John 4:43-54 “A God You Can Take at His Word”

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We're back in John's gospel this morning where he records for us encounters with Jesus.

People who engage with Jesus and we get to see about that, John tells us, so that we

might believe, so that we might have life, that we might find that abundant, eternal,

life-giving relationship with Jesus.

Our passage this morning is another sign, John tells us, of who Jesus is that it might

strengthen our faith in him.

It follows Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well where Jesus agrees to

stay two days with the reject Samaritans who are embracing him as the Messiah.

And now he's on the move north again, back towards home base in Galilee.

John 4 at verse 43.

After two days, he departed for Galilee.

For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his hometown.

So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem

at the feast.

For they too had gone to the feast.

So he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine.

And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.

When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him

to come down and heal his son for he was at the point of death.

So Jesus said to him, unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.

The official said to him, sir, come down before my child dies.

Jesus said to him, go, your son will live.

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

And as he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.

So he asked them the hour when he began to get better.

And they said to him, yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him.

The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, your son will live.

And he himself believed and all his household.

This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Thus far, God's holy word.

And I want to make one general observation about God's word as we get started.

Because it has become increasingly popular these days to believe that these biblical accounts we read are accounts of Jesus made up by his followers after his life.

You know, Jesus didn't really perform miracles.

Many say, come on.

In fact, he didn't even claim divine authority himself, people will tell you.

His disciples made these things up.

I'm sure that some of you here this morning believe that.

That that's how you understand these accounts.

And I want to address that briefly in light of this passage.

Because it's really significant when you talk about such a historically influential person as Jesus.

With the significant claims that he makes.

That you know if you're actually encountering the real Jesus.

Think about the places here that we just read.

Jesus has gone from Galilee.

Down to Jerusalem.

For the Passover.

Where he cleanses the temple publicly.

And then he goes through Samaria.

Back up to Galilee.

To Cana.

Where not long ago at all.

He turned water into wine.

And so a couple towns over.

They've been talking about Jesus.

And what he's been doing.

And everyone seems to be talking about him.

To the point that a man comes 15 or 20 miles.

To ask him to heal his son.

All of this traveling.

And all these signs and wonders.

Within about a 50 mile radius.

Like Huntsville.

Madison.

Decatur.

And some from these towns had come with him.

Down to Jerusalem.

They'd been there for the Passover too.

And they'd seen these things.

And they were telling stories.

They're following this.

Everyone knows what's going on.

Now we know these accounts that we have.

In God's word.

Are written and received.

In the lifetime of at least some eyewitnesses.

To these very events.

And certainly many of their children.

Who've heard these stories.

Maybe their whole lives.

These are publicly witnessed.

Publicly discussed events.

You can't make them up.

Without your account of them being dismissed.

As fiction.

As soon as it's published.

The most reasonable explanation.

For these.

And for how people respond to them.

In faith.

And follow this Jesus.

Is that this account.

Is indeed.

The real Jesus.

That's only one reason.

Right.

To trust God's word.

When we read it.

I'm happy to talk with you about more.

You may have more questions about that.

But it's an important one that our text brings up today.

As Jesus performs another divinely miraculous sign.

See Jesus comes back home.

Specifically where he performed his first public miracle.

What John calls the first sign.

Where he might expect no honor.

Because they know Joseph and Mary's son.

Right.

Everybody knows him.

But here in his hometown.

They're at least surface level excited.

That the hometown boy.

Is a magic man.

He's a miracle worker.

Word is getting around.

Right.

Kind of cool that he's coming back.

And we see they welcome Jesus.

Generally because they like what he can do for them.

They want the signs and wonders.

Jesus realizes.

Jesus.

And we'll see Jesus is not against signs altogether.

Is he?

But he knows it's faulty faith.

To stop at the sign.

Just as we discussed during the baptism earlier.

You don't stop for medical care at the red emergency room sign.

Right.

That's what Jesus is saying in response to the nobleman's plea.

Isn't it?

Verse 48.

This father is desperate.

Right.

His son is dying.

He's heard of Jesus.

He asks for help.

I mean this seems like an easy yes for Jesus.

Right.

But Jesus wants more.

He wants to help him and others.

