A Second Proof That Jesus Is The Christ (John 4:43-54)

The kids already know what to do. I'm going to have to tell him.

When pray before we get started father.

Father thank you for the opportunity to learn more about you and your word. Thank you for revealing yourself to us. Hey nice pages and in our hearts. I pray that you would use me now to change us all into the likeness of your son.

father speak to our hearts and draws closer to you as we learn more about you are who you are and what you've done.

Give me Clarity in my words and give us all Clarity in our understanding. Is it true that you've revealed to us in Scripture?

We ask all this in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, not many passages of scripture actually tell us why we should pay attention to them. Most of them tell us very important things things about God about us about how God is reconciling us to himself through his son and the indwelling Holy Spirit, but the reason why we should pay attention that's mostly assumed or inferred. Door passage today and John for 43 through 54 is kind of unique because Jesus tells us very plainly why we should pay attention. He says unless you see signs and wonders. You will not believe.

This is the state. We are all in whether we like it or not. We cannot believe in Jesus unless we have some proof that backs up his authority and the truth of what he says. And Jesus gives us a proof. The pay attention to what Jesus says and does here in this passage so that we can believe and have life in his name. We're going to walk through this story together seeing how it all leads to the Glorious truth that Jesus is the Christ and how we can have Life by believing in him.

And the story like many others has three parts to it the setting the conflict and the resolution. So let's look at first at the setting in verses 43 through 45 where Jesus has a welcoming returned to Galilee John 4:43, 3:45, cuz after the two days he departed for Galilee where Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own home town. So when he came to Galilee the galileans welcome to him having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at The Feast for They too had gone to the feast Okay, let me give you a brief recap of what we've seen so far in the Gospel of John and chapter 1 John beautifully asserts Jesus's deity, eternity and Incarnation. Then he tells us about John the Baptist who testified to Jesus being the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and we see four different instances of Jesus's disciples believing in him and following him then in Chapter 2, Jesus proved his identity as the Christ to his disciples by turning the water into wine at the wedding of Cana. Then Jesus and his disciples made their way to Jerusalem for the Passover where he cleared out the court of the Gentiles and did many signs among the people there. Spanish chapter 3 Jesus speaks with the Pharisees named Nicodemus and tells him that he doesn't understand Jesus's true identity or the New Covenant because he's not born again. Then Jesus begins his baptism Ministry with his disciples. It starts drawing some attention from the religious leaders. So then earlier in chapter 4 Jesus leaves his baptism Ministry in Judea to come home to Galilee by way of Samaria where he has a Divine appointment with the Samaritan woman with results in a whole town believing in him. It's been 2 days with the Samaritans and now he decides it's finally time to head home. Having raped all the spiritual Harvest inside car. He moves to his next Divine appointment in Galilee. Now, I'm verse 44. John gives us a editorial comment. It's sort of jarring when you read through it hovers 44 kind of breaks the flow of the narrative, but John wants us to understand something important about the story that he is telling him. He says that Jesus had testified that a prophet is without honor in his own hometown.

Are you getting that it's kind of weird statement to put there but interesting Lee Luke record the similar statement of Jesus in Luke for 24 the context of that statement and Luke is that Jesus had gone to the synagogue in Nazareth and read from the scroll of Isaiah. And then said today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Let's pick up reading from Luke for 22 does and all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth and they said is not this Joseph's son. And he said to them doubtless, you will quote to me this proverb physician heal yourself what we have heard you did at capernium do here in your hometown as well. And he said truly I say to you. No Prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

That's what John is talking about. When he says that Jesus had testified that a prophet is without honor in his own hometown. The people in that synagogue got very upset. Because Jesus refused to do in Nazareth what he had done in capernum. The interesting thing is that Luke had not written anything about what Jesus did in capernium. up to that point So there's a disconnect in the Book of Luke. Simply reading through the Gospel of Luke. We wouldn't know what Jesus did and capernium. What did Jesus do in Capernaum Luke? Luke's gospel had already been written when John wrote his and John ads here. What Luke had left out? What happened in capernium? And John tips us off at this is what he's referencing with his editorial comment in verse 44. All right back to her story in John for what happened in capernium. Jesus comes to Galilee and the people welcomed him with open arms because he's kind of a celebrity now. The people of Galilee had either personally seen or heard about the signs. He had done in Jerusalem at the Passover feast. Remember John did not tell us what those signs were we can assume that they were healing related since he had cleared out the court of the Gentiles where the sick and crippled would have come to worship. The news of Jesus's miraculous Healing Ministry had spread throughout his hometown of Galilee. But remember that Jesus did not entrust himself to those people at the Passover feast. Remember back in John 2 23 to 25. Jesus did many signs and many people believed in his name, but they believed wrongly that he was merely a prophet or as Nicodemus said in John 3:2 that he was a teacher come from God. So these galileans who are welcoming Jesus did not really understand who Jesus was. They were welcoming him because he was Sensational or entertaining or maybe they thought that he would free them from their problems.

