Good News Club: John 4 and the Nobleman's Son

Introduction: So far, we’ve learned that Jesus is Almighty Creator God Who gives new, spiritual life to anyone who believes. Today, Jesus is going to meet a man who has a special need that only Jesus can meet.

John 4:46-50 “46 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.

What is the importance of Cana of Galilee?

Jesus created wine out of water!

In other words, we’re reminded again that Jesus is Almighty Creator God.

What we’re going to see next is going to be a further, miraculous demonstration of Jesus’ creative power.

Who was it that met Jesus in Cana?

An official, someone with authority.

Who are some people that you know of that have authority?

While we don’t know all that he did, he was someone who had a lot of responsibility.

What other 2 things do we know about him?

He was from Capernaum.

Do you know how far away Capernaum is from Cana?

It’s 20 mi!

Now, you might be thinking, “piece of cake Pastor Bill!”

“I’ll just call up my parental taxi known as the mom-mobile and I’ll be good.”

Not so during Jesus’ time; you had to walk this distance!

And a 20 mile walk could take the entire day!

He has a sick son.

Have you ever been sick before?

We all have been sick before.

But, we’re going to find out that this boy’s sickness is a lot worse than what we may have ever experienced.

If he had a lot of responsibility, why didn’t he go find a doctor to help him?

Because a doctor couldn’t help his son.

But wait, this guy has authority, doesn’t that count for something?

His authority could not help him in this situation.

The circumstances were greater than the extent of this authority could allow.

Can you imagine how powerless he must have felt?

Have you ever felt powerless against something?

47 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.

Who did this man see?

Jesus

What did this man do when he saw Jesus?

He was imploring Jesus to heal his son.

What does it mean to implore?

To beg.

Why do people beg?

Because they’re desperate for something.

This man was desperate for help.

What makes a person desperate?

They have nowhere else to go for help.

Have you ever felt like there was nowhere you could go for help?

This man sought Jesus for help in a situation that he thought no one else could help with.

What was so desperate about this situation?

The man’s son was so sick that he was going to die.

This was a very serious situation.

What was it that this man begged Jesus to do?

To come with him to heal his son.

Why did Jesus need to go with him?

Jesus didn’t need to go with him.

Instead, the man only thought that Jesus needed to go with him.

However, does Jesus need to go with the man to heal his son? (let’s keep reading)

48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

You know what Jesus is saying here?

Jesus is saying to the man, I don’t need to come with you in order for your son to be healed.

Remember when Jesus created wine out of water at Cana?

Did Jesus touch the water pots?

No!

Jesus only spoke to the servants.

The power to create was in Jesus’ Words.

So, Jesus did not need to go with the Nobleman.

Why? Because Jesus’ power is in His Words!

So why did the Nobleman insist that Jesus come?

Like many people in authority, he wanted to make sure that Jesus did what he wanted him to.

Hence, the nobleman had to see what Jesus was doing.

49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

The Nobleman still insists on Jesus coming with him.

Notice how Jesus responds.

Jesus simply tells him to leave as the man’s son lives, or has recovered from his life-threatening illness.

Just as Jesus spoke and created wine out of water, so Jesus simply speaks and the man’s son is well.

There is power in Jesus’ Words.

Look at how the man responds.

Does he ask Jesus to come with him again? No

Instead, he believes Jesus’ Words and leaves.

He believes Jesus’ Words as true.

His actions also demonstrate that He believes what Jesus said because He obeys Jesus!

How is it that the man obeyed Jesus?

By travelling back to Capernaum, just as Jesus told him to.

Friends, we can believe what Jesus’ Words because He always tells the truth.

But Jesus expects us to respond not only by believing His Word but also by obeying it.

You see, when you believe in Jesus, your whole life will be changed.

This goes back to what we talked about 2 weeks ago in being born again, receiving new, spiritual life.

The mark of those who have believed in Jesus as their Savior and have received new, spiritual life, is that they will obey what Jesus says.

Notice what happens as the man goes back home.

John 4:51-54 51 As he was now 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. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour 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 and his whole household.

The phrase “the seventh hour” is around 1pm our time.

Notice, who also believes in Jesus with this Nobleman?

His whole family!

When the family saw what had happened, they also believed.

I can imagine that this Nobleman told others in his family and they were able to see that the boy was made well.

Who else have we learned about recently who went and told others about Jesus and they also believed?

The woman of Samaria at the well!

Friends, when you believe in Jesus as your Savior from your sins, you want to go and tell others so that they also might believe in Him.

54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

Remember, a sign is a special demonstration of power that only God can perform!

What is another word that we can use to describe a special demonstration of power that only God could perform?

A miracle, that’s right!

If this was the second miracle, what was the first?

The creation of wine out of water at the wedding feast in Cana.

You see, Jesus as the Creator God is demonstrating that He has power over all of His creation, whether it’s creating wine from water or healing a boy on the point of death.

Only God can do these things.

Conclusion: Friends, Jesus wants us to believe that He is Creator God not simply to create wine from water or heal a boy about to die. He wants us to believe in Him as our only Savior from our sins. We can believe whatever He says as being true because He always does what He says He will, like in telling the Nobleman that He will heal his son.

Also, Friends, when we believe in Jesus, your whole life is changed where now you want to obey Jesus’ Word. Instead of sinning against God (review sin definition), we should want to obey Jesus’ Words that we find in the Bible. Like the Nobleman, let’s obey Jesus’ Words right away.

Additionally, friends, we should wants others to believe in Jesus as well. If you believe in Jesus, follow the example of this Nobleman who encouraged members of his family to believe in Jesus.