What Is Your Faith Rooted In?

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John 4:43–54 (ESV)

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 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.

46 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. 47 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. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 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.” 53 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. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Opening Prayer

What Does John Mean in v.44?

What John says here in the midst of what Jesus is doing seems more than a bit confusing.

John 4:43–45 (ESV)

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 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.

Jesus departs from Samaria to Galilee.

And, the reason we are told...

Jesus receives no honor in His own hometown.

—>Then, we’re told the Galileans welcomed Him.

He went to Galilee because He is not honored in his hometown...

—>Well, why go there?

But, He was welcomed because of what He did in Jerusalem.

—>Was their Welcoming Him what john meant by Honoring Him?

Not at all.

What John is telling us actually coincides with what he’s already told us.

Namely in...

John 4:1–3 (ESV)

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.

Jesus leaves Samaria for Galilee for the same reason He left Judea for Galilee.

Jesus knew that the people of Galilee would not make such a fuss about Him...

As to attract the attention of the Religious leaders at an earlier time than necessary.

And, we actually see this happen in the ministry of Jesus in Galilee.

So, Jesus sets off from Judea because there was too much attention being put on Him, which attracted the attention of the religious leaders.

And, Jesus knew He could minister in Galilee and it would not have the same effect as ministry in Judea...

Regarding untimely attention.

Setting the Stage

So, now in our passage this morning...

Jesus and the disciples have moved from Sychar to Cana of Galilee.

Cana is where Jesus performed his first sign by turning water into wine.

We looked at that miracle in John 2.

Now, you’ll remember that after the wedding in Cana...

Jesus and the disciples made a trip to Capernaum before they went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast in which Jesus cleared the Temple...

And, had a conversation at night with Nicodemus.

Now, as Jesus and His disciples are in Cana...

Which was the home of Nathanael...

An Official from Capernaum came to Jesus.

News must have traveled about where Jesus was...

Word had spread about what Jesus had been doing, miracles performed, temple cleansed, conversions in Samaria...

And, this Official heard where Jesus was and needed His help.

This Official was most likely an Official Assistant to Herod Antipas.

The word Official is basilicas, meaning Royal Official...

The Capernaum fell under the Royal Rule of Herod Antipas.

Capernaum was approximately 20 miles of travel and NE of Cana.

So we read...

John 4:46–49 (ESV)

46 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. 47 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. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

His Son is at Death’s Door

We’re not told the age of the son.

When son is used in this passage it means male offspring.

When child is used in this passage it means offspring generically.

But, age doesn’t matter as a parent, does it?

Concern is always a reality, no matter the age of our children.

This an urgent matter to this Dad.

But, in response to this Dad’s urgency...

Jesus’ response is...

John 4:48 (ESV)

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

This is a soft rebuke, but a rebuke nonetheless.

Why the Rebuke?

If we want to understand Jesus’ response to this Dad’s plea for his son...

We need to understand this statement of Jesus...

John 4:48 (ESV)

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

This is not two kinds of supernatural works that Jesus is describing.

a Sign = a miracle viewed as a proof of divine authority and majesty. Hence, it leads the attention of the spectator away from the deed itself to the divine Doer.

a Wonder = is something startling. This word views the mighty deed not, like sign, from the point of view of the light which it sheds upon the person and work of the Lord, but from the aspect of the effect which it has upon the spectators. These spectators were always looking for something sensational or exciting.

So, why did Jesus say this to this man?

Why did Jesus softly rebuke this Father that was concerned for his son’s life?

—>Because Jesus is gently drawing this Father away from superficial faith.

A superficial faith sees signs in a superficial way by delighting in how the sign(s) make them feel...

—>Rather than delighting in the One the sign points to.

A superficial faith is founded upon how you feel...

In contrast to true saving faith, which is grounded in the personhood of God...

—> His character.

—> The reliability and veracity of God’s person & promises.

Superficial faith is founded upon the gifts.

True saving faith is founded upon the Giver.

True saving faith can appreciate signs...

But, appreciates them because they point to the One who does them.

True saving faith does not stop at the gift, but allows the gift to take our eyes to the Giver.

And, so in this rather short sentence of compassionate correction that Jesus makes to this father...

Jesus is actually forcing the father to think about what kind of faith he has.

The father had to at least be desperately hoping that Jesus could heal his son.

He made a trip of about 16-20 miles from Capernaum to Cana to find Jesus.

He was requesting that Jesus make the trip back with him.

And, so it may have been that this Dad was merely hoping that Jesus could do it...

—> And, if Jesus did do it, then He would believe.

—> Prove yourself, then I’ll believe.

—> Earn my worship…(blasphemy)

And, Jesus knowing that this is a superficial type of faith...

A non-saving faith...

We’ve looked at this reality of superficial faith at the end of Chapter 2 of John’s gospel.

Here, Jesus softly, compassionately rebukes this man to cause the Dad to think about his own personal faith.