This was the setting. The Jesus return to in Galilee a shallow welcome, but a welcome than the less. The next we're going to see how this welcoming returned to Galilee brought about a conflict. In verses 46 through 50 as one man seeks out Jesus with a desperate request. John 4:46 through 50 says so he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine and I could print him 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. 30 the 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. And Jesus said to him go your son will live. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

John mansions Hear that. Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. John wants us to remember. That story from John 2:1 through 11 because there is some striking similarities.

between that miracle and this one

I'll Point them out as we come to them. So there was an official or nobleman in capernium a gentile and probably a member of the court of Herod Antipas who ruled over the region of Galilee at the time. He was a powerful and Wealthy member of society. all that power and wealth could not cure his son who is sick with a fever. He tried everything to cure his son, but this fever persisted and slowly brought his little boy to the brink of death. Naturally, he had heard about Jesus's Miracles since Jesus was the Talk of the Town. And you tried everything else with no success.

Some desperation. He decides to go to this miracle worker and plead for him to save his son from death. It's official goes and ask Jesus to help. with a dire situation

not the wedding Feast back in Chapter 2. Jesus was also asked to help with the dire situation. They run out of wine which would have severe legal consequences. What is the official ask Jesus to come down and heal his son? But Jesus response to this request very curiously. He says this official unless you all see signs and wonders you all will not believe. The answer is this singular official with a statement seemingly addressing a group of people.

does this To make a statement about all people. By using this official as an example of the way. The people are

it kind of seems like Jesus might refuse to help.

After all, it's better to believe in Jesus without needing signs to prove it. So maybe Jesus is fed up with doing these signs since most people are treating them kind of like parlor tricks rather than as they were intended as proof of his identity as the Christ.

Now the wedding feast in Chapter 2. Jesus has showed also showed some hesitancy to helping the dire situation. Remember you told his mother that it was not his time yet. But the official persists just like Jesus's mother persisted at the wedding.

this proud nobleman humbles himself

by calling Jesus by an authoritative honorific in the ESV the official calls Jesus, sir. In the Greek, this is the word Korea. most commonly translated as Lord used by this Gentile official it's a title affirming the higher status and authority of the one to whom he's talking.

imagine this proud nobleman calling a lowly carpenter Lord.

And not in a sarcastic or patronising way. He understands that he is at the mercy of Jesus. And he is humbled himself. So that by any means he could save his son from death. Go to set this official does not simply request for Jesus to heal his son.

His request is that Jesus come down. And physically be present with his son in order to heal him. This is probably how Jesus was healing the people in Jerusalem at the Passover by being physically present and touching them. So the official ask Jesus to do the same for his son. But this is the limited understanding of Jesus has power.

He thinks that Jesus is power is limited to physical proximity.

Anything's for the limited to just Healing The Sick. And not raising the Dead. He says come down before my child dies.

He thinks that Jesus is merely a limited conduit of divine power. He doesn't understand yet that Jesus is the source of all divine power.

Then Jesus says one simple statement.

Go your son will live.

As a man believes Jesus's statement. The only thing to prove the Jesus's statement was true for the rumors that this man had heard from the people who went to the Passover in Jerusalem. He believes anyway.

He believes that Jesus is a prophet a teacher come from God like Nicodemus believed so in this prophet. says that his son will live.

He text message working. He thinks that his boys fever has subsided naturally. Or as a result of one of the many cures that he is pursued and this Prophet has simply given him the news that his son will live.

Is he Jesus didn't do anything that would constitute a sign. He didn't perform any visual miracle that people could see and gawk at.

He simply says go. Your son will live.

Jesus did a miracle that defied the natural order that the sickness would have taken and you did it seemingly without doing anything.

At the wedding Feast Jesus also did a miracle that defied the natural order turn the water to wine and he also did it seemingly without doing anything. You just told the servants fill the jars with water and take some to the master of the feast.

Without this welcoming returned to Galilee led to an official is desperate request for Jesus to heal his dying son down in capernium.

Now we'll see the conclusion of the story. Inverse is 51 + 54 is we see a miraculous recovery. John 451 254 does as he was going down his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So we 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 in all his household. This is now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

So the man believes Jesus his statement that his son will live. Andy goes back home.

He's on his way when he looks up and sees a slave's coming up the road. The very slaves that were supposed to be caring for his dying son.

They left to find their Master because they knew how much effort this man had expended to see his son healed.

They couldn't wait to tell him the good news when he got home. So they left to find him and Cana where he had gone to see about a last-ditch effort cure from a Jewish miracle worker.

They found him on his way home. As they slaves approached the man's stomach starts doing somersaults. He realizes what their presents on the road could mean. Now comes to it. Did you just tell the truth? Or has his son died.

He believed what you said said, so he chooses to be optimistic. He meets up with the slaves and their report. Brings tears to his eyes.

Tears of joy because his son was saved from death.

And the Greek the slaves report uses the exact same phrase that Jesus had used wouldn't be translated. Jesus had said your son he lives. And the slaves reported that his son he lives exactly the same phrase. But this report doesn't give any details. It just gives the most important bit of information for this worried father his son lives.