Not stop at the sign.

He answers this man's prayer.

So to speak.

With a heart level challenge.

About his faith.

You won't come and believe.

Unless I put on a show for you.

And that's a problem.

Jesus is pointing out.

He wants something more for the man.

Why do you come to Jesus?

I think if we're honest.

We can relate to people stopping at the sign.

Can't we?

What are some ways we sometimes want the things that Jesus does for us.

More than we want Jesus himself.

Sometimes I think we too are interested only in the physical healing or provision.

We talk to Jesus only when we're sick or hungry or desperate.

For some of us.

Our relationship with Jesus is primarily about keeping our kids or grandkids in line.

That's why I'm associated with Jesus if I'm honest.

I mean they need some good morals.

Some good community.

Sometimes.

Some of us just want intellectual superiority.

To be able to argue or impress someone.

Or seem like we know more theologically.

Rather than knowing more Jesus personally.

You may have any of those struggles in your own heart.

I'll tell you where I see this struggle the most.

In our community.

Sometimes in my own heart.

We so often want a Jesus who fits into our schedule and life plan.

I call it comfortable Jesus.

We're not interested in going deep with the real Jesus who might disrupt my life.

He might mess with where I live.

Or how much money I make and what I do with it.

Who I spend my time with.

My kids activities.

Their preparation for college.

Maybe for you you feel this sense of Jesus.

Here is my weekly calendar.

There are exactly 36 uncommitted minutes left.

And I promise I'll do with them whatever you want.

Jesus.

With those last 36 minutes.

Have you felt that way?

Jesus I want a church that I can enjoy going to.

And I can make some friends.

I'll even study the Bible a little bit when it's convenient for me.

So I can play church reasonably well.

That'll give me some social credibility.

And I expect you to make my family peaceful.

Because honestly we're pretty decent people.

But if I'm really honest I'm not longing to know you more.

I certainly don't want you changing my life too much.

Unless I ask you specifically.

And then maybe something extreme.

Friends we sometimes come to Jesus.

Bring our prayers to him.

And we need to hear his reminder.

That we are just here for the signs and wonders.

For what he can do for us.

John Calvin says what's happening here in this passage.

Is our heavenly father often does not comply with our prayers in every detail.

But goes to work in an unexpected way to help us.

So that we may learn not to dictate to him in anything.

That we trust him.

Consider why Jesus insisted on going deeper with this man and the others around him.

Can a faulty faith based merely on signs and wonders.

Hold up in a world of suffering?

I mean maybe in this case his son gets healed.

But someone else he loves is going to get sick next.

Right?

Can a faulty faith based merely on signs and wonders be enough when Jesus goes to the cross?

What good will he be to me then?

What's he going to do for me hanging up there?

Where?

Jesus knows that we need to go beyond the signs to the one they point to.

To the person of Jesus himself.

He's helping with that.

So when the nobleman asks again for Jesus to come heal his son.

Jesus says go.

Your son lives.

The man takes Jesus at his word doesn't he?

He believes and goes.

There's certainly a lot in this story about faith.

But this is full faith.

It's confirmed when the son is healed.

The man explains to his family and servants what Jesus has done.

And they all believe full faith what Jesus is working on here in this encounter.

That the reason he pushes back on the man a little bit when he comes.

Is that he wants this full faith that sees where the sign is pointing.

That comes to see the true Jesus for who he really is.

What does this sign point to?

What is it that it's a sign of?

Signs point to something.

What's it telling us about Jesus?

Well anyone who heals serious sickness like this has a lot of power.

Power over creation.

Over the physical realm.

But perhaps there are other doctors with great techniques.

Other magicians with tricks to work such powerful changes.

Jesus wants to be abundantly clear when he heals this boy.

He heals how?

With a word?

Immediately?

Just at that time?

From a distance?

Miles and miles away?

There is no one who does this.

This is not just power.

This is God-like power.

This is like the God who created the universe by the word of his power.

This sign shows Jesus not as a carnival trickster.

Not as a physician with newfangled methods.

But as God himself ordering molecules and healing people with a word.

Further, I think this sign points to the fact that Jesus cares and is powerful not just when he's physically present.

Why is that important?

