## Believe in Miracles: Healing the Nobleman's Son

## John 4:43-54

Last week we began our study of the miracles found in John's gospel. We looked at the miracle that began Jesus' public ministry. He turned water into wine.

I. The Return

(John 4:43-46) Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

A. Jesus knew that the locals did not respect Him

1. He is returning to Galilee after he had been in Judea and then, Samaria.

2. Jesus is from Galilee, having grown up in Nazareth, the next town over from Cana.

3. So He is coming home, and the text tells us that He knows there is no real honor for Him in His own country.

B. Jesus was becoming well known.

1. His time in Judea has been very successful.

2. His popularity was growing, so the Galileans welcomed Him.

3. Now that he had made a difference elsewhere, people see Him in an entirely different light.

4. It is an honor of a sort, but not the honor that is truly due Him.

C. Jesus was not interested in popularity.

1. In chapter two He had driven the moneychangers out of the temple.

2. He did miracles at the feast of the Passover (though none are recorded for us) that caused many people to believe in Him.

3. In chapter three He connected with two opposites ends of the spectrum.

4. He spent time with Nicodemus, and He identified with John the Baptist.

5. Then He went into Samaria, which was unthinkable for the Jews.

6. After a couple of days with the new believers of Samaria, He returned to Cana.

II. The Request

(John 4:46-48) So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

A. Jesus has an appointment.

1. I believe Jesus returns to Cana because He has unfinished business.

2. Just like He had to go through Samaria, He needs to return to Cana.

B. Jesus meets a man who has a passion for a dying son.

1. This was not an ordinary man, but an official attached to Herod's court.

2. He was the king's man, so was a man of great influence and power.

3. He would have been a man of great wealth.

4. He was someone that probably had everything someone could possibly want.

5. There are many things money cannot buy.

a. Money can buy a king-sized bed, but it cannot buy sleep!

b. Money can buy a great house, but it cannot buy a home!

c. Money can buy a companion, but it cannot buy a close friend!

d. Money can buy books, but it cannot buy wisdom!

e. Money can buy a church building, but it cannot buy entrance into heaven!

f. And as our text suggests, money cannot buy life and health.

6. The death of his son was imminent.

a. He has come 20 miles from Capernaum to see Jesus.

b. His young son was tossing with a fever.

c. And the father has this helpless feeling, of fear that grips the heart.

d. So here we see a father's earnest plea for his son.

C. Jesus rebukes unbelief.

1. Jesus' response seems rather harsh.

2. But when the Lord speaks, He is speaking to a wider audience than just the nobleman.

3. There were people about that were only in it for the miraculous, and Jesus places the challenge before them…they only believe because of the miracle; only for the signs and wonders.

4. Note the contrast of the new believers in Samaria that Jesus has just left.

(John 4:39-42) And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

5. The Samaritans, ironically, were leading the way to true belief.

III. The Revelation

(John 4:49-50) The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

A. Jesus refuses to go with the man to heal his son.

1. This was totally unexpected, both by the man and by the gathering crowd.

2. Jesus refuses to go, but He does not refuse to help.

3. Jesus replied, "Go thy way, thy son liveth"

B. Jesus declares that the son lives.

1. A powerful statement, "Thy son liveth."

2. He chooses to do a miracle, but not for the crowds.

3. He does this for the man's son.

4. For this father, Jesus' words are a stiff test.

a. No sign, just His word.

b. But the man offers no arguing or pleading.

c. There is no insistence for a sign.

d. Jesus' word is enough.

IV. The Reliance

(John 4:50-53) Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

A. Jesus discovers a man that believes.

1. The father rises to the demand for faith.

2. He believes what Jesus says and goes his way.

3. He proves that faith is not what you feel, it is what you do.

4. He goes home, fully expecting good news.

5. The next day as he gets close to home he is met by his servants.

B. The man discovers that his belief was well founded.

1. The servants tell him the good news. His son lives!

2. The very thing that Jesus said and that he believed was true.

3. And he starts putting the pieces together.

4. The servants authenticate the miracle of Jesus with testimony about the precise moment.

5. The very time that his son began to recover was the very time Jesus said, "Thy son liveth."

C. Here is the miracle…Jesus has given life.

1. It was brought about simply through the spoken word.

2. This man's faith is strengthened and as he shares this with his family, they believe too.

3. What is the lesson for us?

a. Take Jesus at His Word.

b. This is the true test of faith.

c. Faith is believing what He says is true…about all things!

d. We hear the Word, believe the Word, obey the Word, and rest in His Word.

Next week: John 5:1-14 Healing at the Pool of Bethesda