God is not obligated to do anything to prove Himself.

God is not obligated to somehow perform something that will then make God worthy of our trust.

God is God, and there is no other...

And the mere Godhood of God obligates us to believe & worship Him.

So, Jesus seems to be making a statement to this Dad that is meant to cause the Dad to examine himself...

Hmm, are you another person with superficial faith?

Is that the kind of faith you have?

Do you really need a sign to believe that I am who I say I am?

Is God limited to locality in order to Command His Creation?

Do you really believe that I need to be there in order for Me to command molecules and cells to heal?

Well, it seems that Jesus’ rebuke hit the mark.

This father hears Jesus’ warning.

And, we see this in v.50...

John 4:50 (ESV)

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

What we are told here is that the Dad believed the word that Jesus spoke.

He believed the promise of Christ because of the personhood of Christ.

This is massively different than believing based on a sign that gives you an emotional high.

So, the Official leaves the presence of Christ believing Christ, without a sign, and rather because of Jesus’ Word.

John 4:51–53 (ESV)

51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 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.” 53 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.

All of the sudden the son starts getting better and recovering.

And, so the Official’s servants left the home to find the Dad and let him know this wonderful news.

And, the Official asks what time his son turned for the better...

And, it was the exact time that Jesus gave the promise.

And the sure word of the Lord was confirmed in his heart once more.

This time the sign turned the Official’s heart towards the Giver of the sign.

And it didn’t stop there...

The Further Effect of True Faith

The Dad believed before the sign.

The Dad took Christ at His Word.

And, then he comes back to his family...

And, he tells them of the Word that Christ spoke...

And, that Word, which was a divine promise...

Came true because of the person making the promise...

The Word of Christ was why the Dad left believing.

The Promise of Christ and the veracity of His promises was what led this family to believe upon Jesus.

And, his family believes without Christ being physically present.

The family believed that God is a God who can be trusted.

And, that He keeps His promises without limitations.

And, so I wonder how much we are like this Dad.

Let’s think about this...

Let’s think about the circumstance of this Official.

And, in some small way understand how this Dad would find this situation as dire and urgent.

This is no small matter.

This is weighty.

I don’t know if I can think of a weightier circumstance.

—> Some of us may have actually been in a circumstance like this Dad.

And, as I say that, I don’t mean, at all, to imply that Jesus does not sympathize, nor understand the weight of this situation.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

I want us to feel this Dad’s urgency...

And, to sympathize with his frailty, as we are also frail...

And to see that we often allow ourselves to fall into the same sinful thinking, as it seems he had at first.

Lord, prove that you love me by performing a miracle.

Make my feelings be soothed by a miracle, rather than Your presence...

Rather than Your Word & Promises.

We know that God has not promised us, nor those we love, nor any one long lives.

But, urgent circumstances make for opportunities for us to sinfully paint God into a figurative corner...

In which we make His existence, His character, & His trustworthiness to us based on whether or not He performs our will.

So, in reality, us getting our way is what entices our feelings...

And, moves our affections towards God...

Because, in reality, He’s “allowing” us to be God...

And He is relegated to a stage hand.

If we are honest students of our heart, we should readily confess that urgent circumstances tempt us to lose sight of ultimate importance?

Someone that we love deeply can easily replace the One whom we should love ultimately.

—> And, please don’t hear me say that the outcome of his son’s illness doesn’t matter.

But, what I am saying, is that we can lose sight of what ultimately brings peace, hope, and rest in our soul.

And, that is ultimately the godhood of God...

The character of God.

The promises of God to us in Jesus Christ.

The security of our hope, joy, and peace in the person and work of Jesus.

What keeps you going, your feelings or God’s promises?

—> Is your zeal for the Lord based on how you feel today?

—> Or how the circumstances of today make you feel?

What settles your soul, how you feel about something or God’s Word about something?

What, or better yet Who, are we really resting in, trusting in, being calmed by?

—> Circumstances or the promises of God.

Are we letting circumstances cause our affections to fluctuate towards the trustworthiness of God?

If you’ve never surrendered your self to the faithfulness of God in Jesus Christ to save you...

To reconcile you to God.

To forgive your sins.

To secure you to the family of God, the Kingdom of Christ...

—> I say to you today, repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

—> Come to Jesus for all that you need to be right with God.

If you’re in Christ, you’ve trusted in the person and finished work of Christ...

And, you see this fluctuation of emotions in your self.

This repeated tendency of allowing circumstances to cause your heart to wander away from trusting God.

—> I say to you today, rejoice that our security is based on Christ’s grip on you...

—> And, not your grip on Him.

—> Rejoice in your Federal Head, your Savior..

—> For He holds you fast.

Lord,

I worry because I forget your wisdom.

I resent because I forget your mercy.

I covet because I forget your beauty.

I sin because I forget your holiness.

I fear because I forget your sovereignty.

You always remember me. Help me to remember you.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord’s Supper