How important is that going to be for Jesus' followers when he returns to his father in just a couple of years?

And he's not there with them in that way anymore.

He's not physically with this boy they've never met.

But Jesus cares.

And Jesus can heal.

Do you see how Jesus is taking care to push the man toward what matters most?

Yes, Jesus heals his son's body.

But Jesus is also healing the hearts of the whole household.

Jesus demonstrates for the man not what he asks for, but what he most needs.

To know who Jesus really is.

So much more than a magic miracle worker who can fix something for him every once in a while.

No, no, no, a God who cares deeply.

Who rules supremely over all creation.

Who can be trusted implicitly.

Even, even when he doesn't do what you ask him to do.

So that we would always come to him no matter what.

No matter what our need is.

No matter how we feel that we could come to him.

John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrim's Progress once said,

I was driven to such straits that I must of necessity go to Jesus.

And if he had met me with a drawn sword in his hand.

I would sooner have thrown myself upon the edge of his sword.

Than have gone away from him.

For I knew him to be my last hope.

I would sooner have thrown myself on Jesus' sword.

Because no one else could I trust like him.

Is that the way you come to Jesus?

Not for the things that he can do for you.

For how good he promises to make it all right away.

But in fact regardless of what he does.

For himself.

For the fact that he's the only one you can even hope to trust completely.

Because he is the true God that you can take at his word.

His powerful, life-changing, hope-breathing word.

That's what this sign shows us about Jesus.

Okay, I want to apply this in two ways.

Two ways as we think about this.

Both of them thinking about what it looks like

when we come to Jesus and believe him to be who he really says he is.

The God that this sign shows him to be.

The God we can take at his word.

And first, and this is a bit harder.

I want to think specifically of times when God doesn't answer your prayer

the way you want right away.

I would ask for a show of hands when that's happened for you

but we all know that's all of us.

I don't know if you've picked up on this lately.

From people you know.

Maybe those of you who pay close attention to the prayer guide.

There are a lot of hard physical illnesses

in this church family right now.

A lot.

There are more hard situations that can't be printed.

You believe that.

I hate the ravages of cancer.

Of mental illness.

Of death.

And we typically do not have in those situations

a direct promise from Jesus

like the one this noble official got.

Your son will live.

Usually we don't have that.

Many of us are right now

where all of us have been

at some time

when immediate miraculous healing does not come.

When God doesn't answer my prayer right away.

when cancer or miscarriage

or other tragedy strikes

and my world is turned upside down

and I'm crying out.

I've been there.

What does this look like in our lives

when we come to Jesus

not just for the sign.

We may not have that yet.

But for who he really is.

If he's really working that kind of faith in us

what does that look like?

A couple things we see in this story.

Twice interestingly

Jesus does not grant

the request of the nobleman

for him to come with him

and heal his son.

Friends keep asking.

Keep praying.

Like the persistent widow

you're praying to a powerful

and personal God.

He cares.

Unlike the unjust judge

he doesn't delight

in scorning his children.

Keep praying.

But seeing Jesus also enables us

to live

by faith.

Jesus doesn't do

what the nobleman asks

but

the nobleman does

what Jesus asks.

He goes home

and believes

the word

of Jesus.

even when we

when we don't have

the sign in hand yet

when we don't

see the answers

when we don't

know what God's up to

we can keep following

this God

worthy

of our trust.

And finally

we can share

with others.

Certainly

this man rejoiced

in his son being healed.

No reason

to downplay that.

But he and his whole

household

believed.

Believed what?

who Jesus was.

They didn't have to believe

about the son

once he was alive.

They knew that.

They believed

Jesus'

divine nature

because the nobleman

shared not only

about his son's healing

but also about

the Savior's power

didn't he?

So you can share

of the goodness

and greatness

of Jesus

while you are still

waiting on the answer.

But only if

you've seen him

beyond the signs.

If it's only about

the thing he's gonna

do for you

then you have to wait

till you have it

but if there's a God

you can trust

in the meantime

you can for your own

heart

and for the hearts

of others

share about him

already.

Do you see

you see why we

must see Jesus

not merely signs

and wonders?

this man receives

his son back

restored to him.

