John 4:46-53
John 4:46 Jesus therefore came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain royal official, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
Introduction
Our text this morning is taken from our Gospel reading. And I want us to look at it because I think it has something important to say that all of us need to hear, regardless of the particulars we are facing.
Simply put, our text this morning provides a key reminder of a central aspect of our Christian life and walk.
John 4:46 Jesus therefore came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain royal official, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him, and was requesting Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.
Notice at once the setting: Jesus has returned to Cana of Galilee (in northern Israel) for the second time since His public ministry began. Not only that, by the time we reach our passage this morning, Jesus’ notoriety has spread throughout the countryside. In other words, folks have heard about Jesus.
Next, notice the situation: a royal official (this would have been a Jew, who was one of Herod’s civil authorities stationed in Capernaum) has heard that Jesus is in the area and has come down from Capernaum (about a 16 mile trip) to ask Jesus to go back home with him and heal his son. Not only that, verse 47 tells us that the official’s son was at the point of death. Importance: notice at once what’s at stake: our passage this morning begins with a life and death situation. In fact, as we listen, we can hear the desperation and urgency in this father’s voice. Simply put, the royal official has come to Jesus with everything on the line.
48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you all see signs and wonders, you all simply will not believe.”
Notice at once the startling surprise: the royal official has done exactly what we are taught to do. He has brought his need to Jesus. And yet surprisingly Jesus rebukes him. Not only that, as Jesus rebukes the official, He takes the opportunity to rebuke the crowd as well. Notice then Jesus says to “him”, the royal official (singular) “unless you all see” (plural). Not only that, as you and I listen in on this conversation through the pages of Scripture, Jesus rebukes us as well. Why?
First, notice that the problem is not that the royal official turned to Jesus with his need. Instead, the problem is that the official, the crowd, and each one of us as well have a tendency to forget that God is already at work in our situation and that God is in control of the very details we face (thus the need for signs/proofs). Not only that, we also tend to forget God’s character (that God is good, God is faithful, and that God is always for us). Notice the result: unless we see some sign or receive some kind of assurance, we panic and lose sight of all that we should know about God. As such, we grow discouraged, we get overwhelmed, and we begin to take matters into our own hands. Simply put, we forget that God’s hand is at work and so we begin to act as if its not. Notice then, God begins with a corrective. He reminds us that just because we don’t always see His hand, it does not mean that His hand is not working. In the same way, just because we don’t always understand God’s purpose, it does not mean that there is no purpose. Therefore, sign or no sign, our job is to trust and to attend to the matter with our eyes on God
49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Next, notice the royal official’s response to Jesus’ rebuke: he responds with persistent faith. Think about it, his son is dying; so yes, he needs a sign and wonder (and pretty quickly at that). Not only that, he has come to Jesus because he believes that Jesus is the one who can heal his child. In turn, he knows enough about Jesus to know that Jesus cares about his child. In other words, he knows that, unlike his boss, King Herod, Jesus will not be too occupied with grand matters of state to help this sick child. Simply put, behind this father’s persistence, is faith in both Jesus’ ability and His compassion.
50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he started off.
Next, notice the utter wonder of our passage: notice that while Jesus grants the father the healing that he so desperately seeks; Jesus does so in a very specific manner. In other words, Jesus’ miracle both heals the child and at the same time provides the very corrective that His rebuke indicates that we all need FN#1. How? Notice, Jesus heals the boy but there is no sign or wonder. Jesus will not return home with the father. The father will not see God heal His son. In fact, the father won’t even be there when the miracle takes place FN#2. Instead, Jesus simply gives him His word, which by the way, is exactly what father left home with in the first place. In other words, as a Hebrew, the father knows that God’s Word promises that God cares and that God never forsakes a single one of His children. Notice then, Jesus sends the man back home with the exact same thing that He gives to each of us, as we head back home to our circumstances and situations. He gives you His Word.
Importance: at once verse 50 demonstrates how I am to read my Bible. I am to take God at His word. Not only that, I am then to set my course, base my actions, and monitor my attitude according to the assurance that God is both with me and for me and Lord of all I face.
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~Note the following was not covered by the sermon and thus is not included in the sermon audio
51 And as he was going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Therefore, they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour (1 PM) the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed,
Notice at once that the account ends with what seems to be a redundancy. How? Remember, back in verse 50 Scripture tells us that the royal official believed Jesus’ words and went home. Now here in verse 53 Scripture tells us that when the official heard that his child was alive, he believed. However, this is no redundancy. Instead, it is a vital completion/maturing of faith. Notice then verse 50 describes a faith of hope and trust. The royal official took Jesus at His word and went home. In other words, this faith is at work prior to the blessing/deliverance. On the other hand, verse 53 describes an equally important expression of faith. Simply put, the faith in verse 53 is the faith that comes after the blessing. As such, it is the faith of acknowledgement, of giving credit where credit is truly due. Notice then, the royal official does not simply respond to the news of his son’s recovery with relief; nor does he begin to look for an alternate or plausible explanation for why his son is well. Instead, the royal official makes a direct connection between Jesus’ promise and the outcome that is the fulfilment of that promise. In other words, he believed that the work of God was indeed the work of God. Importance: we too are to respond to the way that God has been palpably working in our midst by believing that God is at work in our midst. Not only that, we are then to base our actions, decisions, and direction on that assurance.
53 So the father himself believed, and his whole household.
Finally, notice the result of royal official’s living faith: verse 53 tells us that the official believed and as a result of his faith and faithful witness his whole household believed FN#3. In other words, living faith, resulted in a faith that bore fruit.
Bottom line: for us, just like the royal official, it is this belief that God has worked and therefore is working that is to set our course for the road ahead. Not only that, we are to cultivate/integrate this assurance into our attitudes and actions as we move forward. In other words, the assurance that God has worked and therefore is working (Heb 13:8) is to be our base line and constant point of reference in all that we do FN#4.
Footnotes
1] When I say that Jesus’ miracle provides the very corrective that His rebuke calls for, I don’t mean that Jesus’ answer illustrates the correction or that it provides an example that reenforces the correction. I mean that Jesus’ answer makes the father act on (with everything on the line) the very heart of the correction that Jesus’s rebuke provides.
2] In fact, notice that no sign or wonder is given to you either. Instead, you learn about the miracle in the exact same way as the royal official does. The servants tell you. And like the royal official you too are to believe. In other words, the careful reader, who listens to Scripture, will soon realize that Jesus is making us walk through and share in this very same corrective. Importance: it is this mode of operation, this taking God at His word, which Jesus intends for each of us in every situation we face.
3] Did you notice that what just happened in verse 53 is the very promise given in Baptism (as well as Circumcision before it)? God has placed your child in a household of faith. He has done so because He intends to use the faith and the faithfulness of the parent as the chief means to raise up the faith of the child. And that is exactly what just happened in verse 53.
4] A key part of our Christian walk is proceeding in belief. That is, we are to move forward trusting not only that God has worked but that He is working and will continue to work. And because we have that assurance, we are now to sync our lives with God’s work in our lives. As such, because we are expecting God to continue to work in us, we are also expecting God to work though us for His Gospel and Kingdom.