Faith's Miracle

First Sunday in June we started our journey through the gospel of John.

Grace and Truth Came as God himself became flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus

John the Baptizer’s Testimony

Phillip tells Nathaniel (aka Bartholomew) to “Come and see” - after Nathaniel says “what good can come out of Nazereth.”

Changed Water to Wine - a wedding in Cana - disciples put their faith in Him

Jesus and his disciples go down to Jerusalem in Judea to celebrate Passover - Clears out His Father’s house. While in Jerusalem - many saw His miraculous signs and believed in Him.

Nicodemus comes to visit at night.

John the Baptizer - says “I’m only the bridegroom’s friend” - Jesus is the groom

He went through Samaria on His way back to Galilee. Samaritan woman at the well - offers her living water and confirms to her that He’s the Messiah - his disciples learn the spiritual fields are ready to harvest

Brings us up-to-date - we heard a lot from Jesus earlier in chapter 4 - we don’t hear many words from Him in our reading today - but there is a lot said in the few words He shares - and the context we find Him in.

Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s Word.

John 4:43–54 NIV

43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD

1977 Trans Am - Black with screaming chicken Used in “Smokey and the Bandit” - 1977 film

Burt Reynolds - “The End” a 1978 dark comedy (with Dom DeLuise, Sally Field makes an appearance) To the tune of Frank Sinatra - “I Did It My Way” Swimming out into the ocean still clothed in his jump suit- hoping for the end - he gets far from shore and is tired and hollers - “Here I come Lord!” and submerges into the water. As he is sinking, hears his daughter’s little girl voice - “you promised you would come back”.... and he works back to the surface - “I want to live!” - he is far from shore - “I promise!” “Save me - a better father - a better man - a better everything - all I ask is you make me a better swimmer”

“Let me live and I’ll obey everyone of the 10 commandments - quoted 2 - not kill, not commit adultery - I’ll learn the 10 - and obey all of them - just get me back to the beach… I want to see another sunrise, I want to see another sunset.

I’ll give back 50% of all I make, lots of other promises, almost there - I’ll keep my promises - the 50% reduces to 10% - You don’t have to take it if you don’t want it - after all you made me sick”

Go to God with our problems, but go to God for MORE than our problems.

So many people only want God as problem solver: “God if You just will get me out of this problem.” “God if You just will heal this person.” “God if You will get me that job or that relationship.” It is like we’re working on a negotiation - a “quid quo pro” Latin phrase “something for something”

God - if you’ll do this - I’ll do that.

But if who God is means less to us than what He can do for us, then we have missed the message of Jesus.

I think that is what Jesus meant when He asked the Galileans in verse 48:

John 4:48 NLT

48 Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

“Hey, Jesus, what have you done for me lately?” “When will my life’s events be smooth and happy?” “Hey, Jesus, I’ve been good!”

We have a...

Misconception of Miracles

A. Misunderstanding the purpose of miracles

In the gospels - miracles certify that Jesus is the Messiah - the Savior

B. Relying solely on miracles for faith

God more often comes in small moments and many times at low moments - he wants our hearts to turn to Him for everything without exception

C. Recognizing the danger of seeking constant signs

Miracles, wonders, and signs aren’t an everyday occurence. We’re in for a rough ride if we can only survive on “seeing” miracles.

Our relationship with Jesus is about who He is not what He does. That is the...

Essence of Faith

A. Trusting in God's sovereignty and timing

My sovereignty is in question, and my timing, my wife would say, is not the same as hers. God’s sovereignty is not in question and His timing is beyond what we can imagine

B. Cultivating a deep relationship with God

Get to know God - not what he can do but for who he is

Lottery winners - lots of so-called friends come out of the woodwork

C. Embracing faith as a journey, not just a destination

Baptist traditionally teach it is a “destination” - but the moment of salvation is just the beginning of the journey. We will stumble at times, but God picks us up, dusts us off, and we keep going. We don’t have to start all over.

We just need to keep moving and show our...

Manifestation of Faith

A. Living out faith through obedience and action

The official heard Jesus say “Go, your son will live.” So the official started towards home. God gives His Word - are we obeying? James says be more than hearers - be doers.

B. Demonstrating faith through love and compassion

The world needs the love of Jesus. A relationship with him. Miraculous signs are nice, but “love and compassion” is the miracle people need.

C. Encouraging others through our faith journey

If the moment of salvation was the destination, we wouldn’t remain on earth for a while. We’re left here to encourage others and lead them to a relationship to Jesus, as we share our journey of faith.

John 1:17 NIV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace - love shown to the official and his son - the boy’s father “begged” and “pleaded” - Jesus provided physical life - but even more - the official’s family believed and found spiritual life

Truth - Jesus ability is well beyond physical boundaries - he didn’t need to travel 16 miles and “touch” the boy. The faith in Jesus by the official and his family is the miracle.

Faith’s Miracle - is when we understand who Jesus is and what he did when we accept His gift of salvation.

As John W Peterson’s lyrics say: It took a miracle

to put the stars in place,

It took a miracle

to hang the world in space;

But when he saved my soul,

Cleansed

and made me whole,

It took a miracle

of love and grace.