Many of us

have prayed

for ourselves

for those we love

and not seen them

restored to us.

If you're only with

Jesus for the signs

for what he can do

for you

at that point

you're out

right?

there better be

something more

divine power

over death

a divine perspective

beyond time

and the realities

of this life

and this broken world

a divine personal

care for you

that understands

that your heart

can only take

so much.

In fact

sometimes

y'all have taught me this

sometimes

it's when we

don't get

our prayers

answered

the way we want

and the timing

we want

that we learn

to cling

to God's

eternal healing

isn't it?

That we learn

to hope

in a fresh way

in a world

with no more

death

or tears

and put our stake

there

more than here.

We learn

to treasure

a God

in a way

we never have

before

a God

who right now

shares our griefs

and one day

wipes away

our tears.

Friends

not having

that direct

promise

is hard.

Living by faith

is hard.

We are praying

with you

and for you

your God

is with you

and for you.

In fact

second application

consider what it

means to take

God

at his word

with the promises

that he has

given us.

This is a preacher

trick.

I said two applications

this one has

like 34.

Okay

so all in

the second one

get excited.

The pro

all

think of all

the promises

way more than

34

that we don't

have

specifically

for all

of those

promises

we wish

we knew

there are so

many promises

that we do

have

and that we

must embrace

that we can

absolutely

take

to the bank

because of the

power of

God's word.

Let me just

mention a few

see if

your heart

needs

to embrace

one of these

this morning.

some of us

really battle

with doubts

about our

salvation.

Hear the words

of Jesus

truly truly

I say to you

whoever

hears my word

and believes

him who sent

me has

eternal life

has passed

from death

to life

whoever believes

in Jesus

is not

condemned.

In fact

Jesus

promises

this is the

will of my

father that

everyone who

looks on the

son and

believes in

him should

have eternal

life and

listen to your

savior I

will raise

him up on

the last

day.

Hear the

voice of

your good

shepherd who

laid down his

life for the

sheep and

take Jesus

at his word

today.

Many of us

have been

praying for

years and

years for

our kids

and our

hearts ache

for the

wayward

adult

children that

we still

love so

much

that seems

God doesn't

do anything.

God would

have you

remember what

you saw this

morning in the

sacrament of

covenant

baptism.

I will

establish my

covenant an

everlasting

covenant.

I will

be God

to you.

I will be

God to your

children after

you.

I will be

their God.

He hasn't

left them.

He hasn't

given up on

them.

Keep asking.

I will be

God.

I will be

God.

I will be

God.

I will be

God.

Perhaps some

of us have

thought I've

got this

struggle that I

live with every

day and it's

really heavy and

I'd like to share

it with someone but

it's just too big

or too bad to

share with my

pastor or my

grace group.

In fact,

well honestly it's

too bad for

Jesus to forgive

me.

I just carry it

around every day

fearfully.

I'm exhausted.

Jesus says all

that the

Father gives me

will come to

me and

whoever comes

to me I

will never

cast out.

Whoever

comes I

will never

cast out.

Try him.

Take him at

his word.

Some of us are

sitting here this

morning frantic,

worried,

wondering how

we're going to

make ends meet

even this week.

Jesus says all

these things,

all these things

will be added to

you.

Don't worry,

he says.

In fact, we

read this week in

our Bible reading

plan from

Philippians 4,

my God will

supply every

need of yours,

every need of

yours according to

his glorious

riches in Christ

Jesus.

Jesus.

I know because

we've been

talking about

sharing our

faith so much

lately that some

of us feel

totally inadequate,

absolutely

unconvinced that

we could point

someone else to

Jesus.

Listen to his

promise as we

come to him,

as we follow him,

he says,

I will make you

become fishers

of men.

You come to

Jesus,

you rest in his

divine nature

and power

and he promises

living in him,

with him,

you will bear

fruit.

He does that

in you.

Most of us know

what it's like to

feel alone.

It's all up to me

and my resources

and strength

every day or

honestly,

no one cares

about me

or notices me.

Jesus says,

behold,

I am with you

always

to the end

of the age.

In fact,

Jesus is so

committed

to never leaving

you or forsaking

you that when

he does return

to his father,

he sends to you

his spirit

to dwell in you.