Because he believed this prophet's words that his son would live. He expected to come home to find his voice Flow lyrics covering. From his fever. So yes for the details about his son's recovery specifically he wants to know when he started to get better. So he could know about how much longer until his son was fully recovered. But the slaves explanation shocks their master. He expected his son to be slowly recovering, but they said that The Fever left him.

It didn't simply break or subside. It left him. abruptly The other shocking thing about the explanation was that the very hour the very moment that The Fever left his boy was the exact moment that Jesus said your son lives.

Now he knows that Jesus is not just a prophet.

Jesus didn't just tell him what would happen. He told him what he had done.

Jesus proved that he is God by exercising his power over sickness and death. He's not just a conduit for God's power. He's not just a prophet. Who knows what will happen.

He's God.

Who is all-powerful and Sovereign over everything?

Including the thickness of a little boy and a town some 20 miles away.

Who is Father rejoices that his son has been saved from death? Any truly believe that Jesus is the Christ. Not only that but his whole household believes as well. This official from capernium was one of God's children. And Jesus knew that he needed this miracle in order to believe. He said as much back in First 48 unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.

Unless he sees this sign his son's miraculous recovery at Jesus's word. He will not believe. But he did see that sign. His son's miraculous recovery and just like that official unless we see proof that Jesus is the Christ. We will also not believe But we have seen proof. We have seen proof that Jesus is the Christ.

And it's proved by the holy spirit in our hearts. So the result of Jesus's Miracle of healing this officials son is true belief throughout that entire household and the result of his first miracle at the wedding Feast back in Chapter 2 was his disciples true belief in his identity as the Christ. And John make sure that we remember the connection between this sign and when he did at the wedding, he says in verse 54 that this was now the second sign that Jesus did when you came from Judea to Galilee. Did he do more than just these two signs? Absolutely. But these two are so alike. In the confirmation of Jesus's deity and their circumstances and Out Come the John make sure that we understand their significance.

Unless we see proof that Jesus is the Christ. We will not believe. And Jesus wants us to believe so he did these signs and he had John include them in scripture so that we will believe and have life in his name.

Let this proof. Jesus's identity as the Christ strengthen your faith. And cause you to rejoice in his sovereignty over all circumstances.

When I say all circumstances. I mean all circumstances. It's easy to rejoice when life is going smoothly. The difficulties are manageable. What about the times when those difficulties are not manageable? Like when your son is dying from an incurable fever?

Are you experiencing financial hardship?

Are your children walk away from the face?

I have a difficult marriage or go through a divorce. Are you at failing health?

failing memory

Are you watched helplessly as a loved one diminishes with age?

Or when you witness a loved one. die without Christ

or you have incredible sleeplessness because your baby is keeping you up all night.

Is all has a very real potential to cause to cause us to despair or to wonder if God has somehow forgotten us. punishing us for some sin or another my God will never forget you. God will never punish you for your sin because he punished his son in your place on the cross. Don't despair when life brings tragedies in difficulties has face. The God is doing a work in the midst of your tragedy and difficulty.

Jesus use the near-death experience of this officials little boy to bring Salvation to his whole household.

Jesus used uses many different difficulties and tragedies to bring Salvation to all kinds of people.

Weather Miracles occur or not. God works all things for the Salvation of his children.

And he works this miracle for this officials family to prove that Jesus is the Christ and bring Salvation to that household and he bring Salvation to countless other households through the record of this account in Scripture.

Because the good news is that salvation is for all kinds of people. Not just for the Jews. Jesus brought salvation to the Samaritans earlier in chapter 4 and you brought salvation to a gentile officials household gear. Salvation from sin and death is for everyone.

And God can grow your faith. I'm simply believing something about Jesus to believing in him for eternal life. This official believe what Jesus had said, but he didn't quite believe in Jesus until he saw proof that Jesus is the Christ that Jesus is God.

Maybe you're sitting here. Wondering whether or not to believe what Jesus is said in his word.

Maybe you're wondering if this whole Christianity thing is true.

Maybe you're not quite sure whether Jesus really is God or that he can save you from sin and death.

If that's you and I beg you to believe it.

Jesus has given you proof of his identity. He is the Christ God In the Flesh the promised one who died in your place so that you could have eternal life through faith in him. Come to him in faith knowing that he can save you from sin and death if you'll put your faith in him and submit to him as the rightful ruler of everything including your life.

Jesus has proved yet again that he is the Christ so that we will believe and have eternal life. and him

Father thank you for showing us the truth of your word.

Thank you for showing us that Jesus. Is your son the Christ the promised one who died on the cross on our behalf?

We know that you are sovereign over everything nothing happens outside of your will.

As we read about Jesus healing this man's son. I couldn't help but think about the different ways in my own life that I need you.

Your Sovereign hand to guide me. To prove over and over that you love me. That whatever happens is always your plan A. And it's always good.

There are so many people here in our church that are hurting worried grieving. or in distress of some kind

because because we live in a fallen world. full of sin

sadness pain

I pray that you would bring Comfort to all of our hearts. Are these hard things we're going through or not in vain? Show us your glory in the midst of our pain and give us hope as we look forward to the day when Jesus comes back. make all things new

we thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen.