly ill.

So he pleads with Jesus to come and heal his son.

1.2.

Jesus makes, what I think, is a sad statement.

Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.

This man wasn’t sure that Jesus COULD do anything.

What he knew was that he was desperate for his son to live.

And if Jesus could do it, this man knew that he had to ask.

Jesus’ statement is sad because it assumes unbelief.

Jesus knows that this particular man will not believe unless he sees with his own eyes the power of God.

It kind of reminds me of Thomas, the one we call the doubter.

After Jesus had died, been buried, and raised from the dead, He appeared to some of His disciples.

They told Thomas about it.

And Thomas didn’t believe.

He said, Unless I put my fingers in the holes the nails made in his palms and unless I can put my fist in the hole in his sides, I will not believe.

The next time the disciples were all gathered, Jesus appeared and invited Thomas to put his fingers in the holes of His palms and his fist in the hole in Jesus’ side.

Thomas fell down and worshiped Jesus.

This man is no less a doubter than Thomas.

The difference is this man is pleading for his son’s life.

1.3.

Please come down before my child dies.

It was just a matter of time.

His son was going to die.

But if this Jesus could do something, He needed to do it quickly.

Can you hear the urgency in the man’s voice?

Come on!

My son is dying.

DO SOMETHING!

Jesus responds, but not in a way we would expect.

Where is God?

2.1.

I appreciate this translation and what they are conveying, but, to be honest, they completely miss what John wrote here by placing it in the future tense, Your son will live.

The Greek simply says, Go, your son lives.

This becomes very important in a few verses, but you need to know that Jesus did not say your son will get better.

He did not say your son will slowly respond to treatment.

Jesus simply said your son lives.

2.1.

I appreciate this translation and what they are conveying, but, to be honest, they completely miss what John wrote here by placing it in the future tense, Your son will live.

The Greek simply says, Go, your son lives.

This becomes very important in a few verses, but you need to know that Jesus did not say your son will get better.

He did not say your son will slowly respond to treatment.

Jesus simply said your son lives.

2.2.

And just like that, the man believes that what Jesus has said is true and he begins the journey back home.

Remember, there are no cell phones, no email, no texting, no snapping, no Instagram, no Facebook.

There was no way to know that his sons condition had changed.

In fact, as we will see in the next verse, this man had been away from his son for at least a full day.

In his mind, his son may have already died.

But he is still intent on doing whatever he had to so his son could live.

Yet, even will all of that, when Jesus told him his son lived, the man believes and leaves to go home.

3.1.

During the trip home, the official meets his servants who were coming to get him.

And they told him that his son was getting better.

Can you almost see the wheels turning in the man’s mind?