If I go,

I will send

him to you.

He has not

left you alone.

He has not

left you alone.

I promise

I won't do

34,

but I got more.

I've talked

with young

and old

in this church

who struggle

to feel

that it's really

true

that Jesus

is more valuable

than the things

of this world

that are right

there in front

of them

every day.

They feel

more real,

more impactful

so often

in our lives.

how can I

give up

comfort

or friends

or success

to have

Jesus?

Jesus promises

everyone who

has left

houses

or brothers

or sisters

or father

or mother

or children

or lands

for my name's

sake

will receive

a hundredfold

and will inherit

eternal life.

Jesus promises

that true life,

abundant life,

eternal life

comes from him

and actually

consists in

knowing him

that that's

where life is.

Will you keep

trusting your feelings

or will you

take God

at his word?

It's not just

that we sometimes

feel exhausted

and overwhelmed

when we're

following Jesus

but it's easy

to feel that

that's the way

it should be.

Jesus promises

again

as we come

to him

I will

give you

rest.

In fact

when you are

weak

when you are

at your lowest

he promises

his grace

is sufficient

which means

you don't have

to be.

Do you believe

that?

all right

just one more

for now.

Many of us

wonder

about what's

after this

life.

We fear death

uncertain

unknown.

Jesus

understands

that these

concerns

trouble our

hearts

and he speaks

to us

let not

your hearts

be troubled.

Believe in

God

believe also

in me.

In my

father's

house

are many

rooms

if it

were not

so

would I

have told

you

that I

go

to

prepare

a place

for you

and if

I go

and prepare

a place

for you

I will

come

again

and will

take

you

to

myself

that

where I

am

you may

be

also.

The

God

who

spoke

and

fifteen

miles

away

molecules

reorder

viruses

obey

a

dying

boy

is

healed

he

promises

you

that he's

coming

back

for you

to take

you to

be with

him

where he

is

forever.

So many

glorious

promises

from this

God that

we can

take

at his

word

that we

must

take

at his

word.

I'm not

suggesting

please hear

me

that

these

magically

remove

all

struggles.

That's

not the

point.

But I

pray that

one or

two for

you would

build your

faith

in a

God you

can

trust.

As we

close this

morning I

want to

talk one

more time

especially to

those who

are hurting

for yourself

for those

you love

who are

longing to

receive

healing

from Jesus

like the

nobleman

and his

son in

this story

you want

that to

be your

story.

Living by

faith and

not right

now by

sight is

hard.

Trusting God

when it

doesn't seem

to be

working out

is difficult.

it should

not be

done alone.

But I

want to

encourage you

I want to

encourage you

by reminding

you that

Jesus

the God

of the

Bible

the God

you can

trust

not merely

because he's

powerful

and his

word is not

bound by

time or

space and

it transforms

molecules and

hearts.

Praise the

Lord that is

true.

But especially

he's a God

you can trust

because he's

a God who

entered our

pain.

Knowing our

great need

that we were

dying in

our rebellion

in our

brokenness

knowing that

we didn't have

the strength

to hold on

to him

he grabbed

hold of us

and would

not let go.

He cared

about us so

much that he

entered this

world faced

temptation

endured rejection

had his

body

racked

with agony

even tasted

death

because of

his great

love

for us.

He says

that he is

with you

and for

you

he is.

He promises

a future

without

pain

or death

or tears

you can

count on

it.

He tells

you to

trust him

today.

You can

take him

at his

word.

Let's pray.

Jesus for

all the

things that

you have

given us

that we

can hold

on to

as we

cling to

you

we give

you thanks.

We confess

the feebleness

of our

faith.

How quickly

the circumstances

of our lives

and the

temptations

around us

make us

forget

and not

trust

what you

have told

us.

Thank you

for loving

us.

Thank you

for coming

for us.

Thank you

for never

letting us

go.

Give us

hope in

you today.

Build our

faith

that it

might stand

strong

in the

tests of

this life

that it

might overflow

from us

to others

who are

hurting.

Thank you

for giving

us faith

and being

with us

by your

spirit.

In your

name we

say it.

Amen.

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information

visit us

online at

southwood.